Gibsons Foreshore & Seawalk Improvements Open House (5:00-7:00 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Town of Gibsons – Foreshore & Seawalk Improvements | 1

Gibsons Foreshore & Seawalk Improvements

Open House (5:00-7:00 pm)

Town of Gibsons | October 6, 2016

Session 3: Open House

(Charrette Participants, Designers, Public)

Charrette Overview:

1.0 Morning Session = Charrette Participants & Designers 2.0 Afternoon Session = Designers (Optional for Charrette Participants)

3.0 Evening Session = Open House (Charrette Participants,

Designers, and Interested Public)

3.0 Evening Agenda

5:00 pm Doors Open to View Display (Informal Discussion) 5:30 pm Presentation

Clarified Objectives, Design Results (Options & Implementation Phasing)

6:15 pm Small Group Discussion of Results

Focused on Questions in a Response Form

6:30 pm Small Group Reporting

Consensus Points and Remaining Issues

7:00 pm Wrap-up & Next Steps

Open House

Charrette Objectives

• Review public input received
• Share info on constraints & opportunities
• Work creatively to explore all possible solutions
• After discussion, integrate the best ideas into two

design concepts.

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Study Area

From Gibsons Wharf to Armours Beach

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Study Area

“generally refers to the area between the natural boundary

• f the ocean and the lowest tides”

Foreshore

Access Slope Sewer

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Historical Uses

Lower Gibsons with Tanker at Wharf

(visible: Ballentine Block, Methodist church, Hill's Marine Shop, Marina House & other buildings along waterfront to Armours Beach, c1950)

Wharf at Gibsons Landing

(visible: large crowd waiting for the ferry with some waterfront buildings, c1952)

Photos (#2211, 423, 541) Courtesy of the Sunshine Coast Museum & Archives

Waterfront and Shoreline Buildings

(visible: immediately East of the Wharf looking towards Armours Beach and Soames Hill, c1950)

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Foreshore Today

• Part of the marine ecosystem (fish and eelgrass)
• Infrastructure servicing corridor (sanitary sewer)
• Public recreation trail (oceanfront walkway)

Ecosystem Services for a Range of Uses

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Regulatory Constraints

Coastal Shore Jurisdiction in BC

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GreenShores Approach for Coastal Development

• A tool for developing the shore while protecting natural shorelines

and habitats

• Guiding principles:
• Preserving the integrity or connectivity of shoreline processes
• Maintaining or enhancing habitat diversity and function
• Minimizing or reducing pollutants to the environment
• Reducing cumulative impacts to the shoreline environment

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Sandlance, food for salmon, spawn on beaches

Shore zones support important biological functions

Feeding and resting habitat for migratory birds

• R. Hocken
• R. Hocken

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Design Constraints

Sanitary Sewer

• Fixed alignment of sanitary sewer in access road
• May require eventual replacement or relocating

Access (Maintenance and Seawalk)

• Very limited room between properties and shore
• Riprap protecting the walkway and sewer pipe below is largely

intact but needs upgrade for access

• Small section in front of Cole’s Marina to be upgraded

Armours Beach

• Lock-block retaining wall to be reviewed with consideration for

GreenShores approach

• Beach area access to be integrated to new foreshore approach

Town of Gibsons – Foreshore & Seawalk Improvements | 13

GreenShores Approach for Coastal Development

• A tool for developing the shore while protecting natural shorelines

and habitats

• Guiding principles:
• Preserving the integrity or connectivity of shoreline processes
• Maintaining or enhancing habitat diversity and function
• Minimizing or reducing pollutants to the environment
• Reducing cumulative impacts to the shoreline environment

Future Character?

More natural tree/shrub backshore or More gentle built shoreline?

Future Character?

Design Charrette Outcomes

• Enhance foreshore “ Green Shores” where possible
• Protect Eelgrass area
• Natural vegetation between walkway and water
• Improve Armours Beach Area (more sand,swimming and

amenities)

• Provide a better visitor experience (parking, trails, flow,

public art)

• Improve access from Grandma’s Pub end
• Increased access for mobility challenges (Funicular rail?)
• Improve educational opportunities
• Connect history and beachcomer angle

Future Characte?

Design Criteria

Questions we pondered?

 What design life? 25, 50, 100 years?  What flood level do we chose?  What elevation for walkway/service road?  Habitat benches and natural features?  Access points? Walkway width? Service road width?  How do we adapt to today but plan for future where building are too low now?  What about filling on private land?

Define Criteria

• Eco Asset
• Habitat protection
• Riparian

enhancement

• Aesthetics and

Recreation

• Stability
• Constructability
• Cost

3.5m trail crest intermediate elevation? 4.5 m wide travel lane including 1 m green space Habitat benches in key areas Viewing points

Future Characte?

Concept Designs

• Self-select small groups of ~8 people
• Look for a group where you will hear new

ideas and influence people new to you!

Small Group Discussion

Discussion Guide

Values to Consider for Evaluating the Concepts

• Safety of trail use
• Accessibility (walking, jogging,

cycling, inline skates, disabled?)

• Maximum views of the waterfront
• Minimum environmental impact

(restoration?) ~15 mins discussion in small groups, then reporting back to large group on:

• Consensus Points
• Remaining Issues

Reporting Back (from small groups)

• Consensus Points?
• Remaining Issues?

• Technical review of concepts
• High-level cost estimating
• Informal discussion with approval agencies
• Evaluation / combination of leading ideas into preferred

Design Concept

• Compilation into Draft Recommendations
• Public Review
• Refinement and Recommendations to Council

Next Steps

Thank you!