Build upon and enhance funkEness

From Heather Horak

General Reflections: Needs to be Funkier

The PPU: a good discussion document and a solid starting point (especially the division into study area ‘zones’ and proposals for regulation of land use (PAE and PIIA)-- although I feel the municipality should strive for a loose version of the PIIAs, especially with regards to architectural ‘style’ (see critique of ‘Heritage preservation’)
BUT the tool is too conventional. Doesn’t do justice to the opportunity. Wakefield is funkier than this document represents. In fact the plan may eliminate some of this ‘funkiness’ as it stands. Document should not only ensure that Wakefield remains ‘funky’ in various ways but even actually build upon and enhance the funkiness. Wakefield’s PPU should stand out for its innovation and difference, just as Wakefield, the community, does.

Wakefield: “Unique” and “Distinctive”: Lets build on that!

What is our uniqueness/character? Hard to define. Intangibles need to be captured—defined, underlined, and supported by development proposals and infrastructure enhancements. Our uniqueness has less to do with tourists and more to do with community relationships and ‘openness’ to difference and artistic sensibility among our population. High density of ‘artistic people’. Low income but high culture. “Accepting” milieu for ‘difference’-- within a context of Canada/ QC/ NCR—in contrast to Ottawa/Ontario. Funkiness. X(W?) factor. Uniqueness/community identity—needs to be spelled out/defined AND represented in actual ideas

We Need an Economic Development Strategy

Even before we need more sidewalks, and one that builds upon existing assets beyond our conventional understanding (like tourism)
Economic Development strategy should reflect real economic drivers. Should “Quantify cultural assets” Opportunity to develop ‘cultural economy’. We are artist-rich!
Look at concept of Social Capital and Artistic/Cultural Assets. Instead of “A Place for Arts and Culture” talk instead about Social and Artistic capital.
Wakefield, not as a “place for art and culture” but a place MADE by it! We are a community that creates itself through art/culture in daily life and through expression of our different-ness: we are not a container where it can be put behind glass and oooed and ahhhed at. We should avoid the ‘museum approach’ in thinking about art/culture—strive for a more active conceptualization in our PPU.

Take Ecology, Sustainability, Smart Growth seriously!

Sustainability—what would this mean and how to express it in PPU besides a quick mention under Smart Growth Principles. Its mentioned but not used as a guiding principle throughout the PPU. We need to study it more and see how and where it can be applied throughout.
Smart growth definition in existing PPU includes:
“Foster distinctive attractive community with a strong sense of place” (but PPU doesn’t do this adequately, see #1)
“Construct buildings that make more efficient use of land and resources” (but PPU proposes much additional infrastructure, with no environmental efficiency standards and no alternative materials or uses)
“Range of housing opportunities”—PPU only mentions affordable housing for seniors. What about low income villagers who live and work right here—can’t afford to live in Ward 6 anymore… single moms, artists, alternative lifestyles, people who work in local businesses for low wages. Seniors are not the only ones who need affordable housing.

Shaping Tourism/ Sustainable Tourism

Sustainable/Quality Tourism— if Tourism is to be a main building block of our economy, we should take the opportunity to approach it critically and to direct/shape it according to our own values and according to how we want it to affect our community. For example we may find ways to infuse tourist activities and attractions with our social and community values—for example, make them more interactive/ non-consumptive. Tourism is traditionally problematic in that it sells the ‘zoo’ approach to visiting, and can erode indigenous environment/culture on a number of levels. How about seizing the opportunity to offer our tourists experiences that invite them to think about things differently or to live differently in their own communities— ie tourists who come in to ‘consume’ leave instead with expanded consciousness about community, ecology, heritage instead…and a live, exciting experience. This needs to be think-tanked in a serious way if we are to base our economy so largely on tourism yet enhance our community as the distinctive/unique/alternative place that it is.

And Beyond Tourism

P. 3, Background: Context
Wakefield is defined as a ‘hub of social and cultural amenities’ (‘Amenities’ suggest stuff that can be bought/sold rather than experienced.) add ‘economic strongpoint of municipality’
“rich in social capital and artistic assets”
need to define Wakefield beyond “recreation and tourism center for the municipality!!!
Also, even though the PPU defines itself as a document addressed to “Community-Nature-Visitors” it is clear that most of the additional proposed infrastructure is for visitors.
We need to prioritize what we spend money on, balance equally or even favor community (rather than all the spending to accommodate visitors)

Heavy, Dangerous Traffic or Infrastructure Overkill?

Lots of good ideas: shared parking areas, rear location, zoning N-S for lots BUT:
Much of the PPU is dedicated to improving roads, sidewalks, and bike paths. Two new roads are proposed, as well as a more formalized road between Manse and Sully (there is already a gravel road that is used by Manse road people to escape when the train has trapped them—why isn’t that good enough?)
Much of this is premised on perceived problems such as heavy traffic through the village, lack of adequate parking, and dangerous situations for bicyclists. Has any of this been studied or documented? Its never taken anyone I know more than 5-10 minutes to traverse the village. I have always been able to find a parking spot anywhere I went, or reasonably close by. Is all this parking for tourists or residents? No one I know who lives here has a lot of trouble finding a parking spot. The amended and expanded parking facilities are reasonable, but how much do we need?
Will additional roads relieve traffic or just allow people to go faster? Will re-routing bicyclists off the road make cars think they can go faster thereby making it more dangerous for pedestrians, children or the odd bicyclist on the road? Has there EVER been an accident where a bicyclist was hit by a car going through the village? BEWARE HIDDEN ASSUMPTIONS and public perceptions! Try to study/document problem areas and proposed ‘solutions’. It might turn out that some are phantom problems based on assumptions or skewed public perception. Yes we should amend necessary infrastructure. The proposed PPU has a LOT of sidewalk being added. Is there something very terrible or dangerous about people getting off the train at the peace park and sort of wandering across the grass to the general store? There is a certain level of charm to informal routes and paths. Overkill on infrastructure (paths, sidewalks, benches, lights, info-posts and such) will definitely take away some funkiness. Maybe its good for people to have to sit on the grass to gaze at the river. Do we really want to put them on a special raised platform to look at the river? Again this seems very museum-ish. Don’t take all the wildness and informality out of a stroll through the village. I like walking on the train tracks, and so do a lot of people. A precise needs assessment based on actual measureable danger and safety should occur before we go for OVERKILL. Less is always more!

What is Heritage?

p. 15 Differentiate ‘Heritage’ and ‘History’—2 different things. Be careful that ‘preserving heritage’ doesn’t fall into ‘preserving real estate values for property owners/rich people’.
Heritage: Must be defined beyond ‘preserving old buildings’
Our more contemporary history: hippies artists homos weirdos alternative lifestyle innovators eco-living…
Plaques: they are for tourists who are only here for a few hours. Plus they’re weird and kind of an eyesore. Design a more community based, event based interactive public education plan to educate and create our history/heritage. Public participation in CREATION of heritage and defining what it is as well as ‘preservation’of history. Too much emphasis on logging industry, land and business-owning ‘original’ families, etc. What about native peoples, plants and animals, geographic heritage? # 23 “Wakefield Heritage Park” should be about more than an old train station and a tourist steamer. #24 What about geographic/natural heritage? Native peoples?
Go ‘loose’ on regulations of maintenance and design # 15
I enjoy a slightly dilapidated building or two—speaks honestly that we are not all rich/middle class. Plus it adds some nice grit.
Too much regulation in the name of ‘heritage preservation’ can lead to gentrification/ forcing low income owners and tenants out of the village core in search of more affordable options.

Other Infrastructure Comments

Signage: Avoid overkill
#12 p. 14 advoid overkill on typical ‘pretty’ stuff like benches, planters, lights, tourist info pillars, signs, etc, Avoid overly groomed/controlled/domesticated look. Leave some of the wildness in the village.
Motorboat Dock
Putting in a formal motorized boat dock will DEFINITELY encourage motorboat activity. I for one do not want this and a lot of people don’t. IF though it must be do not feature it front and center on the community boardwalk! That is a very strong pro-motorboat statement and in fact will encourage motorboat usage to increase.
Swimming Area
I like the wildness of the swimming area behind the general store. It used to be mowed, which was nice. I would oppose a formalization, expansion and nice-ification of this area for personal preference reasons, but liability, staffing, and parking might become an issue too for the municipality if an official and/or larger ‘swimming area’ is created. I don’t feel we need it and we might lose something precious and informal in what is there right now.

Additional Comments

Vision Statement: Old and poorly written. Does it still apply?

Look at adjacent issues like highway development

Also we need a SEASONAL TEMPLATE for our PPU as the village is very different in winter/summer.

p. 9—needs commentary on broader context beyond NCC/Gat park—Wakefield’s uniqueness in the National Capitol Regions, in Quebec. Also some commentary on outside changes and how they will affect the village (Highway 5 extension/expansion outside village entryways. Lighting! Noise! Wildlife Corridors!)

General Recommendations: Should list subcategories under main categories

Advisory Board: yes!

#16 Deal with pollution in La Peche creek

Suggestion: Look for other examples of funky urban planning in funky little places where alternative values guided development.