Engagement Summary - Neighbourhood Changes Survey

The purpose of this survey was to collect information from members of the public on what changes had occurred within the North King’s Town (NKT) study area in recent years, to better understand what attributes of the area the community values and what are considered to be opportunities for improvement. The survey was posted on Get Involved Kingston and was available between May 29 and June 19, 2023. Responses have been summarized by general theme and the information collected in this survey will be used by the project team to refine the secondary plan deliverables.

Question 1: Phase 1 focused on the existing conditions for North King's Town and established a vision to guide future growth. As study process has been on hold for a couple of years, what has changed within the study area since 2019 that should be taken into account?

Land Use

• There have been a number of new commercial businesses open, such as Pizza Monster, Tula Café, Broom Factory, Daughters General, which have been positively received by the community.
• Perception that major development applications are being progressed based on outdated planning policies and regulations.
• Development has not occurred on larger, vacant properties within the study area and instead proposed for naturalized areas.

Social

• Increase in visible homelessness and concentration of encampments, which was viewed by some respondents as negatively impacting perception of safety within the community.
• Increase in community services, such as the Integrated Care Hub and proposed expansion of St Vincent de Paul.
• Gentrification appears to be occurring with recent redevelopments and increased number of short-term rentals. There appears to be a widening income-gap within the study area.
• There appears to be more people within the study area, with an increase in young families and individuals wishing to age-in-place.

Recreation

• Recent improvements have been made to several of the well-used recreation and open space areas within the study area, including the K&P Trail and Doug Fluhrer, Belle and McBurney / Skeleton Parks.

Transportation

• There are perceptions and/or observations that the opening of the Waaban Crossing has impacted traffic patterns within the community, while also improving connectivity.
• Traffic appears to have increased along Montreal Street, especially near the intersection of Montreal Street and John Counter Boulevard, perhaps as a result of the Waaban Crossing.

Heritage

• The Outer Station has continued to deteriorate and no restoration or commemoration works have been initiated.
• Heritage buildings, such as the Broom Factory and several private dwellings, have been conserved.

Environment

• Evidence of climate change has continued in recent years, furthering the need to balance new development with the protection of the natural environment.

Question 2: Have there been any residential, commercial or industrial uses established since 2019 within North King's Town are you are excited about?

Land Use

• New commercial uses (Pizza Monster, Tula / Broom Factory, Elm Café, Daughters General) are valued additions to the community.
• New employment opportunities, such as Li-Cycle, operating within the Old Industrial Area.

Built Form

• Development at Division and Adelaide was constructed using innovative construction techniques, such as a 3D ‘concrete printer’, which should be encouraged in more developments in the future.
• Several smaller-scale residential developments have occurred in recent years that should be considered as examples of appropriate infill development such as:
  1. semi-detached dwellings at Division and Adelaide Streets;
  2. semi-detached dwellings at Cowdy and Adelaide Streets;
  3. stacked townhouses at Division and Pine Streets; and
  4. planning application for townhouse development on Cataraqui Street.

Social

• The Integrated Care Hub was generally recognized as an important facility providing valuable community services.
• Community Notice Boards within the parks and open space provide a good way to engage within the community.

Recreation

• Events and programming within Belle, Douglas Fluhrer and McBurney/Skeleton Parks are supported by the community, especially the Skeleton Park Arts Festival.
• Improvements to the K&P Trail and splash pad / playground improvements to McBurney/Skeleton Park are valued.

Transportation

• Opening of the Waaban Crossing has improved connectivity within the community for vehicles and active transportation.
• Cancellation of the Wellington Street Extension (south) through Douglas Fluhrer Park.
• There have been several improvements to the active transportation network in recent years, which are valued.

Heritage

• Redevelopment and preservation of heritage buildings (such as Broom Factory, 9 North Street and Woolen Mill) should be celebrated and replicated elsewhere in the community.

Question 3: What are your three favourite things about living, working or visiting North King's Town?

Land Use

• Several existing, smaller-scale commercial businesses are operating within the residential areas which provide services and amenity to surrounding residents.
• New commercial uses have been established in recent years, such as Pizza Monster, Tula Café/ Broom Factory, and Daughters General Store, and continued commercial uses at the Woolen Mill.

Built Form

• Human-scale development, with a variety of housing types integrated into the existing neighbourhoods, including smaller low-rise multi-unit apartment buildings.
• Variety of architectural styles make the area interesting to walk through.
• There is a general lack of high-rise development within the study area, which contributes to the human-scale of the neighbourhood.

Social

• Diverse background of people within neighbourhood, including a high concentration of creative people.
• There is a strong sense of community, with friendly people.

Location

• Proximity to downtown means access to activities and events which are accessible by active transportation.
• Close to Great Cataraqui River and public open space along the waterfront.
• Road network offers easy access to Highway 401 and rest of the municipality for shopping.

Recreation

• K&P Trail and Douglas Fluhrer, Belle and McBurney Parks were all noted as valued and well used open spaces.
• Public events, such as Skeleton Park Arts Festival, are valued with some residents desiring more of such events and programming in public spaces.

Transportation

• Good level of transit service through most of the study area with quick access to transfer points.
• No significant parking pressures or constraints.
• K&P Trail offers good cycling connections through neighbourhood.
• Extensive sidewalk network offers good connections to attractions downtown, which are within walking distance of the southern portion of the study area.
• The southern portion of the Wellington Street Extension was not constructed through Douglas Fluhrer Park.

Heritage

• Adaptive reuse of former industrial buildings (Broom Factory, Woolen Mill, 9 North Street, etc.) contributes to the interesting character of the neighbourhood.
• Heritage buildings have generally been well preserved, further contributing to the interesting character of the neighbourhood.

Environment

• Nature and biodiversity along the shoreline, with ‘unmanicured’ public spaces, which provide habitat for turtles and birds.

Question 4: What are three things that could be improved within North King’s Town?

Land Use

• Additional commercial opportunities should be provided to support surrounding neighbourhood. Generally smaller-scale commercial spaces are preferred, however there was also desire for a larger format grocery store.
• Development should be prioritized on vacant, brownfield and City-owned lands, before any tree-covered lands.
• Mixed-use developments with residential over ground floor commercial are generally supported, but industrial uses should be separate.
• Additional housing is required in general, not just affordable housing units.
• Increase in density will create more units and allow community to grow.

Built Form

• Preference for low-rise development within residential areas, especially infill housing that is similar in scale to surrounding development.
• General support for mid-rise development up to 6 storeys along Montreal Street.
• Less support for towers, but general support for increased density in certain areas.

Social

• More affordable / supportive housing and associated support services is required, including funding from the City and City-initiated developments.
• Opportunities and spaces for indigenous ceremonies and gardens should be provided.
• More family-friendly programming is required in parks and open spaces.
• City needs to work with Integrated Care Hub to lessen the impacts of the facility on the surrounding neighbourhood including finding a permanent location and exterior property standards.
• Additional opportunities for health care / medical uses are required.

Recreation

• Additional community garden spaces should be provided.
• Additional indoor facilities are required as Artillery Park is not adequate for entire study area.
• Belle, Doug Fluhrer and McBurney / Skeleton Parks are all valued by the community, but would benefit from additional programming opportunities.
• General maintenance and operations of existing parks could be increased, such as walking surfaces, garbage receptacles, graffiti removal, drinking fountains, etc.
• Belle Park would benefit from an off-leash dog park and lights for night-time use.

Transportation

• Strong desire for improvements to active transportation networks and infrastructure, such as bike lanes, improved sidewalks, additional cross walks, etc.
• K&P Trail is valued and well used, but would benefit from maintenance to remove debris and clean up appearance and better connection to downtown.
• Additional signalized intersections to slow down vehicles and facilitate pedestrian crossings.
• Traffic calming measures are required on Montreal and Rideau Streets.
• Mixed desire for the Wellington Street Extension to be constructed.
• More off-street parking is required for new rental units.
• Intersection of Montreal Street and John Counter Boulevard needs to be redesigned to improve traffic flows.

Heritage

• Outer Station requires restoration and commemoration plan.

Environment

• Protection of trees and shoreline to enhance biodiversity.
• Inner Harbour should be protected from planned dredging to promote overall health of Great Cataraqui River and protect drinking water.
• More trees should be planted in city parks and private lands to increase tree canopy and mitigate climate change.