The future for one of Cambridge’s major corridors was once again in the discussion around the city’s horseshoe, with local delegates and councillors alike having the opportunity to share their thoughts on some proposed changes for Hespeler Road.
At the continuation of a public delegation meeting from last week, which saw local delegates discussing a few key projects on the way in the coming months, talks continued around a change in focus for the future of Hespeler.
That includes limiting any sort of driver-focused developments, such as gas stations, drive-thrus, big box stores, and more.
Instead, the city is looking into a shift towards transit and residential-focused projects, looking to beautify the key area of the city ahead of expected growth in the coming years.
Much of that focus centres around the possible welcoming of the ION Light Rail Transit system (LRT), a move which some delegates are actively against.
“Converting a significant portion of this commercial corridor to residential will add a significant number of residents to travelling this road, which will increase congestion and travel times,” said Galt resident Keith Wallbank.
“One of the purposes of the corridor plan is to support the use of the LRT, yet the LRT and the present bus system have significant ridership issues.”
Wallbank stated that the city’s investment and focus on LRT is a poor one, which has not had the proper traffic studies or due diligence to assess the full impacts once installed into the city’s infrastructure.
While Wallbank was among those who were against the possible move, city staff state that the area is projected for sizeable growth in the near future, and the city needs to prepare for transit-focused options well in advance.
“Our current Official Plan does provide direction for where growth should be accommodated within the city,” said Melissa Aldunate, Manager of Policy Planning with the city.
“It establishes certain areas as our major nodes and corridors, and directs intensification to those areas. Hespeler Road corridor is one of those major corridors where growth is to be directed.”
While some in attendance at the delegation meeting were against the move to a transit-focused Hespeler, others, including Councillor Scott Hamilton, said it’s a topic that separates Cambridge from other mixed-use communities.
“When we look at complete communities, mixed-use communities, we do see these around the world. We see them in Waterloo, we see them in Kitchener, and we see potential for them in Cambridge,” Hamilton stated.
“I’ve lived in them when I lived in Europe, and I can tell you it is immensely freeing to be able to walk somewhere or ride a bike or use trains. It’s incredibly freeing to be part of a complete community where you can get pretty much anywhere you need to be, the school, the park, the doctor’s office, the grocery store, within 15 minutes.”
He said that the city really needs to think about what it wants to be in the future, and if people see a vision of a more well-rounded and connected city, then the changes to Hespeler would be beneficial.
“If that is an aspiration that our planning staff can set for us, for developers, for residents, what is the harm in it?” asked Hamilton.
“Let’s say hypothetically it (LRT) doesn’t come. Then what do we have? We still have an incredibly accessible, bold, exciting plan that sets a great vision for what Hespeler Road could become in the future.”
While attendees and councillors both had the opportunity to speak their minds on the proposed changes, ultimately, no decisions will be made just yet.
The full details on the changes to Hespeler Road are set to go before city council for possible approval at a future meeting.
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