Port Elgin Downtown Improvement Public Meeting

Oct 15, 2008

Jay Pausner (L) talks to a resident as Councillor Luke Charbonneau is in a discussion nearby another suggestion

It was agreed at a meeting Wednesday night that Port Elgin's downtown needs revitalizing.

Approximately 30 people met at Rotary Hall in The Plex to put forward ideas for improvement to the Community Improvement Committee chaired by Town Councillor, Luke Charbonneau.

"We want as much public input as possible," said Charbonneau and those who attended the meeting came with several ideas.

Representatives from the South-Port Horticultural Society pointed out that parks, such as Coulter Parkette and Nodwell, all needed improved maintenance.  In addition, the group wants to see more and better floral plantings along with improved lighting.

Several references were made to both Tiverton and Southampton and how the two towns had created downtown core's with period lighting, elaborate plantings and had attempted to preserve their historical building facades.

"I urge anyone who hasn't been to Tiverton lately," said Neil Menage, "to take a drive there.  What they have done is simply amazing."  He went on to suggest that Port Elgin's downtown area appears "tired".   "Why can't we have a bigger and broader farmers' market in the summer and why can't we block off some of the downtown streets from traffic and make them pedestrian use only?  Why can't we try things that are different instead of the same old, same old?"

It would also appear that people are now beginning to realize the problems that are beginning to arise surrounding the traffic issue.  Councillor Victoria Serda suggested removing the main street parking during the summer and turning the space into cycling lanes.  "If we had more cyclists and more pedestrian traffic, it might just slow down the thru-traffic.  We're talking about greening the downtown core through plantings so why can't we turn some of the concrete green space?  We must become more environmentally conscious.  Many communities are doing things that we aren't in coming up with environmental solutions."
 

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13/01/2009 04:24 PM

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Another resident spoke up adding, "Why are we talking about traffic when we just turned the north end into four lanes and the south end is beginning to become just as bad?  A little late isn't it?"

Local business owner of Brucedale Publishing, Anne Judd, pointed out that, "Here we are talking about using the downtown in a meeting that isn't held downtown.  There is also more to a downtown than just shopping.  It's about pedestrian use, sitting outside and making an area that pleasing to people."

In the same context, a local resident added that, "The town has discouraged people from sitting outside.  Why is that a cafe or restaurant cannot put tables and chairs outside and, yet, retailers can put up racks of clothing and merchandise that everyone has to walk around?"

A former member of the Port Elgin Business Improvement Association (BIA), said that the group had tried for years to get things done such as getting rid of the unwanted light posts and "...we got absolutely nowhere with the Town or anybody else!"

"Perhaps what we need," said Charbonneau, "is something like the Parks & Trails Master Plan that has been implemented, a multi-year implementation of a long-term plan."

The Town's Jay Pausner added that there are three projects that are related: the signage project, the County planning project and development through the Town.  "We'll take the ideas that come forward and come up with a draft report."  When questioned about the timelines that are involved, he explained that, "There are actually two timelines.  There are immediate steps for going through the process and it's beneficial to have immediate needs on larger improvements so they can be budgeted in the new year."

From resolving traffic issues to developing a central theme to preserving historical building facades and creating pedestrian walkways and parks, it was agreed that there is much to be done if the Port Elgin downtown core is to see any revitalization.