ConseconA Great Sense of Community

Downtown

Action Plan

About ConseconWelcome to the picturesque Village of Consecon. Established in the early 1800’s, Consecon is considered the Gateway

to the County (Prince Edward) and is located between Consecon Lake to the east, Wellers Bay to the west, and Loyalist

Parkway, (Highway 33) bisecting it.

“Consecon” is derived from the Indian word “Knan Nokjarm” which means an opening, and “con con” which means

pickerel.

Champlain slept here in the 1600’s and there is a cairn to commemorate that event. It was in the immediate area of an

Iroquois village and Kente Mission which ultimately gave its name to the entire region – “Quinte”.

Consecon has a strong sense of community as an ‘up and coming’, independent village. Consecon boasts the comforts

of home with a post office, LCBO/Beer Store conveniently located in the Hamlet Variety grocery and convenience store,

library, Royal Canadian Legion, Masonic Hall, United Church, various eating establishments, as well as studios and galleries

displaying the work of our talented artists. The mill pond and dam should not be missed.

Table of Contents

P The Mill PEC restaurant, Library, Post Office, Legion, Masonic Hall and Mill Pond are valued assets of the community

P Municipal water, access and proximity to Millennium Trail, wineries and water

P Available vacant land, affordable properties & natural spaces

P Access to Consecon Lake, North Beach Provincial Park & the boat launch at Wellers Bay, make it a key location for potential new business opportunities

P Artist studios & galleries

P The convenience store, with LCBO outlet brings in large volumes of residents & tourists

Consecon uick Facts:

About Consecon & History

About The Downtown Revitalization Study Project

Trade Area Analysis

Consecon Proposed Design Concept

Survey Results - Residents

Survey Results - Businesses

Vision Statement

Market Position Statement

Goals & Action Plans

Action Plan Matrix

Opportunities for New Businesses

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10-11

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About the Downtown Revitalization Study ProjectDowntown revitalization is the process of improving the economic, physical and social well-being of a community’s

traditional town centre by:

• Strengthening local business and encouraging investment by building and property owners;

• Creating enjoyable public streets and spaces animated by a variety of creative and civic activities; and

• Providing work and living opportunities that respond to people’s needs across a spectrum of ages and interests.

The County’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative is funded by the Rural Economic Development (RED) Program, and is

intended to create a regional plan for its five distinct downtown cores. The RED Program is a provincial program funded

by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), and is supported by additional funding from The

County of Prince Edward. The Downtown Revitalization Initiative is the result of interviews and surveys with business

owners and residents in an effort to assess the needs, challenges and opportunities in order to revitalize each downtown.

The result is the development of five Strategic Downtown Revitalization Plans, one for each of the following communities:

Bloomfield, Consecon, Picton, Rossmore and Wellington, as well as a single, overarching County-wide Downtown

Revitalization Strategy.

The County’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative is led by volunteer-based steering committees from each of the downtown areas, and supports the County’s Community Development Strategic Plan. The Downtown Revitalization Initiative can be broken down to four main components: 1. Economic Development 2. Leadership and Management 3. Physical Improvements 4. Marketing and Promotions.

Customer Origin Survey and Trade Area AnalysisPart of the scope of the Downtown Revitalization Study was to further understand

the consumer shopping dynamics in order to better identify opportunities for

growth. Knowing where customers are coming from is crucial in the success of

each business and collectively as a downtown. To determine where downtown

shoppers live, survey responses from local resident shoppers identified their home

postal code. The term “trade area” refers to a geographic area that points to where

the majority of consumers reside (75-80%) for a downtown or business. The result is

collected into the Trade Area map below.

For Consecon, the Trade Area represents a large geographical area in the western

part of Prince Edward County:

Surveying Residents & Business Owners The Business Owner Survey collected information on the

attitudes and opinions of business operators in the downtown. It

measures current business needs, marketing and sales information

and perceptions of the downtown.

The Resident Survey collected information on the attitudes and

opinions of community residents about the downtown. The

survey can measure current shopping patterns, retail and service

needs and residents perceptions of the downtown. With a greater

understanding of residents opinions about the current state of

the downtown and their hopes for its future, you can build a

downtown that residents are proud of and support as customers.

Lake Ontario

Prince Edward Bay

3333

33

N

Belleville

Trenton

to Toronto

to Kingston Ottawa Montreal

62

62

49

522

401543 544

538

566401

33

ConseconWellington Bloomfield

SandbanksProvincial Park

Picton

Rossmore

Consecon and 75%of Trade Area

4 5

CONSECON MAIN ST / “BACK ST.”

HIGHW

AY 33

/ LO

YALI

ST P

ARKW

AY

PORT

ER S

T.

DIVISION ST.

PIG

TAIL

LN.

STORE ST. WELLINGTO

N AVE.

SQUI

RE S

T.

LIPS

ON A

VE.

COUNTY ROAD 29 / “CONSECON MILL ST.”

CONSECON MAIN ST / “BACK ST.”

COUNTY ROAD 39

CO

UNTY ROAD 29 / “

CONSECON MILL ST.”

HIGHWAY 33 / LOYALIST PARKWAY

SUNSET LAGOON DR.

BAY AVE.

LAKESIDE DR.

LAKESIDE DR.OLD JAIL BUILDING

POST OFFICE

ACCESS TO WATER

ACCESS TOCEMETERY

PUBLIC LIBRARY

CASCADES

HAMLET GROCERY

THE LEGION

CONSECON PARK

EMM’S

WELLER’S BAY

Contributing Façades

Town Square

Tourism Information Centre

Key Way�nding Locations

Seating Opportunities

Existing Public Washrooms

Sidewalk Improvements

Connections to Amenities beyond the Core

Opportunities for Flexible Parking Space

Potential Waterfront Trail

Opportunity for Furniture & Enhanced Landscaping

Opportunity for Public Art

Proposed Pedestrian Crosswalks

Intersection Improvement / Tra�c Calming

Slow Approach to Draw in Visitors

Maple Trees Planted for Queen Elizabeth

Signi�cant Views

Consecon’s proposed design concept focuses on sidewalk and pedestrian improvements, the celebration of a town square, and renaming the Village’s streets to be consistent with local street identification. Consecon is an up and coming Village and has an opportunity to capture an ever-growing population in Prince Edward County.

Consecon Proposed Design Concept

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Survey Results- ResidentsThose surveyed on the streets of Consecon who self identified themselves residents of Consecon were asked a series of questions

related to their shopping behaviour and perceptions of their downtown. None of the residents identified Consecon as the town

they shop in most. Only 13% of residents shop mostly in Picton and 67% in other communities including Belleville, Trenton and

Napanee. Only 7% of residents shop in Wellington.

Business owners perception is that their main competition is from outside Prince Edward County, including Trenton and Belleville.

This perception aligns closely with the resident survey results.

There is an opportunity for Consecon to focus on retention of local resident shoppers. Factors that influence why Consecon

residents shopping elsewhere can be seen on the next page, with most surveyed citing better selection and better pricing.

However, a clearer explanation would be that Consecon doesn’t have the nessesary business mix to entice local residents.

Residents would like to see a number of new businesses that match the greater selection and better pricing offered in

neighbouring communities. However, the chart below indicates that Consecon’s Trade Area Population may not support this type

of business. Typically, chain stores and franchise brands conduct a Trade Area Analysis which considers the population density

required to support a new location. As a result of this analysis, Consecon does not have the required population density to support

many of these establishments. Additionally, the negative effects on the vitality of a downtown and competing small business has to

be considered when trying to attract these types of businesses.

Survey Results- Residents Cont.

Word Cloud Meaning

Residents and business owners were asked

about the character of Consecon. The resulting

descriptive words have been incorporated into

the Word Cloud on the left.

Residents: Where Do You Shop?

VS.

11% 13%

67%Outside PEC

Elsewhere in PEC Picton

7%Wellington

2%

Businesses: Where’s Your Competition?

Other Businessesin PEC

46%54%In AnotherCommunity(Belleville, Trenton etc.)

Residents Would Like to See...GAS STATIONRESTAURANT

BANKGAS BAR

CAFÉCOFFEE SHOP

GROCERYTIM HORTONSLAUNDROMAT

HARDWAREPIZZA PLACE

FAST FOODSENIOR HOUSINGFARMERS MARKET

% Surveyed 05 10 15 20 25

Red: Despite customers desire to see certain businesses in their town, the Trade Area population may not support this type of business. Other Factors include visitor and commuter

Consider: The Market Area Report compares what trade area population is required to sustain a certain type of businesses. Since it’s based on population, it doesn’t factor tourism or online sales.

Why Residents Shop Elsewhere:1. Better Selection2. Better Price3. Closer to Home4. Closer to Work5. Better Hours6. Better Quality

What is Important to Residents When Purchasing:1. Quality2. Price3. Customer Service4. Local Availability5. Brand Name

40% favour stores extending their

Operating Hourson Fridays after 6 p.m.

of residents

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Survey Results- Businesses

Biggest Issues Facing Consecon

S Sidewalk disrepair

S Poor signage directing traffic to Consecon.

S Façade/look of buildings

S Lack of gas station or hardware store

S Lack of available commercial space

S Lack of attention from municipality

S Lack of public access to water

Consecon Business Mix (%)

58 – Comparison Service

14 – Restaurant/Entertainment

14 – Convenience Retail

7 – Comparison Retail

7 – Convenience Service

0% 5%

10%

15%

20

%

25%

30

%

35%

Single Biggest Issue Facing Consecon Business Owners

32%

8%

16%

16%

16%

28%

Consecon’s Busiest Months

Sees an equalamountof business year-round.

24May

P Quaint, friendly and picturesque community

P Slower pace of life in a natural setting

P Key Gateway entrance to The County with considerable

visitor traffic from the GTA; water access & nearby wineries

P Strong local volunteer base, business community and

Business Association to support future development plans

P Opportunities to repurpose and restore existing historic buildings to provide additional retail space to support local residents and visitors on a regional scale

P Development of waterfront presents business opportunities

Advantages of Operating a Business in Consecon

10

Building supplies

Fresh produce

Butcher shop

Restaurants

Residents and Business Owners see OPPORTUNITIES for…

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OutcomesOutcomes of Downtown Revitalization Study Part of the Downtown Revitalization process was the development of a Vision Statement by each downtown. Consecon’s Vision

Statement is the result of building consensus on core values and operating principles.

Consecon Vision Statement:

The development of new markets (or customers) for your downtown businesses may be a good strategy for the downtown

economy. However ensuring the right kind of business and development is key in maintaining the unique character of a

downtown. That is why a Market Position Statement is used to guide the retention and recruitment of downtown businesses

and the marketing and promotions actions. Specifically, a Market Position is used as a filter when assessing the feasibility of

business attraction and development ideas.

Consecon Market Position

Goals

Build on Heritage and Culture in the Downtown as an Economic Driver

Consecon Downtown will be known for its strong focus on heritage and culture with the significant contribution that built heritage,

building facades and cultural character make to attracting business.

1. Work with business owners, property owners and the County creating partnerships building on the sense of community

and active citizenship

2. Promote re-generation and adaptive re-use of buildings and vacant lands

3. Use heritage as a draw for building a sense of place and community

4. Work with various heritage groups and organizations to promote local history and heritage within the downtown to

encourage and attract business, residents and visitors.

5. Build awareness about Consecon’s history, heritage and architecture.

6. Leverage Visitor Centre Hot Spot location to further promote and direct traffic to Consecon

7. Undertake process for renaming County Road 29

Harness Consecon’s Great Sense of Place

Downtown Consecon will become the destination and central gathering place that will draw people off the highway. This will be

accomplished through:

8. Create a central gathering area “market square”

9. Greening of the streets by enhancing landscaping and the park green space incorporated with downtown,

10. Improve and add sidewalks

11. Implement a town-wide Community Clean-up program

12. Make Downtown Consecon a more year-round destination with street festivals and outdoor pop-up shops

13. Connect to the Millennium Trail and greenspaces to promote walking incorporating the downtown core

14. Improve connection and communications between Recreation Committees & County staff.

15. Include public washrooms in the downtown area

16. Make it inviting and welcoming to move to and open a business in Consecon

17. Traffic calming on Hwg 33 at Cty Rd 29

18. Address lack of parking and clarity in available parking near The Mill Restaurant.

19. Design and install community-level signage

Celebrate and Connect to WaterConnections to and from Lake Consecon and Wellers Bay will be improved to ensure that it is integrated with the downtown experience.

20. Increase public water access to Wellers Bay, Consecon Lake & Mill pond.

“Consecon will be transformed from a quiet, passionate community to the first stop that visitors and tourists make in Prince Edward County. It is the place in Prince Edward

County to shop, dine and to explore its wonderful waterways and fantastic scenic landscapes; it’s truly one-of-a-kind and

encapsulates (captures) all of the (history), physical and natural wonder that exists in the County.”

“Downtown Consecon is an up-and-coming community that provides new business with the opportunity to plant deep roots

and a community centred population who support them.”

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Action Plans Resulting from Downtown Revitalization Study Communities preparing to move forward with downtown business retention and development starts with #1. collect data,

analyzing and then #2 Develop Prioritized Goals & Action Plans. Below is a summary of the developed goals for Consecon’s

Downtown Revitalization Initiative:

Action Plans Matrix Resulting from GoalsThe Action Plan Matrix below outlines both current and potential projects or initiatives that accomplish Consecon’s Downtown

Revitalization goals.

# Goal/Objective Activity/Project Task/DescriptionBuild on Heritage and Culture in the

Downtown as an Economic Driver

1Work with business owners, property owners and the County creating partnerships building on the sense of

community and active citizenship

Planning: to Develop County Wide Program for Year 2

2 Promote re-generation and adaptive re-use of buildings and vacant lands (i.e., the former Fire Hall)

Council: to approve and allocate Funding

3 Use heritage as a draw for building upon sense of place and sense of community

Consecon Stakeholders : to lobby council

4

Work with various heritage groups and organizations to promote local history and heritage within the

downtown to encourage and attract business, residents and visitors.

CDD: Identify funding sources (CIP? % of new assessment value?)

5 Build awareness about Consecons history, heritage and architecture.

Explore opportunities for heritage walking tours either guided or self-guided

Investigate opportunities for interpretive signage, or identify individuals to host walking tours

6Leverage Visitor Centre Hot Spot Location to further

promote and direct traffic to Consecon

7 Undertake process for renaming County Road 29 Identify Process Research process and facilitate public input

Harness Consecon’s Great Sense of Place

8Create a central gathering area “market square”

Concept Drawings of Town Square CDD to project lead

CDD to identify funding source

PEC to purchase and install

allocated in future capital projects.

Consecon Stakeholders input before proceeding

11Implement a town-wide Community Clean-up program

Encourage Community cleanup for both public and private properties.

PR with residence and businesses to encourage compliance

12Make Downtown Consecon a more year-round

destination with street festivals and outdoor pop-up shops

Improve Consecon's MarketingCDD: Work with Consecon stakeholders on

incorporating existing marketing opportunities with The County's Marketing.

13Connect to the Millennium Trail and greenspaces to promote walking incorporating the downtown core

Millennium Trail Project Integration with Consecon

CDD: Ensure existing initiative aligns with the needs of Consecon in relation to signage, access points,

parking, etc.

14Improve connection and communications between

Recreation Committees & County staff.

coordinating yearly pre-budget meetings to review committee needs in order to recommend sufficient county resources are allocated for maintenance and

revitalization

CDD to coordinate between departments and committees

15 Include public washrooms in the downtown arealong term plan must be part of a capital project, and operations needs to consider long term maintaince

costs.investigate potential locations and cost

16 Make it inviting and welcoming to move to and open a business in Consecon

Develop and market Consecon Investment Profile Design and publish Investment Profile

17 Traffic Calming on Hwg 33 at Cty rd 29 Include in County Wide Transportation Master Plan

18Address lack of parking and clarity in available parking

near The Mill.Include parking signage into County wide wayfinding

planAddress as part of signage plan

19 Make opportunities for Community-Level Signage Signage Plan for Consecon Detailed Signage Content Plan for Consecon

Celebrate and Connect to Water

Investigate developing public waterfront area at the end of Squires St.

Site Plan concepts for revitalized waterfront access area at end of Squire St.

Encourage popup businesses such as kayak and canoe rentals

Include space in site plan concepts

Wayfinding signage from the Wellers Bay to downtown and from downtown to the Weller’s Bay.

Wayfinding signage from Lake Consecon to downtown and from downtown to Lake Consecon.

10 Improve and add sidewalks Sidewalk revitalization capital project

Façade Improvement Program

9Greening of the streets by enhancing landscaping and the park green space incorporated with downtown,

street furniture, benches,Purchase or refurbish benches

20Increase public water access to Wellers Bay, Consecon

Lake & Mill pond.

Include in Consecons Wayfinding Signage Plans

Responsibility Timeline Evaluation

PEC PEC for 2019 program rollout

Council Fall 2019

Consecon Stakeholders Fall 2019

Community Development Department

For Fall 2019 Budget planning.

Consecon Stakeholders 2018

CDD worked with Consecon stakeholders

Completed

PEC 2019

Community Development Department to explore funding

opportunities2019 completion of drawings, secured funding,

implementation

PEC and Consecon Stakeholders 2018$ amount of funding secured,

2018 or 2019 # of benches installed.

PEC2018 $ amount of funding secured,

Consecon Stakeholders2018

Consecon Stakeholders 2019

CDD to work with Consecon stakeholders

increased website traffic, # of increased event attendance,

Community Development Department

2018

Rec Committees, Parks & Outdoor Facilities, CDD.

Fall 2018

PEC 2019

Community Development Department

Investment Profile completed, but needs to be promoted and marketed in 2018

# printed, # downloaded, # of inquiries, # of new businesses, $ amount invested.

Development Services 2019

2019

Community Development Department

Fall 2018

Dollar amount invested in Consecon for Façade improvement, number of properties who successfully applied, $ and % increase in

assessment values for those properties compared to similar consecon properties, # of new businesses or

other investors resulting in improvements

CDD to work with Consecon stakeholders

2019

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Contact us about locating your business in The County! 613-476-2148 | thecounty.ca | cdd@pecounty.on.ca

Concluding RemarksThe Downtown Revitalization Study is an exciting opportunity to unify Prince Edward County’s towns. The Community

Development Department (CDD) is already working on many initiatives related to the goals outlined in this report. Consecon

stakeholders and the CDD are committed to ensuring the vitality and well-being of Consecon through exciting community

development projects that enhance and improve this vital community. For more information on on-going initiatives, please visit

BuildaNewLife.ca/Consecon.

Neil Carbone

Director of Community Development & Strategic Initiatives

Opportunities for New BusinessAs the western Gateway into The County, Consecon has an opportunity to capture an ever-growing flow of

visitors to the region to support the growth of the community. This would include establishing new retail or

service businesses to support both commuter and visitor traffic entering and exiting The County via Hwy #33.

This also serves the larger trade areas of both Prince Edward County (pop 25,000) and nearby Trenton

(pop 19,000), Belleville (pop 50,000) and Brighton (pop 11,000).

The First StopFuture plans include a more formal entrance and gateway signage to both The County and Consecon to reinforce and recognize the Village’s unique identity as an individual community.

Community Investors Wanted...Plans for Consecon focus on improving the physical beauty and infrastructure of the downtown.

This includes efforts to restore/repurpose existing vacant buildings, improve walkways and better

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