1) Have your say on Council’s Priorities! Open House, Tues, Feb 19
2) Tree Policies for Kingston, Feb 19
3) Cycling Routes to New High School?
4) Vision for Belle Park: Open House and Talking Circle
5) Two public meetings re Public Art at the “Hub”
6) FKIH Turtle Meeting, Mon, Feb 25
7) OMB Challenge to Homestead Downtown Towers
8) FYI: Surprising Environmental Impact of Road Salt
1) Have your say on Council’s Priorities!
Open House, Tues, Feb 19 + Online Survey – deadline Feb 25.
Environment? Homelessness? Affordable Housing? Waterfront Trail? Turtles? Dedicated cycle routes to new high school? Second Residential Units? ?????
What: Special Council Open House.
Where: Memorial Hall, City Hall, 216 Ontario St..
When: Tuesday, Feb 19, 6 pm – 7:30 pm,
ALSO NOTE ONLINE SURVEY
What: Open comment on the City’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (a SWOT analysis), and on Council priorities for the 2019-2022 term,
Where: https://getinvolved.cityofkingston.ca/council-priorities?tool=survey_tool#tool_tab
When: Deadline Monday, Feb 25, 2019 at 4 pm.
NOTE: You can also e-mail StrategicPriorities@cityofkingston.ca – Deadline Feb 25.2) Tree Policies for Kingston, Feb 19
What: The Kingston Frontenac Public Library Live monthly speakers’ series. Greg Newman and arborists from the City of Kingston will talk about Kingston’s Forest Management Plan, Community Orchard and Edible Forest Policy, the revised Tree Bylaw and the Memorial Tree Program.
When: Tues, Feb 19, 7 pm
Where: KFLA Public Library, Isabel Turner Branch.
NOTES: FREE BUT REGISTRATION REQUIRED
To register visit events.kfpl.ca or contact Anne Hall – 613-549-8888, x3528, ahall@kfpl.ca
3) Cycling Routes to New High School?
The City has planned a number of active transportation enhancements – including a new multi-use path – in the Kingscourt area to prepare for students who will be walking and cycling to the new Kingston Secondary School and to offer other residents active, off-road commuting choices.
Watch for these changes coming to the area this year:
– a 1.6 km multi-use pathway from Third Avenue to John Counter Boulevard.
– an improved pedestrian crossing at Concession Street and Leroy Grant Drive.
“We want to make walking or cycling to the new school the top ways to get there – and provide all area residents with active alternatives to driving. We are also considering posting reduced speed limits and on-street parking changes on Kirkpatrick Street, an all-way stop at Kirkpatrick and Lyons and other longer-term enhancements in the area of Concession and Macdonnell,” says Ian Semple, director transportation services. A report to council on these further proposed changes will go before council in March.
In a recent e-mail from Ian Semple he also stated the following:
Within the Sydenham and Williamsville areas, the cycling lanes along Johnson and Brock streets will be upgraded to buffered facilities with flexible post bollards installed along the buffered area as a means to better delineate the cycling lanes from vehicle lanes. To further reduce vehicle speeds along these corridors and to increase the level of safety for both pedestrians and cyclists, there are plans to install traffic calming “slow” bollards along the center line of both Johnson Street and Brock Street in addition to the flexible posts installed along the buffered cycling lanes. These measures are expected to contribute to a vehicle speed reduction in the area and may be augmented by additional signage/bollards as needed in the future.
To provide pedestrian priority at the intersection of Johnson and Macdonnell, a pedestrian actuated traffic signal will be installed that is similar to the recent installation on King Street at Beverley Street. This pedestrian signal is intended to support a preferred AT route to school along Macdonnell Street that will link residential areas to two elementary schools.
The pedestrian linkages created with the new signalized crossing on Johnson Street at Macdonnell Street will continue north to the Kingscourt neighbourhood with the creation of a 1.6 km long multi-use pathway from Third Avenue at Macdonnell Street, north to John Counter Boulevard. This multi-use pathway will connect Third Avenue Park, Oak Street Park, and Champlain Park and will provide a high quality pedestrian and cycling route to connect to the new Kingston high school that is under construction.
To improve the level of safety for pedestrians crossing Concession Street at Leroy Grant Drive, the pedestrian crossing area will be narrowed with curb extensions and a cycling lane. These improvements will decrease vehicle speeds at the crossing area and will reduce the width of the roadway that pedestrians need to cross.
The City will continue to explore opportunities to improve signage, crossings, and other onroad policy changes along the Macdonnell Street corridor south to Union Street to encourage the high school students in the Kingscourt, Williamsville, and Sydenham neighbourhoods to choose an active route to the new high school.
The City is also supporting the development of the transportation plan for the North King’s Town secondary plan and will begin work on the transportation review of the Williamsville Main Street Study through 2019. Opportunities to address active transportation barriers will form part of the analysis that will be completed on both neighbourhood level transportation plans. To that end sections of cycling lanes will also be added to Montreal Street, from Ordnance Street to Rideau Street, to complete the route from the downtown north to Highway 401.
As a final component of the reconstruction of the intersections of Princess Street at Division Street and Queen Street at Division Street, the City will install lane markings and signage that create the City’s first “bike box” intersection intended to allow cyclists to make safer turning movements. This installation will be supported with a communication and information campaign directed at cyclists and motorists to increase awareness of these changes.
More info? Or to share thoughts?
Ian Semple, Director, Transportation Services – isemple@cityofkingston.ca
4) Vision for Belle Park, Open House Feb 27
What: “Public input has helped us create a vision for this lovely waterfront space off Montreal Street. We could really feel the love for this wide, open space in all the feedback we received,” says Neal Unsworth, manager, parks development.
The master plan visioning for this 80-acre waterfront park at 731 Montreal St. reflect the ideas and input collected from residents over two years of consultations. It explores a phased approach to implementing improvements – including naturalized areas and spaces for outdoor recreation.
When: Wed, Feb 27, Drop in anytime between 3pm and 7:30 p,
Where: Rideau Heights Community Centre and Library, 85 MacCauley St. Kingston
NOTE: Belle Park Talking Circle, Fri, Feb 22, 12 noon til 2 pm
(Honestly sorry I can’t remember where right now)
More info? Neal Unsworth – nunsworth@cityofkingston.ca
Background: Belle Park sits on a former landfill on the shores of the Cataraqui River – part of the UNESCO-designated Rideau Canal waterway. It operated as a golf course for many years until, in 2017, council directed staff to reduce golf operations and undertake a master plan for the park and to explore opportunities for outdoor-recreation partnerships. The Belle Park Master Plan sets out the vision that will inform and guide long-range improvements and operational practices in the park. Plans to manage the site as a former landfill are ongoing and are not altered by the master plan.
5) Two public meetings re Public Art at the “Hub”
What: To explore how to improve the intersection of Princess and Division Streets through public art and other design elements. The Hub Project is a public engagement initiative intended to connect neighbourhoods through art. The Hub Project workshops will be led by the Crazy Dames, a consulting trio who specialize in urban planning, placemaking and cultural engagement and work with people to find creative ways to design public spaces. Conversations about public art and hands-on activities that will be used to generate ideas and themes for public art that could be featured at the intersection.
“We hope to have conversations with residents, businesses, property owners, artists and arts organizations, and other key stakeholders from across Kingston, especially those who live in the Sydenham, Williamsville and King’s Town districts who are closely connected to Princess and Division Streets about how public art and design can energize and improve this intersection,” says Danika Lochhead, manager, arts and sector development. “Active and lively public places are what makes a city a vibrant place to live and visit. We need your input to re-imagine this intersection in ways that connect these neighbourhoods and creates an interesting gateway to Kingston’s downtown.”
When: Wed, March 6, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Thurs, March 7 from 3 to 5 p.m.
Where: Lower hall at The Spire, 82 Sydenham St, Kingston
NOTES: Light refreshments will be served.
Pre-registration by email is appreciated. Contact publicart@cityofkingston.ca to reserve your space.
If you are unable to attend, share your ideas online at GetInvolved.CityofKingston.ca/Hub .
3) Cycling Routes to New High School?
4) Vision for Belle Park: Open House and Talking Circle
5) Two public meetings re Public Art at the “Hub”
6) FKIH Turtle Meeting, Mon, Feb 25
7) OMB Challenge to Homestead Downtown Towers
8) FYI: Surprising Environmental Impact of Road Salt
1) Have your say on Council’s Priorities!
Open House, Tues, Feb 19 + Online Survey – deadline Feb 25.
Environment? Homelessness? Affordable Housing? Waterfront Trail? Turtles? Dedicated cycle routes to new high school? Second Residential Units? ?????
What: Special Council Open House.
Where: Memorial Hall, City Hall, 216 Ontario St..
When: Tuesday, Feb 19, 6 pm – 7:30 pm,
ALSO NOTE ONLINE SURVEY
What: Open comment on the City’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (a SWOT analysis), and on Council priorities for the 2019-2022 term,
Where: https://getinvolved.
When: Deadline Monday, Feb 25, 2019 at 4 pm.
NOTE: You can also e-mail StrategicPriorities@
What: The Kingston Frontenac Public Library Live monthly speakers’ series. Greg Newman and arborists from the City of Kingston will talk about Kingston’s Forest Management Plan, Community Orchard and Edible Forest Policy, the revised Tree Bylaw and the Memorial Tree Program.
When: Tues, Feb 19, 7 pm
Where: KFLA Public Library, Isabel Turner Branch.
NOTES: FREE BUT REGISTRATION REQUIRED
To register visit events.kfpl.ca or contact Anne Hall – 613-549-8888, x3528, ahall@kfpl.ca
3) Cycling Routes to New High School?
The City has planned a number of active transportation enhancements – including a new multi-use path – in the Kingscourt area to prepare for students who will be walking and cycling to the new Kingston Secondary School and to offer other residents active, off-road commuting choices.
Watch for these changes coming to the area this year:
– a 1.6 km multi-use pathway from Third Avenue to John Counter Boulevard.
– an improved pedestrian crossing at Concession Street and Leroy Grant Drive.
“We want to make walking or cycling to the new school the top ways to get there – and provide all area residents with active alternatives to driving. We are also considering posting reduced speed limits and on-street parking changes on Kirkpatrick Street, an all-way stop at Kirkpatrick and Lyons and other longer-term enhancements in the area of Concession and Macdonnell,” says Ian Semple, director transportation services. A report to council on these further proposed changes will go before council in March.
In a recent e-mail from Ian Semple he also stated the following:
Within the Sydenham and Williamsville areas, the cycling lanes along Johnson and Brock streets will be upgraded to buffered facilities with flexible post bollards installed along the buffered area as a means to better delineate the cycling lanes from vehicle lanes. To further reduce vehicle speeds along these corridors and to increase the level of safety for both pedestrians and cyclists, there are plans to install traffic calming “slow” bollards along the center line of both Johnson Street and Brock Street in addition to the flexible posts installed along the buffered cycling lanes. These measures are expected to contribute to a vehicle speed reduction in the area and may be augmented by additional signage/bollards as needed in the future.
To provide pedestrian priority at the intersection of Johnson and Macdonnell, a pedestrian actuated traffic signal will be installed that is similar to the recent installation on King Street at Beverley Street. This pedestrian signal is intended to support a preferred AT route to school along Macdonnell Street that will link residential areas to two elementary schools.
The pedestrian linkages created with the new signalized crossing on Johnson Street at Macdonnell Street will continue north to the Kingscourt neighbourhood with the creation of a 1.6 km long multi-use pathway from Third Avenue at Macdonnell Street, north to John Counter Boulevard. This multi-use pathway will connect Third Avenue Park, Oak Street Park, and Champlain Park and will provide a high quality pedestrian and cycling route to connect to the new Kingston high school that is under construction.
To improve the level of safety for pedestrians crossing Concession Street at Leroy Grant Drive, the pedestrian crossing area will be narrowed with curb extensions and a cycling lane. These improvements will decrease vehicle speeds at the crossing area and will reduce the width of the roadway that pedestrians need to cross.
The City will continue to explore opportunities to improve signage, crossings, and other onroad policy changes along the Macdonnell Street corridor south to Union Street to encourage the high school students in the Kingscourt, Williamsville, and Sydenham neighbourhoods to choose an active route to the new high school.
The City is also supporting the development of the transportation plan for the North King’s Town secondary plan and will begin work on the transportation review of the Williamsville Main Street Study through 2019. Opportunities to address active transportation barriers will form part of the analysis that will be completed on both neighbourhood level transportation plans. To that end sections of cycling lanes will also be added to Montreal Street, from Ordnance Street to Rideau Street, to complete the route from the downtown north to Highway 401.
As a final component of the reconstruction of the intersections of Princess Street at Division Street and Queen Street at Division Street, the City will install lane markings and signage that create the City’s first “bike box” intersection intended to allow cyclists to make safer turning movements. This installation will be supported with a communication and information campaign directed at cyclists and motorists to increase awareness of these changes.
More info? Or to share thoughts?
Ian Semple, Director, Transportation Services – isemple@cityofkingston.ca
4) Vision for Belle Park, Open House Feb 27
What: “Public input has helped us create a vision for this lovely waterfront space off Montreal Street. We could really feel the love for this wide, open space in all the feedback we received,” says Neal Unsworth, manager, parks development.
The master plan visioning for this 80-acre waterfront park at 731 Montreal St. reflect the ideas and input collected from residents over two years of consultations. It explores a phased approach to implementing improvements – including naturalized areas and spaces for outdoor recreation.
When: Wed, Feb 27, Drop in anytime between 3pm and 7:30 p,
Where: Rideau Heights Community Centre and Library, 85 MacCauley St. Kingston
NOTE: Belle Park Talking Circle, Fri, Feb 22, 12 noon til 2 pm
(Honestly sorry I can’t remember where right now)
More info? Neal Unsworth – nunsworth@cityofkingston.ca
Background: Belle Park sits on a former landfill on the shores of the Cataraqui River – part of the UNESCO-designated Rideau Canal waterway. It operated as a golf course for many years until, in 2017, council directed staff to reduce golf operations and undertake a master plan for the park and to explore opportunities for outdoor-recreation partnerships. The Belle Park Master Plan sets out the vision that will inform and guide long-range improvements and operational practices in the park. Plans to manage the site as a former landfill are ongoing and are not altered by the master plan.
5) Two public meetings re Public Art at the “Hub”
What: To explore how to improve the intersection of Princess and Division Streets through public art and other design elements. The Hub Project is a public engagement initiative intended to connect neighbourhoods through art. The Hub Project workshops will be led by the Crazy Dames, a consulting trio who specialize in urban planning, placemaking and cultural engagement and work with people to find creative ways to design public spaces. Conversations about public art and hands-on activities that will be used to generate ideas and themes for public art that could be featured at the intersection.
“We hope to have conversations with residents, businesses, property owners, artists and arts organizations, and other key stakeholders from across Kingston, especially those who live in the Sydenham, Williamsville and King’s Town districts who are closely connected to Princess and Division Streets about how public art and design can energize and improve this intersection,” says Danika Lochhead, manager, arts and sector development. “Active and lively public places are what makes a city a vibrant place to live and visit. We need your input to re-imagine this intersection in ways that connect these neighbourhoods and creates an interesting gateway to Kingston’s downtown.”
When: Wed, March 6, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Thurs, March 7 from 3 to 5 p.m.
Where: Lower hall at The Spire, 82 Sydenham St, Kingston
NOTES: Light refreshments will be served.
Pre-registration by email is appreciated. Contact publicart@
If you are unable to attend, share your ideas online at GetInvolved.CityofKingston.ca/
6) FKIH Turtle Meeting, Mon, Feb 25
What: a) Lesley Rudy will fill us in on her ongoing research on nest temperatures; b) Mabyn Armstrong will update us on her Turtles Kingston Initiative including meeting with Ministry and Commercial Fishermen re shocking turtle by-catch; Mary Farrar will speak about two FLKH-sponsored upcoming workshops of interest in April and May: “Reconciliation and the Cataraqui Watershed” with KAIROS, Peterborough, and “All about Turtles” with the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre.
Where: Frontenac Village Condo, 1 Place d’Armes. To get there, go as far north as possible on King St. until you reach the cul-de-sac that is the entry to the parking garage. Signs will be there to direct you.
When: 7 pm.
NOTES: Light refreshments provided.
7) OMB Challenge to Homestead Downtown Towers
In all honesty, the best summaries of the two week hearings can be found on the Vision for Kingston Facebook page submitted on a daily basis by Vicki Schmolka – members are now over 600 and growing! Two evenings were set aside for Participant Statements where many caring citizens expressed a most interesting and informative variety of concerns. David Donnelly, the lawyer for the Frontenac Heritage Foundation acquitted himself well as did the City’s lawyer. So I guess it is now wait and see.
8) FYI: Surprising Environmental Impacts of Road Salt
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So that’s it until March.
Wishing you sunshine.Cheers,
Mary Farrar, President,
Friends of Kingston Inner Harbour
Wishing you sunshine.Cheers,
Mary Farrar, President,
Friends of Kingston Inner Harbour