The Main Streets Project
The Oro Valley Main Streets project was launched in 2016 under the direction of numerous Town plans, including the newly voter-ratified Your Voice, Our Future General Plan. This project has also been directed by the Town Council in the 2013, 2015 and 2017 Strategic Plans. Creating a town center or downtown has long been a topic of discussion in Oro Valley. Residents were surveyed in 2013 at the start of the Your Voice Project. The thing they enjoyed least about Oro Valley was the distance to or lack of services. Comments included: “a lack of services, stores and amenities,” “doesn’t have a real downtown,” and “there’s no central location to meet people.” Residents also stressed the need for employment opportunities, shopping opportunities and festivals or cultural events. This resident direction was ratified through the goals and policies of the Your Voice Plan. Main Streets will now help realize the community desire for a “place to go” that serves as the heart of the town.
The Main Streets project brings together the long-range planning efforts from the Your Voice Plan and current efforts of the Town's economic development programs.This project is integral to future economic development. To generate employment growth, the Town needs to be an attractive place for businesses and their workforce. National trends show that highly-skilled workers are just as interested in job location and local amenities as the job itself. Oro Valley Main Streets will be the places where food, art, culture, shopping, community and identity come together. Investments in Main Streets will attract new workers and bring economic vitality.
Currently, Oro Valley has very few opportunities for development remaining. Most large parcels of land within the Town limits have either been built-out or have development plans in place. As Oro Valley approaches complete build-out there will be pressure for infill development. This may be a few years away, but planning for redevelopment and infill now ensures the desired community vision is in place when redevelopment becomes a reality. Many property and business owners recognize this is on the horizon and have demonstrated a desire to jointly plan with the Town at this time.
The Concept Plan
As a first step in the multi-year Oro Valley Main Streets project, Phase One includes the creation of a Concept Plan. Early work in Phase One included stakeholder interviews and community visioning. Focus groups and a community workshop then set directions for ideas which were included in the Concept Plan.
The Concept Plan lays out a series of topics for consideration. It also includes an introduction to the project as well as preliminary ideas regarding how this concept is achievable. The two Main Streets areas include the Oracle Road/1st Avenue and La Cañada Drive/Lambert Lane areas. These areas were identified because they currently serve as centers of activity in the community, are close to diverse residential options and offer numerous civic, retail and recreational assets.
The Concept Plan and the topics contained therein are directed by the Vision Statement:
Oro Valley’s unique Main Streets serve as the center of the town and reflect the community character. People come from near and far to walk arounds, check out local shops and grab a bite to eat. Visitors can meet locals, bring friends and share with family. Main Streets are inviting, walkable and vibrant and offer recreation, commercial, entertainment and cultural activity.
This Vision Statement, as well as early feedback led to the use of three over-arching themes which are supported by a series of goals and focus areas. Each of these is described in detail in the Concept Plan and accompanied by pictures and graphics.
Theme: OV Destinations
- Goals: Design unique places; encourage local activity, build welcoming spaces
- To achieve the goals, focus on: Architecture and site design; economic development, arts and culture; gathering and social activity
Theme: Walk-Bike-Ride
- Goals: Promote active lifestyles; give people options; create connected systems
- To achieve these goals, focus on: Complete streets; activity and play; transit connections; parking concepts
Theme: Delight in Nature
- Goals: Integrate nature; treasure the views; love the wash
- To achieve these goals, focus on: Thoughtful design; outdoor spaces; green network
The Concept Plan concludes with the Concept Plan Map. This map is a big picture view of Main Streets and shows how the themes of OV Destinations, Walk-Bike-Ride and Delight in Nature come together to create a complete picture of Oro Valley’s heart.
Community Outreach
Over the last several months the Concept Plan has been used as a tool for public conversations and feedback, which includes online surveys, engagement on social media and the “Walk the Block” public event. Responses have varied, but the majority of comments have been positive or curious in nature. People are generally excited about the Main Streets idea, but interested about specifics and what needs to be done to make it happen.
An online survey was available from November 16, 2016 to February 12, 2017, and was publicized through the Town’s website, print media and the Oro Valley Main Streets Facebook page. A total of 79 people responded to three open-ended questions regarding the Concept Plan. Responses fall roughly in the following categories:
- Positive comments (in no particular order)
- Finally something to do and go to in Oro Valley (especially for kids)
- Walk-bike-ride and pedestrian friendly area
- Identity of Oro Valley as its own growing community
- Negative comments (in no particular order)
- Locations are already built up
- Concerns over parking and circulation
- Taxes should not pay for this
- Questions
- How parking and traffic will be impacted or handled
- How the ideas will be financed or improvements made
- Why the Oro Valley Marketplace isn’t being considered
- Specific ideas, such as splash pads should be included or residents should be involved
The Oro Valley Main Streets Facebook page was launched in December 2016 and has served as a very useful tool to share information and engage community members. Project staff have posted information about the project, local businesses, the Concept Plan and the Walk the Block event. Especially important information has also been published to the Town of Oro Valley’s main Facebook page.
People have actively engaged in asking questions and learning more about Main Streets. Over the course of the last 3+ months an increasing number of people are now following along – 660 fans “like” the Oro Valley Main Streets Facebook page. Of those, 58% are under the age of 55. This is traditionally a very difficult age group to engage in Town projects.
One of the major benefits of the Facebook page has been the ability to publicize the Walk the Block event. Originally 269 people expressed interest in attending the event through Facebook. Project staff anticipated roughly 200 people may attend. In reality between 350-400 people attended. This included a broad cross-section of the community from kids to seniors.
The Walk the Block event included five stations where participants could learn more about the project, leave their feedback, vote on different options and get fun giveaways. At each station participants were asked for their opinions on architecture, public art, sidewalks, transportation options and crosswalks. The results are illustrated in Attachment 3. People were very positive and responses demonstrated an eagerness to try something new in Oro Valley. For instance, “modern southwest” was the most desired architecture and people expressed a strong preference for places to walk around.
Summary
The feedback received to date has been very helpful in understanding concerns, questions and ideas related to Oro Valley Main Streets. Comments have been positive but, many community members are curious about specifics and what happens next. Most, if not all, of these types of specifics will be addressed during the next phase of the project. As such, no substantive changes have been included in the final Concept Plan which is before the Town Council. Ultimately, for the project to be successful more detailed work will need to be completed with the continued participation of the community.
Next Steps
The Main Streets Project has been divided into three phases of work:
- Concept Plan (2016-2017) provides a high-level vision and direction for detailed work
- Improvement Plan (2017-2018) includes detailed designs, partnerships, regulatory changes and development scenarios to make Main Streets a reality.
- Implementation (2018 onward) action over many years to help achieve the desired result through public-private partnerships and various funding tools
A considerable amount of work has laid the foundation for the Main Streets project. The Concept Plan is intended to provide a structure for continued community conversations and directions for future detailed planning. There is more work to be done to build a comprehensive and forward-thinking plan for creating a “heart” in Oro Valley. The Planning and Zoning Commission was briefed several times on the progress of the Main Streets project over the last year and recommended adoption of the Concept Plan at their regular meeting on March 7, 2017. Meeting minutes can be viewed as Attachment 4. Adoption of the Concept Plan by the Town Council will signal readiness for more detailed planning to commence in Phase 2.
In the next phase an improvement plan will be created, which will serve as a detailed blueprint for making Main Streets a reality. It will include tools for implementation such as economic development initiatives, funding methods, new regulations and public/private partnerships. In addition to the tools, the improvement plan will include specific designs and improvements that are desired. All this work will include the incorporation of community desires and ideas as the project progresses. It is anticipated project staff will return to the Town Council during future phases of work to allow for continued assessment and action. Implementation will ultimately take place over a number of years, potentially beginning in 2019 or 2020. |