160914 Beautification Working GroupTown of Tillsonburg
Beautification Working Group
Report from the meeting of September 14, 2016
1. Attending
Christine Nagy, Matt Fenn, Corey Hill , Penny Esseltine, John Kirkland, Sue Saelens
Regrets/Absent: Wendy Cameron, Paul DeCloet
Chair Christine Nagy called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
2. Broadway Beautification Continuing Assessment
Response to the urns on Broadway at the intersections of Broadway and Ridout Streets
and Broadway and Brock Streets has continued to be excellent. Plants in the planters
have continued to thrive. The B.I.A. as well has received positive feedback about the
urns. The urns will continue to be watered until the end of September. Matt will remove
them from Broadway and store the urns for the wintertime.
3. Broadway Beautification Plans Going Forward
John circulated an illustration of downtown Tillsonburg proposed streetscape for Canada
150 in 2017. The illustration includes hanging baskets, planted urns, and banners. Both
the Beautification Working Group as well as the B.I.A. are looking to request budget
amounts to be included in the town’s 2017 budget that would support the 2017 program.
Christine and Matt have worked to develop and Beautification Working Document for the
downtown area as well as gateway gardens for 2017 and beyond that includes both a
one year and a three year plan with projected costs. Costs in year one can range from
$7,700 to $18,740 and maintenance and watering costs would be extra.
John reports that the B.I.A. considers the cost of watering baskets, urns and trees on
Broadway a big concern. The cost of this could be in the $10,000 range. In their
projections other beautification efforts could range from $30,000 (Phase One) to $86,000
(Custom Program) and there has been a request to include these amounts in the Ontario
/ Canada 150 Festival grant application. The Custom Program could include Banners,
Holders for Banners, Tree Lights for Christmas, Christmas Decorations, Hanging Baskets
and Hangers, Trees, Stone Chips, Grates etc.
4. Beautification Working Group/B.I.A. Areas of Responsibility
There was discussion about who should apply for what funds from the town. There could
well be overlapping requests. The B.I.A. is prepared to hand over responsibility for
beautification to the Beautification Working Group.
Corey advised that this group is an advisory committee only and would not be expected
to be involved in the hands-on management of beautification programs. This group’s
responsibility is to develop a longer term (3-5 years) plan for town-wide beautification
including both human and financial resources which would then be approved and put
forward to council by the Heritage Beautification and Cemetery Committee. Corey would
be responsible for drafting the accompanying Staff Report. The only request for funds for
the Beautification Working Group itself would be for dollars required to complete the
plans such as drawings etc.
5. Amenity Spaces
Matt reports that he has continued to work with landscapers regarding the southend
parkette at Broadway and Oxford Streets and a plan for improving this space. For the
most part they would develop and plan and drawings for no charge assuming that the
work would then be theirs to complete. Otherwise the cost for drawings would be in the
$500 to $1000 range. Some suggest we really need engineered drawings. The
committee has discussed a number of ideas relating to the southend parkette and in that
regard it was suggested that perhaps it is the committee’s vision that should come
forward in the drawings rather than those developed by a landscaper. Matt has offered to
develop this for us.
6. Gateway Plans
Penny circulated photographs of entrance signs located on north Broadway near the
Stauffer Motors building, off Highway 3 opposite Clearview Drive, and on John Pound
Road at the Mill Tales Inn. This last one is the Welcome to Downtown Tillsonburg sign
funded by the BIA. In general the first two signs lack presence. They sit atop a
nondescript wooden planter and the north Broadway sign is fairly far removed from the
line of traffic so less visible. It also competes with a Crime Stoppers sign placed beside it
which is both higher and closer to the road. Both the Highway 3 and the north Broadway
signs faces will be replaced with sign faces incorporating the town’s new branded logo.
Currently the plantings in these planters are primarily small shrubs.
Initial recommendations for beautification of gateway signs include:
Cover the wooden planters with a stone facing for a more solid appearance.
Move the north Broadway sign to a more visible location and request that the
Crime Stoppers sign be relocated so that it doesn’t overshadow the Tillsonburg
sign.
Plant airy grasses that move in the wind at the base of the planter and extend the
plantings past the base of the planter for more presence.
Plant a variety of perennials that bloom at varying times for colour in the planters
Ensure that the signs are illuminated.
In the longer term it is recommended that Gateway Signs be redesigned so that they
have a stronger presence, are more visible, and better represent that Town of
Tillsonburg. It was noted that certainly the Tillsonburg Airport sign as well as the
Welcome to Downtown Tillsonburg signs make a more positive, lasting impression than
the current gateway signs.
7. Commercial Beautification Program
Christine presented a proposal for the Commercial Beautification Project in the downtown
area that would be available to property owners and tenants or residents and would
involve the purchase of a seasonal planter complete with watering directions, fertilizer
and a watering can. This planter could be returned for replanting in subsequent years.
Plantings in the planters would be in the same colours and style as urn and planter
plantings on Broadway to reinforce the beautification efforts. There is potential for this
program to be coordinated by the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society.
8. Library Lane
There was some discussion about beautification efforts in the Library Lane area and who
is responsible for these. Corey will investigate who is responsible for this area.
9. Canada 150 Ad Hoc Committee
Christine reported that the Canada 150 Committee has asked for representation from the
Beautification Working Group. Christine is unable to take this on and asked if another
member would be interested.
10. Other Business
With regard to beautification efforts for Canada 150 it was suggested that the
Beautification Working Group prepare a report for the Heritage, Beautification and
Cemetery Committee in advance of their final report (expected in the new year) with
recommendations specific to Canada 150 beautification.
11. Date of Next Meeting
Friday, October 14, 9:00 a.m., Marwood Lounge
Chair: Christine Nagy
Recorder: Penny Esseltine
09/27/16