ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: October 2, 2001
Author/Local: K.Thomson/604-873-7305

RTS No.:02299

CC File No.: 5767

P&E: October 18, 2001

TO:	Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
FROM:	General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT:	Green Napier - Neighbourhood Greenway

RECOMMENDATION

A. THAT funding of $140,000 be approved from the Streets Basic Capital Unappropriated Order Group SCA2H - UNAP (Unappropriated -Greenways) for the construction of the Green Napier - Neighbourhood Greenway in the 1600 Block Napier, as outlined in this report, including the restriction of vehicle traffic with the exception of emergency service vehicles, and the creation of a pedestrian plaza and garden space.

B. THAT commencing in 2002 the Streets Operating Budget be increased by $5,000 for horticultural maintenance (without offset and subject to annual budget review).

COUNCIL POLICY

On July 18, 1995 Council approved the Vancouver Greenways Plan. This plan supported the development of Neighbourhood Greenways to improve local connections and promote community building.

Council has indicated an order of priority for transportation that places the highest priority on pedestrians.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to update Council on the trial period of the Green Napier-Neighbourhood Greenway and to recommend Council approve the construction of a permanent pedestrian oriented community space that will involve restricting vehicles, with the exception of emergency service vehicles, in the 1600 Block of Napier Street.

BACKGROUND

In July 1995 Council adopted the Vancouver Greenways Plan. The plan included Neighbourhood Greenways as smaller scale, community initiated and developed greenways that enhance local connections and reflect local character. The City provides advice and assistance with design and implementation when required. There are over a dozen Neighbourhood Greenway projects already built or in various stages of development across the city. Neighbourhood Greenways completed in the last few years demonstrate a range of possibilities for public involvement in community improvement projects, as well as the commitment and resourcefulness of local residents and artists.

The Britannia Neighbours in Action (BNIA), a community group in the Grandview-Woodland area of Vancouver, initiated the Green Napier - Neighbourhood Greenway for the 1600 Block Napier and has been working closely with city staff during the last 2 ½ years to bring this project to fruition. Attached as Appendix A is a context map showing the Napier project within the Grandview-Woodland Neighbourhood.

In April 2001 Council supported the temporary restriction of non-emergency vehicles to the 1600 Block Napier to allow staff to measure impacts on neighbourhood traffic flows and assess community support for a permanent greenway.

DISCUSSION

Green Napier was initiated by the BNIA to enhance the pedestrian link between Commercial Drive and the Britannia Site; including the School Board and Community Centre facilities, and to provide an open community garden space that is inviting for school children, tired shoppers and neighbourhood gardeners. The space is also intended to be used for community celebrations and festivals.

Design
Engineering Services Staff reviewed the original greenway proposal and produced a set of design constraints to ensure that emergency vehicle access would be maintained, existing utilities would be accessible and undisturbed, and that public safety was paramount. Planners with Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design expertise have assisted with the design.

The impermeable surfaces of the road and the sidewalks will be completely removed and a minimum 6.5m wide paving path will be constructed down the middle of the Napier street corridor. The remaining area within the street corridor will be landscaped and planted. Pedestrian amenities include numerous seating benches, additional pedestrian scale lighting, a bike rack, and a garbage receptacle. The space will also showcase 13 cedar posts carved by community members as part of the Britannia Artist in Residence Program, and a meandering pebble mosaic also to be created by the community. Attached as Appendix B is a plan of the design.

Vehicle Traffic Implications
The five month temporary restriction of vehicles from Napier Street, from May to September 2001, was a trial period for the greenway. During the trial, staff monitored changes to local traffic movement and assessed community support for a permanent neighbourhood greenway in this space. Restricting vehicles from Napier Street has not measurably changed the volumes of cars using the lane west of Commercial Drive that runs adjacent to the Britannia Centre. Informational billboards were placed at either end of the street with project details and contact information. There have been no complaints received by the Greenways Branch regarding the resulting vehicle restriction.

There are 4 legal parking spaces on the south side of Napier that have been eliminated due to the vehicle restriction.

It has been reported that since the street restriction, delivery vehicles occasionally stop at the head of Napier street blocking access to the E-W crosswalk across Commercial. This is because the commercial loading zones on Commercial Drive are often filled with non-commercial vehicles. Increased enforcement will help to reduce these occurrences. Parking Enforcement has been notified of the issue.

Public Process
During the last two years the BNIA have hosted three open houses and have visited nearby businesses to spread information about the Napier project. The latest open house was held in September 2001 in conjunction with a City conducted survey to gauge support. The survey was delivered to:

· neighbourhood residents between Commercial and Victoria, and between Charles and Venables;

· Commercial Drive Businesses between 1^st Avenue and Venables and the BIA; and,
· facilities within the Britannia Site.

Survey participants were asked if they supported the construction of the Green Napier Greenway which would involve permanent restriction of vehicle traffic in the 1600 Block Napier, with the exception of emergency vehicles, and creation of a pedestrian and garden space within the block. Of the 521 surveys delivered , 73 were returned for a response rate of 14%. 93% of the respondents indicated that they are in favour of the greenway and 30% of the respondents indicated that they would like to be involved with the care of the space. The results of the survey are attached as Appendix C.

Community Involvement
The community involvement has been, and will continue to be, the foundation of this neighbourhood greenway. Since initiation, the BNIA community group has been the key design generator for this greenway. Over the past summer nearly 100 community members participated in creating carved cedar posts to be showcased in the space. The design of the greenway includes a meandering pebble mosaic that will be created by community members. Finally, dozens of people have signed up to be part of the community care team for this space.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

A permanent greenway in this location would have many environmental benefits. Foremost it would reduce storm water runoff from the area by removing the existing hard surface of concrete and asphalt, and replacing it with plant material and permeable paving.

SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The Green Napier Greenway will provide the local community with many social benefits. It will provide a safe and welcoming pedestrian access route to the Britannia Site. It will provide a community created place for passive and active recreation. Also it will become a community focal point for celebrations and festivals.

A small percentage of survey respondents are concerned about potential drug use in the greenway space. We believe proper design of the space, such as good sight lines and adequate pedestrian lighting in character with the neighbourhood, combined with the high volume of through traffic, approximately 1000 pedestrians a day, will make it an uncomfortable place for non-legitimate activities.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Funding of $140,000 is required to construct the greenway. This project was listed in the 2001 Capital Budget and there are unallocated funds available in the Streets Basic Capital Unappropriated Order Group SCA2H - UNAP (Unappropriated - Greenways). An increase to the streets horticultural maintenance operating budget of $5,000, without offset, is required to assist the community volunteers with semi annual horticultural maintenance. This increase is based on the size of the landscaped area, and is subject to review during the annual operating budget review process.

CONCLUSIONS

The development of Green Napier in the 1600 Block Napier Street will provide the Grandview-Woodland Neighbourhood with valuable pedestrian oriented open space. Support for this project is high and many community neighbours have indicated that they would like to help care for this space.

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APPENDIX A - CONTEXT MAP

Grandview-Woodland Neighbourhood

APPENDIX B - DESIGN PLAN

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APPENDIX C - COMMUNITY SURVEY

Between September 10^th and September 25, 2001, members of the Grandview -Woodlands neighbourhood were asked if they supported the construction of the Green Napier - Neighbourhood Greenway on the 1600 Block of Napier Street. They were told that vehicle access on Napier would be restricted to emergency vehicles only and the 2-way traffic would be maintained in the lane west of Commercial Drive adjacent to the Britannia Centre.

The following table summarizes the responses.

TABLE C.1

Survey Group	Support the Greenway	Do Not Support the Greenway	No Opinion	Response Rate (% returned of total delivered)
Commercial Drive Businesses	4 (80%)	1 (20%)	0	7%
Neighbourhood Residents	55 (93%)	4 (7%)	0	15%
Britannia Centre Employees	9 (100%)	0	0	20%
Total	78 (93%)	5 (7%)	0	14%

note: first number is actual responses, number in brackets indicates percent of total in that survey group.

A total of 521 surveys were delivered to people in the community.

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