Downtown Master Plan

Thank you to the Bracebridge community for taking part in the Public Meeting on January 7^th, 2021! We had an excellent turn out that generated informative and exciting discussions, and we look forward to receiving additional comments and feedback from the community.

We have posted the slide deck presentation (including the project overview, background research, and concepts for the 8 opportunity sites) in the Documents Library in the right menu on your screen. Please take a look at the presentation to gain an understanding of the project to date. We have also posted a recording of the Public Meeting presentation to YouTube, which can be found in the right menu or here: https://youtu.be/f9hpIKnVAV4

There is a tab to the right of Project Update called Concepts Survey which allows for the Bracebridge community to share comments and feedback on the presented concepts and ideas. In addition, there is another tab beside Concepts Survey called Concepts Discussion which includes forum topics for each of the eight (8) sites to provide targeted feedback.

If you do not want to provide your feedback through the survey or the forum topics, you can provide comments directly to the Project Team at BracebridgeDMP@gmail.com.

We look forward to the next phase in developing preferred plans for the Downtown Master Plan!

Downtown Master Plan Working Group

Bracebridge Town Council has appointed a Downtown Master Plan Working Group to oversee the creation of the Downtown Master Plan. The goals of the Working Group are to:

1. Support the creation of the Downtown Master Plan process by reviewing all draft documents produced for the project including the Situational Analysis/Background, public consultation results and draft recommendations as developed by the Consultant;
   
   
2. Provide feedback and suggestions on recommendations that would be included in the Downtown Master Plan; and
   
   
3. Ensure Council, community partners and citizens are informed regarding the progress of the Downtown Master Plan.
   
   

The Working Group consists of:

Deputy Mayor R. Maloney

Councillor C. Wilson

Councillor A. Struthers

Councillor S. Clement

BIA Board of Directors Chair - L. Alexander

BIA Board of Directors Member - S. Creed

BIA Coordinator - T. Larkman

Town staff from across the Corporation will assist the Working Group at various stages of the Downtown Master Plan's development.

Downtown Master Plan Consultant

The Town of Bracebridge has hired Brook McIIroy as the consultant to work with the Downtown Master Plan Working Group to create the Downtown Master Plan. Brook McIlroy’s multi-disciplinary team of planners, urban designers, architects and landscape architects bring extensive experience in all phases of downtown and waterfront planning, from visioning to execution. Brook McIlroy has received over 30 national and international awards for their downtown and waterfront work, including 21 awards for the City of Thunder Bay’s downtown waterfront revitalization. The company has recently completed similar Downtown Master Plans for Collingwood and North Bay. Additionally, Brook McIlroy has designed new downtown streetscapes in commercial cores in Cambridge, Oakville, Thunder Bay, and Kingston, and developed urban design guidelines and implementation strategies for numerous municipalities through Ontario.

Phase 1 - Background Review and Visioning

The purpose of Phase 1 is to compile all relevant background information, including a review of feedback related to downtown and waterfront development. This will ensure that our team has an in-depth understanding of existing conditions, opportunities and constraints. We will be engaging with stakeholders and the public to establish a future Vision for the Town.

Phase 2 - Vision and Concept Plans

Phase 2 will refine the Vision and Guiding Principles that will direct the remainder of the Master Planning Process. We will develop concept plans and options for downtown Bracebridge as a whole, and for each Character Area, provide a presentation to the public and stakeholders to gain feedback. We will prepare a draft approach or response for future development applications and identify preliminary ideas for High Priority Projects.

Phase 3 - Preferred Plan and Final Report

In the third and final phase, the preferred Master Plan, along with high level Design Guidelines, will be completed for a final round of consultation with the public and stakeholders. In this phase, a detailed Implementation Plan identifying Cost Estimates, High Priority Projects, Phasing, and an Approach to future Development Applications will be completed.