MPCA offers input on Beechwood Avenue study

Wants ‘public realm plan’ to include Hemlock Road

Beechwood Avenue — reimagined! That is the focus of City of Ottawa’s ‘Public Realm Plan’ for this area’s key transportation and commercial corridor. 

The emerging hub is home to a growing number of residential developments and businesses. For too long, however, it has been inadequate — even dangerous — for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. 

The city embarked on the current plan to revitalize the roadway back in March. It held public consultations throughout the summer with one more coming up at Beechfest on Sept. 12. It expects to produce a finalized design by this fall, according to engage.ottawa.ca/beechwood. 

Before reaching that finish line, each of the community associations in the affected area (New Edinburgh, Vanier, Lindenlea, Rockcliffe and Manor Park) contributed their own reports. They include observations of the current situation, what’s been proposed to date as well as a wish-list. 

In its Aug. 11 assessment, the Manor Park Community Association (MPCA) calls the plan/project “a generational opportunity to improve this important artery to the benefit of all of these neighbourhoods, and indeed, the City at large.”

A key ‘ask’ from the MPCA is to have the plan extend to Hemlock Road. 

“It is important that the City get this right, and that it avoid its usual nickel and dime compromises that so often lead to uninspiring or mediocre outcomes,” notes the MPCA report. “It is also critical that the City scope this project properly, and include the entire length of Beechwood and Hemlock Avenues (Road), from and including the intersection with the Vanier Parkway, to the Aviation Parkway and the eventual connection with Wateridge Village.”

Neglected

Calling the corridor’s current condition “very much less than the sum of its parts,” the MPCA submission notes it has been neglected for too long. 

Its shortcomings are many. The community association report lists “poor design, awkward flow, and lack of public amenities,” as key areas for improvement. 

But top of mind is the plan’s scope, specifically the exclusion of the Vanier Parkway intersection and Hemlock Road. 

“Looking at Beechwood alone misses the opportunity to review the entire corridor, which is functionally one route,” MPCA emphasizes.

Hemlock, it argues, is a natural extension that should be included in any project designs. It lacks:

• proper sidewalks,

• public furniture, 

• bus stops,

• adequate crosswalks (to serve “orphaned” bus stops on south side).

The future extension of Hemlock to Wateridge Village and how that would impact the Beechwood project also requires study. 

“Any redesign of Beechwood which does not take into account its impact on Hemlock is at best partial, and at worst doomed to fail,” the report notes. 

Despite their request, MPCA president Natalie Belovic told the Chronicle extending the scope may be a long shot. 

“I am not optimistic that the east end of Beechwood past the cemetery becoming Hemlock will be added at this time,” she explained. “At the end of the day, the city will decide but they are asking for input and listening.”

MPCA also expresses a similar concern regarding the dangerous Vanier Parkway intersection, calling its omission “unacceptable.”

“To leave the intersection unexamined and unimproved would represent a lack of vision and a huge lost opportunity.”


Other MPCA priorities

The number of vehicles on the road will only increase over time, according the MPCA report. With the expansion of Wateridge Village, the densification of Manor Park Estates, the potential sixth bridge at Kettle Island, and extension of Hemlock to the east of St. Laurent Boulevard, these will significantly impact any Beechwood redesign. 

“This has to be expressly integrated into the City’s plan.” 

Cycling and pedestrian safety must also be a key priority. MPCA advocates for fully segregated bike lanes along the entire Beechwood/Hemlock corridor as well as additional crossings, wider sidewalks and improved intersection designs. 

Other observations/requests include the need to bury existing hydro infrastructure, which MPCA calls a “non-negotiable”; side street restrictions for Putman, Chapleau, Champlain, Commanda and Douglas; more consideration of the need for more (off-street) parking to support local businesses.

Plan outline

An outline of the plan can be found on the Engage Ottawa website (engage.ottawa.ca/beechwood).

It notes the goals of this exercise are to:

• improve sidewalk and cycling facilities,

• update/improve benches, street lighting, bike parking,

• determine additional space for plants, trees, patios and seating,

• examine possibly burying electrical utilities (remove hydro poles),

• improve bus stops.

No property would be acquired as a result of these improvements meaning there are likely limits to what can be accomplished. “The goal is not to prioritize one mode exclusively, but to create a safer, more predictable, and more comfortable corridor …,” the website notes.

One key way to improve public realm spaces would be to introduce partial one-way traffic for several small streets that intersect with Beechwood (Douglas Avenue, Commanda Way and Champlain Avenue). It’s proposed that Chapleau Avenue be closed to traffic off Beechwood. 

Belovic says she’s concerned what impact this would have on Putman Avenue which already struggles with traffic pressures. 

Overall, there are still too many “unknowns” to be able to make any final determinations, she says. 

“They like to focus on the bench design but I think there are still some very fundamental issues to be worked out” including hydro line burial, Belovic notes. “I feel like they are rushing to make these big decisions without having all the facts. I don’t like that.”

The MPCA president believes the city should take the time to get it right, “not just ‘good enough’.”

For more information, visit the Engage Ottawa website at: engage.ottawa.ca/beechwood.