2 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION INTRODUCTION SPECIAL EVENT BOOTHS • Indoor tennis club Successful Comprehensive Plans are built One of the most effective methods of • An amusement park with the feedback of the community. As obtaining input from a broad cross-section • Gordman's such, community engagement was a major of the community was to meet with them at • Fewer banks component of this project and multiple a community event or festival. Special Event • Controlled sustainable growth methods were completed. The public input Booths for this plan included a Comprehensive • More entertainment process was structured to allow stakeholders Plan booth at the Ankeny SummerFest Event • Free public Wi-Fi to be involved in several ways throughout on July 9, 2016, as well at a booth the Ankeny • More hockey the process. Some key public input elements Farmer’s Market on September 17, 2016. • More trail connections include: • Outdoor concert hall The “My Hope for Ankeny” board shown on • Smaller parks in N. Ankeny • Communication Plan the top of the page highlights some of the • More parade seating • Advisory Team community members willing to participate and • Outdoor store • Key Stakeholder Interviews show us what they wanted to see in Ankeny • New movie theater • Special Event Booths in the future. Responses were diverse, but • Winter activities (for teens) • Youth Participation Workshop there were some common themes among the • Health store • Public Workshops and Open Houses responses. • Barnes & Noble • Joint Workshops • Shuttle service to State Fair • Public Hearings PUBLIC INPUT FROM SUMMERFEST • Skating rink • Roller skating • Surveys Public comments from the board included the • Ikea • Project Website following: • More bike trails on NE Side • Swimming pools at both high schools Each stage of the public input process was • Mini golf *** • Ice rink successful in gathering meaningful feedback. • Bowling alley *** • Hockey rink There was high turnout at public meetings • Arcade ** • Old Navy and a large number of residents completed • Trader Joe's *** • A better downtown (Uptown) the online survey. • A mall** THE ANKENY PLAN 2040 Public Participation | 13 SPECIAL EVENT BOOTHS Residents of Ankeny discuss the Comprehensive Plan with Confluence and City Staff at the Farmer’s Market and SummerFest events in summer 2016 • More housing options as it continues to grow. • Doll store • Another dog park • Dog-friendly coffee shop • A Hickory Park INPUT FROM THE FARMER'S MARKET • AAA baseball team • Roller skating rink Additional public comments provided at the • Pool • Costco Farmers Market and added to the “My Hope • Churches • No sprawl for Ankeny” Board included the following: • Fire station • Outlet mall • Trader Joe's • A big stand-alone YMCA • A dog park on the north side * Indicate the number of times a response was • An arcade repeated. • More parks This event enabled community members of • Skyzone all ages to provide their input. In addition to ANKENY FARMER’S MARKET • Chuck-e-Cheese the “My Hope for Ankeny” board, there were The Ankeny Farmer’s Market served as a prime • Aldi’s other activities in which people of all ages and location to obtain valuable and meaningful • Hobby Lobby abilities could partake. public input. At this event, visitors had the • Gordman's opportunity to learn more about the purpose • Ikea Several local children also stopped by the of the plan, provide their ideas on a comment • A recreational lake booth. Shown to above is one of the children sheet, sign up for updates on an email list, • Movie theater drawing what they hope would be in Ankeny’s receive a flier with a link to the project website • Sidewalks along 36th Street future. This served as a great way for them to and survey, add their picture and ideas to the • A forest remain involved and have fun while learning “My Hope for Ankeny” board, and illustrate • A splash pad about The Ankeny Plan 2040, as well as what their ideal future would look like. • Mini golf expose them to the planning process. • Vibrant, local Uptown Overall, the community was very excited • Bowling alley BUS TOUR about this opportunity to learn more about the • Pool Part of the comprehensive planning process planning process, and to provide their own • Mini golf for Ankeny included a bus tour of high-quality, thoughts and ideas about the future of Ankeny • Frisbee golf planned communities similar to Ankeny in the 14 | Public Participation THE ANKENY PLAN 2040 BUS TOUR Members of the CPAT discuss with Confluence staff the different density and design elements present in Maple Grove, Minnesota Minneapolis-St Paul, Minnesota, region. The • Nick Lenox, Parks and Recreation Director • Trash enclosures tour took place on November 4, 2016, and • Derek Lord, Economic Development • Cart corrals provided an opportunity for the Comprehensive Director • Parking location Plan Advisory Team (CPAT) members to • Eric Carstens, Planning Administrator • Vehicular circulation experience firsthand a variety of land use • Eric Jensen, Planning and Building • Exterior lighting types and configurations that may influence Director • Outdoor displays the final land use plan and policies in Ankeny. • Amy Baker, Communications Manager • Plaza space The communities selected for the visit were: • Landscaping While exploring the selected communities, • Focal points • Excelsior & Grand, St. Louis Park, MN the attendees were provided with a booklet • Open space • Arbor Lakes in Maple Grove, MN summarizing the locations and highlighting • Centennial Lakes in Edina, MN key features to observe during the visit. The Signage and Way Finding • Cobblestone Lake in Apple Valley, MN key features that the committee members • Community boundary markers • Spirit of Brandtjen in Lakeville, MN were instructed to observe included: • Interstate monument signage • Gateway signs Those in attendance included: Building Exteriors • Primary intersection signs • Building materials • Community facilities and common area • Gary Lorenz, Mayor • Building heights signs • Bobbi Bentz, Council Member • Wall & roof shapes • Wayfinding signage • Kerry Walter-Ashby, Council Member • Amount of clear glass • Streetscaping enhancements • Trina Flack, Plan and Zoning • Window locations • Trail signage Commission Chair • Exterior lighting • Glenn Hunter, Plan and Zoning • Building orientation Mix of Use/Transitions and Buffers Commissioner Site Features Between Uses • David Jones, City Manager • Width of sidewalks • Architectural screen • Paul Moritz, Assistant City Manger • Pedestrian circulation • Vegetative buffer • Mark Mueller, Public Works Director • Mechanical/utility equipment screening • Physical distance THE ANKENY PLAN 2040 Public Participation | 15 BUS TOUR The picture above outlines the trip route in the Minneapolis-St Paul metro trip. A sample of a question sheet from the booklet is provided on the right. Below, City Staff and the CPAT members present discuss the developments being reviewed. • Mounded topography most about Ankeny?” Responses included revitalization of older neighborhoods in town, a the quality of life in Ankeny, the people of natural specialty grocery store such as Whole Storm Water Management Ankeny, the excellent park system, the quality Foods or Trader Joe's, and for Prairie Trail to • Bio-cells local government, the schools, safety, and the be fully built out. • Bio-swales location. • Rain gardens The final question for the ride up was, “Name • Permeable hardscape The third question was “What Qualities of something you feel could add or positively • Storm inlet signage Characteristics make Ankeny unique?” The impact future growth and development in • Curb cuts most common response was the quality of Ankeny." Responses varied, but many included the park system and the trails, with particular recommendations for traffic alleviation QUESTIONS FOR THE RIDE UP mention of the High Trestle Trail. Another including a new interchange at Interstate 35 The booklet provided to attendees also common positive attribute was the location of and NW 26th St, adding four lanes to US- included a section for readers to fill-out with Ankeny to nearby communities and interstate 69, and strategic placement of high-speed answers regarding Ankeny during the ride to access. Other qualities listed include the arterial roads throughout town. Others saw the the Twin Cities. police and fire force, areas such as Uptown, balance of commercial and residential land as the cleanliness of town, and the quality of the an important part of growth in Ankeny. Many The first question was, “What is your hope for new infrastructure. think more entertainment activity options and Ankeny?” Responses mentioned desires for a conference facilities would improve Ankeny, more sustainable future with controlled growth, The fourth question was “What would you going along with the theme of making Ankeny a robust utility and stormwater management like to see most in Ankeny’s future?” Several more of a destination in the future. systems, an efficient transportation network, respondents listed an additional library as a and neighborhood revitalization, They wanted future goal. Another common response was LAND USE CONSIDERATIONS to keep vibrant, family-friendly nature of a commercial area near the interchange Another section of the booklet asked Ankeny and work to maintain/improve older of Interstate 35 and 36th Street. Several attendees to note overall observations of what sections of town in addition to the newer people listed different types of entertainment they did or