Waconia Downtown Master Plan Public Open House

Transcription

1 Waconia Downtown Master Plan Public Open House 4/02/2013 Public Meeting Notes Public Meeting: When: Tuesday, April 2 nd, 2013 Where: City Hall (Council Chambers) (Roughly 40 people in attendance) Showcase Downtown Lake City Park Historic buildings Theater St. Joseph s Church Gridded layout Sidewalks (currently uneven and unmaintained Downtown) Old City Hall Water tower Sacred Cows of Downtown New water tower (at county fairgrounds) Old water tower Theater St. Joseph s Church Old City Hall Gazebo/City Park Historic architecture New buildings City Hall Technical Hurdles County Road- Main Street- Road Width Parking ramp Like multiple parking styles Angled parking dangerous Speed on Main St. need more stoplights/traffic calming/slower traffic o Main & Olive intersection Grade change to lake Limited parking at Cedar Point Park Limited ROW width for sidewalks/benches Bicycle routes

2 Page 2 Street trees o Ash trees-need to start replacing Look at alternatives to putting them in ROW (Small easements in front yards) o Big trees under power lines o Bury power/utility lines - Cleaner look Parking requirements o Regionally vs. Locally o Different events vs. daily events o Snow removal What special events take place in downtown? Nickle Dickle Days-September 14 th -Biggest day of the year downtown Escape to the Islands-Big shopping day downtown. Many businesses take part. Attracts people from outside the community County Fair at Fairgrounds Sister Saturday-Shopping Art Wonder-Art galleries and businesses display art, have food and drinks 4 th of July fireworks Bike races Lake Waconia Triathlon Oak on the Water Deer hunting Snowmobile show (not downtown) Ice fishing contest hasn t happened in a while but could be resurrected-ice timing has been too variable recently Marching band contest Putting/Golf- Bars have golf holes, party busses Windsurfing Race- one of the best lakes for it because of the topography, bowl shape What don t you like about downtown Waconia? Limited parking, spots fill up early and parking is reduced even more in the winter with snow piles The area around Dueber s is a large concrete mass, o something could be done to break up the concrete and make it more appealing to the eye (sculpture/statue) o It makes the area disconnected from the rest of downtown Streets are often plugged with traffic (trucks unloading but having no access to loading areas, people looking for parking)

3 Page 3 Limited access from areas outside of downtown o Very dangerous to attempt to get to downtown from south of Highway 5 for pedestrians o Access across Highway 5 Disconnected from lake o There isn t much access for the public to the lakeshore o Boating access limited o Public Boat launches too shallow for use Sidewalks are narrow o Concrete heaving/settling in some places makes uneven surfaces that are hard to shovel/maintain and less safe for pedestrians Many different types of parking including angled, parallel, on-off street makes parking a little confusing, and sometimes parking is misused Diagonal parking can be dangerous when people are backing out Sidewalk network is discontinuous, requiring pedestrians to cross streets mid-block. Empty buildings Lack of trees and shade in the downtown area- Need more trees o Trees are not always good Leaves blowing o Roots Planters Lots of maintenance Street lighting is too dim, needs more lighting Crosswalks could use updating and more visibility maintain a similar style for all Need something other than bars/restaurants to attract people into downtown and entice people to stay Lake Street dangerous for pedestrian and car traffic o o o No grocery store downtown. o Currently have to drive to get groceries More site amenities Vacant buildings Ugly alley between Main & Lake Too many stop signs-speed control steep hills, Frequented by skateboarders who have had accidents in the past Especially busy in the summer when people park for boating o People don t stop at stop signs More police presence Lack of paint striping & signage for parking Bad electrical hook-ups

4 Page 4 Bad stamped concrete-uneven, fall hazard Too much continuity/not even variation Downtown guidelines for buildings need flexibility, for the unique character of individual buildings No signage/way finding, currently no monument sign (only a wall sign at Casey s) What would you like to see in downtown Waconia? A better system for alerting people along Highway 5 of Downtown location & access Safer access for pedestrians across Highway 5 o Potential crossings include Holiday, 284 Housing Development, High School o Plans were developed for crossing at Hwy 5 & Oak Ave. but never constructed ($1.2 million) Bigger parking lots or more smaller, strategically placed, parking lots o Public parking areas must be convenient, and well lit o Identify more public parking on East side of Downtown 2 nd Street across from Post Office Patrons are currently using private business lots as public lots Some eye catching features o Public art, murals, sculptures, etc. Underground parking with something built on top to maximize space and hide ugly parking. (faux facades on parking ramps another option) Better access for bikes including safe places to cross streets o Bikes: maybe at Waconia Square, LLC o Bikes: maybe in parking lot at Dueber s o Lockers, places to store o Shrink road down a bit to accommodate this o Consider bike path in E/W alley from Dueber s A strengthened connection to the lake o Look at Vine & Pine Streets as possible connection points o Olive Street not possible o Connect City Square to Lake o More Lake activities o Access to lake, a destination on the lake without having to be on the lake Wider variety and more stuff Bike trails in town and a connection to regional trail system o Tie to Downtown & Regional Park o Bike racks Something unique to bring people downtown i.e. performing arts center, Jazz Club (Dakota Club), breakfast spot downtown

5 Page 5 Possibly incorporate more mixed use development with apartments/senior living above and commercial below o Keep taller buildings south of Main Street to keep lake views open o Looked at locating senior housing/city hall closer to Main Street o Higher density near downtown (like condos in Spring Lake) A stronger connection to Highway 5 o Extend streetlights or signage to create an entry corridor from Highway to downtown All lights lead to downtown Use of decorative banners/hanging planters More benches, seating areas, gathering spaces, bike racks o Carry amenities through Better defined Crosswalks Higher level of decoration on street lights, etc. Murals, Green Walls, Landscaping, Commissioned Art Piped in music in the downtown area Everyday businesses o Open stores Farmers Market o No growers in area to support farmers market Business to business on ground level Art/Gallery/Stage VFW will become day senior center Grocery store A reason- a local draw A brand- identity, individuality, defined Marketing to Waconia residents o Flyers at the hospital Infrastructure- drainage/sidewalks Utility Improvements o Sewer/Water Entry feature o Way finding? Sign for theater Gateway feature on Highway 5 Walker, MN o Walkable o Green Space o Accommodating businesses and people o All types of outdoor dining Stand-alone community

6 Page 6 Business & hospital (medical) tourists Beautiful landscaping- flowers Dog park by City Hall One-way street Elm & Olive o Worked out well with Main Street extension downtown o Consider carrying this to Highway 5 Preferred route: Olive to Cherry Quaintness of buildings is a strength Not restrictive Encourage people to put dollars back into their businesses Façade improvements program? o On building appearances Mac & Times Plaza o Map of Downtown (kiosk) Use the materials of downtown in gateway features o Brick o Traditional, not modern More trees Like the tree-lined boulevard Pine or Spruce Maybe at the park, or on E. side of park Use the alley? Continue development to be in-line with County & Township More green in parking Would like a buffer between residential and Downtown o As the alley bisects residential, patrons will park in back What other parts of the community should be linked to downtown? Neighborhoods (old and newly constructed) A Connection between Downtown and Highway 5 there is a lack of gateway to downtown from the highway Safe crossing for those south of Highway 5 Fairgrounds & County Park (boat ramp) o Working together-relationship with County Park is good o Working on access points? Signage vs. development Bike path loop around lake o What s the route around the lake/banks as well o All transportation occurring in same spot.

7 Page 7 Connect up with regional trails (Dakota Rail Trail) to improve access to the community for people in other cities and towns, especially with installation of more DNR landings/docks planned Hospital Neighborhoods near hospital Beach area Macantos Grocery Lack of connection to bedroom community areas Create a connection to downtown from highway- shops, identity, etc. Lack of connectivity to county park/beach o Private owner barrier What brings you to Downtown? Walking- Need better options for pedestrians Movie Theater Shops Ambiance- Tan Lacking color History of old businesses Marina Church community Lots of senior housing but no grocery stores No convenience items Bowling Alley, Theaters, Bars & Restaurants City Square-bandshell, playground, gardens, trees, history Fairgrounds- big event once a year Wide Main Street- 80 Mocha Monkey, Frost & Steam- not much outdoor seating Downtown charming but not people friendly No outdoor bistro/café- restrictive outdoor liquor license in town No connection to the lake How do we get people Downtown? Fill empty stores Business Headhunter o Incentives, City or Otherwise Churches downtown bring business Move Post Office to downtown core Strengthen Olive Street Corridor o 3 rd Street, from Olive Street to Downtown, really needs to be included Waconia Island as a destination o Ferry to downtown

8 Page 8 Regional trail connection Kiosks/seating in downtown Murals City Square Lively Chamber o Nickle Dickle o Sister Saturday o Homespun Holiday o Marking Band o Triathlon o 4 th of July Not many people off the lake come to downtown - parking Build boat ramp/parking Create super blocks Brand/Identity History as a farm community (lake & community) o How to tie that to downtown 1857-Founded on tourism Kiosks- central location for sitting, planting, litter Other great towns o Solveng, CA o Madison, WI Main square, pedestrian mall o Northfield Good back of buildings Varied façade heights Parklets Connected to river Outside dining Benches o Poor County Walkability and variety of stores Part of the goal in development is to draw people downtown Biggest thing City can do is get people into it, businesses & purchasers Comments/Questions Utilize City Square Park for a Farmer s market on Thursday evenings in conjunction with music in the park. They have been to Sonoma, CA on a Tuesday night. The weekly

9 Page 9 farmer s market was similar to a public celebration with many vendors, music, etc. It would be a huge draw for downtown. Can provide pictures upon request.