Preserving Wickenburg's Heritage in the Face of the Nation's New
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Preserving Wickenburg’s Heritage in the Face of the Nation’s New International Infrastructure Corridor: A Context Sensitive Design Report www.sonoraninstitute.org April 2017 Page left Blank Intentionally i TOWN OF WICKENBURG CONTEXT SENSITIVE INTERSTATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE CORRIDOR DESIGN REPORT Technical Project Advisory Team John Cook, Former Mayor Royce Kardinal, Vice Mayor Josh Wright, Wickenburg Town Manager Vince Lorefice, Public Works Julie Brooks, Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce Hilary Turby, Norris Design Michael Gillespie, EPS Group Inc. Gerald Stricklin, Geodyne Preparation of the Town of Wickenburg Context Sensitive Infrastructure Corridor Design Report was supported by: Sonoran Institute Special thanks are extended to Norris Design and EPS Group, Inc. for volunteering technical expertise and services to this project. March 2017 ii Page Left Blank Intentionally iii Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .....................................................................................................................................1 FOUNDATIONS OF CONTEXT SENSITIVE DESIGN ........................................................................................2 INTRODUCTION TO THE TOWN OF WICKENBURG CONTEXT SENSITIVE INTERSTATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE CORRIDOR DESIGN PROJECT .......................................................................................3 DESCRIPTION OF STUDY CHARACTER CORRIDORS ................................................................................ 17 CONTEXT SENSITIVE INFRASTRUCTURE CORRIDOR DESIGN PROCESS ............................................. 45 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................. 46 Appendix A - Municipal and Agency Management Plans and Study’s ............................................................. 51 Appendix B - Youth Art Submittals 6-14 ........................................................................................................... 53 Appendix C – Wickenburg Community Values Survey ..................................................................................... 54 Appendix D – Wickenburg Community Values Survey Results ........................................................................ 55 Appendix E – Community Values Word Clouds................................................................................................ 56 Appendix F– Mayors I-11 Task Force Charrette Planning Presentation .......................................................... 57 Appendix G – Town of Wickenburg Position Statement ................................................................................... 58 Appendix H – Notes from Charrette .................................................................................................................. 59 Appendix I – ADOT Tier 1 EIS Study Area ....................................................................................................... 60 TABLE OF FIGURES Figure 1. Study Area Context Map ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 Figure 2. I-11 Corridor North Section Study Area ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7 Figure 3. Wickenburg Municipal Planning Area --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 Figure 4. Growth Area Map -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18 Figure 5. Growth Area Focus Map ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21 Figure 6. Growth Area Focus Plan View --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23 Figure 7. Growth Area Focus Conceptual Sketch ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24 Figure 8. Growth Area Focus Cross Section----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25 Figure 9. Downtown Area Map ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27 Figure 10. Downtown Area Focus Map ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 30 Figure 11. Downtown Area Corridor Alignment Alternative ---------------------------------------------------------------- 31 Figure 12. Downtown Area Focus Plan View ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 33 Figure 13. Downtown Area Focus Concept Sketch -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 34 Figure 14. Downtown Area Focus Cross Section ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 35 Figure 15. Natural Area Map ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 38 Figure 16. Natural Area Focus Map ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 40 Figure 17. Natural Area Focus Plan View -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 42 Figure 18. Natural Area Focus Concept Sketch ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 43 Figure 19. Natural Area Focus Cross Section --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 44 iv Page Left Blank Intentionally v Town of Wickenburg and US-60 looking west iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Town of Wickenburg, the Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce, and the Sonoran Institute have developed this context sensitive interstate and infrastructure corridor design report which provides recommendations to implement a context sensitive approach for the planning and design of the proposed I-11 corridor alternatives. The report identifies three character areas appropriate to different contexts within the municipal planning area of Wickenburg: Growth Area, Downtown Area and Natural Area. The report provides not only a description of the character area but identifies the desired characteristics of each area (as developed by the community), and provides design guidance that appropriately fits the context of the surrounding environment and community. The corridors were selected to represent variations of three character areas. Context sensitive design solutions developed for these areas are intended to be representative and can be applied to other, similar corridor areas throughout the Town. The report provides cross-sections, plan views and conceptual sketches which illustrate specific design guidance for each character area which can be used as a reference by the Town of Wickenburg and the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) in designing the I-11 corridor. Additionally, this project provides guidance for incorporating context sensitive design into the project development process. Since context sensitive design emphasizes continuous and collaborative planning with the public and stakeholders, public outreach and participation throughout the project was key to its formulation and long-term success. A design charrette involving 34 participants were held to assist the Project Team in identifying key characteristics and future concepts for each character area being studied. The design charrette was held October 19-20, and November 30, 2016 at the Wickenburg Community Center. In addition to these public meetings, an online survey was conducted over the summer to identify what the community valued and felt was important in Wickenburg. The context sensitive design process incorporated into this Report was developed to be compatible with the ADOT project development process by expanding upon certain steps within the Environmental Impact Study (EIS) process. Using ADOT’s project development process as a guide, the recommended context sensitive design solutions can be used in the process as the project develops. The Town of Wickenburg’s Mayor’s I-11 Task Force (I-11 Task Force), which is responsible for representing the Town of Wickenburg in the planning and development of I-11 and conducting public meetings to evaluate information related to I-11, will review the report and make recommendations to the Town Council for further action in accepting the reports and its recommendations. It is recommended that the I-11 Task Force be the lead on this effort, begin coordinating with the ADOT, Federal Highway Administration, Maricopa Association of Governments, and Maricopa County Department of Transportation to ensure that all parties are aware of the Context Sensitive Interstate and Infrastructure Corridor Design Report, and to promote coordination of the I-11 Corridor planning and design to ensure compliance with this Report and the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. The Task Force should also begin similar coordination with utility companies. These coordination steps will help to identify opportunities to incorporate context sensitive design elements into the planning of future infrastructure projects. 1 FOUNDATIONS OF CONTEXT SENSITIVE DESIGN Throughout history, there has always been a strong correlation between transportation corridors and surrounding land uses. In the past transportation planners and engineers were often more concerned about the efficiency, capacity, and safety of a roadway for motor vehicles than on the impacts such roads may have on the surrounding environment and communities they serve. This all began to change when in the 1990’s, when a push