Public Kick-Off Meeting, August 28 th , 2013 6pm
AGENDA Project Overview Master Plan Elements Community Preference Survey Interactive Planning Stations
PROJECT OVERVIEW
STUDY AREA STUDY AREA Study boundary: 228 acres Parcel area: 194 acres Rich history associated with the railroad and Auburn University Major peripheral streets: College, Magnolia, Donahue, Glenn, Armstrong and Reese Context: Auburn University, North College Historic District, Opelika downtown only 7 miles away Key Features: Auburn Railroad Depot (A Place in Peril), Toomer’s Drug Store, Toomer’s Corner, Historic Downtown Core
CONSULTING TEAM Urban Design Transportation Market, Zoning Master Planning Landscape Architecture Economic Development Local Knowledge
PLANNING PROCESS: SCHEDULE
MASTER PLAN ELEMENTS
EVEN GOOD DOWNTOWNS ARE NEVER “ DONE” “When you are looking at your next step, how can you see where you are going?” -Elizabeth Alraune
MASTER PLAN ELEMENTS 1. DOWNTOWN GROWTH & 5. TRANSPORTATION & DEVELOPMENT CIRCULATION 2. HOUSING & MIX OF USES 6. PARKING 3. WALKABILITY & STREETSCAPE 7. IDENTITY & VITALITY 4. OPEN SPACES 8. PARTNERSHIPS & IMPLEMENTATION
RELEVANT PLANNING DOCUMENTS Public Works Design and The Auburn Interactive Growth • • Construction Manual (2013) Model (2008) CompPlan 2030 – The Green Space and Greenways Plan • • Comprehensive Plan for the City of (2003) Auburn (2011) Auburn 2020 Strategic Plan (1998) • Toomer’s Corner Recommendations, • City of Auburn Street Tree Master • Auburn University Plan (1989) Urban Core Design Guidelines • Sidewalk Master Plan • Water Resource Management • Major Thoroughfare Plan • Design and Construction Manual (2011) Bike Plan • City of Auburn Street Tree Master Downtown Parking Phase I and II • • Plan (1989) Projects Downtown Task Force • Recommendations
EARLY STAKEHOLDER DISCUSSIONS • City Staff • Project Steering Committee • Early Stakeholder Interviews – more to come • Public Kick-Off Workshop Tonight!
MASTER PLAN ELEMENTS 1. DOWNTOWN GROWTH & 5. TRANSPORTATION & DEVELOPMENT CIRCULATION 2. HOUSING & MIX OF USES 6. PARKING 3. WALKABILITY & STREETSCAPE 7. IDENTITY & VITALITY 4. OPEN SPACES 8. PARTNERSHIPS & IMPLEMENTATION
1. DOWNTOWN GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT The geography of Downtown Auburn grew substantially in the early 1900’s
1. DOWNTOWN GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT 1946 1946 2012 2012
1. DOWNTOWN GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT Constant block pattern except the 2012 2012 addition of Wright Street Major expansion of downtown was driven by the university growth – single family homes were replaced by barrack style student housing and student-oriented retail Tremendous population growth in the city since 1960s, but the Downtown Core is relatively the same geographic size 1940 4,652 66.1% 1950 12,939 178.1% 1960 16,261 25.7% 1970 22,767 40.0% 1980 28,471 25.1% 1990 33,830 18.8% 2000 42,987 27.1% 2010 53,380 24.2%
1. DOWNTOWN GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT CURRENT LAND DEVELOPMENT 43% Residential 16% Commercial 14% Institutional Churches and public buildings 6% Office 5% Parking 5% Mixed-use (Res+Comm) 4% University 4% Parks/green space 3% Vacant land + vacant buildings Majority of the commercial and residential uses are geared towards college students Land uses / development in the expansion areas are primarily residential
1. DOWNTOWN GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT “CUSTOMER” PROFILE Mixed market composition (all market areas – primary, secondary & tertiary) Population size & growth rate strong Income levels somewhat weak (considering large student population) Solid workforce ages, but little age diversity
1. DOWNTOWN GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT CONSUMER EXPENDITURE 5-minu 5-minute 10-minute 10-min te 20-minute 20-min te Market Defin Market Definitio tion drive time drive time drive time drive time drive time drive time + 30.6% + 30.6% - 6.6% 6.6% - 10.0% 10.0% Retail G Ret il Gap o p or Su Surplus rplus (gap) (gap) (surplus) (surpl us) (surplus) (surpl us) Market Performance “Retail Gap” represents an opportunity “Surpluses” represent strong retail destinations & some saturations Mostly well-served & relatively balanced markets overall
1. DOWNTOWN GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT MAJOR DEVELOPMENT ISSUES Development outside the downtown core is generally not contributing to a positive character for downtown Expansion areas lack a diversity of land uses – dominated by student housing Most student housing is aging Some underutilized buildings/lots
MASTER PLAN ELEMENTS 1. DOWNTOWN GROWTH & 5. TRANSPORTATION & DEVELOPMENT CIRCULATION 2. HOUSING & MIX OF USES 6. PARKING 3. WALKABILITY & STREETSCAPE 7. IDENTITY & VITALITY 4. OPEN SPACES 8. PARTNERSHIPS & IMPLEMENTATION
2. HOUSING & MIX OF USES TYPE OF HOUSING 76% Multifamily Housing Renter Occupied 23% Single Family Housing Renter Occupied 0.6% Single Family Housing Owner Occupied A lot of the multifamily housing built in barrack style, ± 50 years old Some newly built student oriented midrise condos in mixed-use configuration
2. HOUSING & MIX OF USES HOUSING UNIT COUNT Buildings: 37 Single unit 29 2-4 units 22 5-10 units 29 11-25 units 21 26-50 units 7 51-100 units 2 100+ units (356 highest) ±2,400 Total Housing Units Genelda Avenue – student area with complex pattern of housing development Mix of housing unit density on smaller single family parcels and larger parcels with midrise buildings
2. HOUSING & MIX OF USES TYPE OF RETAIL / COMMERCIAL What’s Generally Missing: • Grocery store • Fine dining options • Family-oriented retail • Downtown movie theater / • entertainment
MASTER PLAN ELEMENTS 1. DOWNTOWN GROWTH & 5. TRANSPORTATION & DEVELOPMENT CIRCULATION 2. HOUSING & MIX OF USES 6. PARKING 3. WALKABILITY & STREETSCAPE 7. IDENTITY & VITALITY 4. OPEN SPACES 8. PARTNERSHIPS & IMPLEMENTATION
3. WALKABILITY & STREETSCAPE VERTICAL CLUTTER AT CORNERS Excess of vertical elements at corners hides historic buildings, creates issues for 3 crowds, and impedes both 1 2 pedestrian and driver visibility: 4 5 1. Traffic signal pole 2. Game day wire pole 3. Roadway light pole 4. Tree 7 6 5. Pedestrian signal Pole 8 6. Trash and Recycling cans 7. Parking ticket paybox 9 8. Fencing 9. Shrubs/groundcover
3. WALKABILITY & STREETSCAPE DRIVER VISIBILITY , AWARENESS & PEDESTRIAN SAFETY 1. Tree canopies too low, restricting driver visibility 2. Stop bars located too far back to see oncoming traffic for rights-on-red 3. “Vehicles Yield to Pedestrians” signs placed too far in front of stop bar 4. Visibility issues cause vehicles to pull into crosswalks, creating safety issues for pedestrians 5. Pedestrian signal phase not “automatic” (have to push button) 6. Pedestrian signal head difficult to see from other side of street
MASTER PLAN ELEMENTS 1. DOWNTOWN GROWTH & 5. TRANSPORTATION & DEVELOPMENT CIRCULATION 2. HOUSING & MIX OF USES 6. PARKING 3. WALKABILITY & STREETSCAPE 7. IDENTITY & VITALITY 4. OPEN SPACES 8. PARTNERSHIPS & IMPLEMENTATION
4. OPEN SPACES Only 4% of the study area has park / open space! Felton Little Park – not easily accessible from downtown core, and it needs improvements College Street and Magnolia Avenue are closed for community events – extremely successful for the most part Samford Lawn and adjacent campus greenspace – a resource, but perceived as University-oriented
MASTER PLAN ELEMENTS 1. DOWNTOWN GROWTH & 5. TRANSPORTATION & DEVELOPMENT CIRCULATION 2. HOUSING & MIX OF USES 6. PARKING 3. WALKABILITY & STREETSCAPE 7. IDENTITY & VITALITY 4. OPEN SPACES 8. PARTNERSHIPS & IMPLEMENTATION
5. TRANSPORTATION & CIRCULATION Vehicles Traffic congestion is recurring and on multiple streets Speeds are low - 25 mph typically Pedestrians Hard to walk over railroad tracks Significant pedestrian activity along Magnolia Sidewalk and crosswalk deficiencies on Gay St Perception of safety and comfort is low in most places
5. TRANSPORTATION & CIRCULATION Bicycles Bike lanes along Gay St south of Samford Ave Bikes must ‘share the road’ Some cyclists use sidewalks Bike parking/racks in some places Transit Tiger Transit runs along College, Gay, Glenn, Magnolia Ridership is significant No/Limited stops on College St. and Glenn Ave. in study area Tiger Transit to/from University not necessarily the downtown
MASTER PLAN ELEMENTS 1. DOWNTOWN GROWTH & 5. TRANSPORTATION & DEVELOPMENT CIRCULATION 2. HOUSING & MIX OF USES 6. PARKING 3. WALKABILITY & STREETSCAPE 7. IDENTITY & VITALITY 4. OPEN SPACES 8. PARTNERSHIPS & IMPLEMENTATION
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