HomeMy WebLinkAboutRCG Presentation October 11, 2004RCG PRESENTATION
OCTOBER 11, 2004
GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Comments & Ouestions
Culp asked if there are scenarios of other locations to serve as a model for the Hill.
Wooten responded he didn't think one existed.
Culp remarked she felt the plan was done well.
Elwood asked about the Historic District Development plan.
Wooten said this kind of district would shape the kinds of things that will be built. He
remarked this would add expense which would be offset by t~ advantages, etc.
Delacava stated he was impressed with the study but that the barriers aze formidable
saying there needs to be examples of how these barriers can be overcome.
Wooten replied he encourages active discussions between property owners.
Otto remarked he had read the entire report and pointed out items he felt need to be
edited. He questioned the credibility of the report because of conflicdng numbers. He
pointed out there is no consensus and recommended the city change its process
suggesting residents be involved at the beginning.
Unidentified person asked if enforcement could be used for property owners.
Walsh asked how many squaze feet aze in UHGID.
Schoellkopf responded 254.490.
Walsh asked how many parking spaces would be necessary.
Wooten responded that pazking doesn't have a direct correlation.
Winter remazked that it is useful for the Hill, while looking at a detailed number of
spaces, to keep in mind the aiternative modes of transportation. She stated it needs to be
taken into account that traditional numbers and methods of figuring space numbers will
need to be modified. There needs to be a different model with different predictability.
Waish commented he wanted some idea of the number of spaces.
Wooten responded the need becomes a question of alternatives modes of transportation
and economics.
Walsh remazked he wanted to make sure the issue of pazking was not "lip service" and
asked if the idea of zoning changes needed to be re-opened.
Wooten commented that the University Hill commercial district is a regional draw
regardless of what people want.
T. Rogers stated that Downtown instituted an NPP making areas for customers to pazk
remarking these spaces on the Hill aze taken buy workers and students.
Wooten said this should definitely be considered.
Unidentified person commented she felt pazking needed to be addressed.
Wooten clarified that RCG would not address parking saying someone else would do that
study.
Winter remarked the decision was made to do the business study first with the idea that it
would engage property owners showing them what redevelopment would look like. She
said parking and zoning will happen in the next steps and all studies will happen
subsequently. Winter also stated they did something different with the report looking at
different scenarios. It was taken from a property owner standpoint and was not intended
to be a physical plan.
T. Rogers stated the generalizations are too far down the road and he was disappointed in
the report. He felt the money spent on the report could have been put to better use,
repairing curbs, etc.
Cutis reiterated the report was to define and support a rosier future for the Hill and to
indicate the obstacles.
T. Rogers remazked he feels the Hill can't be revitalized unless it's clean and safe.
Curtis said he was unable to explain any further.
Spaulding stated she liked the business and office use idea.
Heinritz asked why there isn't any financial support for the Hill and why developers
azen't looking at the area. He felt the report gave insight and it was weil worth the cost.
Unidentified person asked for feedback from property owners.
Unidentified person from Jones Dnag responded his space is rented. He remazked he had
tried, unsuccessfully, to get a restaurant in this location.
Holland remarked he did renovate about ten years ago spending approximately $200,000.
Unidentified person asked again how the report impacted property owners and if they
would change anything.
Abrams-Hazbour responded the report gave ideas of what kind of businesses can be on
the Hill. She remarked she feels it is important that another step be taken to come
together reminding the Hill is a regional draw not just a neighborhood draw.
Walsh stated if it is indeed a regional draw there needs to pazking.
Abrams asked if he was suggesting parking come first and then business.
Walsh replied people need to be practical and not theoretical stating nobody would invest
in the property if there isn't parking. He reiterated that if iYs going to be a regional draw,
a pazking study needs to be done.
Unidentified person asked if there could be some kind of consensus. He remarked the
report in May had good comments about zoning and changing this just so much allows
change. He feels zoning changes are where this happens and feels there may be a
consensus if the opportunity is cleaz.
Wooten replied there aze different tools in planning and zoning on the Hill.
Hanson remazked that as City Planner she has watched the Hill evolve and agreed with
the points made about parking and zoning changes. She pointed out the pazking study is
the crux and the argument of the regional vs. neighborhood district needs to be addressed.
She feels the next steps should be either a zoning change or a parking study mentioning
timing is important.
Curtis commented time had run out and dismissed the meeting at 6:00 p.m.
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