Pin-Up Presentation
Repeat: 12-1 p.m.

Studio open for
Drop-By Discussions
1-6 p.m.

ALL ACTIVITIES OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

April 14, 2008 – After a standing-room-only Sunday-night “pin-up” session, designers are settling in for the final two days of refining ideas for Tuesday night’s final presentation of architectural guidelines and the first draft of a regulating plan for future growth in Winter Park.

[ STORY CONTINUES BELOW PHOTOS > ]

The pin-up of work-in-progress will be repeated today at noon in the Welcome Center, so folks who missed the previous night’s presentation and discussion have a chance to catch up today. It’s also an opportunity for Winter Park citizens who may have attended the Sunday-night event to drop by for more discussion.

What happens next?

The two consulting teams – Canin Associates and PlaceMakers – go into heavy production mode, responding to citizens’ critique of the pin-up and refining the best ideas. By Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m., when the final presentation is shown in City Commission Chambers, there should be a near-complete draft of a template for growth.

Among the ideas drawing attention Sunday night were: transit plans featuring a trolley that connects the two proposed commuter rail stations; examples of potential streetscapes along Fairbanks Avenue; and illustrations suggesting how setbacks might be managed to achieve green space at different building heights along key corridors.

A major attraction: The SmartCode Summary Table, which is a one-page chart of how categories of regulation – such as setbacks and lot coverage – might be managed in each of four identified village zones in the five study areas: The Central Business District and the four commercial corridors.

The recommended coding approach for Park Avenue and the Central Business District was simple enough: Protect what’s already there, which is a model for urban village design in the entire region, by coding it to retain its present condition. There’s talk of designating the area an historic district, which would fit right in with the teams’ recommendation that existing conditions be considered the optimum form.

The challenge in the corridors beyond the Central Business District is to identify and enhance unique characteristics that connect them with the overall “village character” of Winter Park, yet allow them to retain their own sense of distinctiveness.

Come by the Welcome Center on Monday at noon. If you missed Sunday night’s pin-up, it’ll be an ideal opportunity to see ideas such as these:

Fairbanks Avenue
This animation and aerial rendering demonstrate an idea for accommodating growth over time – continuing to manage existing vehicular traffic but enhancing the pedestrian experience through on-street parking and/or Boulevard slip lanes provided by the developer. Slip lanes have the further advantage of better separating those on the sidewalk from higher speed traffic, while also providing “up front” parking spaces desired by retailers.

Fairbanks Streetscape
This admittedly small graphic shows how Fairbanks could develop over time under the proposed code. Featuring a collection of one, two and three story buildings, the image further demonstrates the green frontage and articulated facades suggested by residents.

Intersection of Pennsylvania, Orange and Fairbanks
Shown here is how three story development might better frame and tame this high-profile intersection.

Holler Chevrolet site on Fairbanks
Another example of the slip lane idea, which adds a landscaped transition between development and the existing right of way, followed by the addition of a slip lane appropriate for slow, local traffic and convenient retail parking.

Morse Boulevard at Pennsylvania
This depiction illustrates how the proposed trolley circulator could appear.

Orange Avenue Street Section, north of Denning
Shown is a proposed transition from two travel lanes per side to one automotive lane and one bicycle lane, as well as a new, center turn lane.

Lane Configurations on 17-92
Potential interim and long-term conditions. Option 1 shows landscaping of the existing center turn lane, fronted by the surface parking of adjacent business. In time, Option 2 shows how the scene could be further enhanced by larger sidewalks and walkable retail.

Height-Sensitive Setbacks
Charrette participants thus far have made clear their desire for buildings to step back from the sidewalk as they grow taller. As a result, the current code in development features multiple, height-dependent setbacks – modest on a one story building; more substantial on a three story building.