PRINCE GEORGE S PLAZA TRANSIT DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND TRANSIT DISTRICT OVERLAY ZONE UPDATE

Transcription

1 PRINCE GEORGE S PLAZA TRANSIT DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND TRANSIT DISTRICT OVERLAY ZONE UPDATE TOWN OF UNIVERSIT Y PARK MAYOR AND COUNCIL BRIEFING SEPTEMBER 8, 2014 Prince George s County Planning Department The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) In partnership with the City of Hyattsville, the Town of University Park, and Prince George s County Transit-Oriented Deve l o p men t E conomic O p p o r t u niti es N e i g h b orhood Conser va ti on E n v i ron men tal E n h a n cements P r i n ce G e o r ge s P l a z a M e t ro S t a t i o n Hya t t s v i lle Library P r i n ce G e o r ge s P l a z a Comm u nity Center Anacostia N o r t h e a st B ranc h B u s i n e s se s P u b l i c Facilities S u r ro u nding N e i g h b orhoods W M ATA S HA DPW&T

2 AGENDA Plan purpose Why University Park should be involved Where we are in the plan process What we have learned and heard to date September design charrette (workshop) Urban Land Institute Technical Assistance Panel Next steps

3 1998 TDDP PLAN: BOUNDARY

4 1998 TDDP PLAN: BOUNDARY

5 UPDATE THE 1998 TDDP TO Implement Plan Prince George s 2035 s vision for a regionally competitive walkable, transit-oriented center that attracts investments, jobs, visitors, and residents Identify important investment opportunities and strategies in support of the County Executive s priority TOD location Promote Complete and Green Streets that serve pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit riders, along with motorists Ensure that new development helps tie together the community s disconnected parts and creates a great urban place Provide a roadmap of what needs to be done, when, and by whom (plan implementation and phasing)

6 WHY UNIVERSITY PARK SHOULD BE INVOLVED Identify priority issues and opportunities Help formulate a vision for the Prince George s Plaza Metro area to improve connectivity, increase mobility, enhance retail options, and create new public facilities Partner in development activity for the benefit of University Park Strategize and facilitate ways to address flooding issues along Wells Run Promote and facilitate community input into planning for future development in the Prince George s Plaza Metro area

7 PLAN PROCESS March- December 2014 Plan outreach Analysis Visioning Draft plan January- April 2015 Public review PB public hearing Plan adoption May-July 2015 DC public hearing Plan approval Six-Month Extension Request: March Summer 2015 Plan outreach Analysis Visioning Draft plan Summer- Fall 2015 Public review PB public hearing Plan adoption Winter DC public hearing Plan approval

8 PUBLIC OUTREACH University Park Listening Session Participants want better access to retail services and Metro, safer streets, and more effective flood prevention Interested in expanded retail options University Hills Area Civic Association Listening Session Preservation of the wooded area around the Hitching Post Hill residence Importance of environmentally sensitive development along northern portion of TDOZ area adjacent to existing neighborhoods Concern with potential cut-through traffic and flooding surrounding the TDOZ area

9 PUBLIC OUTREACH (CONT.) Travel preference survey (338 returned surveys; 3 from Spanish version) Commuters via intercept at Prince George s Plaza Metro Station (151 interviews) Employees via interview at Mall at Prince Georges (38 interviews)

10 PUBLIC OUTREACH (CONT.) Traveling to The Mall at Prince Georges 70% 64% 60% 50% 40% 30% 28% Traveling to the Prince George s Plaza Metro Station (Survey Results vs. WMATA Metro Passenger Survey) 2014 Survey Bus 11% Walk/ Bike 62% Drive 28% 20% 10% 0% 4% 4% Drive Walk Bike Transit 2012 WMATA Survey Bus 27% Walk/ Bike 33% Drive 40%

11 PUBLIC OUTREACH (CONT.) Residents experience walking in the Prince George s Plaza area Walking in the area at night feels unsafe 74% of drivers say they re willing to try transit Crossing East- West Highway is poor 37% say they d use it if it served more destinations Walk to Metro is poor 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 25% say they d use it if it were more frequent

12 PUBLIC OUTREACH (CONT.) Summary Survey Results Surveyed residents use transit frequently, but primarily drive to the Mall at Prince Georges Residents and workers are willing to try different travel modes if they are as convenient and safe as driving Residents are concerned with the quality of shopping and dining options and public safety in the study area Mall at Prince Georges Information Booth Hyattsville Farmers Market Hyattsville Arts Festival Direct outreach to residents

13 PUBLIC OUTREACH (CONT.) Property Owner Concerns (from interviews, brainstorming session, and conference calls) MD 410 (East West Highway) as major barrier to future TOD Connectivity between neighborhoods, activity centers, and Metro Public-private partnerships and municipal support Right-sizing parking to meet actual needs and converting surface parking lots to structured parking

14 PUBLIC OUTREACH (CONT.) Additional Property Owner Concerns (from interviews, brainstorming session, and conference calls) Need to improve visibility of retail areas (signage, updated landscaping requirements, and wayfinding aids) Phased (re)development of potential opportunity sites Attaining appropriate density for new downtown Stormwater management approach(es) regional, site by site, or combination

15 INTERAGENCY COORDINATION SHA Lead role in transforming state highways in TOD areas to Complete Streets that serve all modes of transportation Regional precedents include plan recommendations for Central Annapolis Road (MD 450) and Greenbelt Road (MD 193) corridors DPIE Responsible for stormwater management regulation Need to ensure that approved stormwater control facilities are attractive community amenities wherever possible DOE Responsible for stormwater quality, including implementing the Watershed Restoration and Protection Program Need to involve in working out a regional approach to stormwater management and flood mitigation Dialogue with these agencies has begun; follow -up coordination is in progress

16 ULI TAP Urban Land Institute Technical Assistance Panel (ULI TAP) held September 3-4, 2014 Key short-term recommendations ( low-hanging fruit ): Form a coalition of public and private-sector actors to pursue immediate and long-term improvements in TDOZ area Develop a consensus vision of the future downtown at Prince George s Plaza Organize a cleanup campaign and pursue ped/bike safety improvements to improve public perceptions of the area Introduce wayfinding signage Improve maintenance of streetlights and the pedestrian bridge

17 ULI TAP Key mid- and long-term recommendations: Form a Business Improvement District (BID) to coordinate ongoing improvements within the TDOZ area Develop and implement strategies to rebrand the area based on the collaboratively developed vision for the future downtown at Prince George s Plaza Tame East West Highway; transform it to the Main Street for TDOZ area Co-locate new library and community center to a single site closer to the Metro station Introduce a walkable urban street grid as part of future (re)development

18 SEPTEMBER DESIGN CHARRETTE Community Workshop Kick-off, September 17, 6:30 9:00 p.m. (doors will open at 6:00 p.m.) Purpose: To introduce all participants to the transit district development plan process, goals, and expectations; to share key findings regarding existing conditions; and to solicit community input on the future of the transit district area Community Drop-In Opportunity, September 18, 5:00 8:00 p.m. Purpose: To give participants an opportunity to talk with TDDP team members to share additional ideas and concerns, and check out work to date Plan Alternatives Meeting, September 20, 10:00 a.m. 12:30 p.m. (doors will open at 9:30 a.m.) Purpose: To preview and provide feedback on preliminary development alternatives shaped by the input collected on September 17th (the meeting will begin with a brief review of key themes identified at the kick off meeting) Location: Hyattsville Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin Street, Hyattsville

19 NEXT STEPS Present recommendations to interagency group for input and consensus September 2014 Refine vision and obtain community input October 14, 2014 Formulate goals and strategies Winter Planning Board Permission to Print preliminary plan Spring 2015

20 CONTACT US! William Washburn, AICP, Project Manager Tamara Jovovic