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HomeMy WebLinkAbout081622-11.01 ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF REPORT 11.1 TO: Mayor and Town Council August 16, 2022 SUBJECT: Resolution No. 71-2022, adopting the Downtown Master Plan Update BACKGROUND Danville’s historic downtown is the product of three decades of careful planning. The original Downtown Master Plan (DMP), adopted in 1986, included a set of goals and policies that guided physical development and infrastructure investments in the Downtown. Over the intervening 30 years, all implementation measures identified in the 1986 DMP, except for developing a funding mechanism such as a Business Improvement District, have been completed (Attachment C). The focus of this DMP Update (Attachment B) is to build upon the strong framework of the Downtown’s charm with an updated set of implementation strategies that adapt its physical spaces to accommodate changing community needs brought about by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, it seeks to reimagine how these spaces can be enhanced to provide greater connection, interaction, and engagement. The initial phase of this effort focuses on the historic “Old Town” core. In partnership with SWA Group, an urban design firm, the Town undertook an expansive public engagement effort that involved the community, business stakeholders and Town Commissioners. This resulted in over 5,300 visitors to the project website, nearly 1,500 responses to a community survey, and active engagement in business interviews and general pop-ups. The primary overarching messages from the community include: • Overwhelming appreciation for Danville’s small-town charm, a walkable downtown, and diverse local businesses; • Identification of Hartz Avenue as the community’s favorite downtown area, followed closely by the Danville Community Center/Library and the Town Green; • Desire for more outdoor public gathering spaces (not associated with restaurants); • Interest in enhancing the east-west connection between the Iron Horse Trail and San Ramon Creek as well as a trail along San Ramon Creek; and • Concerns about the visual character of the existing parklets and their impact on traffic safety and diminishing availability of on-street parking. Downtown Master Plan Update 2 August 16, 2022 The proposed placemaking strategies contained in the updated Draft DMP directly respond to the feedback and preferences expressed through the engagement effort. DISCUSSION At its May 17, 2022 public meeting, the Town Council received a presentation on a set of implementation strategies and preliminary project concepts. After careful consideration, the Town Council eliminated a proposed concept to convert Prospect Avenue into a one- way street and accepted the remaining project concepts in the updated DMP. As with the original DMP, implementation of these project concepts is expected to take over a decade and millions of dollars of infrastructure investment. Fortunately, the Town Council has allocated Local Fiscal Recovery Funds received through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and additional General Fund dollars in order to advance selected project concepts. To utilize ARPA funds, the selected project(s) must be of a sufficiently limited scope (in time and cost) to be designed and completed no later than 2026. In addition to an initial phase of the DMP improvements, the Town anticipates moving forward with the implementation of one or more phases of the Town Green Master Plan improvements (CIP B-628). These projects could proceed independently of one another or potentially be combined into a single larger project. At its June 14, 2022 Study Session, the Town Council reviewed a detailed analysis of priority project concepts and directed staff to pursue the development of “The Theatre Plaza and Raised Intersections, Street Furnishings, and Specialty Art Lighting” (Attachment D). This project was selected since it would distribute improvements along the entire length of the project area, provide expanded public gathering/plaza space, offer opportunities to introduce specialty art lighting at key intersections to enhance the pedestrian ambiance, and address traffic safety concerns associated with increased vehicle speeds in the Downtown. Most importantly, the project can be designed and constructed within the ARPA timeframe. The framework and contents of the Draft DMP reflect the Town Council’s direction to date and is organized as follows: • Downtown Vision: This section carries forward the vision of the original DMP and include placemaking strategies that set the framework for the projects contained in the DMP. These are consistent with what has been presented to the Town Council on May 17, 2022. • Project Concepts: These are the proposed projects that would add additional public gathering space, enhanced lighting, street furnishings and safety improvements. Downtown Master Plan Update 3 August 16, 2022 These are consistent with the projects that have been reviewed and accepted by the Town Council on May 17 and June 14, 2022. •Public Space Palette - Options: At the May 17, 2022 public meeting, the Town Council requested that the consultant develop street furnishings palette options for consideration. Consequently, this section contains four (4) design alternatives and a selection of specialty furnishings associated with: Street furnishings (such as benches), trash receptacles, bicycle racks, etc. Pedestrian lighting, categorized by street type Sidewalk paving details Street trees (for future replacement as funding permits) It is intended that the public space palette option selected by the Town Council would replace those found in the Old Town Beautification Plan (adopted 1990). PUBLIC CONTACT Posting of the meeting agenda serves as notice to the general public. Public hearing notices were mailed to 351 property owners and emailed to 712 businesses within the Downtown Business District utilizing the Town’s business license database. The public notice was also posted on the Danville Town Talks project site and a push notification was sent to those who follow the project. Lastly, the hearing notice was provided to the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce, who distributed it to its membership. FISCAL IMPACT A total of $2.5 million has been reserved for project implementation in the Capital Improvement Program (C-362), which includes $1.5 million in Local Fiscal Recovery Funds from the ARPA and $1.0 million from the General Fund. RECOMMENDATION Adopt Resolution No. 71-2022, adopting the Downtown Master Plan Update and Appropriating Funding for Engineering Design of ARPA Funded Project Concept. Prepared by: Jill Bergman Business and Economic Development Director Downtown Master Plan Update 4 August 16, 2022 Attachments: A - Resolution No. 71-2022 B – Draft Downtown Master Plan C - Original DMP (adopted 1986) - Status of Implementation Strategy D - Projects Selected for Advancement with ARPA Funding, June 14, 2022 E – Written Public Comments Received by Report Publication Date RESOLUTION NO. 71-2022 ADOPTING THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN UPDATE WHEREAS, Danville’s historic downtown is the product of three decades of careful planning and guided substantially by the original Downtown Master Plan (DMP) adopted in 1986; and WHEREAS, nearly all implementation measures identified in the 1986 DMP have been completed in the intervening 30 years; and WHEREAS, the Town recognized that an updated set of implementation strategies are necessary to adapt the Downtown’s physical spaces to accommodate changing community needs brought about by the global COVID-19 pandemic; and WHEREAS, the Town seeks to reimagine how these physical spaces can be enhanced to provide greater connection, interaction, and engagement; and WHEREAS, the Danville Town Council prioritized the DMP Update as part of the FY 2021-22 Operating Budget to support the local business community; and WHEREAS, the SWA Group, an urban design firm, was retained to assist the Town in this effort in late 2021; and WHEREAS, the Town and SWA conducted a series of outreach efforts in early 2022 to receive input from the community through stakeholders interviews, a community survey, several pop-up events, study sessions and public hearings with elected and appointed officials; and WHEREAS, as a first phase effort, SWA developed a series of placemaking strategies and project concepts that focuses on the historic Old Town core, which were considered by the Town Council at its May 17, 2022 public hearing; and WHEREAS, at its May 17, 2022 public hearing, the Town Council eliminated a one-way circulation proposal, accepted the remainder of the projects, and advanced three priority concepts for further analysis as a potential catalyst project; and WHEREAS, at its June 14, 2022 Study Session, the Town Council selected the “Theatre Plaza and Raised Intersections, Street Furnishings, and Specialty Art Lighting” as the catalyst project for implementation following adoption of the DMP Update; and WHEREAS, the selected catalyst project would utilize $1.5 million in Local Fiscal Recovery Funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and an additional $1 DocuSign Envelope ID: E283B328-1AEF-45C9-BEEB-31CBFAB1B0CE ATTACHMENT A PAGE 2 OF RESOLUTION NO. 71-2022 million from the General Purpose Capital Improvement Fund in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP Project C-362); now, therefore be it RESOLVED, that the Town Council adopt the DMP Update; and be it further RESOLVED, that the Town Council authorize the development of the “Theatre Plaza and Raised Intersections, Street Furnishings, and Specialty Art Lighting” as the DMP Update’s catalyst project. APPROVED by the Danville Town Council at a regular meeting on August 16, 2022 by the following vote: AYES: NOES: ABSTAINED: ABSENT: ______________________________ MAYOR APPROVED AS TO FORM: ATTEST: _______________________________ ______________________________ CITY ATTORNEY CITY CLERK DocuSign Envelope ID: E283B328-1AEF-45C9-BEEB-31CBFAB1B0CE ATTACHMENT B ATTACHMENT C 1986 DMP Implementation Strategy – Status Update Public Sector Responsibility Status ✓=Completed 1.Development Control •Establish a reliable planning base data  •Establish a Traffic Monitoring Program  •Establish an expanded development review process  2.Public Improvements •Improvement and extension of Railroad Avenue  •Improvement of Front Street and Front Street/Diablo Road intersection  •Other street, curb and street lighting improvements  3.Public Parking •Establish an Old Town Parking District  •Acquisition of the SPRR, Zion Fellowship Church, and North Front Street public parking sites  •Surface parking lot improvements to three new public parking sites  •Establish a Parking Management Program  •+ •  •Operation and management of downtown public parking facilities  4.Old Town Beautification •Initiation of beautification plans, preparation of contract documents, and management of a phased construction program  5.Community Focus •Determine community needs and desires with public input assistance  •Negotiate with potential Charlotte Wood School site developers for the inclusion of public facilities and/or land on the site  •Develop plans and funding programs for future improvements and new construction of public facilities  •Adopt a Historic Preservation Ordinance  •Study potential for preserving the SPRR Depot  •Adopt an Art in Public Places Ordinance  6.Management and Promotion •Retention of a downtown coordinator -- •Establish a Downtown Promotion Program  •Enforcement of relevant ordinances  2 1986 DMP Implementation Strategy – Status Update Public Sector Responsibility Status ✓=Completed 7.Regulatory Framework •Preparation and adoption of a Comprehensive Downtown Development Ordinance  Private Sector Responsibility Status ✓=Completed 1.Development Control •Preparation of traffic analysis as part of development applications  2.Public Improvements •Adjacent landowner contributions to the improvements on Railroad Avenue and Front Street -- 3.Public Parking •Participation in a Special District to fund Old Town public parking improvements -- •Payment of in-lieu funds for a portion of a development's parking requirement to provide public parking facilities  4.Old Town Beautification •Assistance in determining improvements  •Funding of improvements through a Special District -- 5.Community Focus •Development of private improvements in a character supportive of the Downtown character and scale  •Upgrading existing downtown signs  6.Management and Promotion •Provision of partial funding for a downtown coordinator -- •Participation in the planning, implementation and funding of downtown promotional activities  7.Regulatory Framework •Assistance in the review of a Downtown Development Ordinance 