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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 11 04 WSCity of Springfield Work Session Meeting MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION MEETING OF THE SPRINGFIELD PLANNING COMMISSION HELD TUESDAY, November 4, 2014 The City of Springfield Planning Commission met in a work session in the Jesse Maine Meeting Room, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Tuesday, November 4, 2014 at 6:00 p.m., with Commissioner James presiding. ATTENDANCE Present were Chair James and Vice Chair Nelson, Commissioners Kirschenmann, Salladay, Vohs, and Pishioneri. Also present were Current Development Manager Greg Mott, Principle Planner Linda Pauly, City Attorney Lauren King and Management Support Specialist Brenda Jones and members of the staff. ABSENT 1. Draft Main Street Corridor Vision Plan – Principle Planner Linda Pauly opened the Works Session by introducing Tom Lister Project Manager with OTAK, consultant for the Main Street Corridor Vision Plan project. The Draft Main Street Corridor Vision Plan (Attachment 2) identifies a new broad, achievable vision: the transition of Main Street to a “complete community street” consistent with the Five Goals for Our Main Street Projects: • Encourage economic revitalization and land use redevelopment. • Provide transportation choices to residents, businesses and commuters to encourage individual and community well-being and public safety. • Improve transportation safety and access for walkers, cyclists, transit riders and drivers along and through the corridor. • Improve aesthetics on Main Street, making it an attractive place to live, work and shop. • Create Main Street identities. The Plan identifies specific vision statements, goals, activity nodes, redevelopment opportunity sites and potential implementation strategies for three distinct “segments” along 7 miles of Main Street between Downtown and Thurston, based on what we’ve heard from the community so far, and in response to existing and expected future conditions in the corridor (ATT2-11). Beginning in the summer of 2013, hundreds of caring citizens, business owners, city leaders, and property owners have participated in a visioning process to identify a preferred future for Springfield’s Main Street Corridor (ATT2 - 6). The Draft Vision Plan is the product of this process. Next steps include stakeholder meetings and open houses on November 4th and January 21st, and public hearings before the Planning Commission and the Council on January 15th and February 17th. The emerging vision for Main Street is one important piece in Springfield’s overall community development vision. With an adopted Vision Plan serving as a Big Picture roadmap of where the City is going, the City and its partners can more effectively align and leverage partnerships, projects and resources to support the kinds of positive changes in the corridor the community wishes to see over both the short and longer terms. The potential projects and programs suggested in the Plan do not represent any decisions by the City to fund or participate in projects, programs and redevelopment City of Springfield Planning Work Session Minutes November 4, 2014 Page 2 projects, but the plan can be used to facilitate continued public conversation about the future of Main Street. Existing Land Use Patterns – A new Vision for Main Street • Main Street truly is the heart of the community • Needs a new balance for transportation and land use • No one size fits all for a 7-mile corridor The Couplet Area – Two Streets, Two Visions Main Street Vision Street – 23rd Street South A Street: 10th Street – 23rd Street- • South A Street will retain long-standing industrial ………………….. Mid-Springfield Business Corridor Vision: 23rd Street – Bob Straub Parkway • Affordable place to operate a business ……………………… Thurston Neighborhood Area: Bob Straub Parkway – 69th Street • A quiet and walkable ………………………. Transportation Framework Land-Use Framework Commissioner James asked what the scope Commissioner Kirschenmann asked what the hold-up regarding the Booth-Kelly property, what is the plan for this property for future use. Commissioner James asked what outreach did staff do……. Linda responded by listing everything and everyone they had notices. Commissioner Pishioneri asked what demographic did staff use for noticing, Linda answered that ………… Pishioneri added that ………………. Commissioner Kirschenmann asked if there had been any discussion regarding the truck traffic that uses downtown……………. Tom answered ……. They stayed as neutral as possible………. Commissioner Nelson added that the positive coming from the west and east asked if they could concentrate on the heart of section……………….Tom responded……………….part one…………….. part two, the more you can engage the neighborhoods and make them feel a greater part of Main Street would be a huge step forward. City of Springfield Planning Work Session Minutes November 4, 2014 Page 3 Commissioner Pishioneri added that the………..study which shows two way on south A……… he personally won’t except that making South A street a two way is not possible, he believes it can. The sky is the limit Commissioner James added……….. push out and bring those neighborhoods into the fold. Talking longer term, one of his concerns is multi-modal…..he thinks there are some off-main street opportunities……… Tom responded that this topic did come up many times during this project, they did make some recommendation and our Transportation Dept. has taken one of the two and will look into it………………. Reducing the fear on walking, biking and traveling on Main Street, it comes down that people are scared of being on Main Street. Commissioner Vohs added that he had one idea that he had shared with the Commissioners. Linda added that they had notice………………….. did outreach and had a meeting today and one phone conference that are very promising regarding development. Commissioner James asked if staff have had any negative comments regarding the plan. Linda responded that they have not, just strong opinions. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6: p.m. Minutes Recorder – Brenda Jones ______________________ Greg James Planning Commission Chair Attest: ____________________ Brenda Jones Management Support Specialist