Planning commission reviews three downtown streetscape concepts funded by $325,000 DCED grant

Mike Tedesco, a borough staff member, told the planning commission that “we received, early this year $325,000 from the Department of Community and Economic Development for downtown pedestrian safety and street scaping improvements.” The commission viewed three 11-by-17 concept boards, each showing different combinations of street poles, hanging string lights, raised pedestrian peninsulas and intersection treatments. Larry Keenan, identified in meeting materials as the bureau engineer, drew the three alternatives shown to the commission.

Why it matters: The designs are the first step toward applying the DCED grant to downtown pedestrian safety and placemaking. Commissioners and business owners said the work should calm traffic, make crossings clearer and support downtown businesses, but they also flagged trade-offs between concentrated investment and spreading limited funds.

Most of the discussion focused on three design differences: whether to install ornamental poles that could support hanging string lights, how much of the circle’s curb and intersections to raise or paint for traffic calming, and whether to add bump-outs on East Crafton and Crinnell to shorten crossing distances. Commissioners discussed a “pedestrian peninsula” concept linking White and Bridal avenues and repeated references to the roundabout at Stotts Avenue as the project’s focal point. The boards showed features such as benches, bike racks and trash cans across all alternatives.

Commissioners and attendees raised technical and maintenance questions. One member asked whether emergency vehicles and delivery trucks could clear hanging lights; speakers responded that the design standard discussed was “20 feet plus” from the lowest point of dangling string lights. Commissioners also emphasized the need to check turning radii for large vehicles (buses, single-unit delivery trucks and fire apparatus) before finalizing bump-out shapes. The meeting record contains multiple requests that staff coordinate with public safety and transit providers to confirm clearances and turning geometry.

Cost and maintenance were recurring concerns. As presented at the meeting, participants were told that “each pole you sink in the ground is $30,000.” Staff said LED string lights would be low-voltage and maintained by Public Works; they described the string lights as “low voltage” so they would not create a public-safety electrical hazard if they came down in storms, but residents noted that storm-related maintenance would still be a recurring expense. Commissioners asked staff to identify who would empty new trash receptacles and how frequently.

Public comments at the meeting were broadly favorable to traffic-calming bump-outs and to adding painted or raised treatments to clarify parking and pedestrian space. A resident who identified herself as Nicole urged “asphalt art in the bump outs to further distinguish and beautify the downtown area,” and another resident, Richard Dixon, urged clearer definition of the downtown business district and repeated pedestrian-safety concerns.

Next steps: Staff said the packet designs will be distributed at a business development mixer on Sept. 30 and posted online with a poll for public feedback. Commissioners described the work as phase-based: with $325,000 “you can do some things but you can’t do everything,” and recommended focusing investment where it will have the most visible effect. Staff also said additional grant or private funding would likely be needed to add ornamental poles across the whole district.

The commission did not take a formal vote on a preferred alternative during the meeting; staff asked for verbal feedback and said a motion was not required at this time.