Ponoka residents got their first glimpse of what their future downtown could look like yesterday, as a draft of the Downtown Ponoka Action Plan was unveiled at an open house at the Kinsmen Centre.

Planners are thinking big, picturing a busy hub that will bring visitors from near and far.

“More draws, more activity, more people, more hustle and bustle. Hopefully more street trees, more attractive sidewalks, a good functional parking area to get people to come drop of their car, go for a walk,” says Craig Teal, director of Parkland Community Planning Services.

Whether for shopping, dining or business, the goal is to make downtown Ponoka a destination.

“Downtown Ponoka needs to and can compete on a provincial-wide scale,” Teal says.

“We need to get the word out there about what’s unique to Ponoka, what’s a draw, what’s attractive and get more day-trippers and tourists to come to the area.”

Residents were invited to provide feedback at the open house. A preferred streetscape theme was one of the things planners were looking for.

The Kinsmen Centre was the site of rolling blackouts yesterday due to the storm. The open house was cut short. Forty-five residents were still able to provide feedback.

Public input is still being sought online. Teal says the Downtown Action Plan is expected to be finished later this summer and presented to council for approval in August.

The Downtown Action Plan covers five topics: an Action Plan, Streetscape Concepts, Land-Use Bylaw amendments, a Parking Management Plan and Marketing Strategy.
It’s aesthetics, function, building standards, architecture and economic development rolled into one plan.

Five roads border the plan area:

  • 57 Avenue to the north
  • Highway 2A and 54 Street along the west
  • Highway 53 to the south
  • 46 Street along the east

As the draft stands, a commercial and mixed-use core stretches the length of 50 Street within the plan area, with residential zonings of various densities adjacent to the west.

Teal says there is roughly 430,000 Sq. Ft. of commercial and retail space in the downtown area.  That volume could increase by another 300,000 Sq. Ft. should vacant sites be filled, he adds.

The project is being led by the Heritage and Downtown Revitalization Committee, which has a mandate to gather public input from residents, land owners and business as well as to make recommendations to town council.