FORT ST.

JOHN
DOWNTOWN PLANNING PROCESS

DOWNTOWN IS A PRIORITY
The economic, social and cultural heart of the community (OCP)
A successful and vibrant downtown is a communitys most
important amenity .
Key to sustaining a vibrant and diverse economy
One of the fastest growing cities in BC The Economic Engine of
the North
Passionate community committed to improving its downtown

WHERE WERE AT
COMPLETE

COMPLETE

A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS
The focus of Phase 2 was community and
stakeholder engagement, including

COLL

A detai
stakeho
third se
of enga
desires

Downtown Action Team Workshops

S
o
s
p

Downtown Design Charrette Workshop

S
a

P
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o
m

C
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a

E
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o

C
h
n

D
d
p
s

D
in

E
a
a

Public Open House

Downtown Planning Booth (Canada Day
and Moose FM Block Party)
Community Partner Workshop Series
Meeting in a Box and Online Survey
Energize Downtown Website &
Community Forum

ng the Downtown Design Workshop series,

FORT
ST. JOHN
asked,SPIRIT
WhatOF
words
capture
the spirit of Fort
ohn?During
The following
word
bubbles
show
the Downtown
Design
Workshop
series, we
asked,
What
words
capture
the
spirit
of
Fort
St. John?
responses received.

Familycentered

Friendly

THE SPIRIT OF FORT ST. JOHN

The following word bubbles show the responses

received.

Generous

Comfortable
Innovative

Exciting
Optimistic

Independent

Dynamic
Enthusiastic
Focused

Pioneering

Familyfriendly

Friendly

Home

Honest

Connected

Breathtaking

Can-do
Nature

Entrepreneurial
Growing

Aggressive

Self-reliant

Warm

Charismatic

Industrial

Greenspaces

Challenging
Active

Hardworking

Industrious

Sunshine
Ambiance
Bustling

Wealthy

Fun

ensure
adequate parking

WHAT WEVE HEARD

design for a
winter city

unique
downtown
character
and identity

transportation
choice

more
housing
options

more public spaces

(squares, plazas) for
community events,
festivals, markets, and
public gathering

develop vacant
lands

ensure safe and positive

behaviour and enhance
social services & support
for the disadvantaged

support arts,
entertainment &
activities
year-round

PURPOSE OF TODAY
Present an overview of Phase 2 Process and Results and seek
direction to proceed to Phase 3.
Phase 3, the next and final phase of the project, will refine the Big
Moves developed in Phase 2 and identify policies, guidelines and
actions for implementation.

PHASE 3
KEY TASKS:

Land use and development policies, tools and incentives

Development Permit Area Design Guidelines

Housing Infill/Intensification Typologies

Bylaw/policy development

Implementation Framework

DOWNTOWN
DISTRICTS
Based on the existing
pattern of uses and
activities in the
downtown, the
stakeholder and design
team identified a number
of unique districts.

5 FUNDAMENTALS
1. A compact mix of land uses and
activities
2. A safe, inclusive and vibrant
downtown
3. A high quality public realm
4. A winter city design
5. Creating the conditions for
successful development

10 BIG MOVES
1.

Create streets for people

2.

Downtown living

3.

Market Plaza

4.

Vacant no more

5.

Make parking work

6.

Maintain the core

7.

NPCC enhancements

8.

Village Ave Festival Street

9.

Energy Innovation District

10. 100th Street Greenway

1. CREATE STREETS FOR PEOPLE

Creating a walkable downtown with vibrant
streets and open spaces is a top priority for
Fort St. John. However, community members
identified a lack of pedestrian safety and
convenience as one of the top challenges.

Establish alternative route options for

through traffic that is travelling through
the downtown to and from destinations
that are outside of the downtown,
especially commercial vehicles;

Provide comfortable, safe, and attractive streetscapes and public

gathering spaces in the downtown.
We heard that the speed and volume of traffic
traveling through the downtown, combined with
a lack of features to support pedestrian activity
(such as adequate sidewalks and pedestrian
crossings, and attractive plazas and open spaces),
are some of the reasons why people do not feel
safe and comfortable walking downtown. We also
heard that high volumes of fast moving traffic
along 100th St and 100th Ave, as well as noise and
dirt, make sidewalk cafes and other opportunities
for public gathering undesirable.

Create and maintain attractive

streetscapes by cleaning dirt and
providing comfortable sidewalks, benches,
street trees, pedestrian lighting, and other
furnishings;

Slow the pace of trac in the downtown and create alternative

routes for through trac.

To address these challenges the following

Encourage active, pedestrian oriented

uses and activities such as small shops
and sidewalk cafes fronting on to 100th St
and 100th Ave in the downtown area;

Over time, reconfigure 100th St and

100th Ave in the downtown core area
from its current four lane condition with no

SLOW DOWN(TOWN) TRAFFIC

Slowing the pace of trac to create a
more comfortable and safe pedestrian
environment in the downtown area:
Additional pedestrian crossings and
enhanced (longer crossing times,
better signage and markings)
Enhanced pedestrian environment
(lighting, street trees)
Reduce trac speeds and use trac
calming approaches in core area
Reduce lane widths while designing
for winter conditions
Consider some 4-way stops
Consider on-street bike lanes

ALTERNATE THROUGH ROUTES

105 Ave

Major Through Routes

E Bypass Rd

Minor Through Routes

Local Roads
Multi-use Routes
112 Ave

261 Rd

79 St

86 St

105 Ave

Study Area

102 Ave

96 St

104 St
96 Ave

93 Ave

100 St

108 St

100 Ave

Ala
s

ka

Hw

ACTIVE & ATTRACTIVE STREETSCAPES

ACTIVE &
ATTRACTIVE
STREETSCAPES

RECONFIGURE 100TH ST & 100TH AVE

RECONFIGURE 100TH ST & 100TH AVE

2. DOWNTOWN LIVING
Creating and encouraging a range of
opportunities for downtown living will help
generate a critical mass of energy or body heat
in the downtown past usual business hours. This
will contribute to street vitality throughout the
day and evening and support local businesses
and services including local arts, culture and
entertainment.

Create more opportunities for people to live in the downtown

to support local businesses/services and encourage vitality
and more activity on the street past usual business hours.
Encourage housing infill and redevelopment at higher
densities throughout:
Opportunities for downtown living include
housing on top of street grade commercial

laneway infill; multi-plexes; courtyard

.4-6 storey
uses in mixed-use townhouses;
developments, and compact
wood frame; mid-rise (up to street-fronting
12 storeytownhouses and apartments on
infill and redevelopment sites adjacent to the
downtown core.

The Market Demand Study completed in 2012

HOUSING INFILL AND INTENSIFICATION

HOUSING INFILL
AND
INTENSIFICATION

3. MARKET PLAZA

30

Developing an outdoor community gathering

place in the downtown was identified as a
priority for the community.

Surface parking for public use, and/or an

apartment building overlooking the plaza, could
also be incorporated.

The plaza could incorporate a large but simple

structure for markets and other events in the
spring, summer, and fall. In the winter a sheet
of ice could be thrown down for skating and
hockey, which could include a downtown venue
for the celebrated High On Ice festival.

Incorporating active uses such as housing or

a restaurant and/or pub within or adjacent to
the plaza would enhance and help activate the
space.

BIG MOVES FOR THE DOWNTO

Develop a mixed use urban plaza with programming and facilities

A market plaza could include facilities and
market plaza would be located in a
for
public
eventsThe
such
asas a markets,
programming
to support
a range of community
prominent
location
gateway feature and as afestivals and concerts to be
events and celebrations year-round such as
unique identifier for the downtown and the City
markets, festivals
and concerts.
held
year-round.as a whole.
Locate the plaza in a prominent location as a gateway feature and
activate with adjacent active retail and high density housing.

BIG MOVES FOR THE DOWNTOWN

29

IMAGE PLACEHOLDER

4. VACANT NO MORE
potential to become attractive parks, plazas,
The downtown has a significant number of
gardens, stormwater management features, and
sites in prominent locations, such as
vacant
Encourage
development
of
vacant
sites, including City owned,
cherished community spaces.
the former hospital site, the old Fort Hotel
and
prominent sites.
site,contaminated
and the old Frontier site.
These,other
combined
Until infill development becomes viable and
with a number vacant buildings, detract from
downtown development becomes more
vitality, character and confidence of the
the
Redevelop
vacant
sites
with
buildings
and
that
showcase
desirable, there
are uses
a range of
interim
uses
downtown.
for
vacant
buildings
and
properties
that
the future vision for downtown and implement interim uses/
could be implemented. Vacant buildings can
Vacant sites and buildings occur for a myriad
improvements
until
such
time
as
they arewith
redeveloped.
be programmed
interim uses such as
of complex reasons, and have a lot to do with
community art displays in shop fronts. Vacant
market conditions/dynamics. Perpetual vacancy
lots including contaminated sites can be used
along a street can lead to an increase in litter,
for parking, public gathering and community
blight, and crime. Surrounding properties are
events such as the Market Plaza (described in
plagued with lowered property values and the
Big Move 3), community gardens, art displays,
cycle continues.
and other temporary uses.

City Owned Sites

The City owns a number of vacant sites in the
downtown, shown in the figure below. The
following pages identify a number of options
for vacant and/or contaminated sites as well as:

VACANT SITES

i.

The old Fort Hotel Site located at 100th St and

100th Ave; and

ii.

The old Frontier Site located at 102nd St and

100th Ave.

INTERIM USES

CITY OF FORT ST. JOHN

INVENTORY - VACANT AND UNDERUTILIZED LAND

1:4,500

Legend
Municipal Boundary

105 Ave

Downtown as defined
by City's OCP
Residential - Vacant
Residential - Underutilized

101 St

Commercial - Vacant

104 Ave

Commercial - Underutilized

96 St

94 St

Industrial - Vacant

104 Ave

Industrial - Underutilized
Other - Vacant
Other - Underutilized

103 Ave

COMMUNITY GARDENS

102 Ave

101 Ave

100 Ave

99 Ave

94 St

95 St

97 St

100 St

98 St

98 Ave

93 St

98A Ave

102 St

VACANT AND UNDERUTILIZED

LOTS - DOWNTOWN CORE

104 St

City Owned - Vacant

97 Ave

104 St

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
96 Ave

FIGURE

2
0

32

50

100

200
Meters

BIG MOVES FOR THE DOWNTOWN

ART DISPLAYS

OLD FORT HOTEL SITE

MIXED USE COMMERCIAL CONCEPT

OLD FORT HOTEL SITE

INTERIM USE - SUMMER

OLD FORT HOTEL SITE

INTERIM USE - WINTER

OLD FORT HOTEL SITE

MIXED USE RESIDENTIAL CONCEPT
INTERIM USES

PUBLIC ART

OLD FRONTIER SITE

MARKET PLAZA

OLD FRONTIER SITE

MIXED USE OR STAND ALONE RESIDENTIAL

IMAGE PLACEHOLDER

5. MAKE PARKING WORK

Providing adequate parking in the downtown
is a top priority to ensure convenient access to
downtown businesses. Innovative approaches to
off-street parking can also improve the economic
feasibility of development and use the limited
downtown land base more efficiently.

Ensure convenient public and private parking to maximize

accessibility to downtown businesses, services, jobs and housing.
Maximize on-street parking and access within each block.
ON-STREET PARKING

On-street
Allow
flexibility
in the
parking
should be maximized
and provision of private parking to be
maintained
to provide convenient
access andneeds.
responsive
to market
support traditional street-fronting businesses
downtown. On-street parking also creates a
physical barrier between pedestrians and moving
traffic. Parking should be metered and monitored
to ensure parking availability in key areas. Parking
should be priced to ensure an occupancy rate of

6. MAINTAIN THE CORE

MAINTAIN CORE LANES
LaneMaintain
lanes in the core area to provide access to o-street
access is crucial to provide adequate
parking
and access
to new
downtown active uses and events like art in the lane.
parking
and
consider
developments, while minimizing impacts on
pedestrians and maximizing building frontage.

Provide and maintain sidewalks on both sides of the street in the

Core lanes could also be considered for active
area
to inensure
usescore
and events,
like art
the lane. safe and convenient connections.

MAINTAIN SIDEWALKS
Safe and convenient sidewalks are essential
for pedestrians to want to visit the downtown.
Public pathways/sidewalks should be provided
on both sides of the street in the downtown core

Incorporate a terraced plaza

at the south entrance and
increased glazing on the
north east corner to
enhance and better connect
the North Peace Cultural
Centre to adjacent streets
and open spaces

Consider more
substantial
renovations or even
redevelopment of
the NPCC in light of
new uses and
programming
envisioned for the
Centre.

8. VILLAGE (101ST) AVENUE

101st Ave is an opportunity to create a more
good short term priority for creating street level
quaint and pedestrian oriented village high
pedestrian activity and small scale mixed use
streetUndertake
streetscape
improvements
and prioritize pedestrian
th
for two blocks between 98 St and
projects with housing above shops. This two
102nd
St. In contrastmixed
to the busyuse
arterials
of
block stretch
also makes
great location for
oriented
development
on 101
Avea between
102 and
th
th
st
100 St and 100 Ave, 101 Ave has low traffic
street festivals, like the popular Moose FM Block
Streets.
volumes
and speeds and a mixture of small
Party held here in recent years.
shops and vacant sites, making this street a

Incorporate design enhancements and programming to support

101 Ave as the Citys festival street and block party venue.
terraced facade
on the south side to
let the sun in

98

9. ENERGY INNOVATION DISTRICT

Establishing an energy innovation district
sector offices (and potentially sponsorship), a
was identified
by the of
community
mix of housing
(including student
housing)
downtown
Encourage
a mix
education and
employment
uses
on and
part of
as a great opportunity for bringing activity into
street level shops and services fronting onto
hospital
site
to showcase
local
and
regional
energy
and
the former
area while showcasing
the key
economic
an urban
plaza.
The former
hospital site
was
driver for the city and region. The district could
identified as an ideal location.
resource
sectors.
include a university satellite campus, energy

Conceptual
This could
include a university satellite campus, energy sector
site plan and layout
oces, a mix of housing (including student housing) along with
street level shops and services.

the

10. 100 STREET GREENWAY

TH

Centennial Park is a major community activity

node located just outside of the downtown
area. A better connection from Centennial
Park to the downtown could be created by
incorporating a bicycle/pedestrian greenway
along 100th St, located on the east sides

underutilized on-street parking lane. This

greenway could, for example, provide bicycle
and pedestrian connections to the downtown
core from ample, free public parking at
Centennial Park.

Create and maintain a direct, comfortable and safe pedestrian

and bicycle greenway connection between the downtown
core and Centennial Park, along the east side of 100th St.

NEXT STEPS
Phase 3 will refine the Big Moves and develop:

A set of detailed plans to guide investment priorities, detailed design

and construction of new public realm projects

A set of policies and design guidelines that can shape new private
investment in the Downtown in a way that strengthens the public realm

An implementation framework identifying priority actions including

high level costing, phasing.

THANK YOU!

DISCUSSION