From: Arnold and Sheri Neufeldt-Fast <neufast@yahoo.ca> To: Mayor and council <MayorAndCouncil@townofws.ca>; Andrew McNeely <andrew.mcneely@townofws.ca> Cc: Jim Mason <JMason@yrmg.com>; Rene De Vries <rene.devries@tetratech.com> Sent: Sunday, June 22, 2014 9:46:06 PM Subject: Joy Square (Council Meeting, June 24) Dear Mayor and Council / Mr. McNeely (CEO), I am unable to present in person at the Council Meeting on June 24, 2014. I would like to make the following written submission for council's consideration for the following agenda item:

13. REVISION TO SITE PLAN CONTROL APPROVAL, JOY SQUARE CORPORATION, 5827 MAIN STREET, PART OF LOT 35 (M), CONCESSION 8, STOUFFVILLE, PLANNING FILE NO. SPA13.001 (D11)

Joy Square is a strong proposal for what the neighbourhood needs and wants: something remarkable near Weldon /Glad Park and Main St.--not average. The property, together with area commercial, retail, and municipal properties, has the potential—still to be realized—of a remarkable, dynamic, walkable centre. The immediate vicinity has very important assets that, if connected with a strong vision and plan, could build significant value for Joy Square tenants in particular. There is a captive market in this area of Stouffville (I too live within one kilometre from the planned square); but moreover, there is a real opportunity to also “captivate” the market if these existing assets / pieces (restaurants, arena, groceries, etc) can be connected, enabling people to (and want to) meet, linger, and self-organize. The idea of a real square is brilliant, but it requires more assistance to be realized.

The developer has surely done studies on the neighbourhood and knows that this property is potentially one of the most walkable, bikeable locations in Stouffville. With a seniors residence nearby, high-density on Rupert (perhaps more on Main – old Canadian Tire site), as well as a high-school and arena, the location has the opportunity to become a place where people of all demographic groups can meet and encounter each other. This is key to building a vibrant community (part of Stouffville’s vision statement). The site could potentially pass the “stroller-test”--another measure of a building a complete community—if planned properly! A key question for this becoming a remarkable destination: Could this strip of Main Street be found by walkers to be a) interesting, b) safe/comfortable and c) purposive (that is, with destinations they need to reach)? This question would extend to the properties along this stretch of Main Street as well. Staff and Council can help developers and businesses make this happen. I ask Council to consider the following in issues before approving the latest iteration of the Joy Square proposal: a. A retail/commercial mall or square on a bus route, near a municipal lot and in an eminently walkable, bikeable location and captive market, can and should be given relief on expensive,

minimum off-street parking requirements for retail. The current proposal has far too much parking in an area of town already full of parking—such that potential walkers (e.g., the many seniors in the area needing and wanting to walk, young parents with strollers, youth and middle-aged folks like me--on bicycles etc.) will likely a) not be inspired to walk or b) feel comfortable or safe walking to c) these potentially worthwhile and interesting destinations. Reduced parking requirements can be offered in exchange for wider sidewalks (especially critical for the building towards the back--with an extremely narrow sidewalk) and the building towards the front on Main Street.

Suggestion: i) an entire row of parking spots be removed facing the back building, in exchange for a generously widened sidewalk; ii) an entire island of cars in the first middle-strip of approx. 24 parking spots be removed to offer space to gather, with fountain, benches, hedges, etc. The town would make this parking exception based on the potential walkability/bikeability of site (also on transit route) and for its own purposes: to plan for the creation of a more vibrant community. This would benefit the developer / businesses, allowing them to transform a captive market into a captivated market. The "square" model could expand as other adjacent properties develop, and the vicinity could become truly remarkable, and attract other business along Main as well. b. The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville has a trail/cycling master plan that looks forward to (and has pre-budgeted for) a future bike-lane in the boulevard of this section of Main Street. This should be anticipated by the design of Joy Square (and ideally fast-forwarded by the town). The entry of bikes and strollers and walkers to the property needs to feel and look much safer and

plausible than the current parking plan/ traffic flow shows. The drive-thru should be re-considered. Drive-thrus-- in my view and in the literature—appear to be a fast-fading view of what people/communities want for themselves or for shopping experience, and certainly makes space less comfortable and more dangerous for the vast majority of customers who choose to get out of their cars to bank, or who want to arrive their on foot or bike. This area of Stouffville need not be car-centric. The current plan for a square on Main St. appears to be a quality investment, but still requires council’s vision and input for the entire vicinity around Main Street and Glad Park/ Weldon. A square is exactly what the neighbourhood needs and would embrace—young and old-- and a concept which would build value—first for the developer and tenants of Joy Square, and then, as it connects with other assets, for the larger location as well. But a few key adjustments are still needed for this to happen. I ask council to a) reduce minimum parking requirements in exchange for more generous side-walks and significant civic, public space; and b) give guidance /creative vision for a “vibrant,” walkable-bikeable vicinity from Parkview, SDSS, and Glad Park to Joy Square. With a little assistance/creativity from the town, this could become a remarkable investment and destination that will captivate the community and invite the development. Sincerely, Arnold Neufeldt-Fast Stouffville, ON

Other correspondence by Arnold Neufeldt-Fast to Whitchurch-Stouffville Town Council for

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

* Retail Plaza as Gateway to Community of Stouffville (Hwy 48 / Main St)? Questions

* Library/Leisure Centre Expansion: Architectural Inspiration from the Long-house tradition?

* Saving the Stouffville Grain Elevator