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North End redevelopment tied to flood-control and county bridge replacement; commissioners urge coordination
Summary
Commission members and residents discussed how Phase 1 flood-control work and a county bridge replacement could affect a planned North End redevelopment; an engineer's traffic improvement estimate of roughly $13 million was cited and staff recommended sending the comprehensive plan to the county for coordination.
Commissioners spent substantial time debating how the town's North End redevelopment concepts should be sequenced with ongoing flood-control work (Phase 1 and a larger Phase 2) and with the county's planned bridge replacement on the Route 50 corridor. Participants emphasized that major redevelopment should follow improvements that make properties developable, including flood mitigation and traffic work.
One commissioner noted an engineer's estimate of about $13 million to improve traffic from Presley Road to Mayor Street and warned that tackling Phase 2 too early could alienate business owners whose operations might be affected. Planner urged a staged approach that begins with flood-control and traffic improvements and then moves to zoning and streetscape work so the community can buy into a plan.
Resident Travis Edney, who identified himself as a planner by profession, urged the commission to plan a "phase one and a half" that would integrate the initial flood-control work with longer-term Phase 2 goals so the bridge replacement and subsequent redevelopment align. Commissioners recommended sending the town's comprehensive plan to the county design team so the bridge replacement can be made compatible with the town's long-term goals.
