The Engineering Department’s final recommendation for the South Canmore Rehabilitation Plan is rescheduled to November 24, 2009.

This update identifies the Engineering Department’s final recommendation for the South Canmore Rehabilitation Plan that will be presented to Council on November 17, 2009 during their business meeting which begins at 1pm. (You are invited and welcome to attend).

In addition, this update outlines the consultation and feedback collected from residents that led to the final recommendations.

1.Paved driving lanes will be rehabilitated as shown in Figure 1 to a width of:

•5.0 meters in lower density areas, and

•6.0 meters in higher density areas.

Existing pavements that are up to about half a meter wider than proposed, which are suitable for an overlay may not be narrowed.

2.Areas resulting from the road narrowing will be filled in with gravel or recycled asphalt grindings.

3.Parking lanes will be redressed with gravel or recycled asphalt grindings.

4.Significant localized ponding concerns will be reviewed and addressed independently on an individual basis. Minor nuisance ponding will be tolerated. More significant ponding problems might be addressed by rehabilitating existing dry wells, installing new dry wells, digging through and replacing the silt layer with more permeable materials, and by berming boulevards to contain runoff on the public right-of-way. Each of these solutions will have minimal change in the look and function of the boulevard.

5.Existing drywells will be rehabilitated or replaced on curbed roadways such as on 3rd Avenue, 5th Avenue, 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue where there is significant ponding.

6.Existing sidewalks will be repaired. Local improvements will not be proposed to construct new sidewalks. Missing sections of sidewalk will be in-filled and paid for by the Town, at no expense to adjacent residents.

7.Existing paved parking lanes will be maintained and will not be converted to gravel or narrowed for landscaping.

8.The Engineering Department will meet individually with the following streets to discuss unique streetscapes and will report to Council at some time in the future with separate recommendations. No decisions will be made affecting these blocks until the residents are consulted.

•500 Block of 5th Street – Pedestrian highlighted streetscape.

•600 Block of 5th Street – Pedestrian highlighted streetscape and possible angled parking adjacent to Centennial Park.

•700 and 800 Blocks of Veteran’s Way.

9.Administration will continue to work with EPCOR to evaluate and address concerns heard about the low pressure sewer system.

10.Existing trees and landscaping will be preserved.

From the feedback received at the first open house on May 20, 2009 the Town’s Engineering Department concluded that the neighborhood:

•highly values and wants to preserve the rustic and natural streetscape,

•does not support the installation of new sidewalk,

•would like pavements to be improved,

•does not want to make drastic changes to address stormwater ponding, and

•would like underground utilities to be addressed prior to any road work.

Because we received mixed reaction to our proposals for stormwater improvements, the Engineering Department advised Council on August 18, 2009 that we would like to return to the public for additional consultation. Our “Staff Report” was mailed to you on August 31st with an invitation to attend the second open house on September 23rd and on street consultations on September 25th and 26th.

In addition, on September 1, 2009, a delegation representing a large portion of the lower density (zoned R1) streets petitioned Town Council to:

•restrict pavements to a maximum width of five meters,

•fill road edges with gravel to the existing vegetation,

•ensure existing trees are not removed or damaged,

•eliminate continuous swales from program consideration,

•construct rain gardens at select locations, only where necessary, and

•eliminate the local improvement for new sidewalks.

The September 1, 2009 delegation reiterated the community’s high regard for their treed and natural streetscape and desire to keep their streets in good repair with very little change.

The following summarizes what we heard at the second open house and at the on-street consultations from the low and high density areas:

Not many responses were returned from property owners in the lower density district to our second questionnaire. We believe that many people felt that they already told us what they wanted through the delegation, and therefore did not have to repeat themselves. Although 53% of 29 responses did not want to change the existing pavement widths, the delegation validated the Engineering Department’s proposal to narrow the lower residential streets to a width of five meters for traffic calming.
72% of 29 responses did not want to standardize or change parking. Approximately 82% of 28 responses did not want to make changes for stormwater improvements. These responses are consistent with the delegation’s requests.

The higher density streets were not represented by the September 1, 2009 delegation.

Approximately 52% of 25 respondents were in favour of narrowing the pavements to the proposed 6.0 meter standard. Some people would like additional room so their vehicle will not overhang into the roadway when parked at an angle; others want to slow traffic and reduce infrastructure costs.

Approximately 63% of 24 respondents did not want to standardize parking for landscaping or for stormwater improvements. Residents stated that parking is currently at a premium and will become more of a problem with future infill development. In addition, residents claim vegetated landscaping will become a maintenance burden.

54% of 24 respondents indicated they would like to see shallow depressions/rain gardens to control stormwater ponding. The Engineering Department does not expect to install many, if any new rain gardens as part of the Town’s street rehabilitation efforts.

Without narrow parking, a narrow street alone will not be sufficient to provide a significant boulevard for storm water management.

The Engineering Department’s final recommendation is consistent with the feedback and direction provided by the neighbourhood.

If you have any questions or require additional information, please call me directly at (403) 678-1546 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Thank-you for your feedback and comments!