Lakeshore Road Reconstruction and Streetscape Project

Background

The Downtown Oakville Heritage Conservation District (DOHCD) Plan identified the current mixture of designs, materials and colours in downtown as visually cluttered. The DOHCD Plan identified the opportunity for a new design of street furnishings, allowing for improvements, so long as it is cohesive, supports the pedestrian environment and does not compete with the historic material of the district.

With Lakeshore Road East (Navy Street to Allan Street) coming to the end of its lifespan and needing a major reconstruction, the town undertook extensive research and public consultation to identify broader opportunities to improve traffic, beautify streets and improve pedestrian/cycle ways in the downtown.

Downtown Transportation and Streetscape Study (DTS)

The Downtown Plan, launched in December 2013, is comprised of the Downtown Cultural Hub Study (DCH), and the Downtown Transportation and Streetscape Study (DTS).

The DTS was approved by Council in April 2015. This study assessed the current traffic and roadway conditions in downtown Oakville and created recommendations to enhance the roadways, beautify streets, improve pedestrian/cycle ways and revitalize the Towne Square, by introducing design standards as well as increasing connectivity, mobility and accessibility.

The DTS included extensive public consultation in 2014-2015 on the different options for Lakeshore Road, the Streetscape Master Plan as well as a theme (contemporary was selected over traditional and classical) for the site furnishings and finishes.

Staff presented preferred options to Council in March 2015. Council approved the recommendations from the Downtown Transportation and Streetscape study in April 2015. Review the DTS final report (pdf, MB).

In November 2015 Council approved the timing for the Lakeshore Road reconstruction and streetscape project to commence in 2019 and be completed over a two year period. In addition, the Lakeshore Road Bridge over Sixteen Mile Creek will be rehabilitated in 2017

For information regarding the completed DTS study please visit the Downtown Transportation and Streetscape Study project page.

The completed DTS study approved several changes in the downtown including:

• Streetscape master plan (pdf) for the road network in downtown Oakville including pedestrian and cycling facilities
• Lakeshore Road cross section
• Downtown Oakville two way traffic conversion of the existing street network
• Contemporary palate of street furnishings

Previous public consultation

2016 Public Consultation

• Public meetings were held on March 1 and June 15, 2016 to get feedback on contemporary design palettes. Comments were also collected online from February 24 to April 1, 2016.
  • Review the material that was presented at public meeting #1 (pdf)
  • Review a copy of the Lakeshore Road Reconstruction and Streetscape Consultation Summary (pdf)
• When specific contemporary furniture pieces were presented to the public in March and June 2016 there was significant concern and opposition about the contemporary theme choice for the streetlights, benches, bike rings and bollards
• In July 2016, Council passed a motion directing staff to recommence a public engagement process in the fall 2016 to gather more public input on the three style options — traditional, contemporary and classic for the streetlights, benches, bike rings and bollards
• Staff began incorporating the garbage/recycling stations as well as the granite pavers and curbs into the streetscape design as presented to the public this past March and June and approved by Council in July 2016.
• In September 2016, the town held a number of public engagement opportunities to find out what style of streetscape furniture — traditional, contemporary or classic — residents and businesses would like to see used in downtown Oakville. Each style was designed to complement the downtown heritage district.
• On October 3, 2016, Council approved a traditional furniture style for downtown Oakville. Review the staff report.
• Between December 5 and 23, 2016, the town went out for public consultation about what specific furniture pieces, lighting temperature, and bridge railing residents and businesses liked best for Downtown Oakville. The town provided two options for each piece of streetscape furniture; two types of lighting (LED fixture/bulbs), and three bridge railing options. Two choices of furnishing colour that supported a traditional theme - graphite and moss green - were also provided.
• On February 13, 2017, Council approved the bridge railing, the lighting and the furniture selections (streetlight poles, benches, bollards, bike rings) for downtown Oakville. Review the February 13, 2017 staff report for details

2015 Public Consultation

• Following extensive public consultation through the Downtown Transportation and Streetscape Study (DTS), a contemporary theme was chosen in 2015 over traditional and classical, to complement the historic buildings in the streetscape yet remain a reflection of the current time.
• Desire to maximize a flexible (curbless) design of the Lakeshore Road East configuration was also discussed at these meetings as a topic for consideration.

Streetscape furniture selected

• Staff will include all the furniture selections into the Lakeshore Road Reconstruction and Streetscape Project, slated to start in 2019, and into the overall Downtown Transportation and Streetscape (DTS) Master Plan for other roads in downtown as they are reconstructed.
• The new curbs and pavers were included in the new construction of Lakeshore Road Bridge over Sixteen Mile Creek which opened ahead of schedule on November 17, 2017.
• Staff have reported to the Heritage Oakville Advisory Committee and requested a heritage permit for the furnishings.
• It should be noted that the town’s standard for LED fixture colour temperature is 4000K. With town’s public outreach resulting in a clear preference for 3000K for the streetlights within the historic downtown commercial district, Council approved staff’s recommendation to review the merit of installing 3000K LED fixtures in the town’s other commercial districts – Kerr Village and Bronte Village. In addition, while there was clear preference for the existing streetlight pole and acorn fixture styles, staff will be reporting back to Council during the final engineering design phase on the costs of refurbishing the existing poles and retrofitting the LED fixtures, or installing new poles to match the existing styles.