DOWNTOWN ANACONDA MASTER PLAN ADOPTED March 15, 2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1: INTRODUCTION……………………………………...1 5: GUIDING PRINCIPLES………………………..…….43 Plan Purpose Public Involvement Vison Statement 2: BACKGROUND……………………………………….5 Guiding Principles The Case for Revitalization Energy Conservation Lessons Learned Downtown Vision Plan Case Studies Plan Framework 6: THE DOWNTOWN PLAN………………………….47 Main Street Approach Economic Revitalization Previous Plans Business support strategies Public Input Redevelopment strategies Plan Organization Addressing decay Project Area Historic Resources Identity and Design 3: OBSERVATIONS AND ANALYSIS………………….19 Transportation Land Use Circulation Historic Resources Complete streets Business Development Pedestrian Safety Housing Tax Increment Financing Identity and Design Organization Transportation and Parking Promotion Tourism Organization 7: ACTION PLAN……………………………………...63 Summary of Recommendations 4: MARKET ASSESSMENT………………………………35 Regulatory Population Trends Design Employment Trends Organization Housing Trends Promotion Retail Trade Analysis Opportunities APPENDIX……………………………………………….67 ANACONDA DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This Downtown Master Plan was made possible by the contributions and cooperative input from numerous citizen participants, local stakeholders, staff members, and elected and appointed officials. The project team thanks all those that participated, including the following: Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Commission Anaconda Local Development Corporation Terry Vermeire, District 1 Jim Davison Patricia Mulvey, District 2 Charly Loper Kevin Hart, District 3 Paul Smith, District 4 Master Plan Prepared by: Elaine Lux-Burt, District 5 Sanderson Stewart Lauren Waterton Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Planning Board David Groshens Adam Vauthier, Chair Danielle Scharf Jay Slocum, Vice-Chair Megan Terry Rick Hamilton Philip Maechling Jason McDonald Paul Polzin Mary Kae Massey Mary Murphy Audrey Aspholm Vince Labbe Annette Smith ii ANACONDA DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN 1: INTRODUCTION 1: INTRODUCTION PLAN PURPOSE In June 2015, Anaconda-Deer Lodge County and Anaconda Local Development Corporation initiated a planning process with the local community to undertake the development of a Downtown Master Plan. Sanderson Stewart was engaged to help prepare the Downtown Master Plan and facilitate a public engagement process. Step 1: INITIATION The primary purpose of the Master Plan is Begins the project by aligning expectations, establishing goals, and developing a path for the to articulate the long-term vision and set planning project. practical, achievable strategies for improving Downtown’s appearance and Step 2: ANALYSIS economic vitality. The Downtown Master Involves the analysis of data, including previous planning studies, current economic and Plan also builds on past and current demographic data, and site observations. revitalization efforts undertaken by Anaconda Deer-Lodge County (ADLC) and Step 3: VISION Anaconda Local Development Corporation Focuses on early development of planning scenarios that holistically address the downtown’s (ALDC). development. Step 4: PLAN DEVELOPMENT Refine the vision, evaluation of options and input from stakeholders. Step 5: REFINEMENT Includes preparation of the final composite plan and relate supporting documents. Step 6: FINAL PLAN Includes public review and final approval by the County Commission. ANACONDA DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN 1 The Master Plan provides an opportunity to • Preserving architectural integrity of • Evaluating and recommending a address the following: the Anaconda’s Commercial Area framework for regulatory changes National Register Historic District. that promote appropriate land use, • Long-term planning for the economic vitality for Downtown reuse of historic structures and Anaconda. • Improving Downtown’s urban addresses community decay. design and physical environment through streetscape improvements, • Increasing the tax base through evaluation of the economic market landscape treatments and signage. overview and profile summary. • Promoting healthy communities. • Developing a strategy that prioritizes the reuse of existing buildings while diversifying uses to include an appropriate mix of commercial, residential and institutional uses. • Supporting and growing the tourism economy. • Promoting equitable, affordable housing. • Assessing transportation and parking issues with a focus on 2: Improving pedestrian and bicycle safety creates improving pedestrian and bicyclist greater travel options for residents safety. 1: Residences along Commercial Avenue 2 ANACONDA DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN ANACONDA DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN • Encouraging sustainability by • Developing implementation • Creating a Master Plan that becomes exploring methods for promoting strategies that prioritizes projects a guidebook for policy for ADLC energy efficiency, sustainable design and actions, outlines roles and and the community for how features in streetscape and other responsibilities between Downtown Anaconda revitalizes public spaces. organizations and agencies and and redevelops over time. identifies other stakeholders that • Identifying funding strategies, should participate. including revenues within the Tax Increment Finance District created in 2014. ANACONDA DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN 3 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK 4 ANACONDA DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN 2: BACKGROUND 2: BACKGROUND The Case for Revitalization Additionally, studies conducted by the and methods communities use to achieve National Trust for Historic Preservation revitalization goals vary, but successful Community revitalization is defined as a and state preservation agencies demonstrate outcomes rely on seven basis principles: process that citizens undertake to energize a that preservation of historic resources can 1. Community development is community and build economic value. It is a create jobs, generate revenue and improve process to improve infrastructure, expand community quality. economic development. employment opportunities, and provide a Development of community resources healthy environment for its citizens. Downtowns reflect a vast amount of public including leadership training, youth and private investment. When communities entrepreneurship and support of Rural communities often struggle with invest in the maintenance and upkeep of community through philanthropy population decline, loss of employment, public improvements, it encourages and enhances typical economic development failing infrastructure and deteriorating leverages private investment. In Colorado, projects. buildings. Community revitalization is the communities that invest in downtown process to confront those issues and turn infrastructure saw four times the amount of 2. Activities should be future oriented, losses into opportunities. private investment in those same embrace change and accept risk. downtowns (Colorado Main Street When communities actively work to Communities that prepare for the next Program, 2014 Annual Report). revitalize, the effects are felt throughout the opportunity, or create it themselves, see community. A revitalized downtown Lessons Learned greater results than communities waiting provides benefits beyond the commercial for opportunities to come to them. area. According to a study completed by the In building a plan for revitalizing Sonoran Institute in 2012 (“About Town”), Anaconda’s downtown, it is helpful to 3. Broadly held local vision guides downtowns provide greater value in tax evaluate programs from other communities. strategies. Local organizations are vital revenues as compared to a strip mall The University of North Carolina’s Rural to holding regular conversations development or big box retail store. When Economic Development Center studied 50 regarding revitalization and creating a comparing development in terms of acres, small towns throughout the United States. vision for a community’s future. downtown properties contribute five times Their evaluation of these towns highlighted the property tax revenue as single-use in the publication, Small Towns, Big Ideas: commercial establishments. Case Studies in Small Town Community Economic Development, demonstrate that the process ANACONDA DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN 5 4. Innovation in government, The City of Bozeman, institutions and partnerships Montana is enhance community capacity. Small undergoing parking towns often lack resources to fully lot improvements in address community issues. Creating downtown. By partnerships and alliances to address improving the public issues allows for greater success. spaces, cities enhance the visitor 5. Short-term success should be experience. identified and celebrated in order to build support for long-term activities. However small, celebrating success builds support and enthusiasm for future activities. 3: Bozeman parking lot current condition 6. Define assets and opportunities broadly. Rural communities tend to have limited resources. Providing a broader framework will allow exploration of greater opportunity. 7. There is no silver bullet. No single strategy worked for every community. Successful redevelopment is always multifaceted and occurs over time. Case Studies The following examples highlight the process and tactics that define community revitalization. 4: Envisioned Bozeman parking lot design 6 ANACONDA DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN ANACONDA DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN Montana Avenue, Billings, MT is considered the shifting point in Montana Montana Avenue revitalization Avenue’s revitalization. highlights: Established as a railroad