Response to Request for Proposal for: Downtown Implementation Plan

Transcription

1 Planning Group Response to Request for Proposal for: Downtown Implementation Plan Planning Group Inc. Kimley-Horn TXP Inc. City of Denton, Texas February 24, 2009 RFSP# 4237 Economic development through place-making

2 Summit Ave. Suite 606. Fort Worth, Texas Scott Polikov February 23, 2009 Mr. Tom Shaw City of Denton Materials Management/Purchasing 901-B Texas Street Denton, Texas Re: Dear Mr. Shaw: RFSP # Denton Downtown Implementation Plan The Planning Team is pleased to submit our qualifications and work proposal to the City of Denton for the Downtown Implementation Plan. We understand that our mission will be to build on prior downtown planning efforts while casting our experienced fresh eyes on these efforts and focusing this initiative on stakeholder needs for implementation. The Planning Team includes the Planning Group, Kimley-Horn and Associates, and TXP Economists. This team has worked together often on other downtown initiatives. By focusing on implementation, Planning is known for results. Planning works with local governments, transit authorities, universities, state agencies and developers to harness growth and redevelopment into mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods. We complement our plans with form-based codes and transportation strategies that harness the market s ability to sustain growth. Our award winning work has been featured in Urban Land, the magazine of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), and in Planning, the magazine of the American Planning Association. We have assembled a team tailored for Denton. Having worked together on many similar projects, we bring to this initiative a strong mix of local, state, and national experts. Our experience in the complexities of downtowns distinguishes our team from others because downtowns are often the most difficult to coalesce into a common development and implementation plan. Just recently, for example, the Planning Team was recognized for its ability to marshal disparate stakeholders, assets, and opportunities into a cohesive land use and development program: Much of the credit for the outcome (funding commitment for downtown redevelopment) goes to the plan itself. The Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corp. did this community a service by bringing in Planning Group, which went about meticulously garnering public input and eventually produced a plan that not only will work, but also stirs the imagination and creates excitement. It will, we truly believe, do wonders for downtown and by doing so, will do wonders for the entire community. [February 9, 2009, Editorial, Messenger-Enquirer, Owensboro, KY] With our team s local knowledge and our experience quarterbacking similar initiatives, we believe we are a very good fit and appreciate the opportunity to be considered for the initiative. Sincerely, Scott Polikov, President

3 1.0 Advantages of the Planning Team The Planning Team brings together town planning, urban design, architecture, economic development, community facilitation, and sustainable transportation into one seamless entity to undertake Denton s Downtown Implementation Plan. This team specializes in economic development through placemaking. Downtown planning and implementation is the core expertise of our team. TXP, Inc., a nationally recognized firm specializing in the economics of place, will take the lead in assessing market potential for Downtown Denton and evaluate financial feasibility and funding strategies. TXP has joined Planning for numerous engagements for reinvestment in downtowns. Kimley-Horn & Associates will provide the critical parking and transportation assessment of downtown. Known nationally for leadership in context sensitive transportation design, Kimley- Horn regularly supports Planning in the development of urbane, walkable environments that complement our downtown plans and implementation initiatives. In bringing together Planning, TXP, and Kimley-Horn for this Implementation Initiative, this Team is uniquely focused on the kind of approach and philosophy needed to leverage the wonderful assets and opportunities already in place in Downtown Denton. Our combined strengths include: - An understanding of the complex relationships between land use, urban design, transportation, and economic decisions, and how they can impact downtown revitalization and sustainability. - Working with universities and major destinations to leverage the town and gown potential similar to our experience with the Texas State University campus plan in Round Rock and designing a university community next to the new Texas A&M University, San Antonio. - Planning, positioning, and coding for transit-oriented development in the state and region, including Leander, North Richland Hills, San Antonio, Duncanville, and Burleson. - Successful implementation of downtown plans in Owensboro, Hutto, Roanoke, Duncanville, and McKinney. - Local and regional knowledge and expertise. - Understanding planning processes with disparate stakeholders, committees, elected officials, and staff, while providing for transparent and useful public participation. - A team that can adapt to the specific needs of the community by providing a flexible process, while ensuring the needs of the community for the initiative are met at all costs. Rendering of the vision for a transformed downtown street in Owensboro, Kentucky. View of thriving sidewalk cafes in Downtown McKinney, Texas after streetscape improvements around the Courthouse Square widened sidewalks and provided pedestrian amenities. 3

4 Successful downtowns build on the tradition of great urbanism, and great urbanism is about designing for the poetry of community life. In order to achieve that, all great plans must balance predictability with flexibility. Predictability is important to achieve community goals, while flexibility is critical to accommodate changing market conditions. Experienced with unique backgrounds in urbanism, the Planning Team undertakes planning from the perspective that implementation must ultimately be achievable. Denton has a great tradition of urbanism in its downtown. In implementing the vision for Downtown, one of the most critical aspects is to reinforce the existing urbanism with downtown living and entertainment, attracting residents and visitors alike. TXP s Jon Hockenyos is a firm believer in placemaking as the key to future economic development, specifically downtown revitalization. A vibrant and attractive physical context creates the environment for bringing in new spending, leveraging existing visitors, and retaining as much local demand as possible. With two universities adjoining downtown, Texas Woman s University and University of North Texas, Denton has the unique opportunity to use these prime assets for leveraging downtown renaissance, drawing students, employees, alumni, and parents into the area. This will unleash great potential for economic growth. To this end, the Team s collective experience working for and with universities in Round Rock and San Antonio will be invaluable. Successful downtowns thrive on vibrant, pedestrian-activated streets. Project Manager Scott Polikov s role in co-chairing TxDOT s Urban Thoroughfares Committee, charged with revising state roadway design standards to better fit its context, will be relevant to Downtown Denton. Together with our partners Kimley- Horn, we believe that downtown streets need to support the overall vision for downtown as a vibrant, mixed-use, pedestrian friendly neighborhood. As Downtown Denton evolves by adding new destinations, a transit station, and new urban residential uses, today s needs for retailing, parking, and urban services must all be met. Again, our partners Kimley-Horn understand that parking and transportation within an urban context must be carefully integrated. Master Plan for Texas State University in Round Rock, Texas Texas Woman s University adjoining Downtown Denton offering opportunities for leveraging downtown revitalization. 4

5 As a former city planner for Louisville, Kentucky and Southlake, Texas, Jay Narayana offers the necessary public sector implementation experience needed to integrate the vision into operation. Specifically, her experience in writing design guidelines and standards for Southlake Town Square and other mixed use ordinances will be valuable. Lead urban designer and architect Milosav Cekic s experience with developing architectural standards and design guidelines for downtowns and new communities in Texas will be crucial for implementing the design goals for downtown. Rendering of the vision for a commuter rail station adjacent to Verano in south San Antonio. As the location of a future commuter rail stop, Downtown Denton has the unique opportunity to build on this investment by creating new opportunities for urban living and employment. Former Capital Metro Board members Scott Polikov and Jon Hockenyos offer substantial civic and professional experience leveraging development and reinvestment opportunities within transitoriented development (TOD) contexts. In addition to our experience and understanding of downtown s physical and fiscal contexts, we understand the community processes and complexities that are inherent in every planning effort. Balancing a diverse set of interests between a broad range of stakeholders while crafting visionary, but achievable outcomes are hallmarks of our work as evidenced in Owensboro, Kentucky, Duncanville, and Flower Mound. We recommend an approach that will be uniquely tailored to the existing context in Denton. We see this effort as building on the existing assets of downtown, previous planning efforts, and existing community involvement processes while identifying creative new ideas within a practical, implementation-based effort. Examples of architectural and design standards for McKinney and Verano, San Antonio. 5

6 2.0 Team Overview & Roles The Planning Team proposed for Denton s Downtown Implementation Plan has been working together for many years on similar downtown revitalization projects such as Downtown McKinney, Duncanville, El Paso, and Owensboro, Kentucky. Working with Kimley-Horn and Associates and TXP, Inc., the Planning Group is known for harnessing land use through a comprehensive value capture structure to invest in, phase, and maintain the critical infrastructure to sustain projects. Planning Group is recognized nationally as a leading edge town planning firm known for harnessing the benefits of placemaking for economic development. We take projects from visioning, through the master plan process; we then implement the master plans through performance-based design standards and form-based codes that link transportation and land use into the highest yielding taxbase possible. More information on how we create sustainable momentum for our clients is available at our website:. Since 2000, Planning Group has worked with local governments, transit authorities, universities, state agencies, and developers to harness growth and redevelopment into mixed-use pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods. Planning has developed master plans, codes and publicprivate funding strategies for downtowns, TODs, universities, and growth corridors. We complement our plans with form-based codes and transportation programs that elevate quality of life, while also linking it to the market s ability to sustain growth. Scott Polikov and his colleagues believe that the key to implementation is integrating urban design into development codes, designing streets for people, and promoting neighborhood businesses. Planning specializes in merging placemaking, regulation and the economics of infrastructure. This expertise enables Planning to create sustainable value. In this context, the firm serves clients, from small downtowns such as Roanoke, McKinney, and Owensboro, KY by facilitating redevelopment plans and codes, to large metropolitan cities such as Fort Worth, El Paso, Charlotte, NC, and Charleston, SC by guiding both urban and regional growth policy. Planning s work has earned the inaugural national Driehaus Form-Based Code Award for best form-based code, the Texas American Planning Association (APA) Awards for Best Current Planning, Best Project Plan and Community of the Year, the North Central Texas Council of Governments Leadership in Development Excellence (CLIDE) Award, the Envision Central Texas Community Stewardship Award for best Planning in the region, as well as the Greater Dallas Planning Council Dream Study Urban Design Award. Planning s work has also been featured in Urban Land, the magazine of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), Planning, the magazine of the American Planning Association, and Chamber Executive, the magazine of American Chamber of Commerce Executives Association. Scott Polikov, AICP, President of Planning, will serve as Project Manager and focus on public process, integration of land use, and the needed investments in infrastructure Jay Narayana, AICP, former Chief Planner for Southlake, Texas, and a Principal with Planning Group, will serve as the Deputy Project Manager and focus on master planning, urban design, and regulatory strategies. Milosav Cekic, Architect and Urban Designer, will serve as the lead urban designer for the downtown master plan and assist in the development of architectural and design standards for implementation. 6

7 Kimley-Horn and Associates is one of the most respected and fastest growing full-service consulting engineering firms in the United States since With over 1,800 employees nationwide, they can draw from a large pool of resources to respond to the City of Denton s specific needs. Kimley-Horn professionals are experienced in solving complex transportation design and planning issues for both public and private clients. Of specific relevance to Denton is Kimley-Horn s expertise in parking services and context sensitive transportation design. Kimley-Horn understands that downtowns, like mixed use centers and TODs, have unique parking and transportation needs that should support the overall vision of a walkable, compact, and vibrant environment. They have designed the full range of parking facilities, from surface lots that blend into historic surroundings to award winning parking structures integrated with mixed-uses such as transit stops, retail businesses, hotels, and offices. Kimley-Horn provides comprehensive parking feasibility studies, financial analyses, traffic and transportation planning services, design of parking facilities, and integration of the parking system into the overall district transportation plan. In addition, Kimley-Horn has played a central role in the development of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Manual for Context Sensitive Solutions for Urban Thoroughfares for Walkable Communities. Kimley-Horn employs a number of senior project managers with extensive experience in transportation and streetscape projects, especially in context-sensitive design. These professionals provide communities with a wealth of experience and techniques to help design downtown streets as places and not just for moving cars. Using a variety of technical and public participation tools, Kimley-Horn develops downtown transportation plans to maximize multi-modal access while balancing the needs of the automobile. They carefully consider parking, pedestrians, capacity, service needs to design downtown streets to support the vision for mixed use, walkable environments. Kimley-Horn has considerable experience integrating transit (bus, light-rail, and commuter rail) with mixed use and downtown environments. J. Blake Hodge, P.E., a Senior Parking Structure Engineer with Kimley-Horn will serve as the lead to develop a comprehensive parking strategy for Downtown Denton. Andrew Howard, AICP, a Transportation Planner with Kimley-Horn will serve as the lead in the design of streets and linkages and integration of the TOD into an overall downtown transportation and implementation strategy. 7

8 TXP, Inc. is an economic analysis and public policy consulting firm founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas. Since then, TXP has grown into a team of professionals whose diverse backgrounds allow the firm to craft customized solutions to client problems. For the past twenty years, TXP has helped clients understand and respond to their most pressing economic and public policy challenges. By blending analysis and creativity, TXP crafts custom solutions that are thoughtful and straightforward. Their innovative ideas not only enable community and business leaders to anticipate and manage the economic forces affecting their region, but also show them how to define and shape issues from the beginning. TXP consults on a range of public and private projects across the country. Members of TXP are involved in the community and understand the challenges faced by an increasingly complex world, as heightened media attention and an ever more diverse set of stakeholders shine a brighter spotlight on public decision-making and public policy. As economic development policy becomes increasingly standardized, differentiating one community from the next becomes more difficult. TXP takes a more customized approach. Unlike traditional community and economic development plans that rely heavily on historical demographic data and current industry concentrations or clusters, TXP believes that integrating targeted business recruitment with land use planning and community cultural vitality offers the best opportunities for long-term growth. Businesses are choosing to locate in communities that are able to attract and retain highly skilled and talented employees. These workers are increasingly drawn to regions that offer a diversity of cultural amenities and activities as well as exciting employment opportunities. TXP believes that the future of economic development is fundamentally linked to local business startups, new forms of land use planning that promote transit-oriented developments, and thoughtful public policy that encourages the cultural arts. TXP has successfully helped clients manage the balance between traditional economic development, land use planning, and infrastructure development to ensure overall community prosperity. TXP believes that efficient land use will stimulate local markets and generate new economic activity. The TXP team provides in-depth analysis on the connection between tax base enhancement and service cost reduction, and works with communities, state agencies, local governments, universities, and developers to facilitate growth and redevelopment. Jon Hockenyos, President of TXP, will serve as lead market analyst and coordinate with the Planning Team to ensure that the overall revised downtown master plan is integrated with both local economic development goals and expected market trends. In addition, Jon will lead the analysis of funding options for public infrastructure based on public capacity and probable costs of infrastructure improvements. 8

9 Team Organization Project Manager, Scott Polikov, will be responsible for the overall process framework and coordination between the team entities, city staff, and project steering committee or work group. Deputy Project Manager, Jay Narayana, will be responsible for day-to-day operational, organizational, and coordination activities between different team members and city staff. Regular team meetings and status update conference calls between the city and the Team will be scheduled to ensure that the team stays on the project schedule established at the outset of the process. Team organization and coordination is a critical aspect of every project undertaken by the Planning Team. In addition to the three main firms, the Team also have available various resource persons based on the needs of each project. Having a public art resource on hand to build on the concept of integrating art and streetscape to create a unique Arts Walk along Hickory Street will be extremely beneficial. Dusty Whipple is an artist who understands that public art can play an very significant role in connecting local artists, artisans, and art galleries in creating synergies between the arts. Resumes for all key team members are included in section 5.0, pages 22 through 32. 9

10 Team Coordination for Project Continuity The Planning Team s focus during each of our projects has been its successful implementation. To this end, we provide on-going implementation support by coordinating with stakeholders on implementation of key public infrastructure projects and regulatory review support for development applications. In Roanoke, Texas, Planning has provided on-going development review support for applications within downtown since the adoption of the Downtown Master plan and form-based code in Over the past three years, Oak Street in Downtown Roanoke has seen approximately four new buildings, all consistent with the new code. In addition, Planning provided implementation support to the engineering firm hired to reconstruct Oak Street into a pedestrian friendly street with sidewalks, street trees, on-street parking, and other amenities. Furthermore, the success of the Oak Street zoning initiative created momentum to expand the boundaries of the original zoning district by creating appropriate standards for development transition while preserving the adjoining residential neighborhoods. In Duncanville, Texas, the Planning Team, including Kimley-Horn and TXP, developed a Master Plan and form-based code for Downtown in The Master Plan recommended transforming Main Street into a pedestrian-friendly street that supported the vision for downtown and a future TOD. The city has started the first phase of implementing these recommendations and Planning is working with Kimley-Horn to ensure that the reconstruction Main Street, Duncanville, reinvented to support the vision for downtown revitalization. of Main Street is undertaken consistent with the Master Plan. In addition, Planning is providing important coordination support between the city, engineering consultants (KHA), and affected property owners. In McKinney, Texas, after successful adoption of the first phase of the Downtown Plan and Vision in 2008, led by Planning, our team (including Kimley-Horn and TXP) was hired for the subsequent implementation phase. Specifically, this implementation phase will support the development of a comprehensive parking program including siting a new parking structure, financing options, and regulatory strategies consistent with the adopted vision for Downtown. In Owensboro, Kentucky, the city and the county unanimously adopted the Team s (including Kimley-Horn and TXP) recommended Master Plan and package of catalyst projects needed to jump-start downtown revitalization earlier this year. Immediately after plan adoption, the city council and fiscal court approved funding of $80 million to implement the catalyst projects through a tax increase. Planning, TXP, and Kimley-Horn will be involved in the implementation (design, management, and construction) of the catalyst projects and support for development review to follow. Our team, consisting of Planning, Kimley-Horn, and TXP, has closely worked on the initial planning and follow-up implementation support in Duncanville, McKinney, and Owensboro, Kentucky. We know our respective strengths and coordinate our tasks for sustained implementation. During the initial phase of planning, design, and code changes, Planning takes the lead and subsequently supports Kimley-Horn s transportation and engineering work for implementation of specific projects. This ensures seamless continuity from vision to implementation. 10

11 3.0 Project Understanding and Approach The Planning Team undertakes downtown visioning, planning, and implementation with a profound knowledge of the physical, fiscal, and social relationships that impact urbanism. We understand that the bottom line for successful planning -- like for all planning -- is to sustain a place where people love to be with other people. Planning s Milosav Cekic describes urbanism as places that encourage regular, chance contact between people who may not know each other. Designed for living, working, and entertainment, downtowns are quintessentially the place to be with others. Our collective team experience matches the expertise Denton needs to make its vision for downtown into a reality. Specifically, our team has been successful in taking downtown and TOD visions and master plans through implementation in Roanoke, Duncanville, McKinney, Leander, Hutto, El Paso, and Owensboro, Kentucky. Downtown Denton already has a vision and emerging redevelopment momentum with existing attractions such as the two universities, community festivals, thriving arts and music scene, revitalized Courthouse Square, eclectic shopping, and restaurants including a downtown grocery store. In addition, initiation of recent projects such as downtown residential, future transit center, and arts walk are all evidence of a strong foundation and framework for downtown redevelopment. Taking advantage of the emerging vision and development momentum requires a team that understands how to leverage the history and assets of Downtown Denton. The Planning Team s experience demonstrates the ability to execute that approach. In El Paso, Texas, the Team, including TXP, was responsible for helping the city with discrete implementation steps including: (1) refinement of the vision for downtown revitalization; (2) prioritization of public incentives and infrastructure improvements consistent with this refined vision; (3) recommendations for linkages connecting existing and emerging activity areas in downtown; and (4) a management framework for long-term implementation support. Historic Courthouse Square is important for community life and festivals in Denton. This asset must leverage its cultural, historic, and emerging music scene by linking it to other activity areas and creating more opportunities for restaurants and entertainment. One of the key successes of the Phase I Downtown McKinney Plan was to reinvent the Courthouse Square by reducing the excessive roadway capacity, increasing sidewalk widths to facilitate cafe environments, and increasing on-street parking. These improvements have been implemented and Downtown McKinney has seen more investment in restaurants and hotels. (For more information, see Downtown McKinney Phase I Plan Project Sheet) The key to successful implementation of the Denton Downtown Plan is to build on and relate existing assets with emerging activity Redesigned Courthouse Square in Downtown McKinney supports the vision for downtown areas while balancing community desires and market realities. In addition to a mix of vibrant uses, well designed and located civic and open spaces not only offer respites in the urban environment, they can also add incredible value to adjoining development. Our experience in Owensboro, Kentucky, gives us very clear insight into creating a visionary, yet achievable Downtown Master Plan and a discrete set of catalytic projects to jump-start revitalization. The Downtown Master Plan recommendations built 11

12 on Owensboro s assets, a thriving local arts scene, plans for a signature waterfront park on the Ohio River, and existing redevelopment momentum along historic Second Street. One of the major recommendations included the creation of a new public plaza that connected the Waterfront to the Courthouse Square. This new plaza is intended to be Owensboro s new living room and its Grand Gesture to the river while creating opportunities for new development. The recommended public infrastructure improvements link catalytic projects and private development incentives to leverage these identified assets together with funding options for realistic implementation. In an unprecedented move, after a tremendously successful community involvement process, the City Council and Fiscal Court committed $80 million in public funding to implement the catalyst projects. (For more information, see Downtown Owensboro Master Plan Project Sheet) Our collective experience and expertise, as described in the above projects and our project sheets in pages 16 to 20, demonstrate that the Planning Team has the skills needed to implement a bold but feasible plan for Downtown Denton. Specifically, our experiences in the following areas are central to this Implementation Plan for Downtown Denton: Newspaper headlines and article describing the unveiling of Downtown Master Plan in the Owensboro Messenger Inquirer, November 16, 2008 Ability to leverage and relate downtown s existing and emerging assets, while identifying new opportunities based on community desires and market conditions. Tailor process and outcomes geared specifically towards implementation, including long-term stakeholder buy-in and commitment to implementation. Develop a building-scale master plan and placemaking recommendations as an economic development strategy for downtown. Follow-up the Visioning and Master Planning with a regulatory framework to ensure consistency with adopted vision while providing flexibility to address changing market conditions. Follow-up Master Planning with feasible financing options for public improvements that enable local governments to take advantage of the value-capture benefits of the placemaking and regulatory strategy. Craft Master Plans that identify sustainable transportation and walkability as the basis for vibrant downtowns. To this end, all our plans recognize streets as linkages between key destinations and use transit opportunities for greater leverage of mixed use. Recognize that long-term parking management in downtown is important for the success of downtown as a regional destination, a mixed use neighborhood, and to support transit. Integrate residential uses and open spaces to create new synergies and opportunities for retail development in the long-run. In all of our efforts, the Planning Team has demonstrated that it can implement a vision-based master plan that harnesses emerging markets for downtown employment, entertainment, shopping, and living through a participatory process that also encourages sustained implementation support from stakeholders and elected officials. 12

13 Project Approach The Planning Team brings together a consortium of a small, but highly qualified set of individuals who are not only the front-line representatives of their firms, but also the persons doing the work. The result is a work product that accurately reflects and responds to the context of each community as it unfolds. We firmly believe that each community is unique and requires a tailored process, approach, and solutions that are entirely based on local conditions and input. In other words, we do not have an off-the-shelf approach or solution. While we bring local, regional, and national expertise, we truly believe in partnering with city staff and local leadership to develop the internal capacity for sustained implementation. Any implementation plan for Denton s Downtown Master Plan should build on existing assets, planning efforts, and refine the vision for Downtown Denton with a focus on implementation of key areas. This implementation effort should be coordinated with other initiatives currently being undertaken in the community, such as the Station Area planning initiative and Parks and Open Space Master Plan update, to eliminate redundancy and improve consistency in outcomes. The Team will work with the city to establish a project steering committee or work groups to facilitate the entire process, providing continuous feedback between the city, stakeholders, and the consultant team. Critical tasks in this process include: 1. Project kick off, background data collection, and analysis will evaluate existing conditions including existing parking, land use, reviewing city plans, and development regulations, existing development, and proposed projects. 2. Market analysis of potential future downtown development given Denton s regional context, existing educational anchors, future commuter rail stop, and other local and regional economic factors. 3. Design workshop(s) with key stakeholders and focused community input to refine the vision for Downtown Denton by creating a block and building level master plan with land uses, character zones, and design priorities for each character zone. This will, in turn, help identify future development opportunities, parking needs, linkages, and open spaces (including scale and design of linkages and open spaces). 4. Refine master plan and start identifying priorities that tie existing and future development opportunities to open space/civic opportunities and public realm linkages together with major parking improvements. 5. Refine the downtown street classification system to balance all modes of transportation with parking, placemaking opportunities, and service access (trash, utilities, etc). In addition, develop a plan for improving and increasing linkages in the study area to support existing destinations and emerging development opportunities with recommendations for prioritization and funding. 6. Based on identified priorities, develop phasing and preliminary cost estimates for public infrastructure improvements (parking, streets, open space, etc). 7. Identify financial tools available and an analysis of public capacity to undertake above improvements based on future property value increases based on a value capture. 9. Identify and undertake changes to the regulatory framework to implement the vision for Downtown including design standards, guidelines, and other form-based standards. 13

14 Considerations and Challenges The Planning Team is structured for flexibility in order to respond to specific community needs. However, our past experiences in other communities and an understanding of Denton s context help us identify some important considerations and challenges that can impact the outcomes of this process: - Public Input Process - The Design Team and City Staff should establish a clear plan for appropriate public input throughout the process including the participation of a project steering committee or work group appointed by City Council. Detailed stakeholder input should be collected up front to help identify and frame issues and critical aspects with structured general public input on the physical design outcomes. In other words, public input gathered should influence the plan outcomes, but it should be gathered early in the process. Finally, a public validation event should provide direction on implementation recommendations including catalyst projects that leverage existing and upcoming opportunities. A fl ow chart showing the public input process adopted during the Downtown Owensboro Initiative Regulatory Changes - Changes to the regulatory framework in downtown to implement the design goals should balance creativity and subjectivity with the ease and feasibility of dayto-day administration. The Design Team needs to ensure that the ultimate changes to zoning will streamline the development review process while ensuring consistently high quality design outcomes. Illustrative Master Plan - The ultimate master plan for Downtown Denton needs to be illustrative in nature. While certain urban design outcomes should be inviolate, the master plan should allow enough flexibility to accommodate changing market conditions and community priorities. To this end, the planning process should balance community desires with market realities, and with the Design Team s professional recommendations. Considerations - Some of the existing downtown anchors such as the universities, Courthouse Square, and the future TOD are all critical considerations during this effort. In addition, long-term downtown management, historic preservation, and preservation of adjoining neighborhoods, while identifying future opportunities, should be considered during this process. Specifically, parking needs for downtown and the transit center should balance the goals for downtown as essentially a series of walkable neighborhoods. The Planning Team has unparalleled experience in downtown planning, economic development, and urban design in the State of Texas. From public sector experience to private sector projects; and large metropolitan areas to small towns; our Team offers the most in-depth understanding of planning, design, economics, legal, and transportation issues affecting Texas cities. 14

15 4.0 Project References and Examples The Planning Team has a strong reputation of producing quality work while working with our clients to meet their deadlines and budgets. Our track record of successfully adopted and implemented projects speaks to these aspects. The following section lists project references and examples of projects that are most relevant to the task at hand. Project References Client Project Reference Planning Group Projects City of McKinney, Texas Downtown Plan Phase II Kevin Spath, Project Manager City of Duncanville, Kentucky Downtown Plan & Code Kent Cagle, City Manager City of Owensboro, Kentucky Downtown Plan & Economic Development Initiative Fred A. Reeves, Ed. D. Exec. Director for Downtown Development City of El Paso, Texas Downtown Plan Phase II Implementation Kathryn B. Dodson, Ph.D. Economic Development Director City of Leander, Texas TOD Plan & Code John Cowman, Mayor Kimley-Horn Projects City of Folsom, California Folsom Downtown Parking Implementation Plan Mark Rackovan, Public Works Department

16 Town Center Study - Phase I, McKinney The Town Center Study is McKinney s vision for the future of its central neighborhoods and historic center. The Study is also the roadmap for implementing of a series of plans for redevelopment, preservation, and future growth. An extension of the City of McKinney s 2004 Comprehensive Plan, the Town Center Study provides a community-based strategy for sustaining the vibrancy of the heart of McKinney. Phase 1 of the Town Center Study planning process was inclusive, not simply allowing for, but actively soliciting public input through each part of the process. As a result, the process captured valuable public input while still capitalizing on the professional expertise of City Officials and the Planning Team hired to lead the process. Planning facilitated a collaborative planning process, coalescing the varied design visions for downtown into a comprehensive master plan. After the City Council adopted the master plan, the Planning Team ( Planning, Kimley Horn and TXP) was engaged for Phase 2. This work will position downtown, including the future TOD, with a critical mass of neighborhood linkages for investment in new businesses. To this end, the Team is assessing market demand; developing a detailed form-based code and design framework to implement the master plan. In addition, the team is locating and programming the first public structured parking garage as identified in the Phase 1 Plan. The parking garage initiative is part of a comprehensive parking plan that will be finalized in concert with the market analysis and code reforms to ensure an effective leveraging of existing assets and new investment in downtown. 16

17 City of Duncanville Downtown Plan and Code Duncanville, Texas, seeks to reinvent its Main Street into a true mixed use destination. Main Street anchors historic retail and the center of city government, but has lacked sustained growth for many years. Located just south of Dallas on IH20 and a future commuter rail transit line, Downtown Duncanville has initiated an economic development strategy to grow a market for downtown housing, higher quality retail, additional upscale restaurants and eventually substantial professional office users. The key to sustained success will be the attraction of young professionals and empty-nesters to live in Duncanville as a complement to the great family environment well established in the community. Planning Group, TXP and Kimley Horn were retained in order to assist the city in this mission. The initiative entailed facilitation of a community committee for input, and the development of a detailed redevelopment master plan, including the conceptual design of transit-oriented development (TOD) around the likely future location of a rail station at Center and Main Streets. The master plan delineates areas for enhancement and likely locations for substantial redevelopment. The master plan includes a redesign of Main Street, with a better functioning traffic, improved on-street parking and a pedestrian-supportive streetscape. The master plan will be implemented through a regulating plan and a form-based zoning district prescribing urban design standards, while allowing wide latitude of appropriate downtown uses. 17

18 Downtown Placemaking Initiative, Owensboro, Kentucky In the fall of 2007, the residents of Owensboro identified downtown revitalization as an important community priority. This provided the impetus for a comprehensive downtown planning initiative lead by the Planning Team. Working with partners TXP and Kimley-Horn and Associates, the Planning Team eventually produced a plan that not only will work, but also stirs the imagination and creates excitement. (Messenger-Inquirer Editorial, February 7, 2009) Based on systematic stakeholder input, analysis of existing conditions, focused public participation events, and buy-in from elected officials, the team developed a market-based master plan and a comprehensive package of catalyst projects to jump start downtown revitalization. This package of catalyst projects was based on strengthening existing destinations and planned improvements within downtown while taking advantage of the community s roots the Ohio River. Public Process The Team s public participation approach built on the successful America Speaks We the People community involvement framework already in place. Public participation during this initiative was carefully structured to provide appropriate community input throughout the process. Maximum public input was collected at the outset with detailed meetings with key stakeholders and the project steering committee. The input received during this phase of the initiative was used to identify issues, community priorities, opportunities, and key aspects of the plan. The Community Design Workshop provided for more open public feedback on the physical master plan for downtown as it was being developed. Finally, a Community Validation meeting was held to present the final illustrative master plan and the package of catalyst projects. Community support for this initiative has never been stronger with public momentum building up for the upcoming phase of implementation. Illustrative Master Plan The final Illustrative Master Plan, developed for Downtown Owensboro, is intended to provide an overall urban design framework within which the community can come together and reassess priorities and initiatives as market conditions evolve. Downtown Owensboro is seen as a series of urban neighborhoods, each with its own development and activity focus. With several large-scale redevelopment opportunities, the illustrative master plan provides the community flexibility in evaluating a variety of redevelopment options. Focus on Implementation With a strong focus on a practical but ambitious plan, the Design Team recommended a core set of catalyst projects that built on the existing community assets. In addition to providing order-of-magnitude cost estimates, the Design Team identified financial strategies to fund these initial projects. With tremendous public support and ownership, the legislative bodies of both the City and County approved tax increases to fund these projects in February Despite the tough economic times, the elected officials saw this as an incredible opportunity to invest in Owensboro s future. With this bold undertaking, the community, for the first time, is taking control of its downtown destiny. 18

19 City of El Paso Downtown Plan Phase II (Implementation) Working with our economist, TXP, the Planning Team developed the second phase of the City of El Paso s Downtown Plan. The Phase II Plan focuses on refinement and implementation of the Downtown 2015 Plan. It provides the implementation pathway to assist City Council, the TIRZ (Tax Increment Financing) Board, and city staff in implementing the plan successfully. One of the keys to successful implementation of the Downtown Plan is the creation of a cohesive management structure. Such a management structure should be sustainable, adaptive and facilitative of public-private partnerships. The Planning Team recommends a new management framework through the creation of a new Downtown Management Coordinating Entity that would coordinate development projects, public services, and events. The Phase II plan recommends discrete action items to work towards realizing the vision established in the Downtown 2015 Plan. Based on the catalyst projects moving forward, the Team establishes critical pedestrian linkages required within downtown to take advantage of emerging project which include new mixed use and rehabilitation of existing buildings. Investment in streetscape improvements will be undertaken in the context of this Linkages Plan in conjunction with projects as they come on line. In addition, the Phase II plan recommends the use of public art to better coordinate art-related activities and develop a cohesive streetscape plan with amenities designed by local artists. The plan also recommends pedestrian and streetscape improvements that focus on linking wayfinding and public art with transit amenities such as bus shelters, bike racks, and transit signage to support Sun Metro s Downtown Trolley Circulator. The most critical aspect of implementation provides the city and the TIRZ board criteria to evaluate different projects requesting public incentives and funding of public infrastructure improvements. To this end, the plan recommends higher priority to projects that promote downtown living, linkages to transit, and synergies with existing projects. Projects that leverage private funds as well as that promote the cultural arts will also be given priority. Based on this criteria and project impact, development projects will be classified as Site-Specific Private projects or Public projects. Site-Specific projects are generally smaller in scope, affecting one or two property owners and public participation would be in the form of regulatory reform or refunding for public infrastructure improvements; while Public projects are larger in scope, often requiring the city s initiative for successful implementation. These generally include larger streetscape projects, streets, open space, and plazas. In addition to generating order of magnitude costs for critical streetscape linkages, the Phase II Plan also updates the TIRZ projections, providing the TIRZ Board with the public sector s capacity to support downtown redevelopment. 19

20 Leander TOD and Unified Development Code Leander, Texas stands at a crossroad of opportunity. Its location at the northwestern edge of the Central Texas growth corridor has made Leander one of the fastest growing cities in the state. Leander will see much of its growth from the construction of the 183A Tollway by the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) and the regional urban commuter rail system by the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Capital Metro), linking Leander with Downtown Austin. Growth in the region is both desirable and inevitable. In acknowledgement of this fact, Leander Mayor John Cowman and the City Council, together with the Capital Metro Directors, are pursuing strategies that are sustainable beyond their terms of office. In the Fall of 2003, Mayor Cowman and the leadership of Central Texas traveled to the Washington, D.C. Region to evaluate New Urbanism and transit-oriented development (TOD). After years of discussion in the Central Texas Region and coming together on the trip, the Central Texas delegation became convinced that planning, form-based code reforms and a leveraging of transportation facilities can harness growth into sustainable, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use neighborhoods. For Phase I of the initiative, the consultant team, lead by the Planning Group, and City staff identified the critical parcels that would be impacted by the forthcoming transportation improvements. It was determined that the properties along existing and future roadways and rail should be included. Adjacent to those properties, Old Town Leander was already being considered by the City for redevelopment. Approximately 2000 acres were ultimately included in the Initiative. The consultant team and the City then met with major landowners. The landowners agreed that future development will have to comply with a new master plan and unified development code based on the SmartCode, a form-based code. The new form-based code completely replaces the current zoning and subdivision ordinances. Compelling, the consultant team undertook a fiscal impact analysis concluding that the Initiative at build-out would double tax base. As compared to conventional trends development within the planning area, value would increase conservatively by almost $1Billion. Consensus emerged to proceed with a detailed planning and code effort funded jointly by the major landowners, the City and Capital Metro. The transect-based master plan is supported by a market study that projected a mix of several thousand additional urban housing units, along with significant demand for boutique TOD retail, in addition to the growth already projected for the area. The Transect Master Plan and new Code were adopted September 2005 and received the inaugural national Driehaus Form-Based Code award. 20