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MCP HEAL
Walk ability Workshop Saturday, March 24, 2007 (Cambridge Elementary (1135 Lacy Lane, Concord, CA)
AGENDA
Kick-off for the visioning of the redevelopment for the Monument Corridor. People are listening to what your view point is regarding what you want the community to look like. 4 Corners Action Team initiated the Monument Pride Festival to highlight the great things of the monument corridor. Showcase businesses and people strengths in this area. The first festival was tied into the centennial celebration for concord. The Partnership came together to make this neighborhood look better. Community driven partnership –everyone (businesses, residents, etc.) could be a part of changing their community. We have been pursuing that goal since 1999. The City of Concord has added Monument Blvd. as part of their redevelopment zone. This workshop is the launch for engaging the whole community in the process of redevelopment. We want to end up with the beginning of the first phase -10 people who want to drive the next set of vision. How do we understand how the physical things in the community affect our health and what are our choices so that we can build the kind of community we really want. How are things set-up? So that people’s businesses can thrive and how people feel connected, etc. because how things are placed and are improved make a tremendous impact on how a community thrives. We need to engage 1000 people or so by our next workshops. This is a pivotal point on how we can influence how this community is going to look. There is money available to do this –improve the streets, etc. Helen: over the course of last year the City of Concord expanded their redevelopment area to include Monument Blvd. there has been lots of changes in downtown concord –all of those things are there because the redevelopment agency was in the downtown. It has now gone to the Monument Blvd. the City of Concord wants input from the community regarding what you want this community to look like. We want monument to work and thrive. We are doing an urban design plan that incorporates a vision for the street and enables the city to develop a capital improvement program to make certain projects happen over the course of 10 years. It’s very long term. But we need a really good plan. And when the support of the community, city council, committees, and residents come together it forms a really strong foundation for a strong framework for future planning. The city does have some money for early street redevelopment. Rob: We do have money we plan to spend over the next couple of years. We have about 3 million dollars to do improvements in the Monument Blvd. area and we had to compete with surrounding cities for this money. The city of concord got the grant. They asked us to resubmit the grant and ask for more money after the foundation visited the Monument area. The work is going to concentrate on pedestrian improvements -crossing, bike traffic, landscaping. This is money that the city did not have and the City of Concord strongly supports these efforts. It took a lot of effort to obtain the funds and the City of Concord is committed to redevelop the area well. Kathy: the transportation group and action teams voices and their hard work was used to obtain the grant for redevelopment. April 19 have a 3 hour workshop for the entire community in Spanish. April 21 have another 3 hour workshop for the entire community in English. Nancy: the health department cares about these issues because we have the highest accidents in the state. And we care about you being able to walk safely and actively in your community. Paul Zykofsky
(Local Government Commission) –slides. *Create communities where people can make trips without using their cars -promotes physical activity and safety. *Land use mix -Residents of mixed-use communities have more opportunities to walk and use transit -for trips less than one mile (75% of trips), mixed-use communities generate up to 4-times as many walk trips. *Alternative patterns of development (traditional –walk able vs conventional –automobile oriented) *Connectivity: Poor connectivity reduces pedestrian mobility and trips *Principles of healthy streets *Healthy streets need good sidewalks *Healthy neighborhoods need good street crossings –illumination is essential for any crossing; crosswalk visibility *Slow streets are safer streets –narrower streets are slower and safer. *Stop signs vs traffic calming techniques (humps, medians, refuge islands, mini circles, roundabouts) *Sidewalk zones *Build driveways like driveways *Install pedestrian scale street lighting *Curb extensions *Places for parks and mini plazas *Road diets *Way finding *Places to sit Marylou: I’d like to see the Mt. Diablo view preserved because that is what makes us special. I like the idea of homes above businesses but please don’t obstruct the view of Mt. Diablo. Also, visual pollution –I like the idea of clean poles and underground electrical wiring. Helen: As we move into the development of the urban design for the Monument Blvd. - the City of Concord will issue cost vs benefits to prioritize things community wants. Molly: have cities done a cost benefit analysis regarding traffic calming techniques and maintenance vs what the city has to pay for accidents caused, etc. Rob: city of concord has limited funds for maintenance and look at all the different variables to be practical. How much can we get done with what we have? Helen: redevelopment funds can not be used for maintenance. So we have to be creative about capital improvements. Rob: what is practical and viable as a solution vs looking at these concepts in a vacuum. What’s sustainable? We can’t always do the ideal solution. We have to come up with compromises after looking at all the variables. Landscape district –property owners have to vote on it. If the monument community along with the property owners get together to support a landscape district –that’s great! Rob: suggest –the monument might not have enough support from businesses but the community can be involved with arrangements to maintain the new development. The community can set up a program to help maintain the property. Judy: use native plants –use low maintenance cost plants and use tiles…..lots of ways to work around this. Think positive. Molly: how do cities keep walking trails safe –crimeless? Solution: Have eyes and windows on the trail. IDEAS from workshop participants: Safeway &
Orchard Supply Area: -Community park with children’s playground and multicultural center (MCP headquarters) in big empty lot –Brizoni property. -community gardens -outdoor seating area -Add a trail to come through park –view of Mount Diablo. -Connect the trail to canal by Costco and San Miguel –to ride bikes and bring your dogs. -Have space available for arts and crafts and farmer’s market. -Outdoor theatre. -If Brizoni property owners decide to develop homes, etc. suggest adding paseos/beautiful walking paths with waterfalls all along the back –from Monument to Cowell –connecting to BART. -Link the trail systems to Sun Valley mall, Waterworld, and Willows trail (Iron Horse trail) –connect to Monument Blvd. Costco Area: -More stop signs on Monument Blvd. near Detroit & Costco and Ericson. 1500 Plaza: -Community plaza Mercado. -MCP headquarters in this 1500 plaza. -Have apartment complexes above stores in 1500 plaza. -Robin Lane and Meadow Lane and Monument Blvd. need a road diet. -Really well marked sidewalks/cross walks (colorful) on Reganti, Lacey Lane, mi casa ct. -Nice lighting poles with hanging flowers and native plants. -Plaza with water fountain. -Theatre -Speed bumps on Virginia Lane -Plenty landscaping -Brick and sand (pavers) where possible. -Place a Monument or statue in center of plaza -artwork, murals, tile work, art wall, etc. -extra signage -pedestrian bridge Monument Blvd: -Pocket parks all along Monument Blvd. –around new route 8 shuttle/bus. -One consistent theme along neighborhood with unique personalities throughout -Road diet -Good sidewalks all along Monument Blvd. Next Steps: -Get more business owners, property owners, residents and faith groups (different ethnic groups) involved. -4/18, 5/16, 6/12, 6/26, 7/10, 7/24 City Council Hearings -A lot of the ideas discussed today are proposed in the general plan (i.e. mix used development) –We need to tell the city that we support mixed use development. -Central Coordinating committee to work on outreach of key groups –Martha Alvarez, Harold, Santiago, Jose Guerra, Laura Jean, Becky, Gerald, Alma Gallegos, Martha Rico, Molly Clark, Kathy Renfrow, Judy Rosenberg, Dave Pitman -Meet before 4/18 -Help distribute flyers. Come to one of these meetings and bring at least two people and help them draw out their desires for the Monument Community. |