The proposed recommendations intended to achieve
the goal and objectives for downtown revitalization are:
Establish a Town Council appointed Downtown
Revitalization Committee to serve as an advisor for the implementation
of the Master Plan program.
This committee will serve in an advisory capacity to the Town Council,
and work closely with staff in the implementation of the approved
Paradise Downtown Revitalization Master Plan.
The Downtown Revitalization Committee shall be comprised of eleven (11)
members and shall be constituted as follows:
One
(1) Town Council Member representative
One (1) Planning Commission representative
One (1) Economic Development Commission representative One (1) Chamber of Commerce representative
One (1) Downtown Merchants Association representative
One (1) Gold Nugget Museum representative
Five (5) citizens at large (including downtown property owners, retail
merchants, professional service representatives and residents)
The
formation of this Town Council appointed committee helps to achieve a
broader scope of active participation in the planning and
implementation of downtown revitalization.
Encourage the merchants in the downtown to
reestablish an active downtown merchants association.
Active involvement by downtown merchants in a downtown revitalization
program, particularly through the formation of an active downtown
merchants association is fundamental to a successful revitalization
effort.
Such an organization would be involved in the planning and
implementation of the downtown revitalization program; and the
marketing and promotion of the downtown to increase business for that
area of the community. It is strongly recommended that the downtown
merchants consider reestablishing this new organization as soon as
possible.
Construct public infrastructure improvements which
adequately accommodate and support retail expansion, tourism growth,
and pedestrian access in the downtown.
Parking
This master plan proposes to maintain all present public on-street
parking, and in addition, recommends the construction of landscaped and
lighted off-street public parking facilities that would be owned and
maintained by the Town.
These off-street parking facilities would be located at various
strategic locations throughout the downtown to improve parking
availability and convenience. There would be an effort to connect the
parking facilities with adequate pedestrian access, as well as to
encourage rear customer access to stores from some of these parking
facilities. In fact, this Plan recommends that initially two public
parking facilities be developed at strategic locations between Skyway
and Almond, which would provide pedestrian (and rear) access to
businesses on both major streets.
In addition, directional signs will be installed to direct the public
to the public parking facilities. Finally, this Plan proposes that the
deregulation of parking requirements achieved last year continue as a
means to encourage retail and professional service occupancy of those
buildings with less than adequate parking.
Traffic Control/Circulation
This Master Plan proposes the installation of a traffic signal at
Pearson Road and Black Olive Drive as a needed traffic control and
circulation measure. This intersection will serve as a key entry point
for the area of the downtown where the Paradise Town Center will be
located.
This Plan does not propose any additional traffic signals or stop signs
on Skyway between Pearson Road and Elliott Road. At this time,
installation of either traffic control measure would serve only to
further aggravate the traffic situation on Skyway.
However, at some later date in the downtown revitalization process,
there might be some consideration given to the merit of establishing a
traffic signal at Skyway and Fir. This is an area of the downtown in
which there is a convergence of several major anchors and a high
concentration of small businesses.
The Plan also strongly recommends the computerized interconnection of
those traffic signals serving the downtown area. The interconnection of
these signals would allow the Town by computer to adjust the phasing at
any signalized intersection in the downtown area to meet traffic volume
demands and to improve traffic circulation.
Finally, there are various intersections in the downtown itself which
should have 4-way stops to promote traffic and pedestrian safety i.e.
Pearson Road and Almond St.
Septic Capacity
The Town is presently in the final stages of engineering and planning
for the installation of a clustered septic system that will serve
various properties on the Skyway in the defined downtown area. While
the Town will own and maintain the common wastewater treatment facility
and some reserve capacity for the future, the participating property
owners will purchase the amount of capacity they currently need and
will require for the future. The introduction of this system will
ensure the continued viability of those participating businesses.
This Master Plan proposes that a similar voluntary, low cost approach
be undertaken in other commercial areas of the downtown in which
properties are at, or near capacity with their septic systems.
Installation of these additional clustered septic systems would resolve
both public health issues, and provide commercial properties with
critically needed capacity that would enable further business growth or
expansion.
Consideration should be given to a public/private clustered wastewater
system that would serve the new Paradise Town Center (including
Paradise Community Park) and private commercial properties in the
immediate vicinity.
Pedestrian Access and Safety
In order to improve pedestrian access and safety in the downtown, this
Plan proposes the installation of ADA accessible sidewalks, with ramps,
curb and gutter, throughout the defined downtown area. These sidewalk
improvements would also include drainage improvements that tie into the
catch basin on Fir Street and into the Pearson culvert on the east side
of the Memorial Trailway.
Street
Improvements
The Downtown Revitalization Master Plan recommends that most streets in
the defined downtown area receive new overlays and striping. These
include Pearson Road, from Skyway to Black Olive Drive; Almond Street,
from Elliott Rd to Pearson Road; Olive Drive, from Willow St, to
Pearson Road; Skyway, from Pearson Road to Elliot Rd; Elliott Rd., from
Skyway to the Memorial Trailway; Birch and Fir Streets, from Skyway to
Black Olive Drive; and Willow Street, from Almond St to Black Olive
Drive.
Introduce various townscape (streetscape)
enhancements in the downtown to improve its physical appearance,
functionality and identity.
This Downtown Revitalization Master Plan proposes the introduction of
various streetscape enhancements in the downtown. These would include,
but not be limited to the use and application of street trees, brick
pavers, landscaped planters, water garden landscapes, grass strips,
historic streetlights, benches, trash receptacles, signage, and bus
stop/shelter enhancements.
Also, special attention will be paid to the enhancement of key
intersections and vehicle, pedestrian and public parking facility
connector routes in the downtown.
The approved 1997 ADA Compliance and Enhancement Project by SHN
Consulting Engineers and Geologists, Inc., would be used as a reference
in the application of various streetscape enhancements in the downtown.
This Plan urges serious consideration of the use of reclaimed water
from the clustered wastewater treatment systems for irrigation of
various streetscape improvements.
Finally, this Master Plan recommends the installation of banners on the
downtown streetlights. The banners would serve to further distinguish
the downtown from the other commercial areas in the community.
Complete the Paradise Memorial Trailway and further
integrate the Memorial Trailway into the downtown.
The Memorial Trailway is a valuable and highly used resource in our
community. In addition to the need to make additional enhancements to
the improved segments of the Trailway, is a need acquire (or have
donated) that stretch of the Trailway which presently remains
unimproved.
A considerable portion of the unimproved portion of the Memorial
Trailway borders the downtown and, if improved, could provide
additional pedestrian ingress and egress, to and from the downtown.
The Town is currently pursuing an acquisition (or donation) of what is
commonly referred to as the Train Depot property, which includes the
unimproved portion of the Memorial Trailway.
This Plan proposes acquiring the property through a purchase or
donation; and making the necessary improvements to the unimproved
portion of the Trailway.
The current Fiscal Year 2000/01 Budget has CDBG Funds appropriated for
the planning and design of the Train Depot property. In addition, the
Town will be receiving Proposition 12 funds during this fiscal year.
This Plan recommends that at least a portion of these funds be
allocated to supplement the CDBG design funds, especially as it applies
to the planning and design of Paradise Community Park.
Finally, the installation of pedestrian and bicycle paths connecting
the residential areas east of the Trailway, with the Trailway, would
provide those residents with convenient access to the downtown.
Encourage the development of moderate income
residential housing in the downtown.
This Master Plan proposes that the Town encourage private development
of concentrated, moderate income, multi-family residential housing
units (including condominiums) in the area of the downtown currently
zoned T-R 1/3. This approach to residential housing would establish a
diverse residential population base, and increase the amount of
owner-occupied residential units in the downtown.
To further assist with this direction for residential housing in the
downtown, the revitalization plan further recommends that the Town
consider changing the current Town-Residential (T-R 1/3) zoning to
Multi-Family-Residential (M-R) zoning.
Establish the downtown as a public transportation
hub for our community.
As a measure to further reduce vehicle use, resulting traffic
congesting and improve traffic circulation in the downtown, this Master
Plan proposes that the Town establish the downtown as a public
transportation center for fixed bus routes and transfers. This would
involve Butte County Transit, Butte College and the Town of Paradise.
The Town intends to launch a fixed route transit service during this
fiscal year for the Paradise general public. The downtown would serve
as an excellent point of origin for such a fixed route service.
Establish a comprehensive voluntary design guide
for the downtown.
The Master Plan proposes the development of a comprehensive voluntary
downtown design guide by they Downtown Revitalization Committee, which
sets forth a series of advisory design standards to inform and assist
commercial downtown property and business owners. Such a voluntary
guide is essential to improving the overall visual and physical
appearance of the downtown.
The downtown design guide, itself, would assist with restoration of
historic characteristics, façade improvement and building
restoration standards, new construction standards, sign guidelines,
public improvements such as landscaping, street furnishings, sidewalk
improvements, and historic street lights, etc. The design guide shall
also address the use of public art in the downtown such as historic
murals and sculptures that might add to a revitalized downtown
environment.
Establish a commercial building façade
renovation and paint-up/fix-up program to further improve the physical
image and appearance of the downtown.
Utilizing the new downtown design guide as an implementation tool, this
Plan proposes a voluntary downtown public/private partnership
façade improvement program, or a paint-up/fix-up program for
those storefronts only requiring minor storefront improvements.
Performance standards and maintenance commitments would be required
from any participating property owner in either program.
Establish
the Paradise Town Center as a downtown anchor and central location for
community events and activities.
This Master Plan proposes the establishment of the Paradise Town Center
as a needed anchor in the southeastern part of the defined downtown.
The Paradise Town Center would include the following:
New
Town Civic Center
A new Town Civic Center would be developed in the
downtown as part of Paradise Town Center. The new civic center would be
constructed in the same location as the current Paradise Police
Department and Fire Department Station #1 facilities. However, the Town
Civic Center would encompass the entire downtown block bordered by
Almond Street to the west, Cedar Street to the north, Black Olive Drive
to the east, and Birth Street to the south. The main public entrance to
the civic center complex would face Black Olive Drive and the new
Paradise Community Park across the street on Black Olive Drive.
The new civic center would consolidate into one
complex the Town’s general government and primary safety
operations. The complex would include a new emergency operations
center, a consolidated dispatch center physically located between the
police and fire departments, one-stop service counters for the general
public, a new Town Council Chambers with a higher seating capacity for
our citizens and expanded police and fire operations and training
facilities.
The new civic center would have a back-up generator
system to power the facility during times of power outage or an
emergency. The civic center would also have several meeting rooms for
general public use, and to rent for regional conferences and seminars.
The meeting rooms would also be used as an evacuation site for our
community during emergencies. The meeting rooms, themselves, would be
constructed so that they could be expanded or reduced in size with
partitions. Furthermore, the civic center complex would also provide
public parking and be ADA accessible.
The proceeds from sale of the property on which
Town Hall is currently located would be applied towards the development
of the new civic center complex.
Finally, the consolidation of the Town primary
management, administrative and emergency operations would greatly
improve the efficiency, effectiveness and responsiveness of our
operations and services.
This Master Plan proposes that following the
acquisition of the Train Depot Property, the portion of the property
north of Pearson Road (excluding the Memorial Trailway) should be
developed as the Paradise Community Park. This park would be the site
for downtown community gatherings, events and activities.
It is further recommended that this downtown park
be developed as a passive park, which means there are no sports
facilities at the park. Instead, the park would contain picnic, picnic
shelter and playground amenities, as well as an area for community
events.
Furthermore the park might possibly be the site for
the Gold Nugget Museum & establishment of a Living History
Center in the downtown area. During our public workshops on the
proposed Downtown plan last Spring, the Gold Nugget Museum
representatives indicated an interest in the restoration of both the
Horlick Building (which would be relocated to the park), and the old
Train Depot building, with the intent being to utilize these restored
buildings for the Living History Center.
This Master Plan strongly recommends that at least
a portion of the Proposition 12 funds due the Town this fiscal year be
allocated to the design and development of Paradise Community Park as a
passive park in the downtown with picnic, picnic shelter and playground
amenities.
Finally, it is also recommended that the Paradise
Recreation and Parks District be invited to participate in the planning
and design of this park, and to perform any other role relative to the
park that they may deem as appropriate.
Develop a retail and professional service
recruitment program for the downtown.
The Master Plan recognizes that a successful downtown revitalization
effort requires an active retail and professional service recruitment
program that targets those businesses that would complement and help
strengthen the performance of existing businesses in the downtown area.
This recruitment program would be coordinated in concert with the
downtown property owners, the downtown merchants association and the
Chamber of Commerce. Included in this recruitment program would be the
establishment and maintenance of a downtown business (retail and
non-retail) inventory data base that would assist with recruitment and
assist prospective downtown businesses.
One (1) Chamber of Commerce representative