Why Revitalizing Spruce Grove’s City Centre is Important
Spruce Grove is one of Alberta’s fastest growing communities. The City has witnessed sustained and rapid growth in its population, with an average annual growth rate of 5.1% over the previous 5 years and 4.4% over the last 20 years. The City is also part of a tri-municipal area that consists of the City of Spruce Grove and the adjoining municipalities of Stony Plain and Parkland County. The combined population is approximately 85,000 people. Spruce Grove serves as the commercial service centre for the tri-municipal area and beyond. The City has an extensive retail and professional office base that has grown dramatically in recent years to over 2.35 million square feet of space.
A community’s City Centre is the face it presents to the world. The Spruce Grove City Centre is a large area bounded by Calahoo Road to the west, Highway 16A to the south, Broxton School to the east, and an irregular shaped border to the north that runs along Church Avenue and extends down King Street on the Park commercial plaza. Columbus Park is often identified as the main hub of the City Centre.
The condition of a location's City Centre speaks volumes about the health of the local economy, whether or not local residents and property owners reinvest in themselves. Spruce Grove businesses located within the Business Improvement Area are leaders in bringing improvement, design, and strategy to the City Centre. They know a vibrant City Centre affects the community’s ability to attract and retain residents, businesses and institutions, jobs, and investment that enable a city to endure and thrive!
The following are the draft reports presented by Cushing Terrell Architecture, the consultant, to City Council on April 16, 2018 and the CCBA/general public on April 17, 2018. The purpose is to provide an update on the progress of the initiative and invite comments and input.
City Centre ARP Phase 1 Infrastructure Summary
City Centre ARP Phase 2 Land Use and Urban Form Summary
The Revisioning Columbus Park study provides input into the development of the City Centre Area Redevelopment Plan. The City Centre ARP Revisioning Columbus Park Presentation by Cushing Terrill Architecture, the consultant, was shared with City Administration, CCBA members and the general public on June 27, 2018.
Spruce Grove residents and businesses are invited to provide comments and input through the comments section below.
Understanding the importance of a vibrant city centre, a revitalization initiative was brought forward to City Council by businesses and landlords located in the City Centre area. In response, the City of Spruce Grove issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for consulting firms to submit proposals on a City Centre Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP).
There were many criteria set forth by the City:
September 8, 2017, the City of Spruce Grove commissioned Cushing Terrell, a consulting firm, to conduct a study that would outline potential next steps to revitalizing the City Centre/Downtown area. The study included information obtained from interviews with various stakeholders, case studies and a collection of best practices.
The Terms of Reference are split into three main components and a study will be conducted with the outcomes included in the final report.
The objective for this phase of the study is to focus on the key infrastructure including the water distribution network, waste water network, storm water collection network, street lighting and signals, sidewalks (including pedestrian walk-ability patterns), bike access and furniture, traffic control and roadways as part of the City Centre Area Redevelopment Plan. The ARP will need to determine the state of the infrastructure and the current level of service provided, while determining required improvements to meet the needs of the community both at our current levels and future growth potential levels. To achieve the results needed, the following studies are planned:
The principal objectives of this phase of the study are (a) to prepare a draft City Centre Area Redevelopment Plan that meets the requirements set out in Section 635 of the Municipal Government Act and (b) to assess and propose an Urban Design that includes consideration of the future built form, architectural guidelines, streetscape, landscaping and parking. This will encompass the overall look and feel of infill and redevelopment opportunities for the following components;
3. Columbus Park Redesign
The objective for this phase of the City Centre Area Redevelopment Plan is to develop a concept plan which provides a new vision for the existing Columbus Park as a core feature of future redevelopment in the study area. The focus will be on what improvements are needed to create a public square/gathering space that has the flexibility and appeal to host a wide range of events and draw people to the City Centre.
CITY CENTRE REDEVELOPMENT OPEN HOUSE
The City of Spruce Grove held an open house on Wednesday May 4th from 5pm - 8pm at the Pioneer Centre on Jespersen Avenue. The Open House gave an opportunity for interested parties to learn about the upcoming streetscape redevelopment project for McLeod Avenue and Main Street in the City Centre. This planned project will enhance the area as one of the City's main commercial and social destinations and help to create a more pedestrian focused environment by improving sidewalks and street crossings, adding street trees, landscaping and places to gather.
This project will also include rehabilitation of the underground infrastructure to service businesses and residents and create the opportunity for new development.
CITY CENTRE PARKING MANAGEMENT PLAN
Please CLICK HERE to be redirected to the City of Spruce Grove Parking Management Plan presentation to Council which took place on February 16, 2021
Please CLICK HERE to be redirected to the City Centre Parking Management Plan Final Report created by Bunt & Associates Engineering Ltd.
CITY CENTRE PARKING MANAGEMENT PLAN SURVEY
The City of Spruce Grove has retained Bunt & Associates Engineering Ltd. to undertake the development of a Parking Management Plan for the City Centre area. This initiative was recommended as part of the recently approved City Centre Area Redevelopment Plan.
The study and recommendations from this plan will allow the City to determine appropriate responses to current and future parking considerations as they affect parking across the City Centre area.
We want to continue hearing your thoughts on parking in the City Centre area of Spruce Grove! You are invited to provide your input by completing Survey #2. This survey is a continuation of our public engagement process, and the results will be used to help develop a parking management plan for the City Centre to manage parking needs for today and what is anticipated for future growth and revitalization of the area.
Survey ended at 12pm on October 19th, 2020.
Thank you to all those who participated. Results will be posted once made available.
AREA REDEVELOPMENT PLAN (ARP) Reports
CITY CENTRE AREA REDEVELOPMENT PLAN
This is the approved City Centre Area Redevelopment Plan passed by City Council on April 27, 2020.
City Centre Area Redevelopment Plan
Open House Presentation - November 28, 2019
As part of the City Centre Area Redevelopment Plan process, the consultants, Cushing Terrell Architecture Inc., presented the City Centre Area Redevelopment Plan –at an open house held on Thursday, November 28, 2019. A copy of the presentation can be viewed here:
Open House Handout - November 28, 2019
Open House Presentation - November 28, 2019
PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE - Open House Presentation, April 3, 2019
As part of the City Centre Area Redevelopment Plan process, the consultants, Cushing Terrell Architecture Inc., presented the City Centre Area Redevelopment Plan –at 2 open houses held on Wednesday, April 3, 2019. A copy of the presentation can be viewed here:
Open House Presentation - April 3, 2019
COMMITTEE of the WHOLE - COW Presentation October 15, 2018
BACKGROUND REPORTS
There are a number of background reports commissioned which look at specific issues as part of an overall plan. These background reports were prepared by Cushing Terrell Architecture Inc. and include the following:
City Centre ARP Infrastructure Assessment Background Report #1 – August 2018
The purpose of this report is to assess the current City Centre infrastructure, evaluate the system capacities, service life and provide recommended upgrades and where required what the estimated costs could be for associated improvements/upgrades. These upgrades will increase the level of service of the City Centre for current and future development.
City of Spruce Grove City Centre Parking Study – June 2018
As part of the ARP study it was identified that a parking study has not been completed in the City Centre area. A parking study is sought to provide a base line of current conditions. In the event that changes are made to parking through the CCARP, the City will be able to measure if the parking situation improved.
City Centre ARP Land Use and Urban Form Background Report #2 – August 2018
The purpose of this document is to provide a framework and platform of directions and considerations upon which the Final ARP document will prepare specific policies structured in accordance to the Municipal Government Act (MGA) Section 635 as well as the Edmonton Metropolitan Regional Board
City Centre ARP Columbus Park Revisioning Concept Plan Background Report #3 – August 2018
One of the primary tasks of the Area Redevelopment Plan is to explore a new use and design for Columbus Park. This document includes revisioning/repurposing concepts for the existing park.
City Centre ARP Economic Benefits and Costs Background Report #4 – June 2019
This document provides an assessment and summary of the economic benefits and costs associated with the thoughtful and pragmatic implementation of the City Centre ARP recommendations.
Please head over to the Connect Spruce Grove website to stay informed on all the City Centre Redevelopment construction.
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