Intensification Area Urban Design Guidelines - City of Barrie

23 Urban Design Guidelines for Barrie’s Intensification Areas - DRAFT
2.5.1 Mixed-Use and Residential Avenues
As new development occurs within the Intensification Areas,
Duckworth Street, Bayfield Street, Dunlop Street, Essa Road,
and Yonge Street, as well as the Intensification Nodes located
within them, should evolve into Mixed-Use and Residential
Avenues.
Opportunities for intensification within the Mixed-Use and
Residential Avenues include:
• Redevelopment of underutilized parcels (i.e. large surface
parking areas, single-storey development) for streetoriented
mixed-use development in low to mid-rise
buildings.
• Subdivision of large blocks into smaller, walkable blocks
through walkways, drive-aisles, and where feasible, new
roads.
• Opportunities to redefine the existing boulevard within
the right-of-way through building set-backs, bumpout
parking, or narrowing of the street pavement where
feasible.
In the short-term, redevelopment should be focused at the
Primary and Secondary Intensification Nodes, including:
• Bayfield Street (at Grove Street, Cundles Road, and
Livingstone Street).
• Dunlop Street (at Anne Street and Miller Drive).
• Yonge Street (at Little Avenue, Big Bay Point Road and
Mapleview Drive).
In time, as these areas urbanize and become more vital
and pedestrian-supportive through greater amenity and
residential/retail opportunities, land values will increase and
spur future intensification opportunities.
Ultimately, these corridors should transition to major
transportation corridors that balance the functional
requirements of the street with the provision of an active,
pedestrian-supportive streetscape. Human-scaled, mixeduse
buildings should line the street, providing “eyes on the
street,” and enhancing safety and activity at all hours. Wide
boulevards should accommodate street trees, landscaping,
continuous sidewalks, seating, signage and public art. Spillout
retail uses at grade (i.e. restaurants, cafes), and public
open spaces, will offer opportunities for pedestrians to gather
and socialize.
Priority Directions
• Establish building height transitions where taller buildings
frame primary street intersections and transition to mid
and low-rise heights adjacent to stable residential areas.
• Recognize the long-term evolution/change of these mixeduse
corridors, through short-term design that supports
longer term development opportunities.
• Focus initial development at the street edge and at key
Intensification Nodes.
DRAFT
• The design of the street right-of-way should balance
the requirements for vehicles, transit, and cycling while
providing pedestrian amenities on the boulevards.
• Consider long-term options to subdivide large/deep land
parcels into smaller blocks. These blocks may initially be
drive aisles within surface parking areas.
• When surface parking lots are developed for new buildings
or public open space, plan for the relocation of parking in
structured facilities, including parking decks and below
grade.