Intensification Area Urban Design Guidelines - City of Barrie

17 Urban Design Guidelines for Barrie’s Intensification Areas - DRAFT
2.2.4 City-Wide Issues
There are a number of city-wide issues that apply to each of
the Intensification Areas, including:
Inefficient Active Transportation Network – Transit in the
City of Barrie requires all buses to return to the Barrie Bus
Terminal before heading to their destination resulting in
both long travel and wait times. Recommendations in these
guidelines promote active transportation and encourage
vibrant and active streets that support future improvements
to the transit system, and should be read in conjunction with
the City’s new transit strategy (Mayor’s Plan for Transit, 2012).
Large Surface Parking Areas – There are many large surface
parking lots throughout the Intensification Areas, particularly
on Bayfield Street, but also within the Urban Growth Centre
and other Intensification Corridors. Ultimately, as transit and
active transportation improves in the Intensification Areas, the
demand for parking will decrease and will be accommodated
within structured and underground parking facilities. In the
interim, options will be explored to minimize the impacts of
large surface parking areas.
Disconnected Open Spaces – There are many open spaces
within, or near, the Intensification Areas, including Centennial
Park, Queen’s Park, Shear Park, and Heritage Park. There
is however, little connectivity between these open space
features, particularly to areas outside of the Urban Growth
Centre (i.e. Yonge Street, Essa Road). As redevelopment occurs
along the Intensification Corridors, existing natural features
(i.e. Lover’s Creek Ravine) should be utilized to accommodate
a network of trails that link to the Urban Growth Centre.
The active transportation guidelines provided in this
document, including boulevard recommendations, cycling
provisions, and transit recommendations, will help to tie open
spaces, trails, and natural heritage features together, creating
a well connected network of parks and open spaces.
DRAFT
Figure 12: Barrie Transit Network
Barrie’s current Bus Transit Network consists mostly of looped routes that
return to the Barrie Bus Terminal. The City is planning to implement a more
efficient transit system.
Figure 13: Large-Format Retail (Surface Parking Areas)
Large format commercial areas along Bayfield Street with expansive
surface parking lots.