Gina MacKay, director of planning and development, likes the bump-outs that slow traffic and make pedestrians more visible when they cross the street. These, she said, give Osoyoos a “jump start” in its downtown renewal. (Richard McGuire file photo)
Gina MacKay hopes an event to discuss the Osoyoos Town Centre Renewal Action Plan next Monday will be well attended, especially by downtown business owners.
The Town of Osoyoos director of planning and development services chose to hold the event on Sept. 24 at the Sonora Community Centre after the busy summer tourist season to encourage businesses to participate.
A meeting in June was poorly attended.
Monday’s event starts at 6:45 p.m. and will be attended by representatives of the consulting firm MVH Urban Design and Planning Inc. from Surrey.
MacKay said public input is important and she noted that the plan involves both physical infrastructure and amenities downtown, as well as organization and promotional aspects and business development.
“At this point ideally we always want to see as many members of our community as possible that can come out and participate,” said MacKay. “We really would love to see the business community participate.”
This, she said, includes those who own and operate businesses whether they own their building or not. She would also like to see landlords and local developers attend too. The general public is also welcome.
MacKay said the attendance of developers is important because one aspect of the action plan is to increase the number of people living downtown, thereby adding to the number of “built-in customers.”
“We all know that behind municipal hall there’s a number of older homes that are just right for redevelopment,” she said. “We’re not suggesting they have to be big towers or anything, but even if they are converted into multifamily units or smaller buildings with commercial on the ground floor and residential uses above, then you’ve got a year-round customer base right here.”
The town will be looking at incentive programs to encourage redevelopment, which could include relaxation of development cost charges or relaxation of taxes on improvements.
One aspect, but by no means the only one, is physical amenities on Main Street, including trees, bicycle racks, benches.
The current addition of “bump-outs” or sidewalk extensions at intersections on Main Street gives the town a “jump start,” MacKay said.
“It’s a stroke of luck to be able to incorporate these bump-outs downtown, so visually that’s a great first step,” said MacKay. “What can we do to keep that momentum going?”
The idea of the street amenities is to encourage walkability downtown.
“People don’t shop from their cars,” said MacKay. “They’ve got to get out and walk.”
Other than the poorly attended public meeting in June and a presentation to the Rotary Club of Osoyoos the same month, there have not been public meetings on the plan during the summer.
Nonetheless, a task force of six local business people was formed during the summer, which also includes town councillors C.J. Rhodes and Mike Campol, as well as Kelley Glazer, executive director of Destination Osoyoos.
The plan will focus on four topic areas: physical improvements, business development, promotional activities and operation building.
Under business improvement, in addition to possible incentive programs, the plan will look at business retention, expansion and recruitment.
The promotional activities include directional signage and special events.
The special events could include more events in the spring, fall and winter instead of just the summer to promote Osoyoos as a year-round destination, MacKay said.
And these could be events for local people, to draw them downtown, as well as events for visitors. She noted that events like Trick or Treat Main Street help to bring people downtown to discover local stores.
Art walks like the one that took place in July are another example and MacKay also suggested a photo walk highlighting different spots in the downtown where people like to take pictures.
Under organization building, MacKay said this involves the question of who is responsible for seeing these ideas and priorities through.
“Sometimes that’s the link that nobody wants to talk about,” said MacKay. “That’s the hard stuff. Who is going to pay for it, where’s the money going to come from, where are some of the innovative ways that we can get some of these things done?”
Also in this category is the possibility of a Business Improvement Area (BIA). The initiative for a BIA typically comes from businesses themselves, in cooperation with the municipality, and they oversee improvements.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
