Redevelopment Commission

TOWN OF GILBERT REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MINUTES OF APRIL 4, 2018 11:00 A.M. 90 E. CIVIC CENTER DRIVE, CONF ROOM 100, GILBERT, ARIZONA 85296 COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: STAFF PRESENT: Tyler Hudgins, Chair Daniel C. Henderson, CEcD Economic Development Director Ryan Hamilton, Vice Chair Amanda Elliott, Redevelopment Administrator & Heritage District Liaison Boe Bigelow, Commissioner Tyler Jones, Commissioner Peter Sciacca, Commissioner COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: COUNCIL PRESENT: Councilmember Scott Anderson CITIZENS PRESENT: Judy Beasley Doralise Machado Liddell CALL TO ORDER: The special meeting of the Redevelopment Commission was called to order at 11:04 A.M. Amanda Elliott indicated that a quorum was present. REDEVELOPMENT / MASTER PLAN STAKEHOLDER PRESENTATION In attendance of the meeting was the selected Redevelopment and Master Plan Consultant, Crandall Arambula. Don Arambula gave the Redevelopment Commission a recap of the presentation that was given at the Public Workshop #3 held on April 3, 2018. DISCUSSION WITH REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION  Boe Bigelow - on Gilbert road would you suggest traffic calming like speed bumps, etc. o Don Arambula: I believe the Town needs to have a Town-wide and regional discussion o Boe Bigelow – There is a lot of traffic on Cullumber, can traffic calming be implemented? o Don Arambula – Suggest that the Town examines traffic calming measures in all of the surrounding neighborhoods  Town should examine roads to get to versus roads to pass through – creating a destination  Peter Sciacca – in looking at some of the alternates that have been provided, they have been great. Are there ways to get around the district without pushing people into the neighborhoods o Cities that have a really good bicycle network can attract more biking and walking  Peter Sciacca – the catalyst – how do you attract other development? How do you address the perception problems like “too much traffic”. Someone asked why can’t there be a paseo on the east side as well. o Don Arambula: There could be a connection north south on the East side of Gilbert Road.  Gilbert Redevelopment Commission April 4, 2018 Page 2 of 3 o Amanda Elliott: There is a natural connection on the east side of Gilbert along the alleyways. There is an opportunity for activing the alley into pedestrian walkway.  Peter Sciacca – What does the future hold for the district? o Don Arambula: Commuter rail will be in future because it is a capacity issue. If you get full on autonomous vehicle, commuter compliments. Think about repurposing garages – no scissor garage. Flat floor in order to repurpose for housing, office…etc. o Don Arambula: It’s really tough to have the crystal ball but we have certainly planned for 10 years. But autonomous vehicles likely after 10 years. o Don Arambula: We can address outdoor pedestrian areas – covered…etc.  Tyler Hudgins: You will likely get a lot of commentary from Council – How are you addressing the idea that commuter rail may never come? o Don Arambula: We have no guarantees of acquiring Fox Galbraith site. The current center of district location does not provide for the highest and best use for the downtown core. o Tyler Hudgins: Can we demonstrate what would be the alternatives – what is the plan B if commuter rail does not happen?  Tyler Hudgins: Like the light and airy – can we design to have cameras? o Don Arambula: Design for a place that people don’t want to congregate. If you have to have cameras, it was not designed correctly.  Tyler Hudgins: A lot of comments about the redundancy with the pedestrian overpass and vehicular underpass. o Does it make sense to work with the current project to align with the future plan  Don Arambula: At the time it was designed, it made sense – could we work with the government to talk about pausing and contributing to an underpass?  Is there an option to get an interchange at the 60 and Lindsay to help?  Dan Henderson: In reality we could stop doing development today and population increases will still continue to create traffic on Gilbert Road. It makes sense to let the political dialogue unfold.  We had a discussion in 2015 regarding one land and parking on the road. o Can we make a north south connection on Neely?  Still possible to do this. This is more of a regional transportation plan – not necessarily part of the Heritage District –north south is meant to bypass the district.  Reason for the East/West connection along the canal is to give immediate access for the multifamily that could be developed on the Foxworth Galbraith site.  Tyler Jones: On the catalyst project one – is the paseo part of this? Without the connection, is there the opportunity for it to be a dead area? The 9 acre site needs to be connected. Would hope that some of the other projects get into play. o Don Arambula: The Paseo will link into the 9 acre site. o Dan Henderson: Great communities are defined by their open space.  Tyler Jones: on the southern part of Ash – We heard that parking is more important than the dedicated bike lane. Is there an opportunity to push back? o Don Arambula: could revisit it in 10 years if parking changes. We have to respect the neighborhood and are trying to respond to them.  Tyler Hugins: On the lumberyard – what is the timing for acquisition? o Amanda Elliott: We have begun discussions with the Foxworth Galbraith representatives to understand their timing.  Tyler Hudgins: Are we married to the idea for multifamily for Neely? o Don Arambula: When we review our market data and the need for the area, multifamily would be the highest and best use of the land. ADJOURN  Gilbert Redevelopment Commission April 4, 2018 Page 3 of 3 The meeting was adjourned at 12:15 P.M. ___________________________________ Tyler Hudgins, Chair