PUSLINCH – Upgrades suggested for downtown Morriston and Aberfoyle are a part of the township's recent efforts to define both areas as stopping destinations for residents and tourists alike.
In a new study of the business-mix analysis in downtown Morriston and Aberfoyle discussed during a council meeting Wednesday morning, consultants recommended a variety of improvements be explored including the use of banners on hydro poles, improving the walkability of sidewalk and crosswalk infrastructure and general signage.
The study area extended from the Mango Tree Family Health Team building on Brock Road to Gilmour Road in Aberfoyle and from close to Currie Drive to just passed the Church Street and Queen Street intersection in Morriston.
Using Rogers Brooks Recommended Healthy Business Mix as a guide for what each downtown area should have, the report said Aberfoyle and Morriston should ideally have a combined 10 Places that Sell Food, 10 Destination Retail Shops and 10 Places open after 6 pm.
However, according to the study, Puslinch currently only has three places open after 6 pm (one in Aberfoyle, two in Morriston), seven retail shops (five in Aberfoyle, two in Morriston) and five places that sell food including the Aberfoyle's Farmer's Market and four restaurants (one in Aberfoyle, three in Morriston). This data excluded cannabis and vape shops.
Since this study, the Aberfoyle Farmer's Market announced it was closing its doors permanently.
As a next step to achieving many of the goals listed during the meeting, Mayor James Seeley requested staff return with a report about the feasibility of installing streetlights in Aberfoyle and Morriston to take away "that Sleepy Hollow feeling when the sun starts to set" and the feasibility and cost to construct a solar-powered crosswalk on Lake Road.
Seeley also asked staff to investigate options to install township banners, contact the MTO to ask for the shoulder to be paved from the Picards Peanuts building to the former A Change of Pace plaza on Brock Road, and better general signage areas and directional parking signage for both Aberfoyle and Morriston be considered throughout the process.
According to the study, the Aberfoyle Mill Restaurant, Community Centre and Library, Aberfoyle Antique Market, the Antique Furniture store across from Market, the Aberfoyle Chiropractic sign, GO Transit stop and the Village Diner, which is currently closed, are considered Aberfoyle's greatest assets.
Morriston's assets were listed as having good walkability and density of retail and food businesses on the west side of the road, good-looking facades, well-maintained landscaping, beautiful topographray at the entrance and exit, lots of parking and heritage plaques.
Described as having a distinct downtown feel the Puslinch Corner Block Park, Folklore Blade Sign, Bistro Reunion and Little King Goods were included as business assets.
Challenges in Morriston were described as traffic, connecting both sides of the street, a lack of patio spaces, Picards not being well connected for pedestrians, especially tourists, the commuter community and a lack of boutique retail presence.
In Aberfoyle, traffic was also listed as a challenge in addition to its low commercial density, mixed-residential presence, challenging walkability, dilapidated properties, landscaping and property maintenance and industrial feel.
The Morriston Bypass project was also listed as a future asset.
The full report is available here.
Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.
