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Home My WebLink About041123-03.11 April 11, 2023 TO: Mayor and Town Council FROM: Diane Friedmann SUBJECT: Downtown Catalyst Project – Schematic Design Wrap-Up Background Last September, following several months of outreach, feedback and hearings, the Town Council adopted the new Downtown Master Plan (DMP). The DMP reimagines how downtown spaces can be enhanced to provide greater connection, interaction, and engagement within the historic “Old Town” core, through nine ‘Primary Implementation Projects’ and eight ‘Secondary Implementation Projects.’ The initial phase of the project (aka, the Catalyst Project) includes “The Theatre Plaza” and “Raised Intersections, Street Furnishings, and Specialty Art Lighting.” In November, the Town Council authorized a contract to undertake design work necessary to move forward with the construction phase of the project. The contract with the SWA/Kimley Horn team included a total budget of $667,000 (design plus contingency). The contract scope includes schematic design (30% plans), design development (60% plans), construction documents (90-100% plans) and construction observation and support services. All design work is based upon and builds off of the approved Master Plan. The schematic design phase of the project is intended to allow the Town Council the opportunity to fine tune the project scope, provide feedback on elements and features, as well as the overall aesthetics of the project. Completion of the schematic design phase sets the stage for the consultant to proceed with subsequent design work. As part of the schematic design process, the Town Council has now had the opportunity to review initial plans and provide feedback through study sessions held on February 14, 2 March 14 and March 21 subsequently, the project design contract has been amended to increase the budget for the schematic design phase of the project by an additional $48,000, increasing the total contract amount for design work to $715,000. The following is a summary of feedback received through the previous three study sessions. This feedback has been or will be incorporated into the project plans moving forward. Please note that this does not attempt to capture every comment made by each individual council member but rather the feedback which staff understood to represent a consensus or direction from the Council. Prospect Park Plaza • Stage: o Council felt that the stage was too large with not enough ‘free’ malleable space. Direction: Scale back the size of the stage, both area and height-wise (most likely reduce to single level). o Check and incorporate ADA requirements. • Landscaping: Landscaping is too extensive, taking up too much gathering space. Reduce landscaping at all corners on Hartz and Prospect. • Seating: o Integrate the more ‘traditional’ metal slat bench from the DMP in all intersections at Hartz/Prospect. Council is okay with the concrete/wood benches IF used in a more judicious manner. o Council requested to see the timber tech material being used for benches. • Lighting: o Remove lighting proposed for the underside of benches; uplighting is felt to be the most important aspect of the lighting in the plaza, uplighting in trees and decorative fencing. o Artistic Pole Lights are too dominant and need to be integrated in a more subtle way. • Information Kiosk: Council concurrence to relocate the existing kiosk at Prospect Corner to the corner of Railroad and Prospect at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley. Work with Museum of the San Ramon Valley (MSRV) to identify a kiosk location and incorporate relocation cost into the project scope. • Beautification Plaque: It will not be necessary to relocate the downtown beautification plaque shown on the plans. • Signage: Council would like to see the name/signage “Prospect Park Plaza’ incorporated into the design. • Power Outlets: Need to ensure there are electrical outlets, especially around the stage area for performances. • Skateboard Deterrents: Council would like to incorporate white aluminum oak skateboard deterrents as needed on concrete seating/features. • Pedestrian Flashing Beacon: Should be moved closer to the street on northeast corner of the intersection. 3 Village Theatre Plaza • Power Outlets: Ensure electric receptacles are dispersed throughout the Plaza. • Paving Pattern: Council concerned about oil stains on patterned paving; suggested reversing the color of the pavers. • Trash Enclosure: Town Council approved relocation of the trash enclosure. Intersections • Bollards: o Ensure that bollards are crash rated. o Request to speak with Bicycle Advisory Commission about the dangers of bollards. • Sidewalk decorative brick: o In ground pattern should be at 45-degree angle at all corners. o Prospect Avenue south corners decorative pavement needs to line up properly in the renderings. County Connection Bus Stop o Identify new bus stop location near Hartz and Prospect. Based upon discussion at the March 21 study session, the following items were felt to warrant further discussion to arrive at a consensus from the Town Council. o ADA Curb Ramps: Use of river rock adjacent to various ADA ramps was found to be problematic for various reasons. Staff was asked to revise the design treatment to reduce use of curbs adjacent to ADA ramps which could potentially create trip and fall concerns and identify a more suitable pavement treatment at the Diablo, Church Street and School Street intersections. The “before” and “after” illustrations attached to this memo identify a revised design treatment in keeping with Council’s direction. o Hartz/School Street Intersection: Revise (reduce) the extent of the colored brick pattern within the intersection to avoid the appearance of one continuous crosswalk which could create pedestrian confusion. Ensure that the one crosswalk is clearly marked. Illustrations attached to this memo identify two revised design options for the Council’s review. o Bollards: Ensure that the bollard locations are appropriately placed so as to align with the crosswalk at the southwest corner of Linda Mesa/Hartz Ave. The “before” and “after” illustrations attached to this memo identify a revised design treatment in keeping with Council’s direction. o Art Wall: Council would like to explore extending the art wall to the side of the Town Meeting Hall. o Asphalt: Council is concerned about wear and cracking of stamped asphalt in raised intersections. Suggest exploring concrete bands to support asphalt. 4 At the April 11 Study Session, staff will review changes that have been incorporated into the schematic design based upon the most recent Council feedback. This meeting will also provide an additional opportunity for Council to provide further feedback prior to moving forward into the design development and construction documents phases of the project. Attachment – DMP PowerPoint Presentation Town of Danville, California Catalyst Project – Intersections Schematic Design Update Town Council Meeting 04/11/2023 DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN 1.Approve ADA ramps - Diablo Road, Church Street, and School Street 2.Approve updated design - School Street 3. Approve Prospect Park Plaza Signage Design 4. Village Theatre Plaza - Project Scope Discussion 5. Bollards - Review Design 6. Asphalt- Maintenance Update Danville DMP Catalyst Project Meeting Objective Danville DMP Catalyst Project School / Hartz Intersection Proposed Rendered Plan OPT. A OPT. B Sc h o o l Sc h o o l Hartz Hartz - Remove river rock - Revise curb ramp layout - Adjust brick layout to match 45 degrees Proposed Rendered Plan Danville DMP Catalyst Project Church / Hartz Intersection Ch u r c h Ch u r c h Hartz Hartz Before After - Remove river rock - Revise curb ramp layout - Adjust brick layout to match 45 degrees Danville DMP Catalyst Project Hartz Ave Starbucks Veterans Memorial Building Intersection Plan Hartz/Prospect Intersection Pr o s p e c t A v e Danville DMP Catalyst Project Diablo / Hartz Intersection Proposed Rendered Plan Dia b l o Dia b l o Hartz Hartz Before After - Remove river rock - Revise curb ramp layout - Adjust brick layout to match 45 degrees Danville DMP Catalyst Project Linda Mesa / Hartz Intersection Proposed Rendered Plan Li n d a M e s a Li n d a M e s a Hartz Hartz Before After - Align bollards with crosswalk and path of travel - Adjust brick layout to match 45 degrees - Adjust Seating Arrangement Danville DMP Catalyst Project Prospect Park Plaza Signage OPT 1 OPT 1 OPT 2 OPT 2 Danville DMP Catalyst Project Theatre Plaza Village Theatre Art Wall Expansion THANK YOU