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Home My Public Portal About2040 Parkville Master Plan - Section 3 Our Voice74 Parkville 2040 Master Plan OUR VOICE3Section Parkville, Missouri 75 I. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT OVERVIEW..................................................... II. KEY STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS..................................................... III. COMMUNITY SURVEY........................................................................ IV. VISUAL PREFERENCING.................................................................... V. INTERACTIVE MAPPING - EXISTING CONDITIONS............................. 76 78 83 88 93 76 Parkville 2040 Master Plan OUR VOICE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT OVERVIEW Public engagement is a vitally important element in the master planning process. The Parkville 2040 Master Plan incorporated a variety of effective and innovative public engagement methods designed to provide ample opportunities for residents, business owners, and city leaders to give their input on the long-term vision for Parkville. The Kick-off meeting with the steering committee was held in person but due to safety restrictions associated with COVID-19, all of the proceeding steering committee meetings and meetings with the public were held virtually. The vast majority of public engagement activities and opportunities for the public to provide feedback remained intact through the use of an interactive project website. This website was advertised throughout the community through the use of yard signs in public parks and spaces, social media posts and advertisements on the Parkville city website. The website allowed for continued and sustained public engagement and for the planning team to obtain the same valuable feedback that would have otherwise been gathered through in-person meetings and workshops. The details and results from the website will be discussed later on in this section. The Parkville 2040 Master Plan was developed with the results of the public engagement process as the cornerstone for the overall vision. The consensus from the public helped craft the goals, policies and action items which will ultimately guide the implementation of this plan over the next 20 years. MASTER PLAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE The Parkville 2040 Master Plan utilized a Master Plan Advisory Committee to assist in the development and review of the plan. This committee was composed of elected and appointed officials as well as key city staff that worked closely with the planning consultants throughout the process. As the local experts of Parkville, the consultants relied on and valued the input and opinions of the committee members and the development of this plan would not have been possible with their coordination and support. Parkville, Missouri 77 COMMUNICATION PLAN AND PROJECT BRANDING Early in the planning process, a communication strategy was developed between the advisory committee and the planning team. The Communication Plan identified the appropriate meeting types and dates, key stakeholders for the consultant team to meet with, and helped identify possible themes and questions for the community survey. The master plan update was also given a branding and identification: Parkville 2040 Master Plan, to help create a recognizable identity for the project. The logo and the color scheme were inspired by Parkville’s current city logo. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS AND SCHEDULE Below is a simplified public engagement schedule. The top half displays the meetings with the steering committee and Joint Workshops with the Planning Commission and Board of Alderman. The lower half shows public meetings / engagements and the public approval hearings. TASK 1 Project Kick-off TASK 2 TASK 3 TASK 4 TASK 5 TASK 6 TASK 7 Information Gathering + Review Public Outreach + Vision Scenario Analysis + Refined Options Draft Master Plan Evaluation + Public Comment Master Plan Hearings + Adoption Master Plan Product Delivery Kick-Off Meeting SC Meeting #1 Analysis Review SC Meeting #2 Public Workshop #1 Public Workshop #2 Interactive Website Launch Key Stakeholder Interviews Analysis Review SC Meeting #3 Analysis Review SC Meeting #4 Draft Plan Review SC Meeting #5 Draft Plan Review SC Meeting #6 Draft Plan Review SC Meeting #7 Draft Plan Public Presentation (Public Workshop #3) Public Review and Comment Period Draft Plan Review Joint Work Session Planning Commission Hearing Board of Alderman Hearing 78 Parkville 2040 Master Plan OUR VOICE KEY STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS One of the most valuable engagement exercises used in the development of this master plan was the completion of key stakeholder interviews. Members of the planning team met virtually with individuals from the community that represented a wide variety of residents, business owners, school officials and city leaders. The small group setting helps provide a safe and open dialogue where participants are able to speak freely about any strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges facing Parkville both currently and in the years to come. The feedback gained through these interviews were critical in the consultant team’s understanding of the Parkville community. KEY TAKEAWAYS / THEMES Downtown Parkville Following the key stakeholder interviews, a set of themes was developed based on the feedback received. Input collected related to one of the following themes; Downtown, the railroad, growth and development, housing, parks and recreation, infrastructure and services, transportation and corridors, Parkville reputation / branding and issues around quality of life. The following pages will list the positive and negative comments associated with each of these themes as well as the opportunities and challenges discussed for each. • Area south of tracks –not doing well • Downtown CID and city are not on the same page • No student-oriented retail / services • Disconnect between Downtown and everywhere else • Not enough parking near shops • City has not invested in Downtown • Downtown not getting the traffic to support retail • Grow fun boutique businesses and restaurants • Need walkable mix of social activities / businesses • Add residential south of the tracks • Retain character of Downtown and encourage new development • Need more bars • Student / boomer housing • Pedestrian zone during events • Boutique hotel • More events / programming • Keep chain stores out • Parking and traffic flow • Traffic bottlenecks at Main and Hwy 9 • Retail is probably not as viable now • First floor retail requirements • Keeping Downtown vibrant • Fix disconnect between City and CID • Flood plain • Businesses need to work together Groups represented in the key stakeholder interviews include: • Business owners • Local developers • City officials / staff • Parkville residents • Park University • Parkhill School District • Local faith communities • Main St / Downtown is great • Keep the quaintness • Locally owned shops • Great events Downtown • Historic character is an asset • Downtown is a strength in Parkville • Farmers Market is cool • Seems like small river town • Events draw people from all over the metro Positive Negative Opportunities Challenges Parkville, Missouri 79 Growth and Development Railroad KEY TAKEAWAYS / THEMES • Trains aren’t really a problem –people are used to them • Slow growth is good • City good to work with • A lot of exciting new development • City works to “roll out the red carpet” for developers • Attractive to new residential developments • Stop the train horns • Rail line relocation was not supported by the community because of the impact to English Landing Park • Train noises during downtown activities • Too many big chain stores • Creekside is too dense • Don’t want industrial land use • Parkville has a bad reputation for development support • Be careful on too many incentives • Relocate tracks south of Downtown • Quiet Zone • Keep out national chains and encourage locally-owned businesses • Need to keep commercial and industrial tax base • Need local / entertainment retail and mix of housing • Partner with Park University to be a part of the community planning process • Strategic annexations • Need jobs –not just housing • Make new development experiential • Train noises impact on any proposed housing • Manage growth to remain small and quaint • Don’t turn Hwy 45 corridor into Hwy 152 in Liberty • Topography is a challenge • Keeping the charm of Parkville while continuing to grow • Limiting rural development • Be careful with too restrictive design standards Positive Negative Opportunities Challenges Positive Negative Opportunities Challenges 80 Parkville 2040 Master Plan OUR VOICE Parks and Recreation Housing KEY TAKEAWAYS / THEMES • Multi-family has been built around or near Parkville to meet demands • Good values for housing • People love the parks –don’t change them • Parks and nature preserves are an asset • Parks and trails are great –should be expanded • Lack of housing choices • Rental housing is not great • Housing is too expensive • Missing water parks (spray grounds) • Pocket Park –“$500k misunderstanding” • Encourage housing for those looking to downsize • Allow more dense apartment developments • Need more affordable housing • Need workforce housing • Need student housing • Parks Master Plan needs to happen • Make sure parks are more accessible to seniors • Need more winter-time activities • Encourage more events / programming • Protect existing neighborhoods from new residential developments • Encouraging young adults to stay in Parkville • ½ cent sales tax –not enough to maintain all the parks –seeing decline Positive Negative Opportunities Challenges Positive Negative Opportunities Challenges Parkville, Missouri 81 Transportation and Corridors Infrastructure and Services KEY TAKEAWAYS / THEMES • City great with snow removal and street repair • Good police dept. • Love programs at the library and YMCA • City “doing a lot with a very little” • Elected officials have been supportive and listen • Transportation Dept. tax brings in $350,000 for street improvements • City is financially strapped • High turnover of staff • Some maintenance issues • Thousand Oaks is a dangerous bus situation • Sewer and sidewalk maintenance • Need safe passages to school • Lack of transit for lower-income residents • Too much traffic on Hwy 9 • New police station and public works facility on west side of Parkville? • Smart City Plan • Need new senior center • Need to increase public works staff and funding as city grows • Golf carts on highways • Recycling Center • Need more bike lanes and traffic calming • Need to mow / maintain highway medians • Improve Hwy through Downtown • Need sidewalks throughout and safe bus stops • Add KCATA routes to Parkville • Everything is “specials” • Water Districts • Road District • Sewer District • Fire District • One group can hold up process until everyone signs off • City doesn’t control water, fire and all of the sanitary • Recruiting is difficult for police department • Don’t expand Hwy 9 into a superhighway • “Death Curve” –Hwy 9 at 1stStreet • MODOT needs to take care of what they own -eyesore Positive Negative Opportunities Challenges Positive Negative Opportunities Challenges 82 Parkville 2040 Master Plan OUR VOICE Quality of Life / Why Parkville Parkville Reputation and Branding KEY TAKEAWAYS / THEMES • Parkville is considered cool • Easy to do business with • School district is 11thmost diverse in Missouri • Parkville has key assets that other communities do not • Unique jewel of the Northland • Has a great reputation • School district • Easy commute to Downtown KC • Good quality of life • Proximity to things within the metro • Small in size • Quasi-rural feel • Good county services • Parkville is unique • Parks are an asset • Quiet and peaceful • Identity crisis –what are we? • Parkville isn’t really a college town • No consensus on what Parkville wants to be • Bad reputation for development • Divide between new and old parts of town • City staff can’t afford to live in Parkville • Rich / poor divide • City not oriented to the future enough • Tension between old and new • Need to know the goals of the community • Need to attract more visitors • Need to better advertise Parkville • Community for all Ages • Work with Park University to strengthen the working relationship and brand the community / school • Need to help low-income population have access to social services • Take good care of what we already have • Develop innovation campus - Park Hill School District • Utilize Park University as a partner • Identity crisis • One size doesn’t fit all • Lots of people have not heard of Parkville • Gentrification of old town housing is possible Positive Negative Opportunities Challenges Positive Negative Opportunities Challenges Parkville, Missouri 83 COMMUNITY SURVEY Through the interactive engagement website, a survey was administered to the residents of Parkville. The survey titled, ‘2040 Parkville Master Plan General Themes Survey’, allowed visitors to the website the opportunity to describe their relationship to the city of Parkville, express their views on the overall quality of life and indicate their feelings for needed improvements and amenities in the community. The results and main takeaways from this survey has been compiled on the following pages. 1. What is your current relationship to Parkville? Select all that apply. 2. Which reason best describes why you live in Parkville? Select all that apply. 3. How would you rate the quality of life in Parkville? 4. Over time, you expect the quality of life in Parkville to... Current resident - 59% Platte County resident - 20% I grew up in Parkville but live elsewhere - 2% Work in Parkville - 17% Clay County resident - 2% High quality of life - 32% School district - 19% Housing options - 12% Close proximity to Kansas City - 21% Grew up here / am from Parkville - 7% Other - 3% Recreation offerings - 11% Low cost of living - 3% High - 43% Very high - 41% Somewhere between high and low - 16% Increase - 59% Stay the same - 26% Decrease - 15% 84 Parkville 2040 Master Plan OUR VOICE COMMUNITY SURVEY 5. What actions would help improve the quality of life in Parkville? Select up to three responses. 6. What do you consider to be Parkville’s most important transportation priorities?8. What do you consider to be Parkville’s most important housing priority? 7. What areas / corridors of the city currently have issues with traffic / congestion? Enhanced downtown area - 25% Improved sidewalks / trail connections - 25% Grow in population to attract more amenities, services, restaurants, etc. - 12% Strategic housing development strategy - 16%Improved transit routes / connections - 9% More parks and recreation opportunities - 13% Reduce maintenance costs - 1% Widening / adding lanes to streets - 7% Improve transit access & mobility - 11% Improving pedestrian access & mobility - 33% Improving bicycle access & mobility - 23%Improve east / west connections near downtown - 15% Maintaining current traffic flow - 10% 9 Hwy. (Downtown) - 35%Downtown - 19% Bell Road - 5% 9 Highway and 45 Highway - 16% Highway FF - 14% Highway 9 / East St. / 1 St. Intersection - 11% Creating a variety of housing types - 28% More affordable housing - 26% Existing home rehabilitation / improvement - 23% New single-family detached homes - 7% None / Nothing - 7% Senior housing - 5% High-end housing - 4% Parkville, Missouri 85 COMMUNITY SURVEY 9. What type of retail / commercial development is most needed in Parkville? Select up to three responses. 10. For a city the size of Parkville, what park and recreation amenities should be most prioritized? Select up to three responses. Sit-down restaurants - 23% Fast food restaurants - 3% Services - 8% Grocery store - 3% Destination retail - 19%Hotel - 4% Bars - 10% Entertainment venues - 13% Downtown residential - 9% Mixed-use developments - 8% Park space for passive recreation (walking, biking, bird watching, etc.) - 35% Fields / courts for recreation, youth and adult sports - 10%Playgrounds - 16% Trails - 33% Recreational programs - 3%Aquatics - 2% GUIDING PRINCIPLES RANKING Early on in the planning process, the steering committee and planning team developed a set of guiding principles. These principles are based off of the guiding principles from the 2009 Parkville Master Plan but have been tweaked and edited for the purposes of this plan. Additionally, a principle regarding housing has been added to the set. Another engagement tool on the plan’s interactive website, allowed participants to rank the guiding principles as a way to indicate their feelings for what the city’s priorities and values should be for the next twenty years. The results of this ranking activity are shown below. 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th Downtown Old-Town District - Improve downtown through strategic investments in streetscapes, strengthened connectivity with the riverfront and surrounding neighborhoods, and through expanded downtown housing options to help businesses. Integrated Land Uses - Provide a thoughtful mix of vibrant neighborhoods, parks and greenspace, schools and civic institutions, and business and employment land uses connected through a multi-modal transportation system. Civic and Open Spaces - Provide a variety of civic / open spaces, connected through low-impact trails, that preserve the natural features of Parkville while allowing opportunities for active / passive recreation to promote health and wellness of residents. Community Character - Maintain Parkville’s identity as a progressive, forward-thinking community with a historic ambiance that values thoughtful community design and civic engagement. Transportation - Provide a balanced transportation system that has a context sensitive design and promotes multi-modal connectivity to reduce overall reliance on the automobile. Housing - Provide a mix of housing options and neighborhoods that meet the needs of a variety of age and income levels and creates a secure, welcoming sense of place. Environmental Stewardship - Preserve and protect open space, clean air and water, and Parkville’s natural features as it develops using methods that provide open space for recreation and natural stormwater management. Community Sustainability - Build resiliency through decision-making that is respectful of our natural features, fiscally responsible for our residents and equitably distributed to meet the diverse needs of our community, now and in the future. 86 Parkville 2040 Master Plan OUR VOICE POSTCARD EXERCISES At the kick-off meeting with the steering committee as well as on the interactive engagement website, the planning team provided postcards that encouraged residents of Parkville to think about their community in 2040 and write to a friend or loved one to describe why they should visit them in Parkville at that time. This activity is a fun way to get people to think hard about what they wish to see in their community and what makes it so great for them to live in and for others to come and visit. The postcard had the following phrase: “Dear Friend/Family, It is the year 2040 and you should visit me here in Parkville because...” Below are a snapshot of the responses received from the postcard activity. “This is the nicest little city you have ever seen. We have an adorable downtown, redeveloped riverfront with parks and activities, a lake, great schools, and a quality of life other areas can only dream of! We have spirit, the roads are great, and the community is really cohesive and friendly. “Our historic downtown is joined by the now historic commons development and there is a very awesome restaurant on the riverbank along with the other stores. ““ It is the crown jewel of the KC metro that balances economic growth with environmental preservation in a fiscally sound manner with an exceptional quality of life. ““ We have an adorable downtown with lots of cute shops and great restaurants. You can stay at our place if you want - it’s a quick walk or bike ride to downtown. Or stay at one of the B+B’s right in downtown. We’ll meet you for brunch at the outdoor cafe, then hit the farmer’s market. We can go to a wine tasting before the music festival - it will be an awesome weekend. Can’t wait to see you! “ “ It is the most welcoming and inviting town. It has wonderful recreation opportunities, a lively downtown scene, and it values both the environment and inclusion; and it shows. “ “ Figure 3.00 Parkville Postcards Parkville, Missouri 87 OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES Early on in the engagement process, the consultant team asked the steering committee members to brainstorm what they saw as the biggest opportunities and challenges for the city of Parkville. There answers were collected and formed into word clouds to get a better understanding of the major themes and ideas coming from this prompt. Opportunities Challenges ONE BIG DREAM AND FEAR Additionally, the steering committee was encouraged to think about what they saw as their One Big Dream and One Big Fear for the community. The responses were categorized into the following themes below. On e B i g D r e a m On e B i g F e a r Infrastructure Improvements Improved traffic flow Complete streets on all major corridors FF corridor enhancement Always maintain infrastructure Bike and walk safely around Parkville WiFi access in parks Enhance Downtown Rehab historic area - should be major attraction Maintain small-town ambiance Housing to support retail Retain quality park spacesImproved transit system Redevelop Post Office site Riverfront Development Develop exciting riverfront area Riverfront attractions like San Antonio Redevelop area south of the tracks Quality of Life Grow responsibily and in a green way! Make Parkville appealing to all ages Ensure citizens are actively engaged in Parkville Sustain the friendly charm of the city Loss of Small-Town Charm Overdevelopment and crime Losing charm and becoming another beige suburb Strip malls on major routes Traffic congestion City loses its identity with too much development Lose current culture of a small, fun and friendly community Unresponsible growth We turn into 152 in Liberty Financial / Government Constraints Lack of financial support for accomplishing goals Political infightingBecome too insular Too narrow of a definition of quality Funding falling through 88 Parkville 2040 Master Plan OUR VOICE VISUAL PREFERENCING To understand which types of land uses, development types and public amenities that are preferred in the City of Parkville, several visual preferencing exercises were conducted. Residents were able to select the types/style of housing, parks, downtown enhancements, and mixed-use developments they felt best fit the demand and character of the city. The following images are organized from most to least preferred for each of those categories. Park Amenities The visual preference results for the Park Amenities categorized displayed a range of programmatic elements as the most preferred options. Topping the list, a botanical garden, would be a great amenity to incorporate into one of Parkville’s many expansive nature-focused public spaces. Parkville residents expressed their great appreciation for these types of spaces within the community and having a botanical garden component, is not a surprising addition. The program to receive the second highest number of votes was a performance venue. This result speaks to the desire of Parkville residents to have events to attend within their public spaces. Parkville should analyze opportunities for a dedicated and yet flexible performance space to add to the already rich set of programs and events that take place in the community annually. Finally, paved trails received the third highest number of votes. As mentioned, Parkville residents appreciate and value the extensive trail network across the city. Many comments received indicate the desire to expand that network and better connect parts of the city that currently lack it. Least Preferred Most Preferred Neutral Neutral Botanical Garden Park Shelter Paved Trails Splash Pad Performance Venue Sports Fields / Courts Multi-Purpose Path Nature Play Open Greenspace Dog Park Water Feature Urban Parklet Playgrounds Outdoor Fitness Parkville, Missouri 89 It was clear from the housing visual preferencing responses, that Parkville residents prefer single-family homes, whether they be older remodeled homes, new mid-size or large single-family homes. This is currently the predominant housing type in Parkville and in general, residents prefer it. Townhomes / rowhomes, condominiums / apartment buildings were more in the neutral range of images with garden style apartments and quadraplexes being the least preferred housing type. Housing Most Preferred Least Preferred VISUAL PREFERENCING Mixed-Use Developments Generally speaking, the top choices for mixed-use development display a more traditional architectural character while showing a range of densities and building heights. This demonstrates the openness to more-dense buildings if accompanied by proper site design treatments and doesn’t take away from the existing character of the community. The more modern or contemporary images shown above were least preferred for this type of development. Least PreferredMost Preferred Neutral Neutral Older Single-Family Detached Home Quadraplex Multi-Family Home New Single-Family Detached Home New Mid-Size Single- Family Detached Home New Large Single-Family Detached Home Townhouse / Rowhome Condominium / Apartment Building Garden Style (1-3 Stories) Apartment Building 90 Parkville 2040 Master Plan OUR VOICE VISUAL PREFERENCING Downtown Enhancements Most Preferred Least Preferred The downtown enhancement visual preferences provided a range of options for Parkville residents to consider when thinking about making large and/or small improvements to their downtown public areas. Outdoor seating and plaza spaces was the highest rank amenity indicated. These features speak to the character of the downtown and having the ability to spend an extended period of time within the district. The two following preferred options, planters & lighting and building facade improvements, are cost effective ways to enhance the overall aesthetic and placemaking qualities of downtown. Street trees are also a high-ranking element that would add to the quality of life of downtown Parkville and help soften the primarily hard-scaped area. Other elements include bike amenities, public art and enhanced streetscapes. Parking structures received the fewest votes. While parking is an important component to residents, visitors and business owners, there was the general consensus that having a large parking structure would likely take away from the character of downtown Parkville. Other options for maintaining and enhancing parking and the location of parking should be examined. Neutral Outdoor Seating & Plaza Spaces Enhanced Streetscapes Building Facade Improvements Branded Gateways & Signage Planters & Lighting Activated Greenspace Street Trees Street Furniture Mini Park / Courtyard Parking Structure Bike Amenities Public Art Parkville, Missouri 91 VISUAL PREFERENCING - PUBLIC WORKSHOP A second series of visual preferencing was conducted during the virtual public workshop on February 8, 2021 using an interactive, real-time polling tool. This version of visual preferencing offered multiple images under a singular type of development which gave people the opportunity to select their preferred character versus scale or type of development. For this activity, participants to the workshop were presented with the following categories: Single-family residential, patio homes, rowhouses / townhomes, multi-story apartments / condos, commercial pad sites, small commercial centers, large commercial centers and mixed-use developments. The results of this activity are found below. Residential Development - Single-Family Residential Development - Patio Home Residential Development - Rowhouse / Townhome Residential Development - Multi-Story Apartment / Condo The single-family home that was preferred the most reflects the use of high-quality materials and deemphasizes the garage as a prominent feature of the home. This image was the overwhelmingly preferred image with the other three images receiving similar quantities of votes. An existing townhome in Parkville was the most preferred option for the rowhouse / townhome category. This may reflect the familiarity with this particular project but the second highest image reflects a more pedestrian-oriented and slightly more modern style. The patio home style that was most preferred again reflects the use of high-quality materials and even though the garage remains prominent, which is typical with this type of housing, it is well incorporated into the overall design of the home. The two least preferred options have a simpler design aesthetic and more prominent garages. Multi-story apartments and condos with high quality materials and that aren’t too tall were the most preferred options here. Notably, the picture on the left shows ample greenery around the base of the building which could be an additional reason this photo was selected. Option 4, the least preferred, shows a more modern facade. 92 Parkville 2040 Master Plan OUR VOICE VISUAL PREFERENCING - PUBLIC WORKSHOP Commercial Development - Retail Pad Site Commercial Development - Small Commercial Center Commercial Development - Large Commercial Center Mixed-Use Development Retail pad sites with high quality materials and outdoor amenities such as seating areas were the most preferred. Materials such as a variety of bricks and building details like awnings and canopies are other notable features of the most preferred images. For large commercial centers, members of the steering committee preferred store facades with ample glass and architectural detailing. It is worth nothing for this category, there were several comments regarding none of these images as the preferred option, indicating that large commercial centers in general are not a preferred development type in Parkville. The most preferred small commercial center once again shows high-quality materials and ample landscaping incorporated into the design. The top image also shows a walkable environment with good architectural details like dormers, awnings and cornices. The least preferred images reflect a more typical small commercial center with prominent parking lots and very little detailing on the facades of the buildings. Medium-scaled mixed-use developments with facade treatments that enhance the streetscape environment was the most preferred image in this category. Landscaping incorporated into the streetscape is also an important feature of this image. The least preferred images demonstrate a larger-scale building. Parkville, Missouri 93 INTERACTIVE MAPPING - EXISTING CONDITIONS Visitors to the public engagement website were able to leave comments regarding the existing conditions within the City of Parkville. Comment types included: Love This!Ideas Questions Needs Work I want to walk/ bike here Stormwater Issue / Idea Transportation Issue / Idea I live here Over 130 comments provided a clear picture of how residents feel about certain physical aspects of their community. Comments related to a wide variety of elements in Parkville with most relating to: - Trail and pedestrian/bike path connections - Downtown Improvements - Parkville’s unique character - City Amenities These themes will be discussed on the following pages. Figure 3.01 Interactive mapping comments 94 Parkville 2040 Master Plan OUR VOICE INTERACTIVE MAPPING - EXISTING CONDITIONS We just visited Homer Lake in Champaign, IL and they have a wonderful “nature playscape” for kids to explore. It would be nice to have something like that in the center of one of the park trails. There should be no lighting on the fields in Platte Landing Park and games should be over no later than sundown or before 9 p.m. This would lessen the negative impacts on Bluffs residents. Provide additional seating in spots along the trail in Platte Landing Park. Another vehicular access into Platte Landing Park for the west side that that includes access to downtown south of the railroad tracks. With improvements to East Street this could lead to a reduction of east and west congestion. No lighted ball fields; they are incompatible with the wetland habitat just installed in the park and are damaging to wildlife. Any future lighted ball fields must to be turned off 1 hour after sundown throughout the year. Plant more trees along the northern trail loop to provide needed shade and as a buffer between the railroad tracks. Pocket Park is underutilized and should be a great draw for residents and tourists alike if a dynamic and diverse calendar of events were the norm. Music acts, performers, artist exhibits, family friendly events, etc. would draw even more tourism. Would love to see a specific use for Bruce R. Watkins Park, maybe as a community garden or a playground? The baseball complex west of I-435 on Hwy. 45 is outstanding and has been bringing in tournaments and visitors from throughout the Midwest. More sales tax revenue that likely would have gone elsewhere. The nature sanctuary is a Parkville highlight and should be protected for years to come. The Farmers Market is a fantastic amenity in Downtown. The Waddell truss bridge is a wonderful historic item that was added to English Landing Park. Truss bridges are rapidly being destroyed and lost, so I encourage the preservation and reuse of old structures into parks whenever possible! J.A.L. Waddell would be proud of this. Really love all the recent enhancements to Platte Landing Park-- the dog park shade structures, the additional trees planted along the path, and the wetlands project make me happy to see my tax dollars used in this way. This is a Parkville highlight. Love English Landing Park, but the signage is outdated and tired. It’s probably the least important thing on this map, but I’d love to see an update to the signage for the various parks in Parkville. Childrens playground should be improved in English Landing Park, modern rope playgrounds such as those at Penguin Park or Roanoke Park are the future. Love This! Needs Work Ideas City Amenities Parkville, Missouri 95 INTERACTIVE MAPPING - EXISTING CONDITIONS City Amenities (cont.) The green space provided by the Nature Sanctuary is obviously very well liked based on how many people are using it. It would seem that with such emphasis that has been placed on development in Platte County, the public green space in Platte County is rapidly becoming too small for the volume of people using it. Green space greatly adds to the value and enjoyment of a community, and preferably should be available for all to use as part of a connected regional park system. I love the landscaping by the clock tower! Maybe some of our local landscaping companies can adopt various spots around Parkville and contribute to the city’s beauty through landscaping. Great location for an additional pedestrian bridge across Rush Creek that could connect the trails in Platte Landing with the shops and parking lot of English Landing Center. The bridge could be a salvaged historical truss bridge similar to what was done with the Waddell Bridge preservation project. Ideas The lot at the corner of Main St. and W. 2nd St. is for sale - will it become more commercial property in the future? What should happen to the former water department site? It appears this lot is for sale - should it become more commercial? Questions 96 Parkville 2040 Master Plan OUR VOICE INTERACTIVE MAPPING - EXISTING CONDITIONS Love This! The sanctuary trail and the waterfall are highlights of the Parkville Nature Sanctuary. Trail system is excellent and should be maintained. Love walking this trail all along the riverfront. Some walking trails are overgrown and unkempt. I enjoy walking along trails in parks with undisturbed areas as much as possible adjacent to the trails. When the water intake was recently constructed near here (Platte Landing Park along riverfront), rather than incorporating/modifying the existing trail to be used as part of the access to the water facility, a separate gravel path was constructed adjacent to the existing trail. Now there are two paths right next to each other that must be maintained. This should have been a single path/ road serving both purposes. Connect the riverfront trail to Riverside. Sidewalk at East 1st and 1st Street is crumbling. Please reinstall the plaque for George S. Park. Need additional safety measures to protect pedestrian crossings over Hwy. 9 near east side downtown gateways. Sidewalks needed along Bell Road. Shoulders are needed on Eastside Drive for walking and bicycling. Needs Work 9 Hwy. should be wider to provide more bike and walking trails to get to English Landing Park. Add sidewalks along NW Lakeview Drive into Riss Lake neighborhood. Add sidewalks and bike lanes along Hwy. 9 north of downtown. All existing city streets should have sidewalks prior to any new tax financed development. Provide several loop pathways through the inner landscape area in Platte Landing Park to provide additional walking/biking options. It would be nice if one if the parks had a dedicated bike trail for families. Ideas It would be great if this connector trail (from English Landing Park north to Nature Sanctuary) was maintained--allowing passage from downtown to the nature sanctuary on foot. Coffey road should be open to biking, walking and be connected to the English Landing Park path. Would like to jog / bike along FF / NW River Road (west of Downtown). Westside of Parkville should be connected to downtown Parkville via bike paths or trails. I really like these walking/biking paths along 45. I just wish there was a safe connection to downtown. As a main road (Hwy 9), this could be improved by adding buffer between road and sidewalks or making sidewalk further away from roadway or wider to be safer. I want to walk/bike here Trail and pedestrian/bike path connections Parkville, Missouri 97 INTERACTIVE MAPPING - EXISTING CONDITIONS Downtown Improvements Love This! The new arched precast concrete structure looks very nice here rather than the old culverts. My only comment for improvement on this project would have been to use balustrades for the railings, as they would look very aesthetic at this location in a park setting. The Farmers Market is a fantastic amenity in Downtown Love The Craig and would like to see some additional bar/restaurant options move into Downtown Parkville! Nice new office building - significant investment! The buildings need to be revamped, and the area cleaned up. The Antique shop looks great with the flowers it sells, but the other buildings are in need of repair and look abandoned at times. Maybe make an outdoor seating area or a small free outdoor music stage for musicians? String some lights across? People could bring chairs and listen to music. Invite local talent to play. Buildings like the Missouri American Water building and the vacant restaurant at S. Main St. and English Landing Drive need to be removed and/or the vacant land needs to be redeveloped. The intersection at Main and East 1st Street need work. It is hard to see when turning and there is a lot more traffic coming through here. It is even more dangerous for pedestrians during rush hour. The intersection at East Street and 1st Street has bottleneck issues and crumbling sidewalks that need to be addressed. Needs Work I don’t think this area should be developed beyond what is already there which includes some commercial businesses along FF. Bauer & Associates building needs a severe face-lift or be torn down and a taller building put in its place. It is the first or second thing you see when you pull into Parkville and is one of the two buildings that frame the view of pocket park as you enter town. Ditto for the building just across the street. Post office building needs to come down. It is too close to the road and creates a pinch point both physically and visually to the Highway 9/East Street bend in the road. In addition, it is plain ugly. Post office needs updating but needs to remain in town. I wonder if, instead of giving tax incentives for new construction, we could incentivize businesses to move to and renovate our downtown. Please reinstall the plaque for George S. Park. Why isn’t the city asking residents if they want a more densely redeveloped downtown? Are they afraid of the answer? I don’t think that downtown Parkville has the infrastructure to support a lot of development (think two lane streets and limited parking). You could also lose the charm and quaintness that appeals to so many. Ideas Could the downtown area eventually attract a boutique hotel and apartments/ condos to help support retail and restaurants? Should something be done to improve the appearance (and use) of these buildings downtown? Questions 98 Parkville 2040 Master Plan OUR VOICE INTERACTIVE MAPPING - EXISTING CONDITIONS This seems to be a well thought out plan. It retains the history and feel of our “town”, and yet provides the improvements necessary to continue to enjoy the quaint feel. Parks, businesses/shops, sidewalks, safe family environment. These are important pieces included in this plan. The Waddell truss bridge is a wonderful historic item that was added to English Landing Park. Truss bridges are rapidly being destroyed and lost, so I encourage the preservation and reuse of old structures into parks whenever possible! J.A.L. Waddell would be proud of this. The nature sanctuary is a Parkville highlight and should be protected for years to come. The sanctuary trail and the waterfall are highlights of this amenity. Leave green space. Do not add town homes, condos or any housing at the entrance to Riss. Great plan. There are examples nearby, of the need to include business and density mix, within our City boundaries. Reliance on being a bedroom community alone will place our community in a difficult financial position in the future. This is a great plan. I love the older architecture of this campus! It helps make the area special and unique. Main Street America! Retain the small town feel of Parkville, not suburban sprawl. Main Street is very charming, love driving down it and looking at the historic houses. Parkville’s Unique Character Love This! As a downtown resident, my family and I find it difficult to cope with the train noise. Any improvement on this front would be fantastic. The historic homes on the between 2nd and 3rd Street, and Main and East Street are not being maintained. I would love to see these re-clad with Hardie-board siding, new style-appropriate windows and painted historic colors. This could be a real post-card looking block. I heard condos were going up at the Riss Lake and Hwy 9 entrance. The beauty of the area will be completely lost, along with the property values. Most people bought in Riss Lake because it was a well-planned community with amazing natural beauty, in a small town with great proximity to downtown, the airport and highways. Since we moved 13 years ago the area is so much more commercialized. There is also a lot of multi-family housing, as well as 50+ housing already available. No need for more. Need a tree protection ordinance. Stop issuing land disturbance permits until a developer is actually ready to construct. Land disturbances left unattended for months to years destroys the natural beauty of Parkville (what’s left) with negative environmental and stormwater impacts. Needs Work Keep the look and feel of downtown Parkville more historic. Even when new buildings are added they can be built in a traditional style. The unique architecture of Park U. + the old-world charm of the buildings on Main Street are a draw, not the new office building which looks out of place. The trains have been a part of Parkville since the 19th century. Residents and businesses are aware of the trains and their whistles when they locate here. By doing so, they are accepting this historic part of our community. Ideas Parkville, Missouri 99 INTERACTIVE MAPPING - EXISTING CONDITIONS Transportation Love This! Glad to have better access to nature area. Will there be additional parking or multiple parking locations? Child pick up before and after school has traffic backed up to the stop lights at 45hwy & 9hwy. This section of 45 should be reconsidered for easier use for Graden & commuters using 45hwy during pick up/drop off times Need better traffic control along Tom Watson Parkway NW Bell Road needs a complete overhaul. It’s very dangerous. There are so many hills, quite a bit of foot traffic, no curbs, and no sidewalks. Please curb and sidewalk Bell Road from 45 to at least Hamilton Street. Needs Work Don’t extend vehicular or street connection south to 9 highway. Walking and biking connections are great though. Public transit in Parkville is non-existent except for school buses. I believe that a robust transit system is one of the best solutions to the ever-growing problem of auto congestion. However, if there is any hope of this ever happening there needs to be a regional embracement of all communities in the region to develop a system that can efficiently, safely and reliably get you anywhere in the region that you need to go. Another park access for the west side that includes access to downtown south of the railroad tracks. With improvements to East Street this could lead to a reduction of east and west congestion. Need more parking for downtown shopping. Another vehicular access into Platte Landing Park for the west side that that includes access to downtown south of the railroad tracks. With improvements to East Street this could lead to a reduction of east and west congestion. 9 hwy should be wider to provide more bike and walking trails to get to English Landing Park Coffey road should be open to Riss Lake. This would help alleviate traffic in downtown Parkville and allow Riss Lake residents quicker access to work in KC and school at PHS. Sidewalks needed throughout Walnut Creek Acres subdivision to ensure safety of neighbors and children. Ideas Will there ever be public transit on Hwy 45 that can be connected to at I-29? Questions 100 Parkville 2040 Master Plan OUR VOICE INTERACTIVE MAPPING - EXISTING CONDITIONS Transportation (Cont.) Transportation Issue / Idea The intersection at E 1st Street and NW River Park Drive needs to be improved The intersection at W Mill Street and S Main Street is challenging for those of us west of downtown, either while trying to drive during rush hour, when there is a back up on Main street due to a train, or any major event going on downtown (parades, festivals, etc.). The intersection at Main Street and East Street needs to be improved - tough to see to the south when traveling northbound to turn out safely This intersection is challenging for those of us west of downtown, either while trying to drive during rush hour, when there is a back up on Main street due to a train, or any major event going on downtown (parades, festivals, etc.).Parking lots needed closer to the playground at English Landing. Or better pedestrian ways separate from the road bridge. Scary to get from the big parking lot to the playground with small kids. Parking lots needed closer to the playground at English Landing. Or better pedestrian ways separate from the road bridge. Scary to get from the big parking lot to the playground with small kids. 101Parkville, Missouri INTERACTIVE MAPPING - PREVIOUS PLANNING INITIATIVES 2020 Future Land Use Plan As mentioned previously in this plan, visitors to the online interactive mapping activity also had the opportunity to view specific past planning initiatives and give any comments they felt were necessary to consider as the 2040 Master Plan was being developed. The 2020 Future Land Use Plan was included in the 2009 Master Plan and reflects the future preferred land use from that time. Below are the comments received for this plan: 6-3 Chapter Six: Land Use Master Plan I don’t think this area should be developed beyond what is already there which includes commercial businesses along FF. This area has been discussed as future medium/high density residential development by Don Julian. This space should be left open and natural for wildlife. Could the downtown area eventually attract a boutique hotel and apartments / condos? Would help support retail and restaurants. I do not feel this area should ever have residential structures. It is too close to the tracks and would be subject to train vibrations. Trail derailments are also a threat. Participants were also asked to comment on specific previous planning efforts the City of Parkville initiated to understand if the concepts and ideas presented in those plans are still relevant and should be implemented by the city. Plans available for comment came from the 2009 Parkville Master Plan and included the Future Land Use Plan, the Annexation Priorities Plan, the Downtown Future Land Use Plan, the Downtown Sidewalk and Trail Improvements Plan and the Downtown Redevelopment and Infill Plan. Comments on these specific plans will be discussed later on in this chapter. 102 Parkville 2040 Master Plan OUR VOICE INTERACTIVE MAPPING - PREVIOUS PLANNING INITIATIVES 2020 Downtown Sidewalk and Trail Improvements Plan (2009) 2020 Downtown Future Land Use Plan (2009)2020 Downtown Redevelopment and Infill Plan (2009) 36 Fig. 3.26 – Sidewalk and Trail Improvements Plan Recommendations 28 Fig. 3.4 – Future Land Use Zones Diagram Recommendations 65 Fig. 3.96 – Redevelopment and In ll Plan Recommendations Very happy about sidewalks added to 9 Hwy! Much safer for joggers! Glad to have better access to nature area. Will there be additional parking or multiple parking locations? What happened with the redevelopment of this area? What should happen to the former water department site? Should something be done to improve the appearance (and use) of these buildings? Should this remain green space? I know that medium / high-density residential has been discussed for this location. It appears this lot is for sale - should it become more commercial? 36 Fig. 3.26 – Sidewalk and Trail Improvements Plan Recommendations 28 Fig. 3.4 – Future Land Use Zones Diagram Recommendations 65 Fig. 3.96 – Redevelopment and In ll Plan Recommendations Very happy about sidewalks added to 9 Hwy! Much safer for joggers! Glad to have better access to nature area. Will there be additional parking or multiple parking locations? What happened with the redevelopment of this area? What should happen to the former water department site? Should something be done to improve the appearance (and use) of these buildings? Should this remain green space? I know that medium / high-density residential has been discussed for this location. It appears this lot is for sale - should it become more commercial? 36 Fig. 3.26 – Sidewalk and Trail Improvements Plan Recommendations 28 Fig. 3.4 – Future Land Use Zones Diagram Recommendations 65 Fig. 3.96 – Redevelopment and In ll Plan Recommendations Very happy about sidewalks added to 9 Hwy! Much safer for joggers! Glad to have better access to nature area. Will there be additional parking or multiple parking locations? What happened with the redevelopment of this area? What should happen to the former water department site? Should something be done to improve the appearance (and use) of these buildings? Should this remain green space? I know that medium / high-density residential has been discussed for this location. It appears this lot is for sale - should it become more commercial? 103 WHAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IN PARKVILLE KEY TAKEAWAYS WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT PARKVILLE WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN PARKVILLE The charm and character of Parkville is very unique and is what makes the community special! Downtown Parkville is historic and full of locally- owned shops and a place we love spending time in! The parks and nature preserves in Parkville are amazing - they really show case the unique topography we have! Parkville has a really high quality of life and is conveniently located within the Kansas City metropolitan region. The pace of development in Parkville is good - not growing too fast to maintain the character of charm of the city. The current housing choices discourage a diverse, welcoming and equitable community. Parkville will become like Liberty with big box retail. Don’t let the city develop too quickly. Traffic becomes unmanageable in Downtown and along 45 Highway. Concerned about the lack of pedestrian / bicycle connections throughout the community that are safe and comfortable. Worried that the unique natural features (topography, tree cover, etc.) will be lost to increased development. There needs to be better connections between Downtown and the riverfront parks! Downtown streetscape enhancements that encourage walkability and spending an extended amount of time. New housing options that promote diversity, affordability and a wide range of ages and abilities. Mixed-use developments that are not too tall or high in density so as to not take away from Parkville’s existing character Additional pedestrian and bicycle connections throughout Parkville - especially connecting the east and west sides of the city.Updated park amenities such as a performance venue, more trails, botanical gardens and multi-purpose paths. Small-scale commercial developments that have a high level of architectural character and detail. Parkville, Missouri