HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Energy Committee - 07/18/2013Market Street Design Joint Meeting Meeting Minutes 18 JULY 2013
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The South Burlington Energy Committee, Form Based Codes Committee, Planning Commission,
and Recreation Path Committee met for a joint meeting on Thursday, 18 July 2013, at 6:30 p.m.
at the South Burlington Municipal offices, 575 Dorset Street.
Members Present: Michael Simoneau (FBC), Paul Engels (FBC), Tim McKenzie (FBC), Michael
Mittag (FBC), Ted Riehle (FBC, PC), Chris Shaw (FBC), Anita Germain (FBC), Marcy Murray (Energy),
Don Cummings (Energy), Bernie Gagnon (PC), Tracy Harrington (PC), Will Raap (FBC), Jessica
Louisos (PC), Mark Companion (Energy), Tim Duff (FBC), Dana Farr (Rec Path), Donna Leban (Rec
Path), Karen McKenny (Energy)
Staff Present: Kevin Dorn, Interim City Manager; Tom Hubbard, Interim Deputy City Manager; Paul
Conner, Director of Planning & Zoning; Ilona Blanchard, Project Director; Todd Goodwin, Interim
Director of Recreation and Parks; Cathyann LaRose, City Planner
Consultants Present: Greg Bakos, VHB; Cornelius Murphy, Whole Systems Design, Paul Dreher,
Dreher Designs; Jen Black, Dreher Designs
Others Present: John Dinklage, Bill Stuono, Sarah Dopp, Wanda Clark, Charles Hafter, Judy Kearns
1. Welcome and Meeting Overview, Kevin Dorn, Interim City Manager
The meeting began at 6:35.
Mr. Dorn welcomed committee members and members of the public to the meeting. He
introduced City consultants, Paul Dreher of Dreher Design who has been working with the
Form Based Codes Committee, and Greg Bakos, VHB, and Cornelius Murphy, Whole Systems
Design, from the Market Street project team.
2. Market Street Project Update, Ilona Blanchard, Project Director
Ms. Blanchard presented a brief history of the Market Street design process, including the
April 1, 2013 draft cross sections, and a summary of the responses of the four committees to
that plan.
Mr. Bakos presented considerations on the Market Street project design comments, including
width of travel lanes and the location of festival space. He specifically addressed several of
the recommendations highlighting the transition from Dorset Street and the related festival
space, the width bicycle lanes add to the roadway and the potential complications of having
several different methods of bicycle travel in the length of Market Street.
Ms. Blanchard showed potential cross sections developed 7/1 incorporating committee
comments.
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Mr. Dorn asked those present to identify what they thought of when they thought of “City
Center.” Replies included: ‘destination’, ‘people’, ‘mixed-use’, ‘downtown’, ‘community’,
‘gathering’, ‘safe’ and ‘accessible’.
3. Committee statement regarding committee comments on the Market Street Cross Section
a. Planning Commission
Jessica Louisos, Chair of the Planning Commission, reiterated that the original response
of the Planning Commission was that they supported the cross-sections proposed by
the project team. Further concepts had not been reviewed. She stated that the
Planning Commission was present tonight to hear the perspectives of other
committees. Ms. Louisos added that the Planning Commission discussed that flexibility
was important, that utilities should be considered early, that the street should be
accessible by people of all ages and means of transport, and that the road should be
accessible by busses.
b. Recreation Path Committee
Donna Leban, member of the Recreation Path Committee, provided a series of input
from the Committee and additional notes that she said reflect her thinking, and not
necessarily the Committee’s.
The Committee recommended that Market Street contain:
• 2 10-ft travel lanes
• At least 1 10-ft shared use path
Ms. Leban noted that the 10-foot travel lane may be not be possible if transit is
planned.
The Committee requested that consideration be given to the following points:
• A 10 ft travel lane is traffic calming and safer for pedestrians
• At any intersection where parking is permitted a bulbout should be provided to
minimize the distance required for pedestrian crossing
• The first space adjacent to the bulbout should be dedicated to bicycle parking
• All pedestrian crossing at traffic light intersections should have “count down”
timers
• A shared use path will encourage employees and potential customers to ride
their bicycle and come to the area
• Bicycling and walking improves the health of community members
• A shared use path is important for the inclusion of all types of bicyclists from
senior citizens to children
• The lack of a shared use path discourages cyclists from using the area
• Increased bicyclist activity reduces the pressure on both the traffic volume and
parking needs
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• Bicycle traffic is quieter and this is more enjoyable for café patrons
• Creating a City Center that encourages alternative modes of transportation
makes South Burlington stand as a model nationally
c. Energy Committee
Don Cummings, Chair of the Energy Committee, said that the Committee had the
following input. He stressed the importance of creating walkable communities with
multiple modes of transportation, and that committees should consider that
Market Street may become a short cut for people of all modes of transportation
and should be dealt with safely. He stressed that modes should not transition too
often and should be continuous and that shared-use roads are frightening to many
users. He added that several studies have shown that businesses benefit from
shared-use paths and safe, buffered bicycle accommodations.
d. Form Based Codes Committee
Michael Simoneau, chair, stated that he felt that the various groups have a great
deal in common: everybody wants a viable City Center.
Tim McKenzie, member, asked people to consider concepts and then proceed to
details. He asked people to consider Market Street as a part of the whole City
Center, considering linkage and destination. He stressed the belief that street
design influences building design and public space.
Mr. McKenzie stated that the three differing sections of Market Street design are
reflective of the different types of building types and transect zones to be found
within. He would like to trade space dedicated to cycle track for more space for
sidewalks: pedestrians or amenity space. He would like destination area/point of
interest/plaza space to be nearest Dorset Street, though could be set back a little
from Dorset Street for safety purposes.
Mr. McKenzie said there should be an emphasis on the area as a place of
destination rather than through travel. Allow, encourage bicycles but not give up
dedicated space through the core. A cycle track would be a prominent design
feature that would lead to redesign of building envelope standards.
Mr. Engels stated that he would like Mr. Dreher to present on behalf of the Form
Based Codes Committee. Mr. Dorn stated that the Committee could use its time as
it chose. Mr. Dreher stated that the FBC talks of streets as places. He emphasized
that the FBCC plans do not exclude bicycles but that bicycle accommodations
change throughout the street.
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4. Discussion, facilitated by Kevin Dorn
Members discussed the following topics / issues:
• differences of who will ride bicycles in the street;
• maintenance costs of various pavement types;
• alternative routes for bicycles away from Market Street;
• allowing cycling at certain times of day;
• function and design of ‘Street A’;
• importance of continuity of design for bicycles throughout Market Street;
• potential for needs to change as time passes and the area builds out; build out will not all
happen at the same time. Members discussed phasing of infrastructure design;
• likelihood that pedestrians will congregate and the concern that bicyclists and pedestrians
do not mix;
• plaza space proposed by the FBCC and the design for parking in the area and the potential
for parking garages;
• right of way width of the section of road near Dorset Street;
• terminology used: shared space for bicycles is meant to mean shared space, sharrows,
shared use path?;
• the importance of consistent design for cyclists, to be the same method throughout the
length of the street;
• current design’s plan to have only the shared path on one-side of the road. Members
discussed the need for symmetry on both sides of the street;
• future potential for Street A to provide a through path for cyclists of all types. Members
discussed a need for dedicated facility until then.
Ms. Louisos and Mr. Companion then recommended a cross-section that maximizes future
flexibility. They proposed:
• Residential portion (east end): 9’ wide shared-use path, two-way, both sides, buffered by a
landscape strip.
• West end: Street A to Dorset: 21’ wide streetscape both sides including a 14’ wide
continuous surface for walk / bike next to right-of-way line and 7’ amenity strip next to
parking to include café seating.
Members expressed support for this concept and recommended that a smaller group
including the consultants review details, engineering needs, etc. Mr. Conner asked members
if it would be ok if the smaller group were to re-arrange the 21’ space if necessary. Members
agreed.
5. Wrap-up and next steps, Kevin Dorn
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Committee members proposed and agreed to the following follow-up schedule:
1. A meeting of the Market Street & Form Based Code consultants, staff, committee
representatives (chair or designee) to flush out plan above. To be held Thursday,
morning, July 25th.
2. A follow-up meeting of the four committees, July 30th, 6:30 pm.
6. Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 pm