Copake Hamlet Plan: Visioning Workshop

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Dustin Stevens
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1 Copake Hamlet Plan: May 2-3 rd 2015

2 Design Team Mauricio Castro PLACE Alliance Ian Law PLACE Alliance Paula Diaz PLACE Alliance Mary Moore Wallinger PLACE Alliance Margaret Irwin River Street Planning

3 Hamlet Revitalization Task Force Jeffrey Nayer, Town Supervisor Jeanne Mettler, Town Board Chris Quinby Peggy Lewis Jennifer Redman Roberta Roll John Pollok Russ Davis

4 Workshop Agenda Weekend Overview Reviewing the Comprehensive Plan Discussion of Economic Development - What Makes a Hamlet Marketable Existing Conditions - Study Area - Surrounding Context - Anatomy of a Vibrant Hamlet & The Hamlet Today Visioning Exercise - What do you like about The Hamlet today? - What would you like the change about The Hamlet? - How do we make the Hamlet unique? Next Steps

5 Weekend Overview DOWNTOWN VISIONING WORKSHOP Saturday May 2nd, :00 AM to 12:00 PM Town Hall DESIGN WORKSHOP OPEN HOUSE Saturday May 2nd, :00 PM to 9:00 PM Town Hall COMMUNITY FEEDBACK WORKSHOP Saturday May 3nd, :00 PM to 6:00 PM Town Hall

6 Project Focus Area

7 From the Comprehensive Plan Vision Statement: Our cultural, social, business and entertainment needs are met by a vibrant and historic downtown that offers a variety of thriving small businesses, shops, and restaurants. These establishments attract patrons from Copake and surrounding towns, as well as a growing number of visitors. Copake s business friendly attitude encourages compatible light industry and welcomes commercial uses that complement our neighborhoods and safeguard our environment. Civic leaders and local entrepreneurs work together to support resilient and prosperous local businesses.

8 From the Comprehensive Plan Survey: Strong agreement that the Town should: Improve Downtown Copake (the area around the Clock), encourage new business, enforce codes, improve building appearance, enhance beautification efforts and encourage more retail shops. Improve hamlets by beautification, seek funds for preservation of historic buildings and housing rehabilitation, and implement local design standards in the hamlets. Retain existing businesses, recruit new businesses, and encourage green environmentally friendly business Support a buy local campaign, efforts to expand local jobs and provide job training, and tax incentives for local businesses. Respondents identified a grocery/general store, restaurant, theatre, small retail stores, bakery, coffee shop and a liquor store as uses they would support in downtown Copake or the hamlets.

9 Comprehensive Plan Economic Actions Protect existing small businesses by encouraging a buy local campaign, marketing their services and supporting streetscape and building rehabilitation to improve the environment. Attract new service and retail businesses that meet the needs of all homeowners, both full time and seasonal. Support the expansion of the evening and weekend store hours. Ensure that the Town is business friendly by updating and enforcing codes and streamlining permitting processes.

10 Community Character Actions Preserve existing historical and cultural assets, and encourage new amenities that convey our history and character and enrich our lives. Develop common sense design standards for commercial development that reference Copake s unique community architecture. Use landscaping, signage, public art or other decorative features to define and improve the entrances or gateways. Make streetscape improvements like lighting, landscaping, sidewalks, pathways, gathering spaces, banners in downtown and hamlets whenever possible.

11 Positive Trends Entering a new entrepreneurial or sustainable economy Place matters more than location Accept current rural realities: Reinvent to compensate for changing markets Depends less on: land development large labor pools sheer number of jobs created and products marketed Environmental quality and healthy lifestyle ARE business assets Bigger is not necessarily better: Creating an environment where small businesses can envision new ideas is essential

12 Challenges Talent drives decisions Telework is the norm and talented people can work from anywhere, as long as they can connect Overcoming current deficiencies in broadband and cell service is a bottom-line requirement Adding value to products, including in agriculture take infrastructure: Consider Hudson Valley Fresh In the place-based economy vacant storefronts and dilapidated buildings are red flags Many rural communities lack adequate infrastructure and capacity

13 What Makes a Hamlet Marketable? Cooperation and collaboration are the silver bullets. Merchants must speak with one voice. Creating a positive image to share the uniqueness, culture, architecture, and history and activities to residents, shoppers, investors, potential business and property owners, and visitors. Getting the hamlet in top physical shape and creating a safe, and appealing atmosphere while preserving a place's historic character Having a hamlet that responds to the needs of today's consumers while maintaining the community s historic character.

14 National Main Street Center Eight Principles The Town s approach must be: Comprehensive Incremental Self-helping Partnerships Identifying and capitalizing on existing assets Quality Change Implementable

15 Meet the Millennials 80 million U.S. residents born Big potential target for year-round residents and visitors They seek a: simpler life small amenity-rich communities They are: environmentally aware civic minded 100% connected health conscious consumers of green and locally sourced and sustainable goods

16 Project Focus Area

18 The Hamlet Yesterday

24 The Hamlet Today

25 A Vibrant Hamlet: Take all steps necessary to revitalize and rehabilitate downtown Copake as a mixed use, walkable, compact, livable and affordable place. Attract businesses which utilize storefronts and small buildings and benefit from foot traffic including a farm stand (and other small stores which sell fresh and local produce, meats and dairy products), a bakery, book store, art galleries, outdoor and recreation store, liquor store, theaters (both movie and live theater) and others. How do we achieve this vision?

Traffic Calming (bumpouts, crosswalks, narrow lanes, street trees, etc.) 6. Walk-ability 7.

26 Anatomy of a Vibrant Hamlet 1. Correct Application of the Rural to Hamlet Core Transect 2. Landmarks and Gateways 3. Transition Zones 4. The Walkable Center A Sense of Place 5. Traffic Calming (bumpouts, crosswalks, narrow lanes, street trees, etc.) 6. Walk-ability 7. Cultural Heritage and Architectural Integrity 8. Civic and Economic Anchors 9. Appropriate mix of Uses within the Hamlet (Residential, Commercial, Recreational) 10. Quality Outdoor Spaces and Design 11. Smart and Effective Planning and Zoning

27 Anatomy of a Vibrant Hamlet: The Ideal Transition Sequence 1. Agricultural Landscape 2. Gateway 3. Transition Zones: Non retail and non-pedestrian retail 4. Walkable Center

28 Anatomy of a Vibrant Hamlet: Transitions WALKABLE HAMLET CENTER Agricultural Landscape Agricultural Landscape South Gateway Agricultural Landscape North Gateway

29 Anatomy of a Vibrant Hamlet: Gateways North Gateway South Gateway

Increased Density Traffic Calming / Reduced

30 Anatomy of a Vibrant Hamlet: Transition Zones: Progression towards the center Design Considerations: Sidewalks Professional Offices Flags / Banners Lighting Residential Increased Density Traffic Calming / Reduced Speed Limit Screening Secondary Commercial (Auto Dependent)

31 Anatomy of a Vibrant Hamlet: Transition Zones: Progression towards the center Versus

32 Anatomy of a Vibrant Hamlet: Copake Transition Zones South Transition Zone: Auto-oriented commercial businesses North Transition Zone: Residential & few auto-oriented commercial businesses

again and again Memorable Copake landmark Too much pavement and

33 Anatomy of a Vibrant Hamlet: Gateways & Landmarks Gateways & Landmarks make places memorable & help bring visitors back again and again Memorable Copake landmark Too much pavement and poor first impressions can discourage visitors and pedestrian activity.

34 Anatomy of a Vibrant Hamlet: The Walkable Center: A Sense of Place What creates a Sense of Place? Height to Width Ratio Density and Proximity of Buildings Curbs, Sidewalks and Street Furnishings (benches, planters, lights, awnings, etc.) Street Trees Traffic Calming (on-street parking, bumpouts, crosswalks) Quality vernacular architecture

35 Chatham, MA

36 Anatomy of a Vibrant Hamlet: The Walkable Center: A Sense of Place Chatham, MA Copake, NY

37 Anatomy of a Vibrant Hamlet: The Walkable Center: A Sense of Place Auto-oriented & lack of streetscape definition so much pavement!

38 Anatomy of a Vibrant Hamlet: The Walkable Center: A Sense of Place Lack of separation between vehicular & pedestrian realms all pavement

39 Anatomy of a Vibrant Hamlet: The Walkable Center: A Sense of Place Good Use & Architectural integrity Auto-oriented & lack of streetscape definition

40 Anatomy of a Vibrant Hamlet: The Walkable Center: A Sense of Place Good Streetscape Definition: curbs, sidewalks, parking in back/on side of building

41 Anatomy of a Vibrant Hamlet: The Walkable Center: A Sense of Place Lack of separation between vehicular & pedestrian realms all pavement

architecture provides a sense of place for a hamlet and

42 Anatomy of a Vibrant Hamlet: Cultural/Historical Heritage and Architectural Integrity Quality architecture provides a sense of place for a hamlet and encourages a mix of uses that support a vibrant social and economic structure.

43 Anatomy of a Vibrant Hamlet: Linking Copake Heritage with Surrounding Context Bike Trails State Parks Campgrounds

44 Anatomy of a Vibrant Hamlet: Mix of Uses Within the Hamlet: Live, Work, Play!

45 Anatomy of a Vibrant Hamlet: Economic Anchors Economic anchors within a hamlet draw residents and visitors, which creates activity and encourages spin-off businesses.

46 Survey Results: What Do You Like About The Hamlet? Mixture of great outdoor space for biking, walking, running, playing in the park, and convenience to Route 22. Plus proximity to fabulous farmland and pastureland: so wonderful fresh, local food. The people are very nice. Beauty, history, quaintness. Compact center of hamlet. Rural charm and local businesses. Growing with the addition of the new farms and farmers! Expanding sustainable agriculture bringing young families, workers, enterprises. Naturally lovely area and good people, biking trails, water sports, lots to draw folks in. Working with the summer camps for seasonal business.

47 What do you like about the Hamlet?

48 Survey Results: What Are The Hamlet s Greatest Challenges? Enough foot traffic to support businesses. Lack of businesses to draw visitors such as cafes, restaurants, entertainment. Find ways in which to creatively support the continuity of the general store. Not at a main crossroads (out of sight of through traffic). Making Copake a destination. Lack of access to rail trail. Poor appearance of hamlet. No "big idea" to attract people to the hamlet.

49 What do you want to change?

50 How do we Make the Hamlet Unique?

51 Next Steps: Today Internal Design Session Open House / Design Session with YOU Tomorrow Internal Design Session Evening Public Design Review Workshop Beyond Design Refinement

Copake Hamlet Plan: Vision Presentation

Copake Hamlet Plan: Vision Presentation September 12 th, 2015 Phase 1 and Long Term Vision Presentation Hamlet Revitalization Task Force Jeffrey Nayer, Town Supervisor Jeanne Mettler, Town Board Chris