Let's Talk About a Good Street Upgrade

In June last year, Council undertook a legal 'road stop' of the section of Good Street, between High Street and the service lane to safeguard the area for future upgrades.

In September, we contacted landowners and street tenants with properties or businesses bordering the proposed development area to share their design ideas with us. We thank everyone for their feedback, which included things like:

• More greenery (planting)
• Alternative signage options for businesses (to tidy up the prevalence of sandwich board/flag signs down the street)
• Power options to support event activities
• Additional seating areas
• Paving and lighting upgrades
• Better storage options for rubbish/recycling bins
• Fencing to hide unsightly utility/working areas.

Staff used these ideas as well as feedback from the Rangiora-Ashley Community Board to inform the development of a draft concept plan for the street.

We're sharing the concept plan with you to make sure we're on the right track before it gets finalised.

The draft Concept Plan includes the following key elements:

Garden, retaining existing tree - The tree and garden area will be maintained but some of the plants will be upgraded. We are proposing to remove the existing brick wall to open up the area so it’s not so enclosed.

Raised timber deck - the addition of a wooden deck area will provide alternative seating options for the community (who can sit on its outer edges) while also providing a performance space for events. We are considering making the deck temporarily extendable (joining the two separate elements) to provide a larger performance stage for community groups when needed.

Feature wall - a low feature wall (around 1.2m) will provide some bordering for the garden and loading zone area. The loading zone will be reduced in size (but will still meet standard requirements) to support the inclusion of the deck and an upgraded garden.

Grass space - a grass lawn has been included to add more greenery to the area and to offer alternative seating.

Artwork/lighting - wiring may be strung between poles (or existing buildings with the building owners permission) to support artwork or additional lighting for the street.

Planters - planter boxes have been included to add more greenery and to provide a noticeable barrier around some verandah poles which may have previously presented a risk to pedestrians.

New paving - paving will be upgraded to be consistent with other key town centre areas.

Street furniture - staff engaged with local access groups who prefer to have clear walking thoroughfares alongside the buildings for unobstructed access into the street. Proposed street furniture or lighting at this end of the street will be moved to the middle of the laneway to support these needs.

Next steps

After we've collected feedback, staff will report to the Rangiora-Ashley Community Board on 10 March, and then Council on 6 April. Following this the Plan will be shared with the wider Rangiora Community for feedback.

The concept plan may be revised to incorporate community feedback before being finalised with Council. Once that’s done, we can look at progressing with the physical upgrades to the street, sometime during the second half of this year or early next year.