Report to: Development Services                                                   Report Date: March 6, 2007

 

 

SUBJECT:                          Landowner interest in the integration of parking lots on east side of Main Street, Unionville – Information Report

PREPARED BY:               Jamie Bosomworth, Manager of Strategy and Innovation,

                                            Extension 2180

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

That the staff report entitled “Landowner interest in the integration of parking lots on east side of Main Street, Unionville – Information Report”, be received;

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Not applicable

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Not applicable at this time.

1. Purpose                     2. Background                      3. Discussion                        4. Financial        

 

5. Others (Environmental, Accessibility, Engage 21st, Affected Units)             6. Attachment(s)

 

PURPOSE:

At the Budget Sub-Committee meeting held on February 5, 2007, Ward 3 Councillor Virgilio raised the matter of landowner interest in the integration of the private parking lots on the east side of Main Street, Unionville and requested staff to comment on how to move forward with the landowners.   The purpose of this report is to provide an update on this matter, and to suggest possible next steps.

 

BACKGROUND:

Land Use and Parking Study, November 2002

As part of the supporting documentation for Official Plan Amendment Number 107 for the Unionville Core Area approved on August 12, 2003, a study entitled “Main Street Unionville, Land Use and Parking Study”, dated November 2002, was prepared by Marshall Macklin Monaghan on behalf of the Town.   This study identified options to show how the existing individual parking lots on the east side of Main Street, Unionville (see Attachment “A” - air photo of existing parking lots) could be integrated to increase the yield of parking spaces and to make the parking lots more efficient.    It was thought the most efficient layout of the parking lot would be to re-align the spaces from an existing north/south configuration to an east/west configuration.  Attachment “B” shows option two, as proposed by the consultant, using this configuration.  This option would yield a potential increase of 10 to 26 parking spaces for properties between 175 Main Street to 189 Main Street.    

 

Interest shown from Property Owners to Integrate parking lots

In July of 2006, staff and Councillor Virgilio met with property owners/representatives, representing properties between 159 and 193 Main Street to discuss the opportunities of integrating their parking lots on the east side of Main Street Unionville.   There appeared to be an interest between the owners/representatives to move forward with this project.

 

 

Staff Action Plan  

Staff from various departments (Legal, Planning, Asset Management, Operations, Heritage) met to discuss the following issues that would arise from integrating these parking lots:

 

  • Who would pay for construction work and what would the payment distribution be based on? 
  • Who performs the design, approval (TRCA), tender and construction administration and what is included in the design (e.g. landscape strips, trees, walkways, lighting)?
  • Who maintains and operates the final parking lot?
  • What legal requirements would apply to ensure integrated access, circulation and shared use of parking?
  • How would the reconfiguration of the parking spaces affect the current zoning requirements/floodplain (special policy area) regulations for each property?   

 

To address the above issues so the property owners, the Town and the Unionville community would have a better understanding of requirements, staff proposed a preliminary design should be prepared.   It was intended that once the preliminary design was complete, discussions would be undertaken with the Town, property owners and the Unionville community to determine how the project could be implemented. Subject to negotiations with the appropriate parties, it was thought a Memorandum of Understanding would be prepared for each property owner identifying their obligations, both financially and legally, before tendering of the project proceeded.   The preliminary design would provide the following information:

 

·        Provide the most efficient parking layout, including landscape strips, lighting requirements and walkways, and identify its effects on zoning requirements for each property owner

·        Provide a preliminary cost estimate for design and construction

·        Identify TRCA requirements

·        Identify conditions and legal requirements for the operation and maintenance of the final parking lot

 

Properties to be included within the Preliminary Design

The preliminary design would include all properties between 159 Main Street and 193 Main Street.  The proposed concept would raise the grade on the west side of the parking lots so the drainage would sheet drain to an environmentally designed ditch and outlet to Robinson Creek.   159 Main Street was included, as this property has received site plan approval to redevelop the property which includes the lowering of the existing parking lot to match the grade of the parking lot at 161 Main Street.    Fill from this excavation could be used for raising the other properties if timing of construction of both 159 Main Street and the new integrated parking lot permitted it.   193 Main Street would potentially be the most northerly property included in the proposed pre-design, although this property owner has in the past advised staff he is not interested in funding any work.   The preliminary design would include an option to include this property or not include it.  The rear of the Town owned property at 197 Main Street is intended for the garden use associated with this public building (Varley McKay Arts Centre) so is not included.  The preliminary design would also include landscaping strips, walkway locations and lighting requirements.   At the request of the local Councillor a design for a handicap wheelchair ramp from the lower parking lot to street level within the Town owned property (185 Main Street) would also be included. 

 

Costs of Preliminary Design

As the parking lot is located within the floodplain and TRCA approval would be required, Staff considered approvals would be easier obtained by having the Town being the project lead.   After reviewing a number of Consultants, the Town received a quote from an Engineering Consultant, Totten Sims Hubicki, to complete the preliminary design.    The quote for the preliminary design was $31,900.00 plus $1,914.00 GST, totally $33,814.00.    The additional quote for the design of the handicap ramp was $3,000.00 plus GST (Town’s cost).   

 

To demonstrate landowner commitment to this project, staff suggested the preliminary design costs could be shared by those property owners willing to proceed.   At a meeting held with owners on July 31, 2006, it was agreed  that the preliminary design costs would be shared by 5 property owners, 159, 175, 177/179, 185 (Town) and 189 Main Street.  Letters where sent out to these property owners on August 14, 2006 requesting acknowledgement they would pay their share ($6,784.00 each) for the preliminary design.  A letter was also sent out to the property owner of 161 Main Street as staff had received an indication they may be willing to share in the cost as well.   These letters also included a statement that their payment may be treated as an up-front cost if the detailed design and construction occurred.    The Town has sufficient funds ($16,683) in Capital Account # 80-5399-6211-005, Main Street Unionville – Parking to pay our share including the design of the handicap ramp.

 

No funds received to date

Staff have not received any acknowledgement letter or funding from any of the property owners who were sent letters in August, 2006.   Staff have followed up with a number of the owners to see if they require any further information.   In late October, Councillor Virgilio also tried to meet with the owners, but was unable to get all property owners together and the meeting never transpired. 

 

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

To determine the shared costs for the construction of the integrated parking lot, implications with the zoning requirements for each property, TRCA requirements and, legal requirements for operation and maintenance, a preliminary design must be completed. 

 

A further meeting could be held by the Ward Councillor and staff with the property owners and members of the Unionville BIA to seek their financial involvement and commitment to this project.      

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Landscape strips and trees would be included in the preliminary design which would improve the existing environmental conditions.   In addition, it is proposed to include a ditch to capture all the run-off from the parking and to clean the storm water before it enters the creek.

 

ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS:

A handicap ramp would be included in the preliminary design to provide access from the lower parking lot to street level of Main Street

 

ENGAGE 21ST CONSIDERATIONS:

Working with the Unionville Community and landowners in integrating the parking lots on the east side of Main Street Unionville, will create a more efficient, vibrant, environmentally friendly parking lot.

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

The Legal Department has been consulted with respect to legal requirements.   The Planning Department has been consulted with respect to zoning issues arising from changing the parking layouts, heritage matters and floodplain issues.  The Operations Department has been consulted with respect to operation and maintenance of the final parking lot and the Asset Management Department has been consulted with respect to administering the preliminary design.

 

 

RECOMMENDED BY:

 

 

 

________________________                                                ________________________

Jim Sales, Commissioner of                                                       Jim Baird, Commissioner of

Community and Fire Services                                                    Development Services

 

ATTACHMENTS:

 

 

Attachment “A”:        Aerial Photo of Existing properties in Unionville

Attachment “B”:         Proposed layout of parking lot on East side of Main Street, Unionville

 

Q:\Development\Strategy\Unionville Parking\East Parking Lot\Report to DSC March 2007.doc