South University District-Sprague Corridor Planning Study Investment
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0South University District-Sprague Corridor 1Investment Strategy 2Appendices UNIVERSITY DISTRICT—SPRAGUE CORRIDOR PLANNING STUDY EXISTING CONDITIONS ANALYSIS: DOCUMENT REVIEW UPDATE MEMO Submitted: February 8, 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction............................................................................... 1 Key Findings .............................................................................. 2 Completed Plans and Studies........................................................ 3 Concurrent Projects, Plans and Studies ........................................ 13 UNIVERSITY DISTRICT – SPRAGUE CORRIDOR PLANNING STUDY INTRODUCTION The Document Review Memo provides a review of the plans, studies and projects that relate to the University District – Sprague Avenue Corridor (UDSC) Planning Study area, both completed and currently underway. Identifying key recommendations and policies in these documents will help ensure the creation of a workable, implementable plan that will guide the future development of the study area. This memo is an update to the Existing Conditions Analysis and provides an overview of recent and ongoing planning efforts and projects within and surrounding the study area. Along with this memo, the Existing Conditions Analysis includes a summary of Physical Characteristics and Sustainable Design and Development. This memo is organized as follows: Key Findings summarizes common themes and topics found in the review of existing plans and studies. Completed Plans and Studies includes a review of past and current planning efforts that relate to the UDSC study area. Concurrent Plans, Studies and Projects discusses work being conducted within and surrounding the study area that is currently underway. Existing Conditions Analysis: Document Review Update 1 UNIVERSITY DISTRICT – SPRAGUE CORRIDOR PLANNING STUDY KEY FINDINGS Based on the document review, there are several common themes and key findings that should be carried forward into the UDSC Planning Study. Pedestrian Improvements. Improving the pedestrian realm of the street is one of the most important findings of the review. The UDSC Planning Study will need to address needed pedestrian improvements such as wide sidewalks, decorative street furniture, street trees, safe crossings, and activated street fronts. Multimodal Design. As an arterial street, Sprague Avenue is tasked with providing a primary route to downtown for motorists. However, wayfinding and convenient and safe facilities and amenities for bicycling, walking and public transit along the street are a common theme among almost all recommendations and policies. The UDSC Planning Study will need to accommodate through motorized vehicle traffic while making safe and inviting environments for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users. Safe Streets and Crossings. Safety is a common concern for all modes. Based on existing plans, it is especially crucial that streets are designed to increase safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users. The UDSC Planning Study will need to address safety improvements, especially at the BNSF crossing, and the intersections of Spokane Falls Blvd., Main, and Riverside avenues. Making Connections. Connecting neighborhoods, commercial centers and important destinations in Spokane improves transportation and quality of life. The UDSC Planning Study will need to address improving connectivity with Downtown Spokane and the University District, as well as residences and businesses on the north and south sides the corridor. Improved Coordination. Coordination among different stakeholders in Spokane ensures consistency and concurrency for planning and implementation. Close coordination with neighbors, business owners, and other stakeholders will be critical in the development of the UDSC Planning Study. Parking Management. Surface parking uses extensive space and is a primary consideration among existing plans and studies. The UDSC Planning Study will need to address parking management strategies, including a review of existing requirements, and consideration of on- and off-street parking. 2 Existing Conditions Analysis: Document Review Update UNIVERSITY DISTRICT – SPRAGUE CORRIDOR PLANNING STUDY COMPLETED PLANS AND STUDIES There are a range of completed plans and studies that define existing characteristics of the UDSC study area, surrounding streets and neighborhoods, and outline recommendations and policies for future investments and improvements. Collectively, these plans and studies provide a relatively complete picture of the community’s vision for the UDSC study area. Plans reviewed in this section range in their emphasis and degree of specificity. They include (in alphabetical order): City of Spokane Comprehensive Plan (2010, update from 2001 Comprehensive Plan) City of Spokane, Growth & Transportation Efficiency Center Plan (2008) City of Spokane Transportation Impact Fee Ordinance (2011) Connect Spokane: A Comprehensive Plan for Public Transportation (2010) Downtown Spokane Design Guidelines (2009) East Central Neighborhood Plan (2005-2006) Fast Forward Spokane: Downtown Plan Update (2008) Roadmap to the Future Master Plan (2010) SmartRoutes Spokane: 2010 Active Transportation Campaign Case Statement Spokane Downtown Parking Demand Study (2005) Spokane International District Neighborhood Action Plan (2010) Spokane Master Bike Plan (2009) Spokane Riverpoint Campus Academic & Master Plan Update (2009) Spokane Unified Regional Transportation Vision and Implementation Strategy (2011) SRTC Metropolitan Transportation Plan Update (2008) University District Area Revitalization Ordinance (2009) University District/Downtown Spokane Transportation Improvement Study (2009) University District Residential Potential and Needs Analysis (2009) University District Strategic Master Plan (2004) Existing Conditions Analysis: Document Review Update 3 UNIVERSITY DISTRICT – SPRAGUE CORRIDOR PLANNING STUDY University District Parking Study (2007) WSDOT 2007-2026 Washington Transportation Plan (2006) CITY OF SPOKANE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN (2010, UPDATE OF 2001 COMP PLAN) The Spokane Comprehensive Plan identifies the 20-year future of the City addressing the overall scheme for development – the major land uses, transportation systems, parks, recreation, open space, commerce and employment. The Comprehensive Plan describes the UDSC study area as having the following land uses present: General Commercial and Center & Corridor Core. The intersection of Sprague Avenue and Napa is also identified as a neighborhood center. While General Commercial allows for a range of commercial and residential uses, Center & Corridor Core is more specific, requiring neighborhood- oriented commercial uses, offices, mixed-type housing, parks, and civic uses in a master-planned, mixed-use setting. Sprague Avenue is also identified as a principal arterial and is not designated as a bike route. The Comprehensive Plan prescribes maintaining transit levels of service along arterials such as Sprague Avenue. Key recommendations of the plan that may impact the UDSC study area include: Increase multimodal transportation options with holistic designs; Prioritize pedestrians and bicycles; Provide high capacity mass transit along corridors, connecting Downtown to other regional centers; Improve the built environment by placing more emphasis on visual character of buildings and public spaces; and Promote historic preservation to highlight the legacy of Spokane’s past. CITY OF SPOKANE, GROWTH & TRANSPORTATION EFFICIENCY CENTER PLAN (2008) The primary objective of this plan is to reduce drive alone trips and vehicle miles traveled over a six year period within the City of Spokane. The plan encourages mixed-use development, and identifies Riverfront Park as the “Jewel” of the City. Key recommendations include: 4 Existing Conditions Analysis: Document Review Update UNIVERSITY DISTRICT – SPRAGUE CORRIDOR PLANNING STUDY Reduce drive alone trips by 10% and VMT by 13%; Target commuters traveling to downtown; Implement parking management strategies; and Improve level of service and traffic flow. CITY OF SPOKANE TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEE ORDINANCE (2011) The recently amended Transportation Impact Fee adds new definitions and provisions to the previous City ordinance. Major additions include clarifying the definition for “complete streets,” and adding new provisions to promote pedestrian scale street improvements. CONNECT SPOKANE: A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION (2010) The goal of the Connect Spokane Plan is to set forth a vision and policy framework to guide decisions made by the Spokane Transit Agency and its partner agencies that will further Spokane's transit mission for the next 20 years. Specific design elements of the transit system include: Providing transit shelters, benches, signage, lighting and bicycle facilities along fixed routes; Improved pedestrian infrastructure in locations where there is a direct and tangible benefit to accessing transit; and Fixed route service integrated with a healthy mix of employment and housing. DOWNTOWN SPOKANE DESIGN GUIDELINES (2009) Spokane’s 2009 Downtown Design Guidelines implement the Downtown Plan by encouraging thoughtful design and site planning in the application of development standards. Pedestrian scale is a consistent theme in the guidelines, addressing how building facades and street fronts should interact with the street and pedestrian environment. The guidelines are organized into five main elements: