Municipal Infrastructure Commission

I. Call to Order F T 12/5/2019 - Minutes Members Present: Laura Dlugolecki, Timur Tsutsuk, Peter Wernsdorfer, Jason Williams, Chris Page, Michael Myers City Staff Present: Jonathan Rauscher Guests Present: Michael Willard, VHB (Presenter) Call to Order by: Laura Dlugolecki A Minutes Recorded by: Christopher Page II. Public Comment No public comment, no public present. III. Approve Previous Meeting Minutes R Decision: Aye Motion by: Jason Williams Second: Chris Page Approved unanimously after review D IV. Presentation on Main Street Design Presentation: Mike Willard, VHB Discussion: Full commission Decision: No vote; see Minutes for notes on discussion. Presentation on 60% Design: Themes, Building Materials: Context-sensitive design, place-making, streetscape that reflects community needs/desires. VHB Recently worked with St. Albans: historically-based redevelopment/design, Vs. Burlington, “Great Street Standards”, modern aesthetic w/ mix of stone, concrete pavers, “crisper”, stainless steel site furniture and hardware, more modern streetscape vs. St. Albans (clay, red-brick pavers, ornamental period street lights, etc.) What do we want the aesthetic to be, given the range of options? Key design elements and features, inspiration, inspiring features. Goal for 12/5 presentation is for Commission to provide some direction; then, VHB returns with some “vignettes” to show the ideas on paper. Mike Willard presents Image Boards for review: l Examples of streetscape designs from St. Albans, Concord NH, elsewhere. l “street typology”; different feel for main block than blocks to north and south; pull elements from main block to carry thru consistently, but intensity/execution slightly different as you move thru the space. l Question from Jason: Feels like we have an established aesthetic from riverfront and park/circle. Is that aesthetic what is mostly being considered up the hill, or something brand new as we proceed up Main St? l Mike W response: Do we want Main Street to have same feel or totally new feel? - Jason W., Mike M., Chris P.: May be too small as a city to have a fragmented image and long-term maintenance, ease and affordability. Argument for continuation what we have. Mike agrees with Jason… doesn’t think it needs to be considerably different from downtown Winooski. History of Winooski; paver sidewalks and trees, corresponding with the mills, lighting should represent that to an extent. Chris P. reiterates small size of Winooski, and chaotic nature of having fragmented themes in such a small town. - Jon Rauscher, on overall dimensions: 7 ft sidewalk on either side,6 ft streetscape tree belt; curb to curb would go from 46 to 40 with proposed design (narrows Main Street ROW slightly). One row of parking that chicanes up corridor (per combined meeting); 2 travel lines, 11-13 ft; bike lane on uphill, shared road on downhill. Chicaning will depend (haven’t landed on final design for chicaning). - Peter Wernsdorfer: Limited economic activity on Main Street, historically speaking. Area requires considerable investment and will benefit dramatically from quality finished project. - Jon Rauscher, on overall dimensions: 7 ft sidewalk on either side,6 ft streetscape tree belt; curb to curb would go from 46 to 40 with proposed design (narrows Main Street ROW slightly). One row of parking that chicanes up corridor (per combined meeting); 2 travel lines, 11-13 ft; bike lane on uphill, shared road on downhill. Chicaning will depend (haven’t landed on final design for chicaning). - Peter Wernsdorfer: Limited economic activity on Main Street, historically speaking. Area requires considerable investment and will benefit dramatically from quality finished project. Discussion on parking: l Mike: Not a fan of parking removal; if you have a storefront and remove 2 spots in front of house, people won’t park long distances away in bad weather to go to restaurants; businesses could suffer if you remove parking from storefront areas. l If you were a store-owner, how would you react to the removal of parking spots? l Jason: Parking lots, private lots; better signage strategy so awareness of off-street parking is improved. l Mike: Designated parking spots behind buildings for commercial use seem to be totally full; are they being used? Also, argument that street parking CAN slow traffic down as well as road diet, gets narrow. l Timur: Differences in maintenance costs/methods from design to design? l VHB: All designs will be bond-proof; all pavers, for example, go on concrete subslab with neoprene insulation; bond-proof installation. T l Brief review of paver styles and schematic of installation provided. Discussion on Trees: l Peter: In favor of better tree placement: “silvicell”; how to manage with concrete work? l VHB: they’re an expensive item. F l Peter: Silvicells are expensive compared to what? Traditional tree planting, says VHB. l VHB: “Teacup method” plantings have a 7- to 15-year lifespan before needing replacement due to lack of quality soil outside of initial excavation. Evapotranspiration (rainfall), cooling of street and environment, long-term benefits; to achieve proper growth, need good soils, and VHB is proposing 1) silvicells, strategically placed (storefront block), and 2) Cornell University structural soil (specialty soil, lattice of stone and gelscape with organic matter, allows for shared soil volumes). l Mike M.: Per Tree City USA application, we must get some grant money to maintain streetscape trees. l Jon: Application is submitted in February. Not a lot of money actually came in from membership, but a lot of support was offered (i.e. A access to expertise). Not good to rely on for operational budget support; in fact, Tree City USA requires that you spend $2 per capita out of budget on tree maintenance. oLaura: Urban & Community Forest Grp; because Winooski is considered low-income, it would be eligible for special funding with less competition (only low-income city in VT that is a TCUSA). l Tree Maintenance: Pruning? Biannual? l VHB: Depends on tree species; elms, zelkovas must be trimmed annually (ice and branching issues); vs. Maples/Locusts just go. Maintenance is about limbing them up. l Jon: Want to limit calls to arborist because Winooski lacks a cherrypicker truck for pruning R l *VHB worked to get a significant grant form Urban Forestry*, and Winooski is on the list (according to Laura). So, something to consider working with VHB on to assist. Discussion on Pavers: l Mike: how will pavers handle salt? l To pull form same aesthetic; clay is much more durable vs concrete. However, considerable unit price difference; $3.50/sf for concrete D vs $6/sf for clay. l General agreement among Commission that concrete pavers are not going to handle the salt load, and continues the aesthetic of the downtown. l Peter: # of crosswalks question. Jon confirms that previously awarded Crosswalk Enhancement Grant will be largely applied to this Main St project. l Jon: Downtown: Tree belt is larger granite paver (almost graphite/granite) in color. Review of rough design schematics: l VHB presents conceptual drawing from outside storefront block (Platt, Union street crossings). l Tree Belt zone = highlight zone; utilites/amenities zone, typically where specialty paver treatments happen. Refuge islands: rougher cobble pavers (finish material); predominantly concrete with highlight treatment north and south of store block (aka “highlight block”. l Specialty Pavement = pavers, stone, stained concrete, etc. l Differences between store district zone to north and south presented. Discussion re: Lighting and Continuity l Downtown aesthetic; seems a little dark. Why is that? Lighting issue? Trees? Could be the undeveloped tree canopy is not above streetlights, and so blocks significant lighting? l Lightpole spacing 60-70 ft. Cars and pedestrian-scale lighting. Urban streets are focused on pedestrians and user experience; fixtures are not as tall, but also have to get light on the street. This height varies from project to project, depending on site-specific needs. l Ornamental lighting; in St. Albans, 16 ft (vs. 25, say, for parking lot or highway); note: historical photos/historical context used to select lighting. Note: LED Board maintains “Dark Sky” and does not beam light upwards, which is also of benefit to 2nd/3rd story apartment residents. l Light temperature options: there is a spectrum of available options. 5K lights (think: surgery room, blue-white) went to 4K, now everyone is moving to 3K (much warmer light; phosphorus coating on lens; total lumens goes down somewhat but much warmer feel). l Are post-top best style, or are there other styles that may work? l Commission agrees that welcoming, warm lighting is what people will want to see. Historically-referenced lighting is important/meaningful, but how to square with more modern feel of some lighting along Circle? Gateway to downtown should be warm and inviting, not brooding. l Post-tops is general consensus, and historically referenced (although perhaps not completely “Victorian”). l Whimsy? Art? “interesting” lighting; in St. A, lighting underside of canopy to create “indoor” feel outdoors. Visible on Lake Street in St. A. l Crosswalk lighting/Pedestrian-activated? 2 ped-activated rapid-blinking beacons are currently in the works near. Mike M.: raises concerns re: snowplowing/etc. l VHB: All designs have a width/dimensional consideration for sidewalk plow access/maneuvering. l Jon on Snow management: probably one pass through with banks forming over rougher streetscape. l Mike: Parking strategy is poor, because too much parking is being lost due to this project. l Peter W: Lack of snow staging areas in downtown; with long stretches of road, we may be able to get it. Another parking issue: parking  l Crosswalk lighting/Pedestrian-activated? 2 ped-activated rapid-blinking beacons are currently in the works near. Mike M.: raises concerns re: snowplowing/etc. l VHB: All designs have a width/dimensional consideration for sidewalk plow access/maneuvering. l Jon on Snow management: probably one pass through with banks forming over rougher streetscape. l Mike: Parking strategy is poor, because too much parking is being lost due to this project. l Peter W: Lack of snow staging areas in downtown; with long stretches of road, we may be able to get it. Another parking issue: parking will have to become regulated in some fashion to match. l Adding bike lane is a considerable cause for loss of on-street parking; argument could be made that there’s enough curb to curb available that parking could be restored if bike lane proves to be unpopular. l 13 ft travel lanes properly wide; also, modeling being done to make sure that largest fire trucks can make turns on/off main street without crossing into opposite lanes. l Pedestrian crossing: mid-block crossings (uncontrolled crossings); brighter, higher, pedestrian-illuminating lighting at these crosswalks; illuminating pedestrians vs. creating pedestrian silhouette. l 2 mid-block crossings now; goal is to reduce pedestrian traverse, what’s the best way to accomplish that? l Chris Page in response to Mike M. parking concerns: Interim parking situation is concerning. How does development line up with finished Main Street revitalization? 3 or 4 developments are in pipeline. Note: Parking concerns can be addressed, ideally, if and when T form-based code developments are completed. But there is an interim/downtime period where street parking is reduced and not restored by new development. We should inform discussion re: parking with current data on proposed developments, etc. l Jon: Language in form-based code that says there is an easement or potential easement that City could take over and manage parking if shared use in the back. l Mike on lack of parking leading to failing/difficult businesses. l Timur: how do we move forward to making recommendations? F l VHB: Vignettes showing options and intensity of paving options for what streetscape could look like. VHB will return to the commission with rendered graphics that allow us to make recommendations (in short order) that will pull from our discussion tonight. Main takeaways: Maintain consistency of aesthetic; we like the clay pavers and look/longevity; lighting for pedestrians etc. should be post-tops, and should reflect historical; we are in support of silvicells.. Downtown/River aesthetic is more modern than more victorian feeling lighting per St. albans… Does seem like a strange change in aesthetic. A l Street furniture wants to tie into a family/cohesion; want it to look intentional. l Mike: Need to maintain traditional aesthetic for the benefit of long-time residents, as an homage to history of Winooski. l Integration of art with streetscape: whether literally creating something artful, or opportunities for art integration. Freedom Trail in Boston as an example; very subtle. l Winooski home to major Native American woodland settlements; would make for an incredible homage, art installation. l Many opportunities for artistic involvement; cool little elements to boost user experience. Mike suggests that we could use Main Street as a timeline of sorts. A continuous installation. Lots of options for community engagement. R V. Adjourn Motion by: Jason Williams Second: Chris Page D Time: 20:03