Draft renderings of what downtown could look like were included in a 210-page presentation for the downtown master plan.
On April 4, about 115 people attended a public meeting to see what Dover, Kohl and Partners had completed so far.
In a poll during the meeting, participants agreed that the downtown master plan is on the right track.
In another poll, 96 percent of participants might support a 1/4-cent sales tax, for a limited time, to pay for specific improvements.
It was the second public meeting of the week that was hosted by the town planning company. In the first one that week, people presented ideas for downtown and identified areas of importance on maps. The week was part of an intense planning process -- a charrette.
Main Street Siloam Springs' Master Plan Steering Committee selected Dover, Kohl and Partners to develop the Downtown and Connectivity Master Plan.
The plan will provide a five- to seven-year road map for downtown development. However, Meredith Bergstrom, executive director of Main Street Siloam Springs, explained that the master plan would go beyond that.
"Essentially, they are providing for more than we are paying for," Bergstrom said.
In the draft plan, five "cornerstone ideas" for downtown were proposed:
• Rebalance transportation
• Downtown mix
• Healthy, active-living community
• Rehab, reuse, add
• Cultural revival.
Bergstrom said that the master plan would be a vision like the comprehensive plan is for the city. It would not obligate the city to pay for any improvements in the plan.
Yet work would be done to ensure that it doesn't just sit on the shelf once it's completed. Main Street Siloam Springs would work to develop public and private partnerships, she said.
In the draft renderings, one area of focus is where one enters downtown from the south on Mount Olive Street.
Looking northeast from the bridge over Sager Creek, one can see the south wall of 204 S. Broadway St. One idea proposed was to add a mural on that wall of the building. Bergstrom said the property owner has given the OK to do it.
Another idea was to add a building where the parking lot is just south of 204 S. Broadway St. In front of the building, the east bank of Sager Creek could be reworked to allow for access to the creek.
The roadway on the Mount Olive Street bridge could be made narrower to allow for wider sidewalks.
On the west side of Mount Olive Street, a pedestrian bridge could be built over Sager Creek, run underneath the south side of the Mount Olive Street bridge and span the creek again before it would connect back to the creek's east bank.
This pedestrian bridge is one option to have a connected trail system through downtown. Another option, instead of the bridge, would be to have a pedestrian crossing on Mount Olive Street at Alpine Street.
The pedestrian bridge or crossing would be part of a trail to connect where an existing trail ends at University and College streets to where another trail ends near Washington and Main streets. The trail would run along the east bank of Sager Creek before reaching the pedestrian bridge or crossing. After the bridge or crossing, it would continue east through the north side of Twin Springs Park, cross Main Street at Maxwell Street, run along Main and connect into where it ends along Washington Street.
Some other changes to downtown would change existing one-way streets to two-way streets on Central Street and University Street.
Bergstrom explained that they are wide enough that they don't feel like a one way.
"East Main Street has been a big focus of the plan," Bergstrom said.
During the week of the charrette, the company developing the master plan along with Main Street staff met with business owners along East Main Street.
The draft plan shows curb, sidewalk, trees and on-street parking to be added along East Main Street. Pedestrian safety would be important in that area. The majority of customers walk to the businesses there.
"That's a very pedestrian area," Bergstrom said. "The case for improvement here is safety."
In a poll, 98 percent of participants loved the draft rendering for East Main Street.
Bergstrom explained that in order to attract a grocery store downtown more homes would need to be built. The draft plan identifies vacant property north of the East Main Street area where homes could be added.
Other projects in the plan included an east side park along Washington Street, improvements to hillside trails west of Sager Creek, an upgrade to the spring sites and bicycle lanes or sharrows. Sharrows aren't dedicated bicycle lanes but are identified with striping in the road to show bicycle access.
Another part of the plan will show return on investment for developments. Bergstrom explained that if something doesn't include a return on investment then it would not be included in the master plan. An economist is working with the town planning company to determine return on investment. A traffic engineer is also working with the company.
The next step for the master plan includes a draft of the plan to be ready in May. This would be followed by a public review process either online or in a meeting. A final draft would be presented to the Board of Directors in July.
"Then the real work begins," Bergstrom said.
Work to develop the master plan is being paid for with $150,000 from public and private businesses and organizations.
On July 16, 2013, the city agreed to give $35,000 and to partner with Main Street Siloam Springs to develop the master plan. The Walton Family Foundation approved a $100,000 grant. Main Street Siloam Springs, Siloam Springs Chamber of Commerce, Bridges to Wellness, Simmons Foods, John Brown University and Siloam Springs Regional Hospital each pledged $15,000.
General News on 04/16/2014