04/28/1992 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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stations, Park 'N Ride lots, and turn-arounds and should be considered when studying future intended`land use. He suggested that members keep this in mi.nd when discussing focus area A and mentioned other rail proposals which were being considered. In reference to focus area A-1, he believed that, at'this point, they would not be able to make any actual hard core recommendations for future zoning, at a later date they could make firm recomnendations if that is what the Commission wants. He believed that tlie discussion of A-1 will continue until the next meeting at which time A-2 (east of A-1) can also be discussed. He presented a slide of Map-1, which is not in the members packets, and stated that this area focus area A-1 is an example of a classic suburban Mixed Use District, or at least it is becomi.ng one, with a wide variety of uses. Since the City is over the 20% multifamily unit limit, any rezoning to a lower residential classification has to be approved by the electorate of the City. There have been two major rezonings in the last 10 years; the area north of Brookpark Road was rezoned from Single Family "C" and Multifamily to Office Building. Recently 2 Single Family "A" homes were rezoned to Mixed Use "A". In order to develop this area as a world class suburban Mixed Use District the various uses must be connected by pedestrian routes; currently, in order to get from one use to another a person must cross traffic at his own risk or drive. There are a number of ideal sites available for senior housing once there are pedestrian links available. He stated that much of the zoning was done prior to the construction of I-480 so there are a ntnnber of pockets of "spot zoning", such as the triangle (Columbia Road from Brookpark to I-480) where there is a pocket of Single Family "A" zoned land between I-480 and a Multi-family zoned land that fronts on Brookpark; also on the north side of Kennedy Ridge, south of I=480 there is a pocket of Mixed Use zoned land. This area also has a nunber of non-conforming uses, such as a single family homes, sitting in a Multi-family zoned district. In 1993 Great Northern Boulevard will be widened to include a fifth lane and traffic signals at Brookpark and Great Northern Boulevard will be synchronized and cross walks will be marked. He stated that Brookpark Road is a limited access highway which means the number of intersections or curb cuts has been limited. He explained how a curb cut could be obtained, but the cost of the cut must be paid by the property owners. As planners, they believe that Brookpark should remain limited accessa There is an approved intersection for Parcel A, the Corporate Center, and Parcel E which has been rezoned to Office District. Other than that no other potential intersecti:ons have been approved. He pointed out that people from other suburbs do use Brookpark to get to Great Northern Ma.ll. Several ways of improving vehiculax traffic have been suggested, such as reconstructing the off-ramp for I-480 at 252 in order to use Country Club Boulevard directly into Great Northern Mall. He also explained that some of these traffic counts may no longer be valid since the Brookpark Bridge has been re-opened and Puritas Hill will be opened shortly. He pointed out that the bike path ends across the street from the mall, but there are no cxosswalks in the immediate area and stated that there are few crosswalks or pedestrian walkways in the entire area, either from the bike path or from the other buildings to the mall, or any gedestrian walkways through the parking lots to the mall and there is also a lack of sidewalks in the area. Mr. Morgan stated that many pedestrians did not tase the walkway between the shopping center and the mall, and wondered if people would use these. Mr. Tressler showed a slide of that sidewalk with people using it, and suggested that drivers be warned by signs that there is a pedestrian walkway. Mr. Thomas questioned how pedestrian traffic could be directed to a specific sidewalk. Mr. Tressler stated that there might be paths where people walk which would indicate where sidewalks should be. He maintained that the fact people ha.ve to drive to get from the Corporate Center to the Mall defeats the purpose of a Mixed Use development. He pointed out that the City can 3