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W. 64th Avenue Sub-Area Plan Community Comments Summary Advance Arvada Website Community Open House #1 & Speak Up Arvada Survey October 2024 ---PAGE BREAK--- ● No more housing developments (7X & Survey Strongly Agreed) ● No more apartments/condos/townhomes or multifamily (7X & Survey Strongly Agreed) ● Need more high-density housing, but not in this area (1X) ● No more apartments or commercial development (1X) ● Keep the area as it is - no large ugly apartments/condos and townhomes as built along W 58th and Ward Road. City thinks building a lot of expensive large, tall ugly multi-family housing is somehow going to solve lack of affordable housing (1X) ● Less low-income housing (1X) ● Affordable housing and sustainable to allow for long term affordability (6X) ● High density, low-cost housing must be supported with enhanced public transit (1X) ● No more gas stations, fast food chains or “luxury” condominiums ● Limit building height to two story (2X) ● Less parking lot areas ● Keep existing and create more parks (4X) ● Keep this area as commercial zoning (no housing) (Survey Strongly Agreed) LAND USE ● Not develop buildings up to the street ● Multi-family residential - use setbacks (3X) ● Mixed Use - housing and shopping with nicer modern looking design, pedestrian and community space for entertainment events ● More commercial areas that encourage connectedness (ie restaurants) (1X) ● Need more opportunities for connecting such as parklets, restaurants, etc. Improve bike/pedestrian mobility that is not just sidewalks…how do you get from public sidewalks to any of the business that is lacking in most of the commercial properties ● More trees and shade (2X) DESIGN Community Open House & Survey Question What would you like to see in Study Area 1? What do you envision for the future of Study Area 1? 38 Open House and 29 Survey Respondents ● Keep commercial with small retail (3X) ● Keep commercial along W 64th (1X) ● Keep this area as it is - ruining our cities with overpriced food and housing (3X) ---PAGE BREAK--- Community Open House & Survey Question What would you like to see in Study Area 1? What do you envision for the future of Study Area 1? 38 Open House and 29 Survey Respondents TRANSPORTATION/MULTIMODAL ● Traffic is worse with increase of area population (3X) ● Improve roads and traffic flow (5X & Survey Strongly Agreed) ● Repair, maintain and improve roads and right-of-ways (3X) ● Safety of pedestrians and bike-riders is imperative with this area surrounded by single and multi-family residences (8X) ● Improve bike and walking access and safety (3X) ● Improve bike and walking safety. Crossing W 64th/Simms is scary, lowering speed limit 5-10 miles in front of high school would help with safety and noise reduction. ● Biking and walking safety needs to be a priority (6X) ● Improve biking and pedestrian safety from vehicles ● Better access to businesses for pedestrians and cyclists ● More bike paths (6X) ● Need underpass/easier way to cross W. 64th Avenue to improve pedestrian/biking access to Ralston Creek Trail ● Better connections to Ralston Creek bike paths and other trails ● Extend Yankee Doodle Trail over drainage ditch ● W 64th Avenue/Ward Road is terrifying for pedestrians and cyclists ● Improve bike safety on W 64th or provide a path to the north or south ● Increase safe walking options, reduce traffic speeds and noise by utilizing traffic calming features like protected cross walks and bump outs ● Improve safe cycling options, paint is not infrastructure, raised and segregated bike lanes also function as traffic calming features ● Clarify bike lane on Simms St to keep bikers off the sidewalk ● Currently no safe way to travel ,without a car, north and south ● Improve public transportation ● Remove the public nuisance rental e-bikes and scooters ---PAGE BREAK--- Community Open House & Survey Question What would you like to see in Study Area 1? What do you envision for the future of Study Area 1? 38 Open House and 29 Survey Respondents ● Reduce use of elevated medians and keep intersections clear of plant material to improve safety of the public ● Too crowded (5X) ● Do not have infrastructure for more housing/occupancy (5X) MISC ● Encourage more mom and pop type restaurants and retail (2X & Survey Strongly Agreed) ● More restaurants and shopping (Survey Strongly Agreed) ● More small businesses and restaurants ● Diverse commercial options - not all fast food/coffee (6X) ● More locally owned businesses and restaurant rather than big-box, chain corporations (5X) ● Shops and dining area fine - we have plenty (1X) ● More pedestrian/bike friendly businesses ● Cosmetic updates for commercial ● Update commercial developments (ie Friendly Square) but not close to street ECONOMIC / COMMERCIAL ---PAGE BREAK--- ● Library (2X) ● No more high-density housing, it’s getting too crowded. ● No more housing and small entertainment venues, it is an intimate community that needs some flavor ● This area is a parking lot wasteland. There are many underutilized parking lots in disrepair. Incentivize current commercial property owners to reduce unused parking areas and and densify lots with small-format commercial space increasing business opportunities and reducing the distance to walk/bike/drive between them (1X) ● Quiet, easy-to-live neighborhood. Is both strength and asset. Keep it quiet and easy-to-live (1X) LAND USE ● Modernize the shopping areas (look old and rundown) ● More businesses that have nice outside areas with focus on pedestrians, and ability to walk to these places ● Protect amazing views of the mountains ● Garden spaces and trails ● Keep our green spaces. We have a huge diverse wildlife populations in this neighborhood. We see deer bobcats coyotes hawks eagles and bear - don’t push them out. ● Lots of trees ● Keep our trees can we beautify the place as it is pretty run down.. ● Does City provide support for business landscaping. 7-11 at Ralston/Simms has grass on a hill water that runs down to sidewalk, xeriscape this terraced hill ● This area is parking wasteland and underutilized parking lots - add green infrastructure to improve storm runoff and water quality (1X) ● Increasing community togetherness such as art and recreation. DESIGN Community Open House & Survey Question What are the opportunities in Study Area 1? What opportunities and assets) do you see for the future of Study Area 1? 22 Open House and 29 Survey Respondents ---PAGE BREAK--- Community Open House & Survey Question What are the opportunities in Study Area 1? What opportunities and assets) do you see for the future of Study Area 1? 22 Open House and 29 Survey Respondents TRANSPORTATION/MULTIMODAL ● Improved walking and cycling infrastructure to reduce traffic. People drive 2 or 3 miles to get to the apex center because it’s effectively unsafe to walk or bike there ● Safer pedestrian crossing at W 64th and Ward ● Improve traffic light at Ward and W 64th (weekly accidents and dangerous intersection) ● King Soopers exit - make it safer to turn west or south when exiting ● Have developers build and pay for new roads or improvements before any work begins ● Stop widening the roads, W 64th has plenty of room to include traffic calming features that can improve safety and traffic flow. ● Get traffic under control. The High School creates a lot of traffic and don’t need to add more traffic ● Union Trail extended to Apex Racquetball Center ● walkable/bicycle ● Connective bike trails ● Connective bike trails , north south paths (2X) ● Making it easier for bikes and pedestrians to safely get between the local trails and those businesses would be great too (5X) ● Yankee Doodle trail. Is a strength and somewhat close to Ralston Trail. - Expand this that these are more than just walking the dog - that they actually take people somewhere (1X) ● There’s plenty of side streets that could be connected to create a more robust cycling infrastructure so that people could access businesses along ward road, the apex community centers, and Olde Town ---PAGE BREAK--- Community Open House & Survey Question What are the opportunities in Study Area 1? What opportunities and assets) do you see for the future of Study Area 1? 22 Open House and 29 Survey Respondents ● Opportunity to diversify retail/restaurant offerings (1X) ● There are 3 churches and there are 7 churches within walking distance of this plan. There seven mexican restaurants in this area. It would be nice to have actual entertainment areas movie theaters, music venue, food diversity mom and pop restaurants. No more chain stores MISC ● Support our existing small businesses and bring in new ● Restaurants, not bars or breweries ● Incentivize new small businesses to diversify our retail ● Trade school by 24 hr fitness ● We have too many overpriced chain businesses. Do whatever you can to incentivize small businesses. (7X) ● The City could learn from Wheat Ridge. When redeveloping the are around 38th and Youngfield they got Home Goods, Sierra Trading Post, Chick-fil-a, Mike's Camera and many other businesses people actually like to go to. We got Walmart. We need restaurant like Racine's was in Denver. Places that draw people to the area even from outside Arvada. Stop the chains like Dutch Bros. Coffee, Sonic, etc. Look at the mess the City allowed at Ralston Road and Olde Wadsworth. A Mexican restaurant on each corner with a taco shop and few blocks west and Fuzzy's Tacos one block south. Don't let those things happen in Study Area Dutch Bros. is a drive through only concept. What happened to not driving so much? ECONOMIC / COMMERCIAL ● We need to find a way to use less water and allow residents to have alternatives from grass. ● If they have the right kind of businesses, we will have a nice tax income. Quit relying on property taxes (1X) ECONOMIC / COMMERCIAL ---PAGE BREAK--- ● Please, for the love of god, no more high-density housing. It’s getting too crowded. (7X & Survey Strongly Agree) ● Too much opportunity for increased density - not good and too much increased traffic ● So much overcrowding. Loss of small businesses who are being pushed out by large corporations. LAND USE ● Very dangerous to walk ● Bike/pedestrian safety ● Crossing Ward Road (pedestrian/bike) to get to Yankee Doodle ● Safe areas for biking (protected) outside of trails or on main roads ● Wheelchair bound people have to use the streets often due to narrow sidewalk ● On Simms south of 64th, the sidewalks are not wide enough for wheelchairs DESIGN Community Open House & Survey Question What are the challenges in Study Area 1? What challenges (constraints and weaknesses) do you see with respect to Study Area 1? 14 Open House and 29 Survey Respondents ---PAGE BREAK--- Community Open House & Survey Question What are the challenges in Study Area 1? What challenges (constraints and weaknesses) do you see with respect to Study Area 1? 14 Open House and 29 Survey Respondents TRANSPORTATION/MULTIMODAL ● Traffic is a nightmare and do people know what the speed limits are, or are we all just going 65+ all over town now? (Survey Strongly Agreed) ● Stop widening the roads that litter the area. 64th has plenty of room to include traffic calming features that can improve safety and traffic flow. ● Traffic (7X and Survey Strongly Agreed) ● Noise (3X) ● Traffic speed on Simms when people bypass the lights on 64th (9X) ● Traffic is already incredibly difficult to deal with—to the point where I have to try and plan my day around it. It doesn’t always work, and I end up having to deal with it no matter what. It’s a dangerous area to drive in (Survey Strongly Agreed) ● Traffic flow and safety should be a big concern, with all the schools in the area (Survey Strongly Agreed) ● Commercial areas are a nightmare for pedestrians and bikers (1X) ● Reducing car dependency by improving public transit and biking and walking options. Improving comfort and safety for public transit, walking, and biking will have lasting effects. ● Plenty of side streets that could be connected to create a more robust cycling infrastructure so that people could access businesses along ward road, the apex community centers, and old town. ● The speed limit along 64th Ave is too high, the stoplight at 64th & Simms needs to be converted to something much more pedestrian-friendly as many students cross this intersection to get to AWest, on-street parking around the school needs to be reduced to improve intersection visibility (not sure why the school charges for parking - force them to use their lot to avoid overflow crowding the streets (2X) ● Reduce speed limits and increase enforcement (1X) ● Need a Stop light at 64th Avenue and Quail Street (1X) ---PAGE BREAK--- Community Open House & Survey Question What are the challenges in Study Area 1? What challenges (constraints and weaknesses) do you see with respect to Study Area 1? 14 Open House and 29 Survey Respondents ● Lack of Water (3X) ● Chronic lack of police ● Crime as density increases ● So much overcrowding (2X) ● Loss of environment and wildlife. Loss of quiet space to relax and rejuvenate ● Underground overhead utilities so that maybe we wouldn't lose power with every storm (1X) MISC ● Bringing in some businesses that draw people to the area (Trader Joe's, a restaurant that served something besides tacos or pizza Maybe a food truck pod could be good. (5X) ● More businesses equals more traffic that is not wanted (1X) ECONOMIC / COMMERCIAL TRANSPORTATION/MULTIMODAL (cont.) ● No more businesses like the Autowash that have insufficient access from 64th Avenue. Traffic backs up into 64th causing the eastbound lane to be completely block with traffic turning into the Autowash (1X) ● More traffic on W. 64th is a bad idea. (1X) ● Too many vehicles and everything is catered to vehicles, not to other users (1X) ● Walkability ● Fix pedestrian crossing of all 4 corners of 64th and Ward island the pork chop at the southwest corner is the worst (1X) ● Nearly impossible to safely access anything along Ward road by bike ● The bus stops are uncovered and sometimes in the dirt such as W. 64th and Simms on the south side of the intersection. ● Traffic flow is an issue - need timed lights ● Loss of small businesses who are being pushed out by large corporations (2X) ---PAGE BREAK--- ● Housing has ruined Arvada, very crowded ● No more housing ● No Apartments or Townhomes (8X and Survey Strongly Agree) ● Single family homes only (3X) ● No business/commercial (2X) ● Farmers Market or LSA space ● Community gardens ● Single family affordable housing ● Small community center ● Leave as is for current owners (1X) and next generation can sort it all out (1X) ● No development (1X) ● Leave it as open space, animal reserve, conservation or park (8X*) ● This area currently provides a diverse wildlife habitat that MUST be preserved. The mature wooded area improved the local air quality, reduces the temperature extremes and helps reduce noise. That buffer has also reduced there damage from extreme weather for homes in the area. If Arvada is remotely serious about reducing it's negative environmental impact, areas such as this need protection (Survey Very Strongly Agree*) LAND USE ● Save the trees and native plans ● Better access for pedestrians and bicycles ● Park, bike trail hub ● Green infrastructure, reduction in parking lots and adding more small-format retail space (1X) ● More green spaces DESIGN Community Open House & Survey Question What would you like to see for future development in Study Area 2? 31 Open House and 29 Survey Respondents ● Protect this area and wildlife (4X) ● Gem to our community, leave as is and maintain as needed (Survey Strongly Agree) ● This is a special area with a dense tree canopy and a rural feeling that used to be much more present in Arvada. So many former agricultural properties have been turned into high density apartments and heat islands. I've seen bobcats, foxes, and many birds of prey nesting in this area over the years. A park would be welcomed especially given all of the dense infill and homes around this space LAND USE ---PAGE BREAK--- Community Open House & Survey Question What would you like to see for future development in Study Area 2? 31 Open House and 29 Survey Respondents TRANSPORTATION/MULTIMODAL ● The Quail and 64th intersection is insanely dangerous. This is especially true when the high school lets out. Drivers turning left onto 64th have to contend with students crossing, traffic turning off of 64th, and bad sightlines due to poorly planned vegetation on the medians. Any left turn at this intersection, regardless of direction, is blind when there is traffic. There needs to be a traffic light here (3X) ● While I really don't like the idea of more traffic lights, if anywhere needs one, it's at Quail & 64th. It's incredibly dangerous, and sometimes impossible, to turn left off of Quail, especially when school is in session (2X) ● multi-modal infrastructure to incentivize Awest students to use alternative forms of transportation if possible (1X) ● More and safer crosswalks across 64th near the high school the intersection at quail is a perfect place for a bump out and light up crosswalk MISC ● More people, more crime (2X) ---PAGE BREAK--- ● Increased development whether housing or retail is ruining Arvada. We are already congested (3X) ● This area feels fairly full already with Wright's property developing, more than likely the site of Applewood Baptist Church on Ward, and the potential of Jeffco Schools deciding to close Fremont Elementary School, which would be a huge development opportunity ● No residential development, especially apartments/condos, high density, in this area. (4X) ● No apartments or townhomes, high density - schools have closed/too many people (2X & Survey Strongly Agreed) ● No more housing - not sustainable such as water, traffic (2X) ● Too much new unaffordable housing - send developers away ● Need "missing middle housing" (ie more duplexes, 2-6 units) ● Actual affordable housing ● Will there be any focus on opportunities for building more housing? ● If more residential, consider improving traffic flow. ● All for residential development/commercial space. However very little “country feel” left, we should preserve it. ● Library - small or large (2X) ● Keep the station LAND USE ● More xeriscaping and eliminating the use of herbicide and pesticides to protect our water quality. ● Hoping for a plan that involves region-appropriate landscaping (xeric/native plants) ● Is the goal to redevelop the shopping areas to make it more uniform and modern? ● Businesses focused on bike/walking customers - feel like place to gather ● Places to gather outside (plazas, playgrounds) connected to adjacent restaurants ● Beautification/trees like Ralston Road which is safer to walk along and quieter ● Beautification and upgrades along 64th corridor - more trees ● Greenbelts should be a priority DESIGN Advance Arvada Website, Community Open House & Survey Question General Comments & What other comments do you have about the W. 64th Sub-Area that you would like to share to inform the planning process? 12 Advance Arvada, 50 Open House and 29 Survey Respondents ● A park instead of more shopping. Online is taking over because of poor traffic flow ● I am deeply concerned about what type of development we are talking about LAND USE ---PAGE BREAK--- Advance Arvada Website, Community Open House & Survey Question Comments & What other comments do you have about the W. 64th Sub-Area that you would like to share to inform the planning process? 12 Advance Arvada, 50 Open House and 29 Survey Respondents TRANSPORTATION/MULTI MODAL ● More bike lanes and safer crosswalks throughout the city. In general speeds in Arvada seem too high and more traffic calming measures are needed, especially in residential areas. ● Feels very big box store/car friendly but would be amazing if it felt more walkable to the pedestrian ● Safe crossings across Ward and connections to Van Bibber should also be considered. ● Yankee Doodle Trail pedestrian crossing is very dangerous ● Crossing Simms has become a frustrating, challenging, and downright dangerous endeavor thanks to the influx of housing added in recent years ● Focus on the area more walkable, for accessibility and safety reasons. Large portions of 64th around the high school do not have sidewalks and lived here for 20 years. ● Make it easier to walk and bike - better/more connectivity and paths (3X) ● School zone in front of Fremont Elementary School (at Irving) ● Improve/better traffic light timing (3X) ● Need pedestrian options near W. 64th Avenue/Ward (near Starbucks) for neighborhoods and future residential development ● Traffic flow on W 64th by Fremont Elementary, Arvada West HS and W. 64th/Ward has many accidents ● Speed mitigation on west 60th between ward and Zang? People blow the stop sign on Youngfield going about 30 mph. My suggestion is a speed dip because it would help with water and ice build up that damages pavement, and is probably easier on the snow plows then a bump. ● Use traffic study completed in 2020 and include recommendation of traffic mitigation on Zang Way. ● W 64th Avenue is a 55 mph deathtrap and do not want to walk in this vicinity. ● This area can barely handle the traffic situation as it stands ● The speed of the traffic on our street is out of control. All the connecting neighborhoods use it as a through street and fly past our houses where kids are running around all the time. There is only 1 stop sign and it is constantly ignored by drivers. ---PAGE BREAK--- Advance Arvada Website, Community Open House & Survey Question Comments & What other comments do you have about the W. 64th Sub-Area that you would like to share to inform the planning process? 12 Advance Arvada, 50 Open House and 29 Survey Respondents TRANSPORTATION/MULTIMODAL ● Need traffic signal at W. 64th Avenue and Quail for commercial development ● Better traffic flow ● Speed humps/mitigation and traffic enforcement ● Speeds on Zinnia St (south of 64th) in front of Meadowlark Park are too high. The road is very wide and relatively straight which allows cars travel at high speeds. There is a need for traffic calming measures to reduce speeds in front of the park because there are many pedestrians and children. Also, drivers frequently make illegal u-turns at the intersection of Zinnia and W 61st Circle in order to park on the east side of Zinnia. The city has already done a survey of this intersection and noted that u-turns are frequent ● Paved streets in Influence Area ● The streets are also in awful shape and hardly drain ECONOMIC / COMMERCIAL ● There is also very little to do in this area I often have to drive somewhere else to enjoy my city. There is nothing but expensive fast food within walking distance…not that I want to walk anywhere in the vicinity of that 55mph death trap called 64th avenue. ● The shopping center at the corner of 64th & Simms could use updating and new life ● Hoping for a plan that involves/recruit useful developments for the area such as Trader Joes (2X) ● Mom and pop retail and restaurants for tax base ● Family restaurants (3X) ---PAGE BREAK--- Advance Arvada Website, Community Open House & Survey Question Comments & What other comments do you have about the W. 64th Sub-Area that you would like to share to inform the planning process? 12 Advance Arvada, 50 Open House and 29 Survey Respondents ● Ralston north from Tropical Smoothie though to Oak needs to be considered a mini-sub area due to the age/condition/randomness of many of the buildings in that stretch, along with the volume of traffic at Rensselaer and Miller, which do not provide/encourage a walkable/bikeable community and accidents ● Restrooms at Meadowood Park would also be very appreciated ● Let the police enforce laws ● Noise ordinance enforcement prior to new development ● Crime has increased - address current issues before making more problems ● Crime has increased, rents and housing are too expensive (3X) MISC ● Arvada is not recognizable anymore with all the apartment buildings ● Very little "country feel" remaining, we should preserve it ● Lived here my whole life, loved Arvada, "this is depressing" ● Losing town atmosphere, going to big city apartment atmosphere ● Preserve Fremont school - historical significance with original portion of the building as first elementary school in 1930, prior to that it was a County Jail ● No more California ● No migrants