7(b) Downtown Plan Update - Placemaking, Proposed Improvements and Implementation

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Utilize unused parking lots that can be used for overflow parking during peak times: The parking lots of public buildings such as City Hall and the Pequot Lakes School sit relatively unused on Saturdays and Sundays, especially during the summer. Using these lots as well as other parking tots that are not used on weekends would help accommodate increased traffic without having to develop new parking lots that are costly to acquire and construct and will often sit vacant in non-peak times. As the plan is implemented and pedestrian infrastructure installed this will become a more viable option. Construct new parking lots:The proposed plan identifies the potential location of more parking. Locating and developing parking lots within the downtown need to be considered carefully. Placing parking close to the center of downtown can provide much needed parking, but it can also occupy valuable land that might have a better use. It also creates voids in activity that witl affect pedestrian traffic. Locating parking off the main streets of downtown will help reduce this affect. However,when locating parking off the main street it often pushes it back along the borders of the downtown area where it could have negative effects on surrounding residential uses. Landscaping and design can be used to minimize these impacts. Pedestrian Improvements Increasing the profile of downtown and improving the parking situation are keys to increasing the activity in downtown, but the real success will be in how welcoming downtown is to people once they arrive.The following improvements will ensure that downtown is safe and welcoming to all. Crosswalks: Stamped and colored concrete or bituminous materials should be used to define crosswalks.This creates a more pedestrian friendly environment by defining pedestrian areas from automobile areas. Bump outs: Bumping out the curb at intersections creates larger sidewalk and pedestrian areas and limits the amount of roadway pedestrians are required to cross. This creates a safer perceived pedestrian environment without compromising drive lane width. The added space created by bump outs can be used for kiosks, benches or landscaping. Benches:Creating nodes for pedestrians to sit not only provide a utilitarian use of sitting to relax during a day shopping,they also add to more street activity. Kiosks:As Downtown expands and increases the number of businesses it is important to let visitors know what business are in downtown and where they are located. Lighting: Removing the wooden power poles and their overhead amber street lights and replacing them with ornamental lighting will help dress up the streetscape and provide a more inviting experience once night falls. Locating the light between the sidewalk and the street will help define the pedestrian space, especially in areas where on-street parking has been removed, such as Main Street. Infrastructure Improvements The infrastructure in nearly the entire project area is due for some type of rehabilitation project. This creates an excellent opportunity to modify what is in place to enhance the downtown environment. One of the key infrastructure improvements that need to be made is to provide storm sewer throughout the downtown. The style and intensity of the development needed in this area demands that there be a mechanism for managing stormwater. While some localized systems, such as a rain