DRAFT REPORT Town of Wolfville Commercial Development Plan January 2006 Ekistics Planning & Design 1 Starr Lane. Dartmouth, N.S. B2Y-4V7 Ph:902-461-2525 fax:902-465-3131 [email protected] In association with: Cantwell & Company Ltd T.M. McGuire Ltd. Table of Contents CHAPTER 1.0 : BACKGROUND..................................................................... 1 1.1........ Context ................................................................................................. 2 Project Goal...................................................................................................... 5 Project Purpose................................................................................................ 5 1.2........ Study Approach .................................................................................. 6 1.3........ Report Organization .......................................................................... 7 CHAPTER 2.0 : DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS................................................. 8 2.1........ Population Trends ............................................................................... 10 Household Formation:.................................................................................... 11 Household Ownership.................................................................................... 12 Education........................................................................................................ 13 2.2........ Work Activity and Incomes ............................................................... 14 Income............................................................................................................ 14 Labour Force Activity and Occupations........................................................ 14 2.3........ Economic Outlook .............................................................................. 15 2.4........ Physical Characteristics/Community Description ........................ 16 Town Size:....................................................................................................... 16 Transportation Linkages:................................................................................ 16 Health Services:.............................................................................................. 16 Public Facilities:............................................................................................. 16 Recreational Facilities.................................................................................... 17 Municipal Services:........................................................................................ 17 Recreationacultural Activities/Clubs:........................................................... 17 Culture........................................................................................................... 17 Construction and Land Development:........................................................... 17 Taxation:......................................................................................................... 18 2.5........ Overview of Tourism Industry ......................................................... 19 Nova Scotia Visitor Flow Report.................................................................... 19 Visitation to Visitor Information Centres...................................................... 21 Local Tourism Attractions............................................................................. 22 Visitor Welcome Centre................................................................................. 26 2.6........ Summary of Tourism Market ............................................................ 26 CHAPTER 3.0 : SWOTT ANALYSIS............................................................. 28 3.1........ Strengths .............................................................................................. 28 3.2........ Weakness .............................................................................................. 29 3.3........ Opportunities ...................................................................................... 29 3.4........ Threats .................................................................................................. 30 3.5........ Trends ................................................................................................... 30 CHAPTER 4.0 : SYNTHESIS......................................................................... 31 4.1....... Workshop & Interview Results ......................................................... 31 4.2........ Town Case Studies .............................................................................. 35 Wine Tourism and Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario......................................... 35 Eco-Village..................................................................................................... 39 The Book Town of Bredevoort, Netherlands................................................... 41 Summary of Case Studies.............................................................................. 42 CHAPTER 5.0 : COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN............................. 44 5.1........ The Strategic Plan .............................................................................. 44 Strategic Plan................................................................................................. 45 Sustainability Plan......................................................................................... 46 Acadia -Town Partnerships............................................................................ 48 Rent and commercial tax................................................................................ 49 Missing Businesses........................................................................................ 50 Storefront Decorating.................................................................................... 51 The Wolfville Farmers Market....................................................................... 51 WBDC & Town Synergies............................................................................. 51 Implement the Civic Signage Strategy.......................................................... 52 Programming and Marketing Themes and Opportunities............................ 52 5.2 ...... The Spatial Plan .................................................................................. 56 Reducing Impediments................................................................................... 56 Investing in Capital Projects to Stimulate Commercial Redevelopment....... 59 Sidewalk Cafes................................................................................................ 66 Financial Incentives for New Commercial Growth........................................ 69 Infill Strategies............................................................................................... 69 Post Office Redevelopment............................................................................. 69 East Main Street Redevelopment................................................................... 70 CHAPTER 6.0 : IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY......................................... 71 Phase 1 – Signing the Downtown (Gateways).............................................. 72 Phase 1 – MPS and LUB updates.................................................................. 72 Phase 1 – Implement the Sidewalk Cafe Design Standards........................... 72 Phase 1 - Wolfville WIFI network.................................................................. 73 Phase 1 - Wolfville Downtown Revitalization............................................... 73 6.1 Funding Sources......................................................................................... 73 6.2 Next Steps.................................................................................................... 76 APPENDIX A: DATA TABLES....................................................................... 79 Town of Wolfville commercial development plan Chapter 1.0 : Background The Town of Wolfville is the academic and cultural centre for the Valley Region of Nova Scotia and a destination for Nova Scotian and non-Nova Scotia tourists alike. Originally settled by the Acadians who were later expelled by British forces in 1755, Wolfville was resettled by New England planters who arrived in 1760. The Town was incorporated in 1893 and is now well known for is rich Acadian History, its place as a centre of education, and its picturesque setting on the shores of the Minas Basin, framed by the dykes that were built in the 1700s. Wolfville has long been a destination for both Nova Scotia travelers (within province tourists) as well as visitors from ‘away.’ Apart from its place in higher education and the all season beauty and charm of the town, Wolfville is also well known for its farm markets, boutique shops, and theater. Collectively, the market for Wolfville draws from residents within Town of Wolfville itself as well as: A significant portion of Kings County Weekend travelers from the urban core of Nova Scotia; Traffic funneled off highway 101 (and Highway number 1); and The Visitor flows along highway 101. An additional market for the Town of Wolfville is the University of Acadia which has an estimated enrollment of approximately 3,700 students. This fact is one of the core strengths of the Town. The student enrollment effectively doubles the population of the Town during the school year (beginning in late August with students