r r I ( r ~--_.J Manitou Avenue Master Plan r Manitou Springs, Colorado ( I r ( l . O[ [ . r r r Prepared By: THK Associates, Inc. in association with ( P JF & Associates Janurary 23, 1998 'l City of Manitou Springs The Avenue Project Summary Sheet In April, 1995, the City began discussions regarding what role it could play in enhancing Downtown Manitou Springs for citizens, businesses and visitors. These discussions resulted in a Master Plan for utility, pedestrian, safety, and esthetics improvements. The Master Plan process was begun in 1997 with the assistance ofplanning consultants, THK and a steering committee made up ofover 20 citizens, Downtown business persons, Chamber ofCommerce representation and City Staff. During 1997, eleven meetings were held between the steering committee and the consultants on the various options for improving Downtown. A wide range ofcitizen and visitor input was solicited through a survey which was done during the summer. Also, a newsletter publication was sent twice to every water bill customer in Manitou Springs. All the steering committee meetings were open to the public, and many were attended by interested persons outside the committee, however eight meetings particularly emphasized public participation to obtain feedback, present the consultants' options for improvements and, subsequently, the recommendations ofthe steering committee. A week­ long "Design Charette" was held in April. The Steering Committee manned a Project Office on Ruxton Avenue during this week to allow additional opportunities for individuals to review the plans, speak with Committee members and give their input. During the Master Plan process the Steering Committee and Consultants also recommended thatthe project be expanded to study the entire length of Manitou Avenue and the business area of Ruxton Avenue. The scope of the project was changed to include these areas in the Master Plan. In November, 1997, a ballot issue asking if the City should raise its sales tax for three years to pay for the construction documents for the streetscape improvements was voted down 731 - 895. The Steering Committee was not in favor of placing this question on the ballot because the Master Plan was still in process. Many people felt it was premature to ask for funding for a project that was not yet defined. After all the meetings and public input, the Master Plan was finalized and submitted to City Council in January, 1998. Council accepted the Plan and directed the Planning Department and steering committee to continue working on the issues surrounding the first choice option - reconfiguring the drive lanes through Downtown into two through lanes and a center left turn lane. During 1998, the Planning Staff and steering committee members have worked with the Colorado Department ofTransportation to learn more about funding opportunities and to obtain CDOT's approval ofthe concepts proposed in the Master Plan. Critical to this approval was the completion ofa Downtown Traffic Study which examined the technical aspects of the three lane proposal for its feasibility. This study was performed by Arnie Ullevig of Feldsburg, Holt and Ullevig. Mr. Ullevig had previously reviewed ,the three lane concept for the Master Plan and performed a Traffic and Parking Study for the City of Manitou Springs in 1994. Mr. Ullevig's Downtown study used traffic counts which were done in late Summer,1998. This study projected the traffic volume up to the year 2020 and indicated that the three lane concept would handle traffic as well, or better, than the current configuration. The Colorado Department ofTransportation has agreed to participate in a project to testthe three lane configuration and restripe Manitou Avenue after Labor Day Weekend, 1999. This test project will allow everyone who travels Manitou Avenue - our citizens, business persons and visitors - to use and comment on the three lane configuration beginning in the fall and continuing through the summer season. Depending on the functional success of the test, the striping will either be left in place until permanent improvements can be initiated Downtown, or removed in the Fall of2000 to allow the standard, four lane configuration to be restriped. The City hopes that everyone will give feedback on the three lane configuration. Please keep in mind that this experiment will provide a way to physically experience the traffic patterns associated with three lanes, but will not provide for the pedestrian, safety and esthetic improvements that were the driving force behind the plan. Copies ofThe Avenue Master Plan are available from the Manitou Springs Planning Department for $25.00 each. City staff is also available to answer questions regarding The Avenue Project. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Introduction 1 Part 1: Goals & Objectives • Vision 2000 Statements 2 • Design Principles 4 Part 2: Planning Process (Steering Committee and Citizen Participation) • List of Original Steering Committee Members 6 • Meeting Schedule 9 • Communication Subcommittee "Communications Plan" 10 • Spirit of Place Questionnaire and Results 15 • Meeting Minutes February 13, 1997 18 March 6, 1997 22 April 14, 1997 26 April 16, 1997 (Preservation Forum) 30 April 17, 1997 32 May29,1997 36 June 16, 1997 40 September 11, 1997 44 October 30,1997 48 • October 1997 "DOT's" Survey Results 50 • Newsletters 52 • The Avenue Survey Results Residents 58 Nonresidents 60 Part 3: Design Analysis Studies • Maps & Exhibits TraffiC/Circulation Factors 62 Traffic/Circulation Factors - MIS Area 63 Utilities and Infrastructure Factors 64 Natural and Environmental Issues (Visual Analysis) 65 Historic Factors 66 Part 4: Market Analysis Memo 67 Part 5: Program Development • Program 80 • Graph of Advantages of Year-Round Resort 82 Part 6: Concept Alternatives • Maintain Two-Way System (Concept "A") 83 • One-Way System (Concept "B") 84 • Two-Way 3-Lane System (Concept "C") 85 • Urban Design Concepts 86 • Downtown Parking Opportunities Study 87 Part 7: Preferred Alternative • Parking Analysis (06/16/97) 88 • Cost Estimates 89 Downtown Gateway to Gateway • July 1, 1997 Meeting Minutes with COOT 92 • Felsburg Holt Letter 94 Part 8: Grant and Funding Strategies • Grants State Historic Fund 96 Certified Local Government Program (CLG) 96 ISTEA Enhancement Program 97 Great Outdoors Colorado (GoCo) 97 Contiguous County Gaming Impact Grant Program 98 Community Development Block Grants (CDBGs) 98 • Districts and Alternate Government Financing Mechanisms 100 • Sales Tax 104 • Utilities Infrastructure Strategies 105 • Highway/Roadway Strategies 106 Part 9: Design Guidelines 108 • Downtown 110 • Gateway-to-Gateway 120 • Fountain Creek Trail 126 Part 10: ImplementationlPhasing Strategies 134 Part 11: Appendix • Small Town Articles (Similar models of Downtown Redevelopment) List of Maps: Potential Trade Area (PTA) 79 Concept A 83 ConceptB 84 Concept C 85 Urban Design Factors 86 Downtown Parking 87 List of Tables and Graphs: Table 1: Population and Households in the Manitou Springs PTA, 1970-2008 68 Table 2: Estimated Household Expenditure Patterns by Residents in Manitou Springs, PTA 70 Table 3: Characteristics of Selected Store Types Found in Shopping Centers 72 Table 4: Estimated Retail Sales and Square Footage Support in Manitou Springs PTA, 1998-2008 74 Table 5: Manitou Springs PTA Competitive Retail Summary 76 Table 6: Additional Supportable Retail Space in the PTA 78 Advantages of Becoming a Year Round Destination (Graph) 82 Posters in Pocket: • The Downtown Plan (Preferred Alternative) • The Gateway Plan (Preferred Alternative) INTRODUCTION The MANITOU AVENUE MASTER PLAN has been formulated over the last twelve months by the City of Manitou Springs City Council and Staff, a Citizens Steering Committee and a Consultant Team lead by THK Associates, Inc. The culmination of this in-depth effort is presented here as a working document which will guide the City of Manitou Springs into the comprehensive project development phases ofthe project which will achieve the Cities Goals and Objectives ofthe Plan. The Master Plan is presented in three components, two of which are presented in a poster format, there is The Downtown Plan and The Gateway Plan. The third component ofthe Master Plan is presented as a compendium of various relevant elements which where generated throughout the planning process. The Master Plan document is arranged in a chronological format. Because of some inconsistencies in the activities of the Steering Committee cross references to various elements and activities that took place during the formulation of the Manitou Avenue Master Plan have been included throughout the document. 1 Part 1: Goals & Objectives VISION 2000 STATEMENTS # 1. Community Image and Character "Manitou Springs will foster its image by preserving and enriching its unique historical quality and culture." 2. Emphasize mineral waters, ecotourism and historic community aspects in official City publications, events and activities. 3. Encourage, strengthen and emphasize the cultural aspects of its arts community as part of its image enhancement efforts. 4. Undertake general beautification efforts by establishing more green space and landscaping in existing and future locations. '\ #2 Participation and Involvement "Manitou Springs will continue to develop and maintain a pro-active role for its citizens in matters of government, communication, education, planning, natural resources and other facets of involvement in community affairs." . 2. Prepare communications vehicle, utilize bulletin