long-term planning by Roger Druin/City Editor
BURNS SQUARE MAPS THE FUTURE
(Photo: Denise Kowal, president of the Burns Square Property Owners Association, shows two roundabouts designed to slow traffic on Orange Avenue.)
With seven of 20 acres primed for development, property owners want to get ready for growth - before it happens.
Denise Kowa, president of the Burns Square Property Owners Association, and urban planner Bill Dennis put the final touches this week on a 3-by 5-foot map of Burns Square.
The map summarized an effort by merchants and property owners to create a blueprint for their commercial district. The challenge is to promote a walkable customer-friendly district that maximizes modern development while preserving historic areas.
"This is us recognizing that Burns Square is changing," Kowal said. "So, how do we contribute to making sure the change matches a vision of where we want the city to go?
"We're not requiring anyone to do anything," she added. "We just care how Burns Square grows up."
The map shows where about 300 on-street parking spaces can be added and where two roundabouts would slow traffic on Orange Avenue, allowing pedestrians to feel at ease walking from store to store. it shows possible future condo and commercial projects, and how they should fit in with the streetscape, sidewalks and existing buildings.
The Burns Square Owners Association funded the process to create the map, which is becoming the foundation for a mini-master plan for the district. Thus far, owners have spent $35,000 on the process.
Kowal sent a scaled-down version of the map to city commissioners Monday. She also sent a copy to the president of the merchants association to distribute to merchants.
Kowal plans to conduct a feasibility study to show how much the improvements would cost, and illustrate how the city would capitalize on financial contributions because of anticipated increases in tax revenue from new projects.
Next, she is going to present the map and the plan to the City Commission. If the commission forwards the plan to city staff, Dennis said he will work with city officials to explain the blue-print and why it is important to the future of the city.
Dennis, a renowned New Urbanist who has created designs for an impressive list of mixed-use projects across the country, said he wants to plan a workshop with city staff to go over the plan.
"In many cases, each department will find what is wrong with the plan and why the city can't do it," Dennis said. ""We have to hold a workshop to find out where the problems are and methods to solve them - instead of just saying 'this can't work."
The map encompasses about $3 million to $4 million in improvements, in addition to several city projects already in the works for the district. Kowal said she expects some funding to come from the city's tax increment financing.
Commissioner Ken Shelin met with Dennis when he was in town.
"I thought he had some very simple ideas that are very do-able and wouldn't cost much," Shelin said.
The commissioner said moving the sidewalk and curbing to create additional parking spaces on Orange Avenue is one improvement the city could begin planning immediately.
Other long-term changes will take time.
One of those improvements is a roundabout at the intersection of Ringling Boulevard and Pineapple Avenue and another at the intersection of Orange Avenue and Oak Street.
dennis envisions public art in the middle of both roundabouts. One possibility is a large pineapple at the Ringling Roundabout. The roundabouts could be designed in a way that enhances the district's identity and makes it more of a destination place.
Vice Mayor Kelly Kirschner said he looks forward to reviewing the district's plan.
"I applaud Mr. Dennis and the Burns Square people for taking the initiative and coming up with a plan that says this is what we want to see our area look like," Kirschner said. "This is a starting point. As far as when something will happen and what the costs are, that is an open discussion that has to take place."
