DistrictDistrict ofof HoustonHouston DowntownDowntown BeautificationBeautification PlanPlan

DISTRICT OF HOUSTON DECEMBER, 2018

0716.0021.01 550 - 1090 Homer Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2W9 | T: 604.235.1701

Contact: Andrew Cuthbert, B.Sc., M.Plan [email protected]

Contact: Shasta McCoy, BCSLA [email protected]

T: 604.235.1701

URBANSYSTEMS.CA

This report is prepared for the sole use of the District of Houston. No representations of any kind are made by Urban Systems Ltd. or its employees to any party with whom Urban Systems Ltd. does not have a contract. Copyright © 2018. District of Houston \\ Downtown Beautification Plan Table of Contents

1 HOW TO USE THIS DOCUMENT ...... 2

2 BACKGROUND POLICY CONTEXT ...... 5

3 ASSESSMENT OF EXISTING CONDITIONS ...... 9 3.1 Overview ...... 10 3.2 Strengths and Challenges ...... 10 3.3 Use of Space ...... 13 3.4 Concurrent Project Context ...... 14

4 ENGAGEMENT SUMMARY ...... 16

5 TRENDS ...... 21

6 BEAUTIFICATION PLAN ...... 27 6.1 Theme ...... 28 6.2 downtown beautification Plan ...... 28 6.3 Quick Wins for Streetscape beautification ...... 31 6.4 Big moves ...... 36

7 DEVELOPMENT PERMIT RECOMMENDATIONS ...... 40 7.1 Overview ...... 41 7.2 Extent of the Downtown Permit Area...... 42 7.3 Specific recommendations ...... 43

8 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN ...... 45 8.1 Urban Design Grants ...... 50 8.2 Next Steps ...... 52

APPENDIX A –SURVEY AND RESULTS

APPENDIX B – DOWNTOWN HOUSTON DEEP UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE CONSIDERATIONS MEMO

How to Use This Document

The Houston Downtown Beautification Plan builds on the need to diversify the District’s economy in light of changes to the local forest industry. Council identified the need to increase activity downtown, attract and encourage new local businesses, and to make the downtown more attractive for people passing along the highway. The plan incorporates recommendations from existing District documents and policies including the 2018 Official Community Plan - Land Use Plan Update. This document provides guidance and policy for making decisions on the future development and aesthetics of Downtown Houston.

CONTEXT AND PURPOSE The District of Houston is a community of roughly 3,000 people located in the Bulkley Valley just south of the Bulkley River at its confluence with Buck Creek. The town is well known for its role in the forest industry and as a prime destination for steelhead fishing. Recent years have brought big shifts in the local forest industry in Houston with the West Fraser Mill closure in 2014. The mill closure solidified the need to diversify the local economy to make the town more resilient in the future. Revitalizing the downtown is an important step to making the community a more resilient and a better place to live overall. At present, Downtown Houston has several thriving businesses run by passionate business owners. The District’s planter and flower bed program provide a welcome splash of colour and life along the streets. Despite this, the downtown struggles with its appearance as dated buildings and empty lots create a feeling of discontinuity. The orientation of downtown is such that downtown businesses back onto the highway and largely screen out that there is even anything to see. The Visitor Center and Steelhead Park are successful draws for highway traffic, but they are physically separated from downtown by the highway (which has few crossing points) making it hard for visitors to make their way over. Additionally, the lack of plaza and park space downtown means that there is nowhere for people to linger or gather. People in the downtown must go elsewhere to enjoy a sit or an outdoor market. This document builds upon previous planning and policy documents to provide a vision for transforming the downtown core into a welcoming and appealing commercial area within Houston that reflects the “Naturally Amazing” community brand as well as the values and needs expressed by the community.

Page | 3

PLAN PROCESS The Beautification Plan was prepared through collaboration with the District, stakeholders and the public to provide a practical and implementable Downtown Beautification Plan. Key stakeholders in the plan included downtown business owners, the District Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Centre, and District of Houston staff. The project was initiated by the District of Houston, and the work began in July 2018. The work completed is summarized below, along with future tasks:

Table 1 - Planning Process Timeline

July 2018 Project Initiation

August 2018 Background Research and Survey Released

Placemaking In a Week session, walking tours and September 2018 with stakeholders and the public.

October and November 2018 Draft Downtown Beautification Plan Revision and Adoption of the Downtown December 2018 Beautification Plan

Page | 4 Background Policy Context

District of Houston Official Community Plan – Land Use Plan Update: Illustrative Plans: Development Scenarios (2018) The current Official Community Plan (OCP) was adopted in 2010. The plan provides long-term direction and policy for how to shape land use decisions and quality of life improvements to 2025. In 2018, the OCP was updated with a set of illustrative plans and processes to reimagine the District for residents. The OCP Land Use Plan Update emphasizes placemaking as a tool to achieve a stronger economy (by attracting new residents and businesses) and improve access to the community. The Plan describes reorienting buildings towards the river and creating dynamic, unique commercial and public spaces along the water that celebrate the natural environment, including a river promenade. It proses mixed-use infill development, enhanced streetscapes, a downtown service corridor, and pedestrian connections from Downtown to Steelhead Park, the visitor information centre, the Figure 1 - Downtown Commercial/Mixed User Study Area (Land Use Plan Update, 2018) farmer’s market, and across Buck Creek.

Parks and Recreation Master Plan (2018) The Parks and Recreation Master Plan aims to inspire people to be active and healthy by providing year-round recreation opportunities; offering diverse programs for people of all ages, abilities, income levels and cultures; and building community by communicating with and involving residents and instilling pride. The Plan reports that upgrading facilities such as Houston Community Hall, located Downtown, is important for cost savings and increasing the level of service provided to the community. The plan emphasizes linking the community through a connected trail system, which would link Downtown to Steelhead Park and the river. Key strategies from this plan that would also apply to creating a vibrant downtown include: • Replacing picnic tables and street furniture that are in visible disrepair • Encourage farmers markets • Promote trail connections and work towards completing the network • Make it easier for local groups to host events and get permits

Page | 6

Development Bylaw (2016) The purpose of the bylaw, which consolidates legislative intent and guidelines relating to development, is to create a comprehensive and straightforward document that can be used by those involved in land development. The development bylaw houses direction for form and character guidelines as they relate to the OCP and it also includes the full definitions of the District development zones. Relating specifically to the downtown are directions relating to use, landscaping, parking, signs, and height among other things. This bylaw also includes descriptions of development permit areas including the Downtown Development permit area which has specific policies related to form and character or new development.

Houston BC’s Age-Friendly Plan (2014) Houston’s seniors wish to age in place. They want to remain active, socially engaged, and independent, and would like access to recreation, sports, arts, and cultural activities that meet the needs of people of a range of ages and abilities. The Age-Friendly Plan emphasizes inclusivity and accessibility and calls for seniors to have better access to programs, information, and services. It recommends installing additional lighting and age-friendly benches near pathways and business areas, developing priority parking, ensuring that sidewalks and business entrances are accessible for people with mobility devices, and developing an age-friendly winter maintenance strategy.

District of Houston Community Wildfire Protection Plan (2018) This plan identifies wildfire mitigation measures and outlines actions to protect human life and critical infrastructure. It recommends developing policies and practices for FireSmart construction and maintenance of public buildings; establishing Development Permit Areas for Wildfire Hazard to require FireSmart exterior finishing; and considering wildfire prevention and suppression in street design (e.g. road widths, turning radius for emergency vehicles, and access and egress points). Development reviews should be coordinated across multiple departments, including the fire department.

Economic Development Strategy (2014) The Economic Development Strategy contains five strategic objectives to help build a sustainable and diversified economy: (1) Business Retention & Expansion, (2) Entrepreneurship Development, (3) Expand Tourism Opportunities, (4) Investment Attraction, and (5) Support and Facilitation. The strategy supports “Shop Local” initiatives and proposes attracting investment by changing the perception of Houston and making it a more attractive and vibrant town. For example, the strategy calls for engaging local artists to create art in vacant storefronts, helping to revitalize downtown streets.

The Houston Way: Health and Wellness Charter (2016) The Health and Wellness Charter defines a “Healthy Community” as “one in which multiple sectors collaborate to improve the conditions that influence our health and well-being.” The charter recognizes the importance of the built environment in human health and emphasizes the importance of community assets such as the natural environment, culture, and history. This includes honouring the Wet’suwet’en people and their culture. As downtown planning occurs, Charter goals should be considered, including environmental quality, providing a sense of belonging, and access to transportation, information, health, and education.

Page | 7

District of Houston Transportation Master Plan: Volume 1 – Summary Report (2018) The Transportation Master Plan (TMP) adheres to Smart Growth principles and recommends improving access to/from Highway 16, enhancing the walking and cycling networks, expanding the VIA train station into a multi-modal hub, initiating a transit feasibility study, and expanding the municipal road network to accommodate future population growth and traffic. The TMP emphasizes the importance of the District working with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to ensure that vehicles travelling along Highway 16 can easily access the Downtown core. Future multi-modal transportation upgrades should be considered in all Downtown improvements and new developments to ensure the transportation network is seamlessly integrated into the built environment, increasing connectivity while enhancing the streetscape.

Page | 8

Assessment of Existing Conditions

3.1 OVERVIEW

Figure 2 - Parking lots in Downtown Houston. The Official Community Plan envisions the downtown as the main hub of social and commercial activity for Houston. To some degree, the downtown already functions this way; there are coffee shops, restaurants and businesses that have successfully adapted to the changing economic conditions present in Houston. However, the downtown faces some significant challenges that will need to be addressed to maintain its momentum and to transform it into a more attractive place for residents and visitors. This section provides an overview of the existing conditions of Downtown Houston that will serve as the basis of the Beautification Plan.

3.2 STRENGTHS AND CHALLENGES

Downtown Houston has a grid street pattern that is directly accessible from Highway 16, and it is centrally located throughout the District. There is a well-defined main street and a relatively high occupancy rate for existing commercial buildings. There is also an excess of underused space in the downtown, and the visibility of the downtown from the highway, despite its proximity to it, is poor. Key strengths and challenges observed in Houston’s downtown today are listed in Table 2.

Page | 10

Table 2 - Strengths and Challenges of Houston's Downtown. Challenges

Downtown faces away from Highway 16. The lack of a traffic light at Butler Avenue means that westbound traffic is not obligated to stop until they have passed downtown, and eastbound traffic is not obligated to stop after passing the light at Benson Avenue. Visually, the backs of businesses do not invite people in or even alert passers-by that there is a reason to stop.

There are few places downtown that are attractive enough to entice people to linger and stay downtown. In high tourist season, people stop at the Moose Hut and then eat it in Steelhead Park. Steelhead Park is a high-quality space that is attractive for people to visit but it also draws people out of the downtown.

There are many empty lots and spaces downtown. The empty lots have the effect of creating a discontinuous street front which gives the impression that there is less activity in the area overall. There are relatively few vacant storefronts downtown so new businesses will need some place to locate.

Some residents identify parking as a challenge despite the abundant supply. Parking areas and regulation may not be adequately communicated.

The Downtown Development Permit Area includes large areas that may not be relevant to the functioning of the downtown core. The areas west of Butler Avenue that include the Ambassador Mobile Home Park, the Seniors Living Complex and a large field may be better to exclude from downtown permitting requirements.

The Farmers market currently sets up on the north side of Highway 16. The space is separate from other activity and struggles with exposure. The District completed a series of aesthetic upgrades were completed about ten years ago that are starting to degrade. Concrete pedestrian surfaces are in poor condition and joints are populated with weeds. Aggregate planters and garbage cans are degrading. No adherence to a central theme is visible Current bylaws provide little flexibility to businesses and organizations wishing to set up temporary markets or sidewalk sales.

There is little wayfinding or signage available to direct visitors to the downtown. At present there is an aging entry feature at Butler Avenue on the Highway, but nothing before this. On Butler Avenue, there are no signs which tell visitors where they should turn. Visitors are often found driving to the end of Butler street instead of turning into the downtown somewhere north of 11th Street.

Bike racks are unattractive and not functional for most bike types.

There is a lot of noise from the Highway and the railway which permeates downtown.

Although the District has a façade improvement program, there has been little uptake on the part of downtown property owners to implement façade improvements Along 9th and 10th Streets, many businesses on the North side of the streets cover their windows and miss out of window displays merchandising in an effort to reduce the solar gains and sun damage to their inventory. Mid-block on the North side of 9th Street, shops have finished floor elevations that are lower than the gutter pan of the road, creating a challenge both for drainage and accessibility.

Page | 11

Strengths

Houston has several energetic and engaged new business owners that are innovating and trying new things. These businesses are adapting to the context of Houston while introducing new ideas that address absent markets that are relevant to the area.

There is ample parking downtown. The previous transportation study commissioned by the District identified that there are near twice the parking spaces needed to service the area.

Downtown is located proximal to the Highway. Several buildings that face away from the highway have murals that improve the presentation toward the highway. Many intersections in downtown are already traffic calmed by large bulb-outs and short crossing distances, establishing a precedent of best practices for future streetscape improvements and presenting opportunities for creating seating or dining nodes within the current street configuration. There is a relatively high occupancy rate within existing commercial buildings downtown. Downtown has an efficient grid layout that is easily navigable. There are residents that live downtown that can walk to businesses. The District has run façade grant program since 2014 which is available to help businesses improve their properties. Some businesses have participated, and the visible stewardship of these buildings is encouraging.

Page | 12

3.3 USE OF SPACE

Figure 3 - Empty space in downtown Houston. There is a notable number of underused parcels in downtown Houston. Empty space in downtown Houston comes in the form of surface parking lots and lots that have not been developed. While recent economic conditions may have suppressed the need for new development in some of these spaces, most buildings in the downtown are occupied. During site visits in autumn of 2018, only the former Tea Gallery and old restaurant building at Butler and 9th Avenue were observed empty. All other storefronts were occupied. Should new businesses wish to locate downtown, there is currently little space available for them to do so. When planning for future growth in the downtown, the best opportunity exists in the already vacant lands scattered throughout the area. There is an excess of undeveloped land in the downtown. Many of these lots are privately held. Some lots are for sale, and others are simply empty space. These empty spaces have the highest potential for development in the downtown either as new businesses or as plaza space. While there is an amount of surface parking that is required for downtown to function properly, an excess of parking can also have a negative effect. An assessment of available parking spaces in downtown Houston was completed as part of the 2018 Transportation Master Plan (TMP). The study

Page | 13

found that there were nearly twice as many parking spaces available in the downtown that could be filled at peak times (Figure 2). The TMP also mentions that this amount of excess parking is good for accommodating future growth. It is true that some amount of excess parking will be needed to accommodate growth in the future. However, the distribution and amount of parking available may act to limit where future growth can occur. If all existing parking were to remain as parking, it might push new development outside of the downtown.

Figure 4 - Parking demand for downtown Houston (District of Houston Transportation Master Plan, 2018).

3.4 CONCURRENT PROJECT CONTEXT

The District of Houston has several ongoing projects and programs that will affect the beautification and revitalization of the downtown. The following is a list and description of projects currently underway or in the planning stages.

SNOW CLEARING The District has a well-developed snow clearing program in which downtown roads are among the first priority for clearing. Some sidewalks are included and given priority in the current snow removal policy. Sidewalks bordering municipal properties are priority 2 for snow clearing, while all other sidewalks are considered priority 3 for snow removal. Snow removal activities are initiated after an accumulation of 2 inches for Priority 1, 4 inches of snow for Priority 2 areas and 9 inches for Priority 3 areas.

SIDEWALK PLAN /LIGHTS The District is in the process of upgrading many of its sidewalks. New sidewalks are found all over the downtown, and many new ones are planned. Currently, a new sidewalk is planned for the south

Page | 14

side of Highway 16 that stretches from Benson Ave to Butler Ave. All newly installed sidewalks will be 2 meters wide.

WAYFINDING PLAN The District is seeking funding to complete a wayfinding plan that will focus on entrance and gateway signage along Highway 16. The District would like to create new signage that makes it easier for people to find downtown from the Highway. This plan identifies recommended locations for wayfinding signage and suggests a hierarchy that may inform this future study.

STREET LIGHT AT BUTLER AVE AND HIGHWAY 16 The District is currently in discussions with the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure negotiating the installation of a new traffic light at Butler Avenue and Highway 16. The intersection is an important gateway for the downtown. For westbound travellers, the first traffic light is at Benson Ave. By the time travellers get to this light, they have passed all of downtown Houston. The traffic light will also aid pedestrian crossings to the north side of the highway on the east side of town.

Page | 15 Engagement Summary

The Houston Downtown Beautification Plan was developed in conjunction with diverse stakeholder engagement to ensure that the plan addresses issues that are relevant to the community. The District hosted Placemaking-in-a-Week Downtown Planning sessions to talk to residents, District staff, business owners, and other stakeholders about the downtown. The Placemaking-in-a-Week event was held over three days and included walking tours, stakeholder engagement workshops, interviews, and public engagement sessions. The goal of all these activities was to collect information on how people perceive the downtown and how they feel it could be made better. Sessions also included gathering input on preliminary ideas that could help encourage activity and liveliness downtown. These sessions engaged 23 stakeholders and members of the public, gathering important local knowledge and creativity during events that included: • Walking tours • Stakeholder engagement workshops • Interviews • Public engagement sessions • Information kiosk A community survey was hosted online and made available in hardcopy, capturing responses from a wide range of Houston residents, including people who work in Houston, business owners, students, and retirees.

The community survey yielded one of the highest response rates for a survey in Houston in recent memory, with over 80 responses gathered. Of those responses, 72 came from Houston Residents, while the rest came from people living outside of Houston who own property in town or who visit Houston for shopping, events, and services. The findings from the survey and the Placemaking-In-A- Week Downtown Planning sessions are summarized below.

Page | 17

When survey and event participants were asked what they value most about Downtown Houston, the number one response was local businesses (Figure 5). Residents enjoy the range of friendly, local, and convenient businesses in Houston, including restaurants, the coffee shop, and the grocery, clothing, and drug stores. Houstonians also value the ‘small town feel’ of the Downtown, including the good people and the compact, convenient size that makes it easy to get around the community. A number of participants also found Downtown Houston to be attractive, clean and inviting. Steelhead Park, located just across from Downtown, was Figure 5 - Top 3 things people value most about frequently mentioned as a beautiful, well-maintained, and downtown Houston important local amenity.

A number of challenges facing downtown were also discussed (Figure 6). The largest issue identified is the lack of a cohesive identity in the Downtown, including the layout and location of businesses as well as the look, theme, and maintenance of the buildings and properties. The Downtown was described as feeling disconnected, with dated buildings in need of better upkeep. Participants felt that it lacks the classic ‘Main Street’ feel present in many other small towns, where people gather, shop, and play in one central area. The many empty storefronts and vacant lots are seen as contributing to this problem, but they also present opportunity. Attracting visitors travelling along Highway 16 was listed Figure 6 - Top 3 challenges facing downtown Houston as another challenge; the Downtown needs to be attractive and easily accessible for passersby. While Houston’s existing businesses are highly appreciated, participants lamented the limited business hours and the lack of variety in shopping, restaurants, and entertainment. They also noted that it can be difficult to attract, startup, and sustain businesses in Downtown Houston. Other challenges include crime, proper sharp disposal for needles, and poor accessibility for people with mobility challenges, including seniors. A number of basic amenities could be added or improved, including street lighting, vegetation, parking, wayfinding, play spaces for children, outdoor seating, and public gathering places. Houston residents had a number of excellent ideas for focusing efforts and enhancing the Downtown Area. Figure 5 shows the five most important factors to address according to survey results (respondents were able to select more than one response). This includes crime and safety, pedestrian accessibility (especially in the winter), vacant lots/buildings, lighting, and gathering spaces and street

Page | 18

furniture, which tied for fifth. In addition to these, many other important factors were discussed, including parks, green space, and street trees, art from local artists, and heritage preservation and interpretation. Participants were interested in adding public recreation spots that could become focal points of the Downtown, including a water park for children, an outdoor skating rink (with hot chocolate stand), and a beach along the river.

Top Factors to Address in Downtown Houston

60% 52% 48% 42% 39% 40% 36% 36%

20%

0% Crime and safety Sidewalk and Vacancy (lots or Lighting Gathering and Street furniture pedestrian buildings) (pedestrian, event space(s) (benches, bike accessibility street or racks, garbage decorative) cans)

Figure 7: Top Factors to Address in Downtown Houston

The idea of creating a unifying look, feel, or theme for the Downtown was a frequent comment throughout the survey responses and public events. Houstonians want to build on the District’s existing branding efforts by giving the Downtown an outdoorsy, natural identity. Showcasing Houston’s fishing culture was seen as important. This can be incorporated in a number of ways, including themed art pieces, crosswalks, garbage cans, and other amenities. Wood is also considered a key element that should be integrated into buildings, street amenities, and art.

These themes were evident in participants’ preferences when examining precedent images from other communities. Participants were very interested in adding functional yet creative seating, with wood

Page | 19

and decorative planters consistently attracting attention. Decorative pavement elements, garbage bins, utility boxes, tree grates, and other street amenities were noted as ways to improve the streetscape. Enhanced lighting and vegetation were also noted as elements that would help to beautify the Downtown while addressing other key challenges. For example, improved lighting could help to alleviate safety concerns and make gathering space more attractive. Additionally, it was suggested that in the short term, vacant lots could be transformed into gardens or landscaped areas, making them attractive spaces until development opportunities arise.

Page | 20 Trends

This section provides an overview of some relevant trends influencing urban development and downtown beautification in other cities in western Canada and beyond. These trends range from the form of new development to novel ways of thinking about transportation, the environment and even crime. These trends also include an overview of how things like social media and public art play a role in downtown revitalization.

5.1.1 TRAFFIC CALMING AND ROAD DIETS

Traffic calming and road diets are terms that describe a broad suite of tools for improving road safety and reducing traffic speeds along roadways. These types of improvements can also have a profound effect on the aesthetics of the streetscape by introducing more space for pedestrians and by making the street safer and more comfortable for vulnerable road users. Examples of these improvements are generally described in the table below.

Table 3 - Traffic calming and road diet overview. Types of Primary Goal Affect on Beautification Interventions Add visual complexity to the streetscape Curb bump outs and allow more space for pedestrian amenities. Added visual interest and shade for Adding street trees To reduce traffic speeds pedestrians. and volumes to increase Reduced speed Slower speeds. Slower modes are more road safety limits likely to stop and visit businesses. Planted medians or Added visual interest and space for lighting roundabout and hanging baskets Traffic Calming Traffic Directional or partial Additional plaza space, reduced volumes closures ad additional room for events

More space for vulnerable road users. More Addition of bike equitable transportation. Slower modes are lanes more likely to stop and visit businesses. Introducing turning Reduce road complexity and congestion. lanes To alter the allocation of Add visual complexity to the streetscape road space to improve Curb bump outs and allow more space for pedestrian safety and efficiency for all amenities. users Allow pedestrians and cyclists to move Signal priority for

Road Diets Road before vehicles to enhance their visibility vulnerable users and establish their right of way. Wider sidewalks allow more room for Additional sidewalk pedestrian amenities like trees, benches or space commerce.

Page | 22

5.1.2 MULTI-USE DEVELOPMENT

Mixed-use development refers to forms of development that mix uses that have been historically separated in creative ways to help catalyze activity in a given location. Types of mixed-use development can combine residential with commercial, entertainment, institutional or cultural uses. Mixed-use development is helpful for downtowns because they tend to bring more people to an area, especially when residential space is part of the development. Mixed-use developments can complement downtown beautification efforts by providing spaces that are flexible enough to accommodate different uses such as foyers, or plazas that can be used by residents and businesses. Mixed-use developments can also benefit municipalities financially by increasing property tax revenue and by lowering infrastructure costs because of increased density.

5.1.3 PUBLIC ART PROGRAMS AND CULTURAL EXPRESSION

Public art programs have been shown to be helpful to smaller communities by increasing public participation with public space. Public art creates visual interest and sparks curiosity amongst people walking by or moving through an area. Public art can act as a catalyst that attracts activity to a space by sparking interactions amongst strangers, acting as a focal point or meeting place and inviting people to appreciate public spaces. Public art can also be an opportunity to engage youth or other vulnerable segments of the community. Public art in downtown Houston presents an opportunity to highlight the area’s unique local culture. The Houston area was originally settled by a large proportion of Dutch immigrants who left their mark on the landscape in the farms and architecture of the town. Houston is also within the traditional territory of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation, and there is Traditional names, art and symbols could give the neighbourhood a unique character. Possible applications include public art, street signage and street and place names.

5.1.4 CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is an approach to urban design that prioritizes user safety and crime prevention. The theory behind CPTED is that spaces can be designed to reduce the likelihood of criminal activity. Examples of CPTED interventions are appropriate lighting, designing buildings to reduce hiding places and ensuring long lines of sight in parks and plazas. Employing CPTED design principles to downtown Houston will make the environment safer for all residents, employees, and visitors. Some key considerations for employing CPTED designs in downtown Houston include the following: • New buildings should be designed to provide “eyes on the street” through the placement of windows, porches, balconies, and street-level uses. Blank walls should be avoided. Design

Page | 23

should allow for casual surveillance of all streets, parks, children’s play areas and other public spaces. • Adequate lighting should be provided for all streets, lanes, parking areas, parks, trails, and building entrances to enhance the sense of safety and personal security. In places with high pedestrian traffic, pedestrian scale lighting should be provided. • Landscaping and fencing should be designed to avoid the creation of blind spots or hiding places. • Site design should allow for clear sightlines between parking areas, public sidewalks, and building entrances.

5.1.5 MARKETING AND SOCIAL MEDIA

British Columbia is divided into six major tourism regions that are managed by Destination BC. Destination BC is a government agency that is responsible for high-level tourism strategies and promotion in BC. The District of Houston is included in the Northern BC tourism region. Each region is marketed with a different regional character. Destination BC markets Northern BC with an emphasis on the connection to First Nations culture, the natural environment through fishing, and wildlife viewing, and wild primordial landscapes, including deep forests, mountains and jagged coastlines. The Provincial Tourism Strategy highlights the importance of growing local trail networks and the future of cycle tourism for BC’s overall tourism industry. The Houston Visitor Center promotes tourism in and around the District and collects visitor statistics throughout the year. A key trend that emerged from these numbers is that most visitors come in the summer to seek out parks and adventure recreation more than any other type of activity. New social media and marketing programs should be consistent with these themes. The District of Houston should be working with Destination BC to promote itself as a destination where people can explore all the best Northern BC has to offer.

Social Media and Story-Based Marketing The way people are discovering tourism information is changing. Social media and smartphones have made it easy to research, get recommendations, reviews and stories about new places in real time. Traditional approaches of visitor centres and other media are seeing increased pressure and competition from the internet and social media based approaches to tourism marketing. There is a strong need to boost social media presence to attract visitors. Social media allows people to learn about places through personal stories and experiences. Story based marketing through magazine articles and videos are also very effective methods for generating interest about a place. Stories from local business owners, trail builders, event organizers and even stories from other travellers’ help frame the experience of a place. Social Media marketing is powerful and can be very successful, but it is time-consuming and requires an up-front investment of resources. Social media campaigns are most effective when a dedicated individual who can respond quickly to keep any engagement conversational. Regular posting of

Page | 24

updates and stories are critical to remaining relevant to audiences. Partnerships with existing marketing organizations are one approach that may offer some support.

Instagram Spots Instagram is a social media platform where users primarily share photos. Users can connect and comment on each other's posts and send messages. Marketing and tourism associations have latched onto Instagram as a key tool for promoting areas through high-quality photography. Professional “influencers” who travel and photograph the places they visit inspire their followers. Instagram has become an important platform for people discovering new places and as a factor in people’s decision making when choosing vacation destinations. Instagram spots take the concept of this photo tourism one step further. Instagram posts inspire to visit new places, but many users also try to replicate famous photos themselves, visiting the exact spots in their favourite photos. Instagram spots are essentially places where social media users can grab their one “must have” spectacular photo to capture the experience of a building, a food or beverage or a landscape. Possible Instagram spots for Houston are the giant fishing rod, the Moose Hut. New attractions in the downtown as presented in the plan could also be marketed with social media tourism in mind to draw people to specific places or businesses and celebrate the history of Houston.

5.1.6 ECOLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Ecological Infrastructure (also known as green or blue infrastructure) are systems that use or mimic natural processes to provide human benefit. The natural world is made up of complex systems that provide common functions like slope stability, water filtration, sediment control, flood mitigation and air purification. Successfully mimicking natural systems with ecological infrastructure can produce cost- effective and low impact outcomes. Examples of ecological interventions include green roofs and bioswales. Trees are one of the simplest forms of ecological infrastructure and can provide shade and windbreaks. Careful placement of deciduous trees around a building can help reduce heating and cooling costs through the seasons by providing shade in the summer and letting in light in the winter when the leaves fall. Downtown Houston could benefit from different types of ecological infrastructure listed below.

Page | 25

ECOLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURE EXAMPLES

Bioswales/Rain Gardens/Planter Boxes Bioswales, rain gardens and planter boxes are water management interventions that allow greater amounts of stormwater to infiltrate into the soil than traditional infrastructure. By increasing infiltration rates, traditional systems must manage less water.

• Water retention • Storm surge mitigation • Water filtration • Sediment retention • Landscaping

Figure 8 - Examples of Planter Boxes and Bio-Retention Garden

Trees Trees can provide shading, slope stability and windbreak functions. Deciduous trees can provide shade in the summer and light in the winter, while coniferous trees can provide windbreaks, shade, and insulation year round. Trees are important in low-impact development intercepting and absorbing rainwater reducing loading on storm sewers and improving watershed health.

• Shading • Cooling • Windbreaks • Insulation • Slope stability • Food production • Stormwater management

Figure 9 - Example of Tree and Soil Cell as Ecological Infrastructure

Page | 26

Beautification Plan

6.1 THEME

A unified theme for the downtown is important to give the area a cohesive appearance and to guide new development. The theme should be reflective of the values present in the community, and it should be visually interesting. The theme presented in the following plan is an extension of the Districts “Naturally Amazing” brand work that it has completed in recent years. Through this work, the District identified a key symbol of the fly-fisher to reference the area's reputation as a top fishing destination. The colours include a muted blue and earth tones that are callbacks to the water and the river shore. Several banners with this branding have already been hung around town on lampposts. This plan aims to take this theme further to expand its references from the recreation aspect of fishing to include the economic importance of wood and the forest industry. The downtown does not showcase the District’s main export, wood. There are no large beams, or wooden storefronts, or other wood products or finishes visible in the downtown. Not only, does wood in the form of accents, sculpture, or full buildings speak to the economic backbone of the area, but it provides a warm and welcoming feeling as well as a feeling of authenticity.

6.1.1 ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY

Economic sustainability is a key driver of this plan. The themes, upgrades and other projects are intended to be at a scale that is practical and realistic for Figure 10 - Street post banners reflecting Houston's "Naturally the District. The improvements and themes in this plan are designed to Amazing" brand. support and promote the local economy, and the bigger ideas are intended to provide spaces that support downtown businesses and tourism. 6.2 DOWNTOWN BEAUTIFICATION PLAN

Overall approach The beautification plan prioritizes the town’s interface zone with Highway 16 and identifies intersections and corridors for additional improvements that carry the “Naturally Amazing” theme through the study area. Broad strokes of the plan include: • Decorative screen-interface with highway and screen building backsides from motorists • Multi-season civic gathering space-a destination in the Downtown for community events that is highly visible from the highway and anchors the Poulton Avenue axis that connects to the recreation centre. • Downtown gateways- priority intersections with the Highway where visitors are welcomed into the downtown with signage and potentially a gateway feature.

Page | 28

• Enhanced intersections- intersections on prime corridors prioritized for aesthetic improvements • Municipal opportunity- parcels that are currently owned by the District used for parking and gathering. The District might consider renewal of the Community Hall, and or the sale of the parcel on 10th Street to initiate new multi-use development in the Downtown. • Streetscape renewal- highest visibility shopping and dining streets where future deep utility upgrades will present opportunities for surface renewal and revitalization. • Streetscape beautification- important north-south and east-west corridors that link the downtown where surface elements like updated site furnishings, lighting, hanging baskets, and interpretive elements In addition, the plan characterizes five precincts in Downtown with similar characteristics and shared opportunities. These areas and priorities include: • Downtown Core Precinct

o Streetscape renewal and beautification o Ecological infrastructure, e.g. street trees and rain gardens o Encourage multi-use development and pop-up entrepreneurship o Unique spaces for gathering o Wayfinding • Downtown Commercial Precinct

o Encourage highway-oriented development, e.g. truck stop, RV campground, fast food. o Wayfinding • Service Precinct

o Ecological infrastructure, e.g. rain gardens o Enhanced intersections o Wayfinding • Residential Precinct

o Ecological infrastructure, e.g. rain gardens o Enhanced intersections • Recreation Precinct

o Ecological infrastructure, e.g. preserved riparian areas o Wayfinding

Page | 29

6.3 QUICK WINS FOR STREETSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION

This section outlines some of the smaller/low-cost design ideas that can be implemented in many locations in the short-term as well as in the long term and contribute to the success and thematic continuity of the overall plan.

Graphic Wraps Building on the colours and imagery in the “Naturally Amazing” brand, this plan introduces a graphic device that pulls together several images that represent Houston including the angler, a fly lure, the stone fly, the Spirit bear near the recreation centre, the Bulkley River and the Steelhead trout. The image is created in a high-resolution vector format and can be reproduced at almost any scale. The concentric circles create a powerful visual draw for the eye, which will hook attention, and draw people in to look more closely and discover the story of Houston.

Graphic wraps that feature the new artwork can be applied to utility boxes, waste receptacles to enhance this existing infrastructure in the streetscape. Although many participants identified wrapping utility boxes as desirable, there are only existing two utility boxes within the study area with potential for this enhancement. There are, however, a large number of Waste Management dumpsters that were highly visible throughout the study area where the concept of decorative wrapping could have a significant impact on the aesthetics of Downtown Houston in the event that Waste Management is Figure 12 - Graphic wrap design open to wraps to be applied to their bins. concept

Figure 14 - Utility box graphic wrap Figure 13 - Waste bin graphic wrap

Page | 31

Decorative Crosswalks With positive responses from event participants, we envision utilizing decorative crosswalks and thematic patterns sandblasted into the sidewalks as tools to not only enhance visitor experience in the Downtown, but also an effective strategy to lead pedestrians to key locations within the study area. The imagery proposed for the crosswalks presents a narrative of the rivers with representations of the stone fly, the Steelhead trout, and the bear: three species intrinsically linked to one another, and the famed angler of the “Naturally Amazing” brand. The artwork can be applied to the existing pavement using paint to keep costs low, potentially involving volunteers in the implementation. Crosswalks can be either fully populated with the images or just a few creatures depending on visibility priority and investment. There is also an opportunity to integrate this narrative and imagery into the sidewalks through sandblasting similar patterns selectively into the concrete.

Figure 15 - Decorative crosswalk with iconic Houston imagery

Page | 32

Historical Photo cut-out Instagram spots Using historical photos, with cut-out spaces for posing we propose creating interpretive spaces where visitors share their experiences in Houston through deliberate integration with social media platforms like Instagram. A perforated or graphic wrapped metal screen with openings in the faces to allow visitors to become part of the Houston story and share that with the world through social media.

Figure 16 - Historical photo wall concept

Creative improvements to the Highway 16 interface One of the most notable challenges in Houston is the relationship of the buildings along 9th Street to the highway. The rear facades present a rather unwelcoming face to potential visitors with the exception of several murals that will remain visible with the proposed approach. The decorative log wall screen not only celebrates the importance of the timber industry to the region but presents a rather familiar sight in an unexpected and whimsical way that will surprise and encourage travelers to stop and check out what Houston has to offer.

Immediately behind these log piles, but occasionally visible from the highway, lies an opportunity to further temp travellers to stop for break…the hammock orchard. Although there may be a drawback to locating the hammocks are close to the highway, and there certainly opportunities to incorporate these elements in calmer environments in the community as well, this location remains viable as evidenced by the popularity of Steelhead park despite its proximity to the highway. Combining the log elements with the hammocks sends a message that there are fun experiences waiting for them in Houston.

Page | 33

The log wall is a form of public art feature that will add sight and noise screening to downtown while creating visual interest from the highway. The new feature will tie in with the downtown theme and speak to the economy and culture of Houston.

Figure 17 - Highway 16 creative improvements. Log wall and hammock orchard.

Hanging baskets While decorative hanging baskets are hardly a new idea, they do provide a broadly appreciated aesthetic impact on streetscapes. Visible stewardship and attention to the details like hanging baskets will support the other initiatives and enhance the overall impact of the placemaking effort in the Downtown. Hanging baskets can be added to the key corridors in the study area to existing and new lamp standards.

Figure 18 - Hanging baskets

Page | 34

Customized bike racks Houston has an active and growing cycling and mountain biking community, and there is an opportunity to communicate to cyclists that they are welcome in Houston while solving a practical challenge and encouraging active transportation. The circular H-brand graphic element from the District’s branding exercise lends itself easily to the creation of a unique and cost-effective bike rack. The loop-style rack is available from several manufacturers and are a flexible option since they can used individually in locations where space is limited, or grouped together when more bike storage is desired.

Figure 19 - 'H' branded bicycle rack concept

Figure 20 'H' branded bicycle rack concept

Page | 35

Modular seating Within downtown Houston, there, large bulb-outs at intersections and wide sections of sidewalk present opportunities to increase seating opportunities and select seat types that support the incorporation of the District’s brand. The modular “Pixel” series from Canadian site furnishing company Maglin, provides almost endless options for unique seating configurations, colour selection, seat height and type, integral planters and seat materials.

Figure 21 - Modular seating from Maglin Site Furniture (2018)

Figure 22 Beautification elements in an enhanced intersection

6.4 BIG MOVES

6.4.1 STREETSCAPE RENEWAL

The Streetscape Renewal Concept is driven by anticiapted deep utility upgrades on 9th and 10th Streets which are necessarily accompanied by full replacement of surface works. The concept for Houston’s downtown core prioritizes the following attributes: • Legibility in circulation and wayfinding • Microclimates that mediate weather extremes • Accessibility for all modes and abilities

Page | 36

6.4.2 COMMUNITY BARN AND FOUNTAIN PLAZA The proposed community barn and plaza space celebrates timber and acts as both as a high-impact feature visible to highway motorists as well a landmark anchor to the Poulton Avenue corridor. Truly a locals’ and travellers’ destination for all seasons, the concept features the following key elements: • Covered gathering space • Diverse seating opportunities and site furnishings • Flexible plaza space with ground spray fountain • Fireplace • Lighting • Trees and plantings • Historical pic Instagram spot

Figure 25 - Proposed Community Barn and Fountain Plaza

Page | 39

Development Permit Recommendations

7.1 OVERVIEW

Figure 26 - Extent of existing Downtown Development Permit Area Development permit areas are regulatory instruments used by municipalities to enforce certain forms and designs aspects of development within a given area. The downtown development permit area for Houston is intended to ensure that new development adheres to smart growth principles and that it aligns with the community character set out in the Official Community Plan. The downtown is supposed to function as the centre for commercial and tourism activity for the community. While these are excellent goals and intentions, the area laid out for this development permit area encompass much more than the likely commercial centre of downtown Houston. The current area affected by the development permit area includes large swaths of residential and institutional areas that may not be best served by being affected by a development permit area aimed at commercial development. District staff have found that the existing development permit area DPA definition has been cumbersome to work with. Conversations with staff revealed that the DPA has components that are not relevant to the District and that the document overall is large and not user-friendly for either staff or the public. The District would like a simplified version of the current DPA that is more user-friendly, and that better represents downtown areas.

Page | 41

This section provides recommendations on how to improve the downtown development permit area to better serve the District. These recommendations are divided into recommendations on how the development permit area is shaped spatially, and specific recommendations for removing complexity and improving utility.

7.2 EXTENT OF THE DOWNTOWN PERMIT AREA

One of the main concerns about the downtown DPA was that it was too cumbersome for dealing with day to day development. The current boundary of this DPA is large and includes a significant amount of institutional and residential area. These areas do not behave the same way as the core commercial area of downtown, which is the context for which the existing DPA seems to apply. The existing boundary also includes a large area east of downtown that includes the Ambassador Mobile Home Park, a seniors housing complex and a large piece of vacant land which is prone to flooding. These uses do not complement the intention for downtown and function differently from it. Similarly, the area north of Highway 16 at Butler Avenue is home to several businesses that complement the downtown. There is potential for this area to serve as an expanded gateway zone for the downtown and should reflect the same character. The map below shows the extent of a possible revision to the extent of the downtown development permit area. This map excludes areas to the east but includes an area north of Highway 16 on Butler Ave.

Figure 27 - Revised Downtown Development Permit Area Extent.

Page | 42

7.3 SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS

The recommendations below are specific to policies contained within the Downtown Development Permit area. These recommendations are intended to amend existing policies in a way that will make them clearer and thereby more user-friendly for staff as well as members of public. Policy 4a) The development of new buildings and renovations to existing buildings should be sympathetic to the scale, mass, materials and colours found in traditional wood structures and buildings, without being imitational. Buildings should engage the street with a positive pedestrian presence, reducing or eliminating car, delivery or parking dominated elements; and consistent with the urban fabric already at the Leisure Center and Amphitheatre. The above policy could be improved by allowing alternate materials. Limiting material types can increase costs for business owners and may not achieve the desired effect of maintaining a certain character or theme. New materials such as Hardie Board are available that can mimic certain looks quite successfully and add longevity to façade improvements. Policy 4b) Site furnishings, lighting, brick work and other materials should be designed to be compatible with materials currently in place to reinforce continuity of character, to soften the visual effect of the streetscape and to promote comfort for pedestrians; It is unclear what is meant by “compatible with materials currently in place”. This may be difficult to decipher and could be misinterpreted. The downtown currently has little in place regarding a unifying visual character, so this policy may be aspirational. The previous policy mentions the character and form of the Leisure Center and the amphitheatre. Stating an intention to reflect materials or aesthetics in place on buildings like these may add more clarity to this policy. Policy 4d) Parking areas and service areas should be screened and landscaped. Consideration should be given to ease of pedestrian access as well as vehicular access when designing parking areas (see sustainability checklist and the waiver of parking requirements elsewhere in the Development Bylaw). If on-site parking is not provided, consideration must be given to loading and unloading, and pick-up and drop-off areas. These can be placed within the public right-of-way provided they are coordinated with adjacent uses and respective parking requirements. This policy makes it unclear if property owners would need permission to use the District’s Right of way. This policy should also point to the Districts Parking Bylaw. Policy 4i) Where a development is proposed in an area designated Development Permit Area conditions with respect to the form and character of the building can be imposed on a mixed use building to enhance the characteristics of the multi- family component;

Page | 43

The wording of this policy is confusing and needs to be simplified. The intention is to communicate that form and character considerations are applicable to mixed-use and multi-family developments within the Development Permit Area. The wording of this pol\icy could be amended and revised to mention the kinds of form and character considerations that should be applicable to it. Policy 4k) Development should minimize impacts to surrounding land uses, particularly existing single-family residences. Use of shielded lighting, fencing, building orientation, below grade parking, building variation, open space and other mechanisms is encouraged to maximize privacy and minimize adverse impacts. This policy mentions considerations for below grade parking. This can likely be removed from the DPA as it is unlikely that any below-grade parking will be required. The excess of parking downtown and the added costs to development for providing below grade parking create a situation where this type of parking would be unnecessary, and that could potentially discourage development.

Other Recommendations: In addition to the comments above, the Downtown Development Permit Area guideline does not have any mention of signage or the durability of materials that should be used in improvements. This development permit area definition is contained within the District’s Development Bylaw, which also contains the District’s Signage Bylaw, but there is no mention of this connection here where it is most relevant. This DPA should make a clear connection to the Signage Bylaw to make it more user-friendly for both staff and members of the public.

Page | 44 Implementation Plan

This plan provides a vision for the future of downtown Houston including a comprehensive package of actions to achieve this vision. This section presents the implementation and phasing plan for the Houston Downtown Beautification Plan.

Table 4 - Quick win cost assumptions.

Unit Cost

Graphic Wraps $600.00 - $3,000.00 (each) Graphic wraps for utility boxes, waste bins, or benches. Price changes depending on unit size.

Decorative Crosswalks $5,000.00 - $20,000.00 (each) Colourful crosswalk treatments with iconic Houston imagery. Price changes depending on scale of implementation.

Historical Photo cut out $10,000 - $30,000.00 Instagram spots (each) Interactive historical interpretive photo walls. Range represents perforated metal graphic vs unperforated metal with graphic wrap.

Creative improvements to $18,000 - $25,000.00 the Highway 16 interface (allowance)

Colourful log wall installation, hammock orchard. Price ranges depending on extents of improvement (see implementation table for more

detail.

Page | 46

Unit Cost

Hanging Baskets $800.00 (each) Decorative hanging planter basket.

Custom Bicycle Rack $900.00 (each) Circular ‘H’ branded bike rack

Modular Seating $2,000.0 - $4,400.00 (each) Maglin modular seating. Price varies with presence or absence of graphic wraps and size of seat..

The following tables identify estimated capital costs for implementing the elements presented in the Downtown Beautification Plan as well as phasing strategy for achieving the complete vision. The capital cost estimates provides in Table 6 and 7 are intended to provide a first glimpse at budgets for planning purposes and should not be used for detailed budgeting. The estimates include contingencies for both engineering as well as construction. Table 7 articulates a proposed phasing plan to achieve the plan vision within approximately fifteen years. Identifying partners and funding streams will be critical to realizing major infrastructure renewal, and the final section of this section identifies potential funding streams that may be accessed to support portions of the Beautification Plan.

Page | 47 DOWNTOWN HOUSTON BEAUTIFICATION PLAN Implementation Plan Streetscape Renewal Concept November, 2018

9th Street 10th Street Poulton Avenue Butler Avenue Highway 16 Interface South Downtown

Hwy 16 to Poulton Poulton to Butler Copeland to Poulton Poulton to Butler 9th Street to 10th Street Highway 16 to 9th Street 9th Street to 10th Street Community Barn Plaza Hammock Orchard Item Unit Unit cost Qty. Cost Qty.Cost Qty. Cost Qty. Cost Qty. Cost Qty. Cost Qty. Cost Qty. Cost Qty. Cost Qty. Cost

1Removals apshalt m2 $16.00 850.00 $13,600.00 2500.00 $40,000.00 1965.00 $31,440.00 1900.00 $30,400.00 700.00 $11,200.00 630.00 $10,080.00 600.00 $9,600.00 450.00 $7,200.00 $0.00 $0.00 sidewalk/curb and gutter lm $20.00 30.00 $600.00 450.00 $9,000.00 450.00 $9,000.00 450.00 $9,000.00 100.00 $2,000.00 145.00 $2,900.00 145.00 $2,900.00 130.00 $2,600.00 $0.00 $0.00 soft landscape m2 $4.00 70.00 $280.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 900.00 $3,600.00 $0.00 lighting lm $8.00 77.00 $616.00 170.00 $1,360.00 180.00 $1,440.00 170.00 $1,360.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 150.00 $1,200.00 $0.00 Subtotal $15,096.00 $50,360.00 $41,880.00 $40,760.00 $13,200.00 $12,980.00 $12,500.00 $9,800.00 $4,800.00 $0.00 2 Curb‐Gutter, Roadway & Aphalt excavation, base prep. & base ‐ c&g lm $20.00 165.00 $3,300.00 1427.00 $28,540.00 360.00 $7,200.00 345.00 $6,900.00 100.00 $2,000.00 45.00 $900.00 55.00 $1,100.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 curb & gutter (standup or rollover) lm $80.00 165.00 $13,200.00 335.00 $26,800.00 360.00 $28,800.00 345.00 $27,600.00 100.00 $8,000.00 45.00 $3,600.00 55.00 $4,400.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 excavation & base ‐ road m2 $25.00 800.00 $20,000.00 2050.00 $51,250.00 1895.00 $47,375.00 1900.00 $47,500.00 750.00 $18,750.00 460.00 $11,500.00 440.00 $11,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 asphalt pavement m2 $30.00 800.00 $24,000.00 2050.00 $61,500.00 1895.00 $56,850.00 1900.00 $57,000.00 750.00 $22,500.00 460.00 $13,800.00 440.00 $13,200.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 pavement marking per block $3,000.00 0.50 $1,500.00 1.00 $3,000.00 1.00 $3,000.00 1.00 $3,000.00 0.50 $1,500.00 0.50 $1,500.00 0.50 $1,500.00 $0.00 0.50 $1,500.00 $0.00 Subtotal $62,000.00 $171,090.00 $143,225.00 $142,000.00 $52,750.00 $31,300.00 $31,200.00 $0.00 $1,500.00 $0.00 3 Sidewalk and Walkways excavation & base preparation m2 $7.00 650.00 $4,550.00 1495.00 $10,465.00 920.00 $6,440.00 970.00 $6,790.00 70.00 $490.00 90.00 $630.00 110.00 $770.00 540.00 $3,780.00 $0.00 $0.00 standard concrete walk m2 $90.00 650.00 $58,500.00 1495.00 $134,550.00 920.00 $82,800.00 970.00 $87,300.00 70.00 $6,300.00 90.00 $8,100.00 110.00 $9,900.00 440.00 $39,600.00 300.00 $27,000.00 $0.00 special concrete walk m2 $220.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 100.00 $22,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 Subtotal $63,050.00 $145,015.00 $89,240.00 $94,090.00 $6,790.00 $8,730.00 $10,670.00 $65,380.00 $27,000.00 $0.00 4 Lighting and Electrical Luminaire poles ea $4,000.00 2.00 $8,000.00 5.00 $20,000.00 5.00 $20,000.00 5.00 $20,000.00 3.00 $12,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 3 $12,000.00 $0.00 Distribution lm $180.00 77.00 $13,860.00 335.00 $60,300.00 360.00 $64,800.00 340.00 $61,200.00 100.00 $18,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 150 $27,000.00 $0.00 Basket arms (including irrigation) ea $600.00 2.00 $1,200.00 5.00 $3,000.00 5.00 $3,000.00 5.00 $3,000.00 3.00 $1,800.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 3 $1,800.00 $0.00 Banner arms ea $300.00 2.00 $600.00 5.00 $1,500.00 5.00 $1,500.00 5.00 $1,500.00 3.00 $900.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 3 $900.00 $0.00 Power, service and controls per block $25,000.00 $0.00 1.00 $25,000.00 1.00 $25,000.00 1.00 $25,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 Other Power, service and controls allowance $20,000.00 $0.00 1.00 $20,000.00 1.00 $20,000.00 1.00 $20,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 1.00 $20,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 Subtotal $23,660.00 $129,800.00 $134,300.00 $130,700.00 $32,700.00 $0.00 $0.00 $20,000.00 $41,700.00 $0.00 5 Planting and Furnishings Finish grading m2 $4.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 Sod grass (incl. soil) m2 $9.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 Ornamental planting (incl. soil) m2 $80.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 20.00 $1,600.00 $0.00 $0.00 Exist. grass restoration (incl. soil) m2 $15.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 900.00 $13,500.00 $0.00 Trees in sidewalk (incl. soil cell and grate) ea $10,000.00 5.00 $50,000.00 18.00 $180,000.00 10.00 $100,000.00 11.00 $110,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 Trees in softscape ea $3,500.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 4.00 $14,000.00 24.00 $84,000.00 $0.00 Modular benches type 1 ea $4,250.00 1.00 $4,250.00 6.00 $25,500.00 $0.00 3.00 $12,750.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 4.00 $17,000.00 $0.00 4 $17,000.00 Modular benches type 1 (with graphic wrap) ea $4,750.00 1.00 $4,750.00 6.00 $28,500.00 $0.00 3.00 $14,250.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 8.00 $38,000.00 $0.00 4 $19,000.00 Modular benches type 2 ea $2,200.00 1.00 $2,200.00 6.00 $13,200.00 $0.00 3.00 $6,600.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 8.00 $17,600.00 $0.00 4 $8,800.00 Modular planter ea $950.00 2.00 $1,900.00 6.00 $5,700.00 $0.00 3.00 $2,850.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 4.00 $3,800.00 $0.00 4 $3,800.00 Bike racks ea $1,200.00 2.00 $2,400.00 7.00 $8,400.00 3.00 $3,600.00 7.00 $8,400.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 6.00 $7,200.00 2.00 $2,400.00 10 $12,000.00 Street dining table ea $5,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 2.00 $10,000.00 2.00 $10,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 Garbage receptacles (with graphic wrap) ea $2,400.00 1.00 $2,400.00 4.00 $9,600.00 $0.00 4.00 $9,600.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 2.00 $4,800.00 3.00 $7,200.00 4 $9,600.00 Ornamental bollards ea $900.00 10.00 $9,000.00 10.00 $9,000.00 $0.00 10.00 $9,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 4.00 $3,600.00 $0.00 $0.00 Hammock ea $3,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $24,000.00 8.00 $24,000.00 8 $24,000.00 Planter curb lm $240.00 $0.00 20.00 $4,800.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 Open space irrigation (incl. serv. and dist.) m2 $16.50 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 900.00 $14,850.00 $0.00 Streetscape irrigation (incl. serv. and dist.) lm $180.00 155.00 $27,900.00 $0.00 200.00 $36,000.00 340.00 $61,200.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 Grading and earthworks (assume 0.3m over site) m2 $8.50 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 Subtotal $104,800.00 $284,700.00 $149,600.00 $244,650.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $131,600.00 $145,950.00 $94,200.00 6 Features and Other Community Barn (includes lighting and fireplace) ea $200,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 1.00 $200,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 Log pile screen installation allow. $25,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 1.00 $25,000.00 $0.00 Decorative crosswalk premium allow. $22,500.00 1.00 $22,500.00 2.00 $45,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 Decorative crosswalk basic allow. $12,000.00 $0.00 1.00 $12,000.00 3.00 $36,000.00 3.00 $36,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 4 $48,000.00 Decorative crosswalk minimal allow. $7,500.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 13 $97,500.00 Graphic wrap‐existing waste receptacle allow. $600.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 10 $6,000.00 Graphic wrap‐ utility kiosk allow. $800.00 $0.00 1.00 $800.00 1.00 $800.00 1.00 $800.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 2.00 $1,600.00 $0.00 $0.00 Graphic wrap‐existing WM dumpster allow. $3,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 3.00 $9,000.00 20 $60,000.00 Historical picture wall allow. $30,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 1.00 $30,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 1.00 $30,000.00 $0.00 2 $60,000.00 Wayfinding ‐higyway vehicular scale allow. $30,000.00 1.00 $30,000.00 $0.00 1.00 $30,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 1.00 $30,000.00 $0.00 Wayfinding ‐downtown vehicular scale allow. $12,000.00 $0.00 1.00 $12,000.00 1.00 $12,000.00 1.00 $12,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 2 $24,000.00 Wayfinding ‐downtown pedestrian scale allow. $5,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 1.00 $5,000.00 1.00 $5,000.00 5 $25,000.00 Plaza fountain allow. $85,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 1.00 $85,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 Subtotal $52,500.00 $69,800.00 $108,800.00 $48,800.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $321,600.00 $69,000.00 $320,500.00

Subtotal Construction Costs $321,106.00 $850,765.00 $667,045.00 $701,000.00 $105,440.00 $53,010.00 $54,370.00 $548,380.00 $289,950.00 $414,700.00

30% Construction Contingency $96,331.80 $255,229.50 $200,113.50 $210,300.00 $31,632.00 $15,903.00 $16,311.00 $164,514.00 $86,985.00 $124,410.00 Total Construction Costs $417,437.80 $1,105,994.50 $867,158.50 $911,300.00 $137,072.00 $68,913.00 $70,681.00 $712,894.00 $376,935.00 $539,110.00

20% Engineering Fees and Contingency $83,487.56 $221,198.90 $173,431.70 $182,260.00 $27,414.40 $13,782.60 $14,136.20 $142,578.80 $75,387.00 $107,822.00 Total Project Estimate $501,000.00 $1,327,000.00 $1,041,000.00 $1,094,000.00 $164,000.00 $83,000.00 $85,000.00 $855,000.00 $452,000.00 $647,000.00

NOTES: Estimate is in 2018 dollar value and does not take into account year to year inflationary cost. Estimate includes 30% construction contingency to allow for unknowns at time of estimate and site conditions Estimate includes 20% engineering fees to allow for preliminary and detailed design including unknown subconsultants, geotechnical and survey Estimate does not include underground utilities

DOWNTOWN HOUSTON BEAUTIFICATION PLAN Implementation Plan Streetscape Renewal Phasing Plan November, 2018 Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Project Area Allocated Budget 1‐5 years 6‐10 years 10+ years

Highway 16 Interface

Community Barn Plaza $855,000.00 $0.00 100.00% $855,000.00 $0.00

Hammock Orchard $452,000.00 100.00% $452,000.00 $0.00 $0.00

9th Street

Hwy 16 to Poulton $501,000.00 100.00% $501,000.00 $0.00 $0.00

Poulton to Butler $1,327,000.00 100.00% $1,327,000.00 $0.00 $0.00

10th Street

Copeland to Poulton $1,041,000.00 $0.00 100.00% $1,041,000.00 $0.00

Poulton to Butler $1,094,000.00 $0.00 100.00% $1,094,000.00 $0.00

Poulton Avenue

9th Street to 10th Street $164,000.00 100.00% $164,000.00 $0.00 $0.00

Butler Avenue

Highway 16 to 9th Street $83,000.00 100.00% $83,000.00 $0.00 $0.00

9th Street to 10th Street $85,000.00 $0.00 100.00% $85,000.00 $0.00

South Downtown

10th Street to 14th, Copeland to Henry Creek $647,000.00 20.00% $129,400.00 30.00% $194,100.00 50.00% $323,500.00 Total $6,249,000.00 $2,656,400.00 $3,269,100.00 $323,500.00

NOTES: account year to year inflationary cost. unknowns at time of estimate and site conditions Estimate includes 20% engineering fees to allow for preliminary and detailed design including unknown Estimate does not include underground utilities

Typically, surface streetscape improvements are coupled with deep utility upgrades to maximize value of replacement for all municipal investment. Appendix B includes a summary memo that describes the considerations, assumptions and investment that may be required to replace deep utilities for a typical block in Houston. The memo includes class D estimates for deep utility replacement and complete road reconstruction and surface restoration but excludes any beautification elements. The implementation table presented in this plan (Table 6) has some overlap with these costs, specifically, asphalt and sidewalks as reflected in the Downtown Streetscape Plan. Based on the memo in Appendix B, the deep utility (storm, sanitary, and water) cost is estimated to be just over one million dollars including design and contingency per full length (170m) block. While the advanced age of Houston’s deep infrastructure may be an indicator of its remaining lifespan, the best indicators are condition assessments of each asset. We recommend that condition assessments of the District’s storm, sanitary, and water systems are conducted and resolved before any significant investments are made into streetscape surface improvements. Recent advancements in trenchless technologies enable repair and rehabilitation of underground assets while minimizing surface disruptions. Depending on the results of condition assessments, trenchless technologies may be able to be applied to extend the life of infrastructure at a lower cost than estimated above. .

8.1 URBAN DESIGN GRANTS

Implementation costs for the improvements listed in the Houston Downtown Beautification Plan can be greatly reduced by securing external funding sources and partnership opportunities. This section describes some funding strategies and potential funding sources the District may consider to help leverage its investments and to maximize its ability to implement the upgrades and improvements detailed in this plan. The District should regularly check with all levels of government to keep up to date on current funding opportunities. Houston should pursue all available sources of funding for urban design, landscape design and economic sources related to downtown revitalization and programs, including the programs identified below (Note: as funding opportunities change regularly, the information in this section is subject to change).

Northern Development Initiative Trust Funding Programs https://www.northerndevelopment.bc.ca/apply-for-funding/ NDIT has several funding programs available to support northern communities. Programs that may be of interest to Houston include the community halls and recreation facilities program, grant writing support, marketing initiatives, business facade improvement, community foundation matching grants.

Page | 50

Canfor Community Giving https://www.canfor.com/responsibility/corporate-giving/ Canfor supports a range of community initiatives through its Community Giving program. Funds are prioritized for community events, though donations of lumber are possible as well. Idea – Community Barn

Landscape Architecture Canada Foundation (LACF) http://lacf.ca/activities/annual-grants-program The LACF has an annual grants program that is intended to support projects that explore specific dimensions of landscape architecture. Idea – Landscaped log wall sculpture

Heritage BC https://heritagebc.ca/heritage-legacy-fund/past-grant-recipients/2017-heritage-legacy-fund- projects/ Heritage BC is a charitable not-for-profit that supports heritage conservation through various projects throughout BC. Idea – Interpretive photo walls

Real Estate Foundation of BC http://www.refbc.com/ The Real Estate Foundation of BC funds projects that address current land use challenges and help communities plan for the future. The foundation has five core interest areas that include projects related to land use, built environments, fresh water, food lands and the real estate profession. Idea – Urban design improvements that support local businesses

Tree Canada - Community Tree Grants https://treecanada.ca/greening-communities/community-tree-grants/ Tree Canada supports municipalities in delivering projects related to tree plantings and green infrastructure. They do not have any available grants at the moment, but there may be more in future. Idea – Add more trees to the downtown

Page | 51

8.2 NEXT STEPS

Other considerations that were identified through the planning process are below. These ideas are not directly related to Downtown Beautification but could influence the amount of activity in the downtown and bring more people to businesses. These ideas would need more analysis to justify the market demand for each facility and will be described in general terms for this plan. Should the District wish to explore these ideas further, we would be happy to assist.

RV Park RV parks are becoming an important part of the tourism market for small towns in the north. Driving routes to Alaska or the Inside Passage draw visitors in their RVs through. These travellers tend to be retired folks who want to camp in their RV, but who also want to be able to visit shops and restaurants in town. Placing an RV park close to downtown allows visitors to stop and walk to the downtown.

Full-Service Truck Stop A few long-haul truckers attended the Placemaking-in-a-week events in September. Their input coupled with the stated need to attract highway traffic to stop spurred the idea for a more formalized truck stop in Houston. Increased port activity in Prince Rupert has increased truck traffic along Highway 16 in recent years. Truckers need places to eat, get fuel and rest. Providing facilities for these types of travellers may be another way of attracting business to the downtown. A formalized full-service truck stop on the north side of Highway 16 at Butler Avenue could potentially work well.

Highest and Best Use Studies There are several vacant lots in Houston’s Downtown Core. The District should consider partnering with land owners to conduct highest and best use studies for select lots. Highest and best use studies explore market possibilities for specific properties and can be guided by community visions such as the Downtown Beautification Plan. These studies are also valuable to prospective land buyers or entrepreneurs looking for places to open new businesses in Houston.

Page | 52

Appendix A: Survey and Results

Tuesday, November 13, 2018 Total Today This Week This Month Custom

Disposition Code All

Filter by Responses

Demographics

Please describe yourself. Check all that apply.

I am a resident of Houston 92

I work in Houston 56

I own a business in Houston 18

I visit Houston (shopping, events, services etc.) but do not live there 6

I own property in Houston but do not live or work there 4

I am a student 3

Other (please specify) 1

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100

Total Cases 100 Standard Dev. 1.18 Total Responses 180 Min. Value 1 Mean 1.83 Max. Value 7 Variance 1.38

Value

What do you value most about Downtown Houston?

Steelhead park 3

Nothing 2

Nothing in particular stands out to me. 1

Only 2 traffic lights, everything is close and within walking distance 1

Our park and small town feeling 1

Our park, the grocery store 1

Park is always beautiful 1

Park/sidewalks/ease of use for seniors and disabled 1

People 1

Proximity of everything. The people and relationships. 1

Others 56

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60

Total Responses 69 Standard Dev. N/A Mean N/A Min. Value N/A Variance N/A Max. Value N/A

 Detailed Answers Answer Frequency Percentage

Total 69

Steelhead park 3 4.35

Nothing 2 2.90

a few great businesses 1 1.45

A few of the stores 1 1.45

Accessibility 1 1.45

Accessible parking for local businesses 1 1.45

All the great stores 1 1.45

Attractive and modern for people that pass through town and safe from criminal activity 1 1.45

Central area 1 1.45 Clean/inviting parks & streets /business fronts 1 1.45

close proximity of things 1 1.45

convenience 1 1.45

Convenience for shopping 1 1.45

Easily accessible to all tourists coming through the highway 16 corridor 1 1.45

Enjoy being able to walk and shop 1 1.45

g 1 1.45

Greenery and nice sidewalks (hopefully plowed) 1 1.45

Having accessibility to some amenities 1 1.45

How small it is 1 1.45

I like how everything is walking distance if your downtown 1 1.45

I like the lights above the street, the flowers in front of Chia's and the furniture store, and the "hang out" spot that has been created with The Moose Hut ice cream stand. 1 1.45

I live downtown and my kids go to school downtown 1 1.45

I'm not even sure. There's nothing that grabs me really. The Steelhead Park is nice though! 1 1.45

It being clean and a safe place for my kids to walk around 1 1.45

It’s not the mall and it has great businesses 1 1.45

Nothing in particular stands out to me. 1 1.45

Only 2 traffic lights, everything is close and within walking distance 1 1.45

Our park and small town feeling 1 1.45

Our park, the grocery store 1 1.45

Park is always beautiful 1 1.45

Park/sidewalks/ease of use for seniors and disabled 1 1.45

People 1 1.45

Proximity of everything. The people and relationships. 1 1.45

River flowing through Houston with treed trails. Sidewalks and nice park 1 1.45

sense of community pride within the businesses 1 1.45

Small Town 1 1.45

Steele head park! Its so inviting looks well groomed & clean. 1 1.45

Steeĺhead Park always looks amazing. 1 1.45

Steelhead park is a definite asset. 1 1.45

Steelhead Park, and knowing what our local stores offer and their friendly owners and staff. 1 1.45

Store to meet our needs without going to Smithers 1 1.45

That I can shop here! 1 1.45

That it is convenient. 1 1.45

The appeal of shopping, beauty and cleanliness 1 1.45

The bowling alley, and pharmasave 1 1.45

The business close together, easier for shopping. 1 1.45

the businesses 1 1.45

The cleanliness, 1 1.45

The cleanliness, the green park space 1 1.45

The diversity in the workplaces 1 1.45

the hwy corridor is beautiful 1 1.45

The new walking paths 1 1.45

The opportunity to shop local 1 1.45

The park 1 1.45

The park and the varied stores 1 1.45

the park, not to say we need anymore, just that it a key feature. 1 1.45

The parks 1 1.45

The shops 1 1.45

The simplicity and easy access to every shop or business in the downtown area. 1 1.45

The Steelhead Park and services like The Plaza, Happy Jacks, and Home Hardware 1 1.45

The steelhead park! 1 1.45

The trees, flowers, lights, maintained store fronts 1 1.45

The variety of shops we have. 1 1.45

The views of mountain peaks 1 1.45

Things to do. Entertainment, Events, Gathering spaces 1 1.45

Variety and accessibility 1 1.45

Challenges

What are the biggest challenges facing Downtown Houston and what is missing? A good coffee shop/bakery. 1

A Krispy kreme donut shop 1

A sense of small town community created by deliberate road and building structures:… 1

a town map to show visitors where restaurants and stores are so they will go somewh… 1

Aging buildings and infrastructure 1

Availability for affordable space for entrepreneurs makes it very difficult for anyone w… 1

benches needed, maintenence needed 1

Benches, along street from pool to steelhead park. 1

building facades are dated and don't look have a "northern" feel. (wood, stone, dark c… 1

Building supply Stores closed on Sundays 1

Others 66

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70

Total Responses 76 Standard Dev. N/A Mean N/A Min. Value N/A Variance N/A Max. Value N/A

 Detailed Answers Answer Frequency Percentage

Total 76

A good coffee shop/bakery. 1 1.32

A Krispy kreme donut shop 1 1.32

A sense of small town community created by deliberate road and building structures: ie enjoyable walking main street, the aesthetics 1 1.32 a town map to show visitors where restaurants and stores are so they will go somewhere other than A and W 1 1.32

Aging buildings and infrastructure 1 1.32

Availability for affordable space for entrepreneurs makes it very difficult for anyone with a startup business or a vision to grow, while they are small enough to admit they have a capped or limited income. 1 1.32 benches needed, maintenence needed 1 1.32

Benches, along street from pool to steelhead park. 1 1.32 building facades are dated and don't look have a "northern" feel. (wood, stone, dark colours that look good in snow) I also think simply lining the streets with trees would go a long way to making it beautiful. T 1 1.32 he mall parking lot is also an eyesore, and should have plantings amongst the concrete.

Building supply Stores closed on Sundays 1 1.32

Businesses are missing 1 1.32

Crime, smoking area near walk in clinic with littering policy 1 1.32

Crimes/ break ins 1 1.32

Curb appeal 1 1.32

Curb appeal although the businesses are trying. 1 1.32

Doesn't feel like it has anything unifying or identifying the downtown area. 1 1.32

Downtown Houston is missing a heart. Everywhere you go, towns seem to have a place where people gather to shop, live, and interact. It fosters more of a feeling of community. Right now we have businesse 1 1.32 s peppered all over the place and it feels disconnected.

Drug addicts leaving their needles around. And having trees planted in the middle of paved sidewalks, also tree branches almost polking a taller person in the eyes. 1 1.32

Empty mall, empty lots where gas stations used to be 1 1.32

Empty spaces = Missing: Community minded landlords 1 1.32 empty storefronts, no cohesive look to buildings, apartments that are allowed to look like a ghetto. I feel there should be pressure put on 7/ 11 to improve its appearance and cleanliness. It is a very busy hub, and in a way is the only represention of our town for tourists driving through and getting gas. If it was "encouraged" to look more appealing, perhaps those tourists would think higher of houston, and make a 1 1.32 point of stopping in our town on their way back. It's missing a walkable main street year round.

Empty unkept lots 1 1.32 feeling safe. proper disposal for drug users. 1 1.32

Feels unsafe. 1 1.32 g 1 1.32

Getting people off the highway and into the downtown area 1 1.32

Having a theme thro town, ( like smithers). If we had a water park like quesnel 1 1.32

Highway 16 running right thru HOUSTON! Not enuf way finding signs for downtown! 1 1.32

Houston isn’t very welcoming for visitors when they are driving through. The first thing visitors are going to see is either the industrial park or the trailer park which isn’t very pretty to look at 1 1.32

Houston looks very sad! The nicest building at this time is A&W. As you enter Houston from Burns there are no visible lights or attractive buildings. From the other way we have Sullivan’s, but after that it’s bla 1 1.32 h. People need to see what makes Houston unique from all angles.

I think looking opposite side of the park then the back side of the buildings of country wide then all the other businesses, should open it up to make it look more inviting and not just the back side. I don't kno 1 1.32 w how that can be changed.

Keeping small businesses running. A water park would be beautiful for downtown Houston. 1 1.32 lack of visual appeal. people don't even realize it is the downtown core when they are driving through. I think greenery such as flowers and inviting banners could promote Houston as well as showcase our be 1 1.32 auty. there is so much empty space downtown that could made into beautiful greenspaces that could be used year round!

Limited hours and options. I think their access to good employees is very restricted 1 1.32

Looking after infrastructure that we already have. Mowing, plowing, 1 1.32

Lots of empty old buildings 1 1.32

Merchants pread out across town. Online shopping. 1 1.32

Missing a "finished" look. We need to make it very trendy looking. If we make it look like an invitng place, maybe more people would want to start businesses downtown. 1 1.32

More affordable clothes shopping, more diversity in the products available as several places seem to carry very similar items. 1 1.32

More businesses 1 1.32 More lighting for winter walking. Some current lights will stay burnt out for months at a time 1 1.32

More shops 1 1.32

More stores, a coffee shop, 1 1.32

More streetlights and better hiway access to downtown 1 1.32

Need places to lock up a bicycle 1 1.32

Needs proper traffic flow: don't feel it needs to be a four way stop at the corner where brewsters or the food market. Two way stops would be more economical for vehicles and there isn't enough traffic to ra 1 1.32 te four way stops. Also, why can't you turn onto the highway from that little street by remax - why is it one way?

No splash park for children so they play in the fountain 1 1.32

Not enough businesses /possibly because rent is too high? 1 1.32

parking in the core areas 1 1.32

Parking in the winter months 1 1.32

Proper snow removal and those who use drugs throwing it all over the place 1 1.32

Public gather place, more stores 1 1.32

Shopping 1 1.32

Shopping and customer service employees without manners. No please and thank you at tills etc. Terrible street lighting. 1 1.32

Shopping options 1 1.32

Sidewalks and proper crosswalks with signage, handicap accessible facilities, play structures appropriate for broader ages of children. Cannot push a 3 year old with a one year old.. only infant swings 1 1.32

Stores have to make it more appealing to get store owners in the mall and on main 1 1.32

Stores to shop. 1 1.32

Stores. We lack anything for kids from clothing to toys and diapers 1 1.32

Structure to the shopping area. A downtown feel like Main Street in Smithers / organized small community. 1 1.32

The biggest challenge is the loitering and drug and alcohol abuse on our streets in public areas. I do not feel the elderly or young are safe on their own. 1 1.32

The layout and store hours 1 1.32

The traffic is getting bad when trying to get on the highway from any stretch besides the stop light. 1 1.32

There is no cohesiveness to down town. You have old rundown houses mixed with abandoned buildings and overgrown lots. 1 1.32

There is room to grow downtown but business is not going there. 1 1.32

Things to do 1 1.32

Too many vacant lots with garbage as well as houses and properties that should be condemned and tore down. Too much red tape for new businesses to open!!! 1 1.32

Turn all the empty lots in to green spaces for now. 1 1.32

Ugly buildings. Needs a face lift. 1 1.32

Unification of business exterior, variety of DIFFERENT businesses, customer service, giving a reason for people to stop no matter the season, weather, or day. 1 1.32

Use of the mall 1 1.32

variety 1 1.32

Very unattractive main street 1 1.32

Visibility for tourists 1 1.32

Walkability.P 1 1.32

We need to have a bit of competition to keep people here. 1 1.32

Factors

Which 5 factors do you think are most important to address in Downtown Houston?

60

52 52 50 50

42 42

40 36 35 32 30 30

20 18 16 16 16

10

0 Crime and safety Sidewalk and Vacancy (such as Lighting (such as Parks and green Street furniture Gathering and Street trees and Public art Ornamental Heritage Wayfinding signs Others pedestrian lots or buildings) pedestrian, street spaces (such as benches, event space(s) green plantings preservation or (providing accessibility or decorative) bike racks, infrastructure interpretation directions to key garbage cans) destinations)

Total Cases 97 Standard Dev. 4.58 Total Responses 437 Min. Value 1 Mean 8.21 Max. Value 16 Variance 20.98

 Detailed Answers Answer Frequency Cases % Responses %

Total 437 Heritage preservation or interpretation (1) 16 16.49 3.66

Sidewalk and pedestrian accessibility (2) 52 53.61 11.90

Gathering and event space(s) (3) 32 32.99 7.32

Street trees and green infrastructure (4) 30 30.93 6.86

Ornamental plantings (5) 16 16.49 3.66

Parks and green spaces (6) 36 37.11 8.24

Traffic circulation (7) 11 11.34 2.52

Parking management (8) 15 15.46 3.43

Lighting (such as pedestrian, street or decorative) (9) 42 43.30 9.61

Street furniture (such as benches, bike racks, garbage cans) (10) 35 36.08 8.01

Wayfinding signs (providing directions to key destinations) (11) 16 16.49 3.66

Crime and safety (12) 52 53.61 11.90

Microclimates (such as shade or fountains) (13) 12 12.37 2.75

Public art (14) 18 18.56 4.12

Vacancy (such as lots or buildings) (15) 42 43.30 9.61

Other (please specify) (16) 12 12.37 2.75

Else

What else should the planning team consider during the Downtown Beautification planning process?

Winter accessibility 2

a place for teens ages 13-19 to hangout for free 1

A unified theme draws attention to all the parts. It's already begun, with the logwork… 1

Accessibility for all users. Lack of pool staff. Maybe free lifeguard courses to ensure p… 1

All Weather accessibility especially for elders walking with walkers, canes etc and mot… 1

Appeal from the highway. 1

Attractions such as water park in summer and maybe a small outdoor ice surface in t… 1

Beautification should be visible from highway 1

Cleaning up the run down spaces. Have a ‘theme’ .... Post and beam, brick, siding etc 1

Consider utilitarianism as much as how pretty something is. We don't need sculptures… 1

Others 51

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55

Total Responses 62 Standard Dev. N/A Mean N/A Min. Value N/A Variance N/A Max. Value N/A

 Detailed Answers Answer Frequency Percentage

Total 62

Winter accessibility 2 3.23

a place for teens ages 13-19 to hangout for free 1 1.61

A unified theme draws attention to all the parts. It's already begun, with the logworknon some of the public buildings, the bear statues, and the river representation in the park. Keep it going. Looks great. 1 1.61

Accessibility for all users. Lack of pool staff. Maybe free lifeguard courses to ensure pool stay open 1 1.61

All Weather accessibility especially for elders walking with walkers, canes etc and mothers pushing strollers. 1 1.61

Appeal from the highway. 1 1.61

Attractions such as water park in summer and maybe a small outdoor ice surface in the winter 1 1.61

Beautification should be visible from highway 1 1.61

Cleaning up the run down spaces. Have a ‘theme’ .... Post and beam, brick, siding etc 1 1.61

Consider utilitarianism as much as how pretty something is. We don't need sculptures in the park a much as we do proper sidewalks etc 1 1.61

contact LOCAL artists to contribute to the town. We need culture in Houston and public art pieces art a good way to showcase the talent in town. consider: wood carvers for forestry, statues or stone carvings 1 1.61 for mining. not only would they add attractions to town but they could showcase our history.

Costs to homeowners 1 1.61

costs vs gains and the cost of maintaining any and all changes moving forward. 1 1.61

Create well structured events to draw people into the space and increase policing to reduce crime and drug user presence and paraphernalia 1 1.61

Empty lots 1 1.61

Empty lots with not developed green space , fish ponds , gardens , etc 1 1.61

Empty Lots! 1 1.61

Encourage small businesses, artisans and entertainers to have a platform to sell goods and services 1 1.61

Enforcement of vacant lot owners to keep their properties clean and tidy 1 1.61

evergreen trees in pots along the sidewalk, line hwy 16 entrance into town with trees, lit up if possible during winter, an outdoor ice rink with lights and a stand for selling apple cider, etc. (perhaps rentable fo 1 1.61 r fundraisers?) Fix up the Jamie Baxter park so its lit up and family friendly. 1 1.61

Fixing up the run down buildings or tearing down if need be 1 1.61 follow smithers as a bad example and what NOT to do 1 1.61

Future stores/ buildings. Removing the sketchy people 1 1.61 g 1 1.61

Have a theme like Smithers has, and put flowers on the meridians ....Do more evening events (movie nights , concerts in the park, 1 1.61

Having handicap doors for every business in the down town corridor 1 1.61

History, culture and all our ethnic backgrounds. 1 1.61

Houston has always had businesses that have a fend for yourself mentality. It would be great to see businesses all put in the effort to up their curb appeal as well as the district take care of the crumbling side 1 1.61 walks, adding some green spaces, some gathering places etc.

How much much they are going to spend.... it would b nice to consider a park that could b used in all weather condition ex one with a roof overhead so u stay dry and keep snow off. Also better equipment for 1 1.61 toddlers/babies

I don't know 1 1.61

I think the mall needs to be addressed in all of this. I see that it seems to have been left out of the map. It is the single biggest eyesore in this town. As a business owner I would love to see the town step in an 1 1.61 d require the owners of the mall to renovate and make it an appealing, affordable place for businesses to thrive. maintenance 1 1.61

Making sure businesses clean up around their business 1 1.61

More places that have better looks 1 1.61

More trees and splash park area for the children 1 1.61

N/a 1 1.61 recreational spots, perhaps an outdoor ice rink with hot chocolate stand, or a nice beach area among the river that is maintained by the town. 1 1.61

Redoing outside of some buildings 1 1.61

RV parking 1 1.61

See above comment 1 1.61

Slowly changing away from the light blue theme colours. 1 1.61 talking to business owners, getting them on board, to working with the town in making the downtown core more appealing to all, we’re a small community and if we want to see business grow, we need to fin 1 1.61 d ways to bring in people from out of town. And we fail in that aspect in many ways.

The broken window theory but a little less intense for Houston. Created a better aesthetic (look and feel) would communicate the importance of the downtown to Houston. 1 1.61

The ease of use of the downtown core. Shops, spaces, infrastructure that encourages spending time rather than just completing an errand and leaving. Making the trip into town an event in and of itself. 1 1.61

The empty businesses and how we can fill them 1 1.61

There is nothing that draws you to want to walk downtown, other than the park. 1 1.61

This town needs to look outdoorsy and trendy. With lots of large native trees to give street-scapes more vertical structure. 1 1.61

Training for public service employees. Apparently the chamber used to do it. This is soooo badly needed 1 1.61

Unfortunately there is vandalism in the park and the bull statue needs to go or beautified.We are a logging town so why not beautify with beam fronts? 1 1.61

Update business Alley facing hwy 16, upgrade to advertise for tourist shopping downtown 1 1.61

Upon entering town, create a "wow" factor and hide unsightly views such as power stations and trailer parks 1 1.61

Utilizing the empty spaces in and around mall 1 1.61

Vacant lots should be maintained 1 1.61 we could really use a nice big dog park instead of the little dog run that we have 1 1.61

We should try to encourage people to start new businesses that meet the needs of Houston residents. 1 1.61

What a waste of taxpayers money. This planning was done about ten years ago, and I can see it being done again in ten years. Just get on with it and do something. 1 1.61

Whatever is considered the businesses downtown should have the biggest say as they are the biggest investo 1 1.61

Where else could the money be used like more programs for the kids and teens And adults to do in town 1 1.61 who do it 1 1.61

Why are people downtown? What brought them here? How do you keep them here? Such as fixing up Bymac campsite and boat launch and charge the people to stay there more than the 25 dollars a week. A 1 1.61 nd have someone collect the money instead of the “ honour “ system being used. That money could pay off any cost associated with fixing it up as well as make the town money! Appendix B: Downtown Houston Deep Utility Infrastructure Considerations Memo

Date: December 3, 2018 From: Chad Carlstrom File: 0716.0021.01 Subject: Downtown Houston – Deep Utility Infrastructure Considerations Memo

The District of Houston is undergoing a downtown beautification and revitalization study. As part of advancing this initiative, consideration should be applied to the District’s assets beneath the surface such as their storm, sanitary, and water system networks. This memo explores the scale of cost to replace all deep utility infrastructure components prior to enhanced surface improvements. DEEP UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE REPLACEMENT At the time of this memo, no exact infrastructure or servicing details are known, no condition assessments of the assets are known, and no local utility replacement construction prices are known. Therefore, to calculate a Class D cost estimate for deep utility replacement, the following assumptions are made:

· Construction prices from north-east BC communities assumed to be comparable; · Underground water system with two hydrant assemblies per block, and one water cross with three gate valves per block, and services to each parcel; · Underground gravity sanitary sewer system with manholes every 120 m and services to each parcel; · Underground gravity storm sewer system with manholes every 120 m, six catchbasins per block, and services to each parcel; · No upgrades to shallow utilities are required; · The condition of deep utilities are unknown; · The age of deep utilities in the downtown area are estimated near 60 years old as the District of Houston was incorporated in 1957; · Full road reconstruction of all deep utilities were replaced · A 2.0 m concrete sidewalk on each side of the road, note the concrete sidewalk may be wider based on the final downtown urban design; and · Additional assumptions related to the infrastructure are identified on the Class D cost estimate sheet. 10 Street from Poulton Avenue to Butler Avenue was chosen as a representative block to base the estimate on (Figure 1). From centre of intersection to centre of intersection, this road segment is approximately 170 m long with a 20 m road ROW width. Assumed finished asphalt width is 15 m. This road segment services 14 parcels.

10808 - 100th Street, Fort St. John, BC V1J 3Z6 | T: 250.785.9697 MEMORANDUM Date: December 3, 2018 File: 0716.0021.01 Subject: Downtown Houston – Deep Utility Infrastructure Considerations Memo Page: 2 of 3

Figure 1 – Representative block in downtown Houston assumed for Class D cost estimate purposes for deep utility infrastructure and roadworks replacement. The resulting Class D cost estimate to replace all the deep utilities of storm, sanitary, and water, complete with new services to each adjacent parcel, and a full roadway reconstruction, results in approximately $2.3M per block. Detailed line-item estimates are included on the attached Class D cost estimate. These costs would be in addition to cost outlined in the Streetscape Renewal Concept plan. Note that based on photos of the site, the existing asphalt appears to be in fair condition and has remaining useful life. However, the replacement of all deep utilities using traditional construction methods would be so disruptive to the surface that the full surface is assumed to be replaced.

ALTERNATIVES While the age of infrastructure can be an indicator of its useful life remaining, the best indicators are condition assessments of each asset. We recommend that condition assessments of the District’s storm, sanitary, and water systems are conducted before significant investments into surface improvements. Recent advancements in trenchless technologies enable repair and rehabilitation of underground assets while minimizing surface disruptions. Depending on the results of condition assessments, trenchless technologies may be able to be applied to extend the life of infrastructure at a lower cost.

SUMMARY This memo provides a number of considerations with respect to deep utilities assumed to be beneath the downtown roadways in Houston. The Class D cost estimates for one assumed block provides a representative scale that could be projected to similar roadways for planning purposes. MEMORANDUM Date: December 3, 2018 File: 0716.0021.01 Subject: Downtown Houston – Deep Utility Infrastructure Considerations Memo Page: 3 of 3

Sincerely,

URBAN SYSTEMS LTD.

Chad Carlstrom, P.Eng. Municipal Engineer

/crc Enclosure

\\usl.urban-systems.com\projects\Projects_VAN\0716\0021\01\R-Reports-Studies-Documents\Deep Utility Infrastructure\2018-12-03 DRAFT Downton Houston - Deep Utility Infrastructure Memo.docx 2018-12-05

District of Houston Preliminary Class D Cost Estimate 10 Street - Poulton Avenue to Butler Avenue Road Length 170 m Road Width 15.0 m estimated COST ESTIMATE unit unit rate quantity Total Cost Removals Sign Reinstatement ea $600.00 4 $2,400.00 Clearing and Grubbing m2 $5.00 0 $0.00 Saw Cut Pavements lm $20.00 80 $1,600.00 Asphalt & Curb Removal m2 $16.00 2980 $47,680.00 Subtotal Removals $51,680.00 Roadworks Common Excavation (775mm) m2 $30.00 2980 $89,400.00 Removal of Unsuitable Soils m3 $55.00 240 $13,200.00 Subgrade Preparation m2 $2.50 2980 $7,450.00 Sub-base Gravel (550mm) m2 $46.00 2980 $137,080.00 Base Gravel (150mm) m2 $19.00 2980 $56,620.00 Subgrade Drains lm $8.00 380 $3,040.00 Curb and Gutter lm $120.00 380 $45,600.00 Asphalt Pavement (75mm) m2 $45.00 2810 $126,450.00 Sidewalk (2.0m) lm $250.00 340 $85,000.00 Streetlighting lm $210.00 170 $35,700.00 Subtotal Roadworks $599,540.00 Storm Storm Main (1050mm) lm $1,000.00 170 $170,000.00 CCTV Storm Main lm $17.00 170 $2,890.00 Storm Manhole ea $12,000.00 2 $24,000.00 Service Connection ea $6,100.00 14 $85,400.00 Catchbasins ea $4,000.00 6 $24,000.00 CB Lead (250mm) lm $330.00 45 $14,850.00 Tie-In to Existing MH ea $5,000.00 2 $10,000.00 Subtotal Storm $331,140.00 Water Water Main lm $650.00 170 $110,500.00 Gate Valve ea $4,950.00 3 $14,850.00 Fitting (Tee, Cross, Bend or Cap) ea $3,850.00 1 $3,850.00 Watermain Tie-In ea $19,500.00 2 $39,000.00 Test Point with Blowoff ea $1,500.00 2 $3,000.00 Hydrant Assembly ea $16,500.00 2 $33,000.00 Temporary Overland Water Supply LS $40,000.00 1 $40,000.00 Service Connection (25mm) ea $13,000.00 14 $182,000.00 Subtotal Water $426,200.00 Sanitary Sanitary Main lm $375.00 170 $63,750.00 Sanitary Manhole ea $6,600.00 2 $13,200.00 Service Connection ea $6,100.00 14 $85,400.00 Subtotal Sanitary $162,350.00 Restoration Driveway Restoration m2 $160.00 100 $16,000.00 Boulevard Restoration (Seed & Soil) m2 $15.00 0 $0.00 Boulevard Restoration (Sod & Soil) m2 $22.00 340 $7,480.00 Subtotal Restoration $23,480.00 SUBTOTAL $1,590,000.00 Contingency & Engineering 40% $640,000.00 TOTAL $2,230,000.00