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Consulting urban designer Kobus Mentz reviewed George St’s controversial plans after the council convened its central city advisory group in July.
Council staff are now recommending that councilors overturn an earlier endorsement to make George St a one-way southbound street.
Instead, councilors will be asked to consider approving work on a design for a pedestrian-friendly two-way street that could, if desired, be turned into a one-way street.
The staff recommendation is based on a report by Mr. Mentz that followed meetings with the council advisory group in August and October and a stakeholder survey.
In his 21-page report, which will be considered by the council’s planning and environment committee Tuesday, Mentz makes recommendations for the retail street design.
It is either a two-way street with an environmentally friendly public transport service or a one-way street without public transport, as originally planned.
A one-way street should be designed so that it can become a two-way street in the future if adequate public transportation service is available, he said.
Mentz reported that the advisory group valued a flexible design, the ability for traffic to move through the area, the development of quality public space where floors and seating are available, extending the scope of the project to the Octagon, including an option to an electric bus. service and provide street parking for short stays.
The provision of 45 car parks, mostly P20 and P30, was also recommended, along with better access to nearby public car parks.
There was broad support for improving George St and for a design that would improve accessibility for pedestrians and the ability of road users to share the street, Mentz said.
If councilors give the go-ahead to work on a detailed business case and two-way street design, work would begin early next year, the staff report told the committee.
