New Britain Borough Main Street BUCKS COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

New Britain Borough Main Street

BUCKS COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION MAY 12, 2016

Introduction

 Town Hall meeting 3 years ago - 100 residents

attended

 Conditions in 2013:

 Borough’s Community and Business Committee

formed

 Knoell factory closed for several years – future

unknown

 DVC working on becoming DVU  Route 202 Parkway had opened  Some businesses struggling  At the same time…

Borough Assets Recognized - Potential

 Great neighborhoods  Lots of open space, parks  Historic buildings  Good sense of community  A college  Great location

What we heard from Businesses …

 More pedestrian access to businesses, more

foot traffic

 Activities and events on the main street  Help in retaining and attracting businesses  Train service is important  On-street parking needed  Cooperation from the borough

And what we heard from Residents…

 What residents said was important:

 Strong local businesses  More sidewalks and trails  Improved “streetscape” and appearance

• n Butler Avenue

 Respect neighborhoods

Three Themes emerged that became the basis for funding and planning.

College - Borough

• Work with DVU
• Plan for and

zone for compatible and supportive activities

• Build on "college

town" theme

• Outreach to

students Streetscape

• Create Butler

Avenue Corridor as Main Street

• Update land use

regulations to reflect

• Begin to

implement - early action projects

• Focus on

walkability Business Support

• Work with

businesses

• Understand

business needs

• Attract

compatible businesses

• Encourage shop

local

• Understand

market conditions

Steering Committee

 Borough Planning Commission

 Michael Stanislaw – Chairman  Karl Dieterichs – Vice Chairman  Robert Binkley – Council Liaison  Rick Eggleston  Loren Frasco  David Holewinski  Richard Moxey  Michael Parke

 Borough Community and Business Committee

 Jeffrey Gilmore, Chair  Marie Esher Coia, Resident  Robert Belchic, Resident  Debbie Byrne, Byrne Sewing  Jackie D’Agostino, Resident  Dave Fermier Sr., Bucks-Mont Party Center  David Holewinski, Mayor  Lorraine Moxey, Resident  Richard Moxey, Resident  Steven Gieseler, Gieseler Insurance Agency Inc.  Steven Gilmore, Gilmore & Associates  David Joss, Federal Realty  Lynn Bush, Bucks County Planning Commission  Robyne Kelemen  Bill Vandegrift

Steering Committee

New Britain Main Street Study

 Transportation and Community Development Initiative

grant from DVRPC

 Study of Butler Avenue corridor from Bristol Road to

New Britain Road

 Foster the University-Borough relationship  Create Butler Avenue as a “Main Street”  Coordinate with the local business community  Develop a revitalization plan

Study Area

Common Themes

 Butler Avenue is our Main Street  Identity needed

 Gateway designations  Signage

 Walkability is important

 Sidewalks and trails  Crosswalks

 Mixed use development is desirable along Butler Avenue  New development must not adversely impact neighborhoods  Protect historic resources  Connections between the university and community are

important

 Corridor will reach its full economic and functional potential  Well-balanced land use composition  Development and redevelopment is sensitive to the existing

neighborhoods and historic resources

 Local character is enhanced by new development  A synergy between the commercial area and the University

has been realized

 Transportation network is safe and efficient  Connections to regional trail network are present 

The corridor has an identity and a sense of place

Butler Avenue Vision Statement

Existing Conditions

Land Use Category Acres Percentage Commercial 76.8 30.0 Single-Family Residential 59.8 23.4 Government and Institutional 56.8 22.2 Park, Recreation, and Protected Open Space 20.6 8.1 Rural Residential 13.7 5.4 Multifamily Residential 9.3 3.6 Manufacturing 8.6 3.3 Transportation and Utilities 5.3 2.1 Vacant 4.7 1.9 Total 255.6 100

Market Analysis

(Drive Times - 5, 10, 15-Minutes)

Population

 Borough population projected to grow 6.4 percent

through 2040 to 3,355 persons

 5-Minute Drive Time (from center of Borough)

 2020 population = 11,095

 10-Minute Drive Time (from center of borough)  2020 population = 77,447  15-Minute Drive Time  2020 population = 175,574

Market Analysis

2015 2020

Population 172,755 175,574 Households 27,987 28,540 Household Income $98,211 $110,754 Age 43.2 44.8

2015-2020 Demographic Summary of the 0-10 Minute Drive Time

Market Analysis

 Full-Service Restaurants – $4.9 million  Limited Service Eating Places – $6.4 million  Special Food Services – $838,000  Drinking Places –Alcoholic Beverages – $1.0 million

Food and Drink Industry Potential Opportunities

Market Analysis

 Furniture and Home Furnishing Stores – $2.3 million  Clothing and Accessory Stores – $9.6 million  Sporting Goods, Hobby and Musical Instrument Stores – $838,000  Florists – $301,000  Office Supplies, Stationery, & Gift Stores – $1.3 million  Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers – $1.4 million

Retail Trade Potential Opportunities

The Plan

How will the vision for the corridor be achieved?

 Physical Improvements

 Streetscape Improvements  Access Management  Redevelopment of Underutilized Properties

 Policy Actions

 Mixed Use Overlay Ordinance  Design Guidelines  Other Zoning and Subdivision Amendments  Marketing and Branding Campaign

Streetscape Benefits

 Establish a safe boundary for pedestrians  Promotes walkability and improves the overall

visual curb appeal

 Connects destinations  Complement revitalization efforts and help

creates a sense of identity and place

 Enhances property values

Desirable Streetscape Elements

Access Management

Existing Condition

Proposed Condition

Mixed Use Overlay

 Promote redevelopment of underutilized land

 Infill development  Former industrial sites

 Encourage mixed use development

 Commercial/Business and Residential

 Contribute to the Main Street character of Butler

Avenue

Mixed Use Overlay

 Mixed Use required on sites greater than 1.0 acre  Less than 1.0 acre may provide a single use  Maximum Building Height: 45 feet or 3 stories  Maximum setbacks from Butler Avenue (25 feet)  Residential density  Single-family detached: 3 dwelling units per acre  Townhouse: 5 dwelling units per acre  Multi-family: 16 dwelling units per acre

Area and Dimensional Requirements

 Minimum nonresidential use requirements

 1,000 square feet of nonresidential use for every 10

residential units

 First floor along Butler Avenue must be a

nonresidential use

 Public space is required (visible and accessible

from Butler Avenue)

 Plazas  Seating Areas  Outdoor eating areas  Wide sidewalks (4 feet wider than required)Create

Butler Avenue as a Main Street

Design Requirements

 All parking behind principal building on Butler

Avenue

 Shared parking permitted  All development must contribute to the

streetscape

 Walkways  Landscaping and street trees  Outdoor sidewalk lighting  Benches  Bike racks  Access management

Design Requirements

 Municipalities Planning Code allows for

architectural review of development on major thoroughfares and in areas of unique local interest

 New buildings should be compatible with existing

architectural scale and style

 Franchise design/architecture is discouraged

Architectural Design Review

Other Policy Actions

 Zoning Amendments  Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance

Amendments

 Update of Borough Comprehensive Plan  Marketing and Branding Campaign  Continued dialogue with University, Business

Community, and other Stakeholders

Design Guidelines

 Integrate into existing ordinances  Building Guidelines

 Provides appropriate architectural examples

 Site Development Guidelines

 Site Planning.  Building Placement and Orientation  Public Spaces and Amenities  Relationship to Surrounding Properties  Circulation, Parking, and Service Areas  Landscaping  Design Elements and Accessory Features

Local architectural styles tastefully incorporated into building facade Mansard roof with dormers Large display windows on ground floor Period light fixtures Foundation anchors the building to site Federal-style brick chimneys Vertical and horizontal articulation breaks up building facade Window crowns and lintels Parking island planting Molded cornice with dentils Large display windows on ground story Sash windows and shutters Sash windows and shutters Pediment (Facing Sycamore Street) (Rear of Building)

Building Guidelines

Site Development Guidelines

Goodnoe’s Corner, Newtown Township Hartsville Professional Village, Warminster Township Hyde Park, Buckingham Township

Landscape Design

Study Area

Overall Concept

Town Center

Streetscape Element Recommendation/Opportunity

Sidewalks: Pedestrian Mobility

• Provide sidewalks or macadam trail - connect to shopping center -

widths to vary - both sides Street Crossing/Intersection Design Improvements

• Sand Road/West Butler Avenue and Bristol Road/West Butler

Avenue intersection and access drive crossings Landscaping and Greening: Street Trees & Planting Strips

• Incorporate street trees and ornamental trees under overhead

utilities Bicycle Mobility

• Bike racks in shopping center and potential alternative route with

Sand Road spur (Sharrows along Sand Road) Lighting

• Pedestrian scaled, period-type fixture style with arms for banners

Identity: Wayfinding Signs and Banners

• Standardize street signs

Identity: Gateway Feature

• Public green on shopping center site and incorporate gateway

feature at Borough entrance at Bristol Road intersection Street Furniture and Public Art

• Decorative: bollards, benches, trash receptacles

Parking/Vehicular Control/ Traffic Calming

• Incorporate parking in rear of non-residential building lots

Open Space/Mini-Plazas

• Public green on shopping center site and provide mini-seating

plaza if possible Building: Dimensional Control

• 'Build to line' along street frontage between Lenape Drive and

Ute Road and maintain current setbacks from Ute Road to Bristol Road

Town Center Segment

Existing Condition

Proposed Improvements Existing Conditions

Town Center

Western Entrance Gateway

Bristol Road & West Butler Avenue (T) Intersection

Historic Village

Streetscape Element Recommendation/Opportunity

Sidewalks: Pedestrian Mobility

• Provide sidewalks or macadam trail - one side minimum –

widths to vary – connect with historic resources Street Crossing/Intersection Design improvements

• Potential crossing at signal at South Tamenend Avenue/West

Butler Avenue intersection (NW side) and at driveway crossings Landscaping and Greening: Street Trees & Planting Strips

• Incorporate street trees and ornamental trees under overhead

utilities Bicycle Mobility

• Alternative route with South Tamenend Avenue spur (Sharrows

along South Tamenend Avenue) Lighting

• Strategically identify location for pedestrian scaled, period-type

fixture style with arms for banners and upgrade existing

• verhead lighting to match style and color

Identity: Wayfinding Signs and Banners

• Standardize street signs and provide arm for municipal banners
• n existing utility poles

Identity: Gateway Feature

• Incorporate markers at specific locations or extent of segment

area Street Furniture and Public Art

• If possible - decorative: bollards, benches, trash receptacles

strategically located Parking/Vehicular Control/ Traffic Calming

• Incorporate parking in rear of nonresidential building lots

Open Space/Mini-Plazas

• Provide mini-seating plazas (where appropriate)

Building: Dimensional Control

• Maintain current setbacks except where historic development

pattern exists then historic pattern should continue

Historic Village Segment

Historic Village

University Village

University Village Segment

Streetscape Element Recommendation/Opportunity

Sidewalks: Pedestrian Mobility

• Provide sidewalk or macadam trail connected to University and

existing trail network - widths to vary - both sides Street Crossing/Intersection Design Improvements

• Alumni Lane/East Butler Avenue intersection and Shady Retreat

Road and East Butler Avenue Landscaping and Greening: Street Trees & Planting Strips

• Incorporate street trees and ornamental trees under overhead

utilities Bicycle Mobility

• Bike racks and link to existing trails established in Delaware Valley

University and create trail along south side of S. Shady Retreat Road Lighting

• Pedestrian scaled, period-type fixture style

Identity: Wayfinding Signs and Banners

• Incorporate into streetscape

Identity: Gateway Feature

• Incorporate two gateways: Eastern Gateway at New Britain Road

and convergence of East Butler Pike/State Street intersection and Western Gateway at Beulah Road & East Butler Avenue intersection Street Furniture and Public Art

• Decorative: bollards, benches, trash receptacles

Parking/Vehicular Control/ Traffic Calming

• Parallel parking along East Butler Ave., incorporate shared parking

and alleys in rear of lots, and add landscaped islands along strategic locations along West Butler Avenue to promote access management for excessively wide driveways along the corridor Open Space/Mini-Plazas

• Provide mini-seating plazas/pocket parks

Building: Dimensional Control

• 'Build to line' along street frontage

Eastern Gateway (University Village)

New Britain Road & Convergence of East Butler Avenue/State Street Intersection

Existing Condition Proposed Gateway

Western Gateway (University Village)

Beulah Road & East Butler Avenue Intersection

Plan View

Butler Avenue/Shady Retreat

Existing Condition

Butler Avenue/Shady Retreat

Alternate Improvements

Existing Condition

Alternate Improvements

University Village

Existing Condition

Proposed Condition

Next Steps

 Incorporate public comments from this meeting into plan  Full draft of plan to be presented to Steering Committee

at June meeting

 Revisions to be made and final draft presented to Borough

Council for their consideration in July

 Implementation