New urban design plans for mixed-use community nodes on the city’s eastern and western outskirts were endorsed Monday by city council.
“It is what I believe the east end is looking for,” Coun. Bob Bell said in praising the plan.
The east end’s Watson Parkway/Starwood community mixed-use node currently contains little development, with a public library branch at the corner of Watson and Starwood being the biggest building there.
The urban design concept plan endorsed by council, which will guide city planning staff in evaluating development applications at this node, envisions the extension of Starwood east of Watson as the main street for an “urban village” there, says a city staff report.
The main street would include on-street parking, street trees and other pedestrian amenities.
The plan also envisions “a modified grid road pattern that creates adaptable urban blocks and that promotes connectivity and pedestrian/cyclist movement,” the report says.
Taller buildings are generally to be located at or near the Starwood-Watson intersection.
A similar plan for the west end node near the big Zehrs store calls for creation of a new east-west street north of the Zehrs that would serve as the main street for an urban village. Taller buildings are generally to go where this new main street intersects with Elmira Road and also at the intersection of Elmira and Paisley roads. Council is currently considering development proposals for land west of the Zehrs, including a Costco.
Staff also intend to prepare urban design concept plans for the Gordon-Clair node in the south end and the Woodlawn-Woolwich node near the north end Wal-Mart, the report says.