Agenda - Planning Commission - 07/09/2015 - Work Session

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22 Ramsey Town Center Development Guidelines Overview The Workplace Sub -district also encourages a mix of large and small floor plate buildings, but instead of commercial or entertainment, this area of the Town Center is dominated by office and institutional uses. With opportunities for corporate or medical campus development comes the attendant auto - related infrastructure — easy access, bigger streets and large surface parking lots. Once again, this suggests that equal attention be paid to public realm and streetscape improvements that not only accommodate vehicles, but also invite bicycle and pedestrian traffic. South Park, an active, neighborhood scale, recreational play space has been proposed for this sub -district, but small pocket parks, squares or other gathering places are also encouraged. In addition, streetscape improvements provide an important public amenity and inviting pedestrian connection to adjacent sub - districts. Public realm and streetscape guidelines include the following: TC3 Parks, plazas and other public gathering spaces Public spaces in the Mixed Use Core should: • Blend both contemporary and traditional motifs with a focus on pedestrian use • Encourage a balance of hardscape with landscape; a mix of pavements with plantings. • Promote an overall landscape character that tends toward a more urban park or campus feel, with structured spaces, open lawns and layered garden plantings • Provide a variety of opportunities to capture different microclimates with many choices for seating and access to both sun and shade • Promote safety and security in all design solutions, including landscape lighting, open views into the site, and accessibility • Provide seasonal interest and color; promote high quality materials and finishes • Provide opportunities and specific sites for public art TC3 Workplai� TC3 Street/sidewalk dimensions and streetscape elements Destination streets (like Sunwood) and connector streets (like Rhinestone) must balance a high level of service for the automobile with attractive and inviting amenities for the pedestrian (see street/sidewalk diagram) including: • Provide gracious sidewalk width to support intensity of pedestrian traffic • Install street trees to frame the street and provide shade • Provide street lighting that meets all safety standards and design criteria, while creating a signature character for this district • Explore street light spacing, height and type of fixtures to support the uses and activities in this sub -district (note however that too much light is as bad as too little) • Explore a range of options for streetscape improvements including special pavements, interesting concrete tinting or scoring patterns, additional plantings, ornamental fencing and other features (note however that simpler is better and too much clutter is a negative) 1 Public Realm/Streetscape TC3 Bicycle/pedestrian connections (on -street and off-street) The Town Center Master Plan describes a network of bicycle/pedestrian trails and walkways (both on and off-street) that connect adjacent sub -districts to one another. These connections tend to become part of the shared right of way along the major streets. Bicycle riders may choose to share the street with vehicular traffic, or dismount and walk their bicycles along with the other pedestrians using the sidewalks. There is no provision for dedicated bike lanes on any of the Workplace Sub -district streets at this time. However, providing and maintaining these bicycle and pedestrian connections should be a key component for all development projects. TC3 Residential courts, pocket parks and other private green space Along with proposed public parks and great streets, there are many opportunities to integrate private courtyards and pocket parks within this sub -district. These small- scale greens provide important `breathing space', contribute to stormwater management and offer additional recreational amenities (tot lot, sitting areas) to serve specific building tenants or residents. Back gardens, auto -courts and other options should be considered as part of residential and commercial development plans in this sub -district.