A plan is being developed to create a district for Amherstburg that would be controlled by Urban Design. It is being called the Downtown Amherstburg Urban Design Guidelines. You can read a copy of the report and the proposed Guidelines here:
weblink8.countyofessex.on.ca/WebLink/11/edoc/23025/2018%2012%2010%20-%20Regular%20Council%20Meeting%20Agenda%20Package.pdf#page=88
The proposed Guidelines set out design features for new development and renovations. The proposed Guidelines contain a map of the area to be controlled by Urban Design. The proposed Urban Design district can generally be described as the area from William Street in the North, to Lowes Side Road in the South, the East side of Sandwich Street in the east, to the river in the west.
The Guidelines would require the inclusion or restoration of certain architectural features such as facades and windows. There would be restrictions on materials and colours. Effectively, a property owner who wants to renovate or build new would have to choose from a pre-designated palate of colours, materials, and architectural designs.
Much of this would be welcomed in the Town of Amherstburg. It would be especially welcomed if it were accompanied by the promised grants and interest-free loans. We all love Historic Amherstburg. Many of us would go the extra mile, and spend the extra money, to keep it that way.
A "development checklist" is included with the Guidelines. It contains a list of criteria. The proposed construction work is evaluated according to whether it "complies," "partially complies," or "does not comply" with the established criteria. Obviously, there will be disagreements about what complies and what does not. It would be useful if there were a committee which could settle these disagreements.
The Guidelines would contain strict restrictions regarding signage. For example, in the Historic Core, there would be an absolute prohibition on digital, electronic, and neon signs, except for small "open" signs in business windows. Movable signs, third party signs, inflatable signs and signs with removable letters would also be prohibited. Business owners are going to be concerned about these restrictions given that signage is so very important to their continuing success. Some accommodations will have to be made for businesses, such as timelines to implement the recommendations.
It is notable that the areas around George, King, Brock and Seymour got left out. That creates the real possibility that development around historic sites such as the Freedom Museum and St. John the Baptist Church would be inconsistent with the Urban Design Guidelines. So you would theoretically have a fully restored historic site, utterly surrounded by markedly un-historic architecture. That, of course, is inconsistent with the goals of Urban Design.
In order to fix this problem, the Urban Design district needs to be redefined. It should include those streets which contain a number of historic properties and architecturally significant buildings. That way, the goals of Urban Design for Amherstburg could be achieved.
In fact, the proposed Guideline itself seems to support this idea. The Guideline refers to Amherstburg's "Historic Core." The definition of the "Historic Core" is up for debate. However, we could probably all agree that, if any parts of Amherstburg should be subject to urban design guidelines, it should be the historic parts. So those historic parts should be included in the Urban Design district.
It is also notable that existing "big box" properties are identified as being inside the Urban Design district. For example, Sobey's, Rexall, No Frills, Shoppers Drug Mart, Canadian Tire, and Walmart. Also included are the Ford dealership, Chrysler dealership, the GM dealership, and both funeral homes. It's hard to imagine that such properties could be re-designed according to the proposed Guidelines.
We can do Urban Design in Amherstburg. It will be successful if it includes Amherstburg's most historic neighbourhoods and allows for modern development where appropriate. It's a concept that is long overdue.
weblink8.countyofessex.on.ca/WebLink/11/edoc/23025/2018%2012%2010%20-%20Regular%20Council%20Meeting%20Agenda%20Package.pdf#page=88
The proposed Guidelines set out design features for new development and renovations. The proposed Guidelines contain a map of the area to be controlled by Urban Design. The proposed Urban Design district can generally be described as the area from William Street in the North, to Lowes Side Road in the South, the East side of Sandwich Street in the east, to the river in the west.
The Guidelines would require the inclusion or restoration of certain architectural features such as facades and windows. There would be restrictions on materials and colours. Effectively, a property owner who wants to renovate or build new would have to choose from a pre-designated palate of colours, materials, and architectural designs.
Much of this would be welcomed in the Town of Amherstburg. It would be especially welcomed if it were accompanied by the promised grants and interest-free loans. We all love Historic Amherstburg. Many of us would go the extra mile, and spend the extra money, to keep it that way.
A "development checklist" is included with the Guidelines. It contains a list of criteria. The proposed construction work is evaluated according to whether it "complies," "partially complies," or "does not comply" with the established criteria. Obviously, there will be disagreements about what complies and what does not. It would be useful if there were a committee which could settle these disagreements.
The Guidelines would contain strict restrictions regarding signage. For example, in the Historic Core, there would be an absolute prohibition on digital, electronic, and neon signs, except for small "open" signs in business windows. Movable signs, third party signs, inflatable signs and signs with removable letters would also be prohibited. Business owners are going to be concerned about these restrictions given that signage is so very important to their continuing success. Some accommodations will have to be made for businesses, such as timelines to implement the recommendations.
It is notable that the areas around George, King, Brock and Seymour got left out. That creates the real possibility that development around historic sites such as the Freedom Museum and St. John the Baptist Church would be inconsistent with the Urban Design Guidelines. So you would theoretically have a fully restored historic site, utterly surrounded by markedly un-historic architecture. That, of course, is inconsistent with the goals of Urban Design.
In order to fix this problem, the Urban Design district needs to be redefined. It should include those streets which contain a number of historic properties and architecturally significant buildings. That way, the goals of Urban Design for Amherstburg could be achieved.
In fact, the proposed Guideline itself seems to support this idea. The Guideline refers to Amherstburg's "Historic Core." The definition of the "Historic Core" is up for debate. However, we could probably all agree that, if any parts of Amherstburg should be subject to urban design guidelines, it should be the historic parts. So those historic parts should be included in the Urban Design district.
It is also notable that existing "big box" properties are identified as being inside the Urban Design district. For example, Sobey's, Rexall, No Frills, Shoppers Drug Mart, Canadian Tire, and Walmart. Also included are the Ford dealership, Chrysler dealership, the GM dealership, and both funeral homes. It's hard to imagine that such properties could be re-designed according to the proposed Guidelines.
We can do Urban Design in Amherstburg. It will be successful if it includes Amherstburg's most historic neighbourhoods and allows for modern development where appropriate. It's a concept that is long overdue.