|
Public Reatm/$treetscape
<br />
<br />Overview
<br />Two prominent public parks supply much of the informal green
<br />space for the Town Center, and more specifically, provide the
<br />valuable park frontage and mix of amenities needed to support
<br />housing development within the Neighborhood Sub-district.
<br />North Park surrounds an existing wetland and provides open
<br />space for year-round activities including a proposed sledding hill.
<br />Town Center Park cuts through the heart of the property and is
<br />characterized by wetlands,' ponds and a meandering stream
<br />channel surrounded by gently sloping hills. Other park features
<br />include active and passive recreation areas, natural and
<br />manicured landscapes, education and interpretation
<br />opportunities, pedestrian and bicycle trails and many other
<br />amenities. Tree-lined streets connect these parks to surrounding
<br />residential neighborhoods and to nearby parks and amenities
<br />throughout the Town Center. Public realm and streetscape
<br />guidelines include the following:
<br />
<br />TC4 Parks, plazas and other public gathering spaces
<br />Public spaces in the Neighborhood Sub-district should:
<br />· Blend both contemporary and traditional motifs with a focus on
<br /> pedestrian and bicycle use, large and small group gatherings
<br />· Emphasize informal green space, but also include a balance of
<br /> hardscape with landscape; some paved areas integrated with
<br /> plantings:
<br />- Promote an informal or natural landscape appearance - this
<br /> does not mean it isn't mown and maintained, but instead
<br /> reflects the idea of soft landforms, groves of trees, meandering
<br /> walk5 and other less structured elements
<br />· Integrate stormwater management practices and featQres into
<br /> park design
<br />· Take advantage of d!fferent m/croci/mates, including sun and
<br /> shade, orientation (north, south, east, west), top of
<br /> slope/bottom of slope, water's edge
<br />· Promote safety and security in all design solutions, including
<br /> landscape lighting, open views into the site, and accessibilky
<br />, Provide seasonal interest and color; promote high quality
<br /> materials and finishes
<br />· Provide opportunities and specific si{es for public art, special
<br /> events,, performance
<br />
<br />Provide urban streetscape solutions (sidewalks, boulevard
<br />plantings, curb and gutter) along Ramsey, Armstrong and
<br />Bunker Lake Boulevards, replacing the existing rural road
<br />sections (road shoulder, drainage ditch)
<br />Install street trees to frame the street and provide shade
<br />Provide street lighting that meets all safety standards and
<br />design criteria, creates a signature for this sub-district and
<br />compliments overall lighting design for the Town Center
<br />Explqre street light spacing, height and type of fixtures that fit
<br />with residential use (note, however, that too much light is as
<br />bad as too little)
<br />Explore a range of options for streetscape improvements
<br />including special pavements, interesting concrete tinting or
<br />scoring patterns, additional plantings, ornamental fencing and
<br />other features (note, however, that simpler is better and too
<br />much clutter is a negative)
<br />
<br />TC4 Bicycle/pedestrian connections (on-street and off-street)
<br />The Master Plan describes a network of bicycle/pedestrian trails
<br />and walkways (both on and off-street) that connect sub-districts
<br />to various amenities within the Town Center and to the rest of the
<br />City. Proposed park improvements include off-street pedestrian
<br />and bicycle paths including grade-separated crossings through
<br />Town Center Park at Rhinestone and Zeotite Streets. Bicycle
<br />riders may choose to share the street with vehicular traffic, bur.
<br />there is no provision for dedicated bike lanes on any of the Town
<br />Center streets at this time. Providing and maintaining bicycle and
<br />pedestrian connections should be a key component for all
<br />development projects in this sub-district.
<br />
<br />TC4 Residential courts, pocket parks and other private
<br />green space
<br />Along with proposed public parks and great streets, there are
<br />many opportunities to integrate private courtyards and pocket
<br />parks within the Neighborhood .Sub-district. These small-scale
<br />greens provide important 'breathing space', contribute to:
<br />stormwater management and offer additional recreational
<br />amenities (tot lot, sitting areas) to serve specific building tenants
<br />or residents. 8ack gardens, auto-courts and other options should
<br />be considered as part of every residential site development plan.
<br />
<br />TC4 Street/sidewalk dimensions and streetscape elements
<br />Destination streets (like Town Center Parkway) and connector
<br />streets (like Rhinestone) should not only work for the automobile,
<br />but should also provide a safe, aEracdve and inviting experience
<br />for the pedestrian (see street/sidewalk diagram) including:
<br />· Provide ample walk widths to support intensity of pedestrian
<br /> use and bicycle traffic - recommend 6 foot minimum for
<br /> pedestrian walks and 10 foot minimum for bicycle paths
<br />
<br />
<br />
|