ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: September 12, 1995
Dept. File No.606 153
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT: Special Pedestrian Treatment on Nelson Street
(Concord Pacific Lands)
RECOMMENDATION
THAT Council approve the final design for special pedestrian
treatment of Nelson Street between Beatty Street and Pacific
Boulevard North, as shown in Appendix B.
COUNCIL POLICY
On January 31, 1995, Council approved the conceptual design for special
pedestrian treatment of Nelson Street between Beatty Street and Pacific
Boulevard North, as recommended by staff, with the provisions that:
(i) the special surface treatment for the street be considered for
the entire Nelson Street from Beatty Street to Pacific
Boulevard North, and
(ii) the final design be presented to Council for approval.
PURPOSE
This report seeks Council approval on the final design for special
pedestrian treatment on Nelson Street from Beatty Street to Pacific
Boulevard North.
BACKGROUND
On April 20, 1993, the rezoning for the Quayside Neighbourhood in False
Creek North was approved by City Council. Many enhancements to the
pedestrian environment were also approved.
The enhancements include: eliminating "free-flow" right turns for
vehicles, adding public space and landscaping, improving pedestrian
crossings, adding sidewalk bulges on local streets, closing Beatty
Street (between Pacific Boulevard and Nelson Street), and special
treatment for Nelson Street (between Beatty Street and Pacific
Boulevard.
To respond to Council's request, staff presented conceptual design
options for special treatment of Nelson Street between Beatty Street and
Pacific Boulevard in a report dated January 9, 1995. At a Council
meeting on January 31, 1995, Council approved the conceptual design as
shown in Appendix A. Council also directed staff to consider the
special surface treatment for the entire Nelson Street between Beatty
Street and Pacific Boulevard North and that staff report back with the
final design.
Under the Quayside Services Agreement, Concord Pacific is responsible
for the construction of this special treatment in conjunction with the
development of the Quayside Neighbourhood.
DISCUSSION
In response to Council direction, a final design for special surface
treatment of Nelson Street from Beatty to Pacific Boulevard was
developed by the developer design group, including a landscape
architect, in consultation with City staff and it is shown in Appendix
B.
A uniform paver treatment is used over the entire sidewalk and roadway
surface of Nelson Street to give unity and a distinctive effect to this
roadway. A blend of coloured concrete 'Heritage' pavers with a random
colour mix of dark grey, light grey and red in two sizes, provides
additional visual 'texture'. Curb and gutter treatments will harmonize
with this theme in a concrete finish which also provides a standard
demarcation between sidewalk and road for public safety.
The median is treated with a combination of river rock cobble set in
concrete and low planting. Similar treatments apply to the area
adjacent to the Cambie Street bridge abutment to serve a pedestrian
deterrent function as it is not part of the pedestrian system.
Tree planting serves to screen views of the bridge from the east with
shrub areas further 'softening' the streetscape. Shrubs and climbing
plants tolerant of a north-facing location and dry conditions in the
area adjacent to the bridge abutment will also add to the intention of
reducing the bridge's visual impact.
Crosswalks are broom-finish concrete scored in a 1.0 metre grid pattern
to serve as transition between special treatment on Nelson Street and
the more conventional treatment of surrounding areas.
This design provides a pedestrian environment while meeting the safety
requirements by identifying separation of uses.
To provide a pedestrianized link from this Nelson Street special
treatment to Marinaside Crescent, a complementary treatment will be
considered on Nelson Street, south of Pacific Boulevard North.
The Nelson Street streetscape has been developed to create a
pedestrianized surface treatment with a friendly buffer from the bridge
abutment. The design team also tried to create a streetscape that would
require minimum maintenance in the future. However, with the special
surface treatments, the maintenance cost will still be greater than that
of conventional treatments.
CONCLUSION
It is recommended that City Council approve the final design for special
treatment of Nelson Street as shown in Appendix B.
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