Full Text
7 MURRAY NORTH STATION AREA PLAN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Murray North Station Area was one of the first station areas to attract investment into transit supportive uses. Following the station’s opening in 1999, this area has seen over 2,000 new housing units with additional neighborhood-serving commercial spaces. Private investment in housing and services continues in the area. This plan envisions building on the success of the area to address some existing challenges and create a framework for expanding the core transit supportive neighborhood throughout most of the planning area. The plan establishes a framework for future growth and densities that will encourage investment in housing, services, and new neighborhood and community retail. The core area has seen significant new investment over the past 20 years. The core area’s current boundaries of the station area – State Street, the Union Pacific Rail Line, and 4500 South – are barriers that require strategic new connections to take advantage of opportunities to the east, south, and west. Overcoming these barriers and expanding transit supportive development to areas beyond these barriers is a longer-term vision. Over the next five-to-ten years, building on the existing and planned collection of transit- oriented developments in the area to create a safe, thriving transit supportive neighborhood in the core will set the stage and create momentum for the investments needed to overcome the identified barriers. The station area itself is envisioned as the catalyst for the further transformation of the Murray North Station Area. There are several opportunities immediately adjacent to the station to create a hub of activity that will enhance safety, provide much needed community-based opportunities, and further establish the social fabric of the area as a thriving neighborhood. These opportunities include: • Transforming the existing bus loop and two-acre parking lot into mixed income housing, community uses, restaurants, shops, and open space • Redeveloping the Atlas Roofing site into mixed-income housing with improved site lines, lighting, and access, to address safety and parking issues on the west side of the station area • Relocating the UTA mobility center and storage areas to create additional mixed income EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Murray North Station Area is an accessible, vibrant, complete community that provides residents and visitors alike with an interesting, engaging mix of land-uses to serve their needs. VISION ---PAGE BREAK--- 1 MURRAY NORTH STATION AREA PLAN Union Pacifi c UT Transit Auth 15 W Ce nt r al Av e S 300 W 4070 S S 420 W S 200 W S 200 W S 300 W S 500 W S Century Dr W 4 5 00 S S 260 W Commerce Dr Commerce Dr Century Dr r S C h er ry S t S 300 W S 500 W S 200 W S 200 W S 400 W S 360 W W Gordon Ave S West Temple E Hill Ave E Central Ave E Columbia Ave S Main St S 160 W S Box Elder St Edison St S 120 W E 4370 S S Birkhill Blvd S A u t o Blvd S 50 E E Gordon Ln S 50 W Fireclay Ave 4490 S 12 0 W Gilbride Ave 200 E 4640 S 4450 S S Ra S 150 W Brown St E Miller St 4650 S E Hill Ave E 4020 Cru s a de r Dr E Troy W S Atwood Blvd S 300 E E 4600 S W 4500 S S State St W 4500 S E 4500 S Big Cottonwood Creek Big Cottonwood Creek Big Cottonwood Creek Core Area 0 500 1,000 250 US Feet 1 inch is 500 feet MURRAY NORTH STATION AREA LEGEND Station Area 1/2-Mile Buffer Municipal Boundary Murray North TRAX Station Rail Line housing, community space, parking and trails and connectivity • Redeveloping the Salt Lake County Fleet Maintenance property into additional mixed income housing, a 10,000 to 14,000 SF market, parking, open space, and connectivity • Redeveloping the commercial property on the corner of Fireclay Avenue and Main Street for additional mixed-income housing and to activate this critical corner The transformation of the station area core will provide additional housing for all income levels and help address existing challenges in the neighborhood. These challenges include: • Needed additional open space and trails. The proposed transformation of the immediate station area will add approximately 21.99 acres of new open space to this underserved area • Improved site lines and additional community activity. Increasing desirable activity in the area and connecting currently dead-end streets physically and visually will help to reduce elevated levels of crime, particularly west of the station • Additional parking spread throughout the station area in new parking structures will help alleviate current parking problems. The plan recommends the creation of a parking district to help fund the construction, maintenance, and operation of parking in the various recommended structures • Address environmental contamination. The plan recommends a trail in the area of the contaminated berm on UTA property. The material in the berm should be processed to remove organic and construction waste materials. The remaining soils can then be “capped” beneath the trail. Any remaining materials should be characterized and disposed of in an appropriate facility. Successful implementation of the plan will require policy changes, new administrative resources, and the use of a mix of impact fees, grants, tax-increment financing, and public/private partnerships to achieve the vision. FIGURE E.1: MURRAY NORTH STATION AREA CORE ---PAGE BREAK--- 34 MURRAY NORTH STATION AREA PLAN To achieve this vision, the Murray North Station Area Plan establishes a logical, realistic, framework for how the core of the area can transform and how development of the remaining area can occur over time. The Plan’s framework facilitates the integration and preservation of existing assets and transforms the core area into an active, amenity-rich, transit-forward neighborhood. The following goals represent recommendations for achieving the vision. Each goal has a list of strategies to achieve the goal: Quality Of Life ENHANCE SOCIAL VIBRANCY A strong social fabric can help communities thrive, grow, and prosper. The urban fabric of buildings and streetscapes play a critical role in improving or degrading an experience. An interesting, engaging, and safe environment immediately surrounding the platform is created through strong local and regional connections that support a variety of transit typologies. A permanent public plaza, and interesting and varied destinations throughout the station area, like the Front Climbing Club and other gathering spaces, enhance the experience. Connectivity via the green corridor ensures daytime activity and provides access to a natural amenity not found elsewhere in the area. The commercial uses throughout the station area ensure that visitors and commuters have strong destinations to visit and support neighborhood livability by putting household goods within walking distance. Strong connections support residential areas by helping create a safe, inviting station area environment enhanced with landscaping, streetscape design, and future uses that are oriented to the street and pedestrian experience. Future residential and commercial development should focus on providing opportunities to enhance social vibrancy through shared public open spaces. Shared space can support the needs of future residents in high-density housing while providing shared amenities for visitors alike. Safety IMPROVE SAFETY AND PERCEPTION OF THE AREA The Murray North Station Area has the highest crime rates in Murray and Millcreek Cities. This has resulted in high rates of resident turnover, limited amenities and resources to serve households, and a lack of social cohesion and connection within the neighborhood. The Plan identifies strategies to improve safety in the area, through design strategies and policy changes. The goal is to improve safety, change perceptions, and encourage community stewardship throughout the station area. VISION AND PLAN The Murray North Station Area is an accessible, vibrant, complete community that provides residents and visitors alike with an interesting, engaging mix of land-uses to serve their needs. VISION ---PAGE BREAK--- 35 MURRAY NORTH STATION AREA PLAN Land Use CREATE A COMPLETE COMMUNITY THROUGH FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF A THOUGHTFUL MIX OF LAND USES The Murray North Station Area Plan creates a transition plan from the current collection of housing to a complete transit-oriented community. The station area offers significant potential for redevelopment, infill, and revitalization of existing uses. Balancing current housing and industrial uses with supportive services, retail, commercial, and open space allows for more opportunities within the station area. Several key sites offer significant development potential proximate to the station platform, including the Atlas Roofing Corporation building, UTA-owned parcels east of the platform, and Salt Lake County- owned property at the intersection of Main Street and 4500 S. These development opportunities can serve to attract and support new uses nearby, while serving as a gateway into the station. Connectivity INCREASE CONNECTIONS TO AND THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD The Murray North Station Area Plan establishes and enhances connections between the station platform and destinations that will utilize transit and between synergistic land uses. Connections supporting various transit modes are a top priority for enabling a functional station area. The Plan seeks to connect major points of origin/destination within the station area by improving existing corridors, developing new corridors, and strengthening connections. Livability and Urban Design PROMOTE URBAN DESIGN QUALITY Urban design tools, including building massing, streetscape design, and signage are used to create a distinct feel in the “Fireclay Neighborhood.” Building upon the good urban design examples in the neighborhood and incorporating Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) guidelines, the Murray North Station Area Plan puts forth design guidelines that will result in a distinct district sandwiched between two cities. See page 35 for a definition of CPTED principles FIGURE 5.1: ILLUSTRATIVE RENDERING OF MURRAY NORTH STATION AREA CRITICAL INTERSECTION AT MAIN STREET AND CENTRAL AVENUE