A request to close a portion of Seventh Ave North to facilitate a business expansion has become an unexpected hot potato for Yorkton Council, one they have tossed around at the last two meetings of Council without making a final decision.
It would seem a rather straight forward issue. The City has been approached by the owner of 145 Broadway Street East to close a portion of Seventh Avenue North, immediately north of Broadway Street East. The closed right-of-way would be purchased from the City in order to provide legal and physical connection to the property at 117 Broadway Street East, currently in operation as Royal Ford.
The closure would facilitate future expansion of the existing Home Hardware business in the city.
While clearly having a vested interest in the proceedings Terry Ortynsky, owner of the Royal Ford property was correct when he reminded Council at its regular meeting Dec. 3, "numerous examples" exist where businesses hold two city blocks in other Saskatchewan cities, and the street has been closed.
However there have been several letters and presentations to Council at their last two meetings voicing opposition to the closure.
Following advertising of the proposed bylaw, City Planner Michael Eger said the City had received several written responses detailing a variety of concerns including;
Impede development of 117 Broadway Street East as a more desirable commercial use;
Reduce much-needed parking spaces and redirect on-street parking to Sixth Avenue North and Eighth Avenue North;
Redirect traffic to neighbouring streets which are not suitable for additional volumes.
It is interesting how issues come up in matters such as this.
The concept of leaving the property for a more desirable commercial use is a most interesting one. A few years ago Yorkton would have been eager to attract any business expansion, but now in the midst of a boom we suddenly become more concerned with what happens in our city. That might have merits in many cases, but when you factor in Home Hardware being part of the Broadway Street business community for more than three decades, impeding their ability to grow makes little sense, and would send a negative message to other long-time businesses in Yorkton.
A reduction in parking spots will occur, but the impact of Royal Ford staff taking up spots is likely to counter-balance that less.
The movement of traffic to adjacent streets is again interesting. While flow numbers on Seventh Avenue have not been mentioned, the impact of spreading that traffic over several neighbouring avenues is likely to be less impact-full than most fear.
The new hotel along Smith Street has been cited as creating traffic problems if Seventh is closed, but for those using the hotel and traveling in, or out of the city on any of the highways serving Yorkton, Smith Street itself will be the natural conduit.
While there are issues with the proposed redevelopment, there are with most major developments, whether the smell of canola processing wafting over the city on occasion, or that some residents still have not figured out how two way turn lanes work on the west end of Broadway. But like the examples noted, the Home Hardware expansion is good for the city and Council should be moving forward with the process, at least to the point they can negotiate the fine details with the company to mitigate issues.
Tabling the matter Dec. 3, until a meeting in late January was just putting Council's job to make tough decisions to the benefit of Council.
It is to be hoped they make the right decision when it comes before Council in the new year.
