After several years of planning and study, the Holland Street Reconstruction Project is coming back to the public for more input.
Some of the work, such as a transportation study, is now four or five years old, said Peter Loukes, BWG’s director of development and engineering services.
Now, town staff are faced with doing another transportation study, updating its information with the town’s newest official plan, and hosting several public meetings to see whether the Holland Street project still meet the needs of the growing community.
“You have to anticipate what’s going to happen in the future. We’re now four or five years into the future,” he said. “We wanted to touch base — (see) if it’s what we had anticipated, (or) is it more?”
Loukes said the town should be able to “restart” the project in 2019.
If its plans are approved in the town’s 2019 budget, it could take at least 18 months to complete, he said.
Public meetings would likely begin by the middle to end of next year, and construction is expected to begin as early as 2021, he said.
The town last hosted four public meetings about the project in 2012 and 2013, he added.
The Holland Street project is focused on three areas: from Professor Day Drive to Collings Avenue, Collings Avenue to the downtown, and the Barrie and John streets area.
Staff came up with “preferred solutions” for each of those areas, but, in 2014, BWG’s Downtown Revitalization Committee wanted upgrades to parking, Loukes said.
“Most of that work has been done,” he said.
Since 2014, though, the town has seen increased growth and “there could be different people in the public,” Loukes said. “We can get a wholesome view of what we should be doing” by consulting the public again.
As well, the town’s new official plan is expected to come to BWG council for approval this fall, he said.
“There is some (intensification) planning that’s being suggested for the downtown core. (We will see) what the street will look like and try to tie all that together,” he said.
“We’ve got a good spot to start on this. I look forward to getting some input from the public on what they’d like to see along Holland Street.”
