Background

In January of 2002 the City of Chilliwack initiated a process to create a long term Conceptual Site Plan to guide future decisions about the gradual development of the Old Exhibition Park.  An advisory committee was created and a comprehensive public involvement process was undertaken.  The process resulted in a very high degree of consensus about the types and amounts of development that should be accommodated on the site.

The Conceptual Site Plan

Council is asked to consider and adopt this Conceptual Site Plan which consists of the following Site Planning Guidelines.

(1)         If a large Multipurpose Event Centre, including a spectator oriented ice sheet, is built in Chilliwack, one good location for it would be this site.  If it were located on this site, one good location for it would be the southwest corner of the site, which affords sufficient area and access/egress from all four directions.  However, the Multipurpose Event Centre should not be located on the site unless and until the issues around access and parking are addressed with specific emphasis on resolving the potentially significant negative impacts on surrounding stakeholders including residents of the area and the Hospital to the east. 

(2)         If such a Multipurpose Event Centre is located on the site, consideration should be given to including within it a second ice sheet.  However, this second sheet would primarily serve users instead of spectators.

(3)         In addition, other related facilities and spaces may be considered as part of a Multipurpose Event Centre, depending on further study about all of its intended uses.  If such a complex is located on this site, sufficient area should be designated to ensure that the facility can be accommodated with a variety of other spaces and some parking adjacent to the actual building.

(4)         The curling uses of the existing curling rink should continue to be accommodated on the site, unless all stakeholders agree that they might be appropriately accommodated on another site.  If they continue on this site, they should be accommodated either within the existing curling rink building, or within another building (possibly the Multipurpose Event Centre).  In either case, the following interests of the curling club should be accommodated:

Ø     Sufficient curling capacity to accommodate the needs of the club

Ø     Support spaces to meet its needs (e.g. food/beverage, dressing rooms etc.)

Ø     Ability of the club to control and operate the facility to its satisfaction.

(5)         The existing uses of the Ag Rec Building (e.g. indoor soccer, indoor tennis, roller blading, uses of the mezzanine etc.) should continue to be accommodated on the site; either in the existing building or in a replacement building.

(6)         The Leisure Centre, which is currently under construction, will be completed along with surrounding outdoor amenities including parking, outdoor sport courts and skateboard park, and informal park area.

(7)         Space will be accommodated within the Leisure Centre area of the site for an expansion which would roughly equal the size of the net usable space within the existing Evergreen Hall and would include some dry floor multipurpose space as well as potentially some dedicated space which could be assigned to a specific group or area of interest. The Leisure Centre expansion, or another building on the site, would accommodate the current uses of Evergreen Hall.

(8)         The existing Evergreen Hall, Riding Club Hall, Coliseum, and Horse Barns will eventually be demolished once the uses of those spaces have been accommodated elsewhere either in new buildings on this site or on another site.

(9)         A multipurpose sports field will be developed to the east of the existing grandstand.  The field and grandstand should remain at this location for the functional lifespan of the Grandstand.

(10)     At some point in the future, consideration may be given to enhancing the existing multipurpose field and grandstand by fencing the perimeter of this amenity so that spectators can be charged admission.  The possibility of other small buildings to support the use of the field and/or some additional spectator capacity should be protected.

(11)     As many trails as possible should be planned and developed on the site with walking/jogging loops for fitness uses as well as corridors through the site to connect the site to the downtown core and to Townsend Park.

(12)     Some residential development may occur on the site.  It may be market housing or housing directed at specific non-market social objectives (e.g. seniors housing, co-operative housing etc.)

(13)     Some commercial/retail space may be developed on the site, but only if it has been demonstrated that such space will be compatible with commercial or retail space in other areas of Chilliwack.  Retail or commercial space which relates to and supports other elements of development on this site will be considered most appropriate.  For example, sports equipment retail, food and beverage service for site users, office space for public or non-profit agencies operating on the site, or art supply stores supporting arts facilities on the site would appropriately support the site development.

(14)     If any of the following elements are needed in Chilliwack, this site would be one appropriate site for them and consideration should be given to including them on the site.  All would “fit” on the site if needed.  The most appropriate area for such elements would be the northeast corner block.

Ø     A library to augment or replace other libraries in Chilliwack

Ø     An art gallery to exhibit and interpret the visual arts in Chilliwack

Ø     A theatre to augment or replace other performing arts spaces in Chilliwack

Ø     A museum and archives to replace or augment other such spaces in Chilliwack

(15)     An outdoor public plaza with aesthetically appealing features and design should be located on the site; possibly in the northeast corner of the site associated with and facilitating a physical connection with some indoor facilities.

(16)     Notwithstanding the above elements, as much open space as practically feasible should be protected and developed on the site, so that it is not completely developed as indoor space and parking areas.

(17)     As far as possible, facilities should be massed as low rise, small scale facilities located in precincts around the site, with parking areas, as far as is reasonably possible, broken into smaller, less visually obtrusive pieces, or hidden below buildings.

(18)     Where the perimeter of the site abuts residential development, buffering of the site development should be provided to mitigate any visual or audio conflicts with the neighbouring residents.

It is important to understand that this is a long term conceptual site plan which might guide development projects on the site for the next ten years and beyond. 

While the City of Chilliwack may develop some of the elements on the site directly, there are other options for development.  In some cases, like the multipurpose sports field, enhancements might be sponsored and spearheaded by non-profit user groups.  In other cases, like the Multipurpose Event Centre, a public/private partnership might be considered.  In still other cases, like the arts and heritage facilities, a partnership between a number of private, public and non-profit partners might develop the projects.

It should be clear that this Conceptual Site Plan is flexible and subject to change as our community changes. 

Finally, it should be understood that this is an enabling plan rather than a prescriptive plan.  It anticipates the types and amounts of things that might eventually be developed on this site; but does not ensure that they are developed here.  In other words, it will provide opportunities for things to happen on the site, but not a directive that they will.  Some of the elements of the conceptual plan might not happen on this site at all, if other, more appropriate sites are eventually selected for them.