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THE A.I.A. 150 BLUEPRINT FOR AMERICACOMMUNITY ASSESSMENT AND

VISIONING WORKSHOPFOR KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE

SUMMARY REPORT

THE A.I.A. 150 BLUEPRINT FOR AMERICA

March 14-15, 2008 Harpeth High School, Kingston Springs, TN

REVITALIZING THE TOWN CENTER(S)AND CONSERVING OPEN LAND

IN KINGSTON SPRINGS

A Partnership of A.I.A. Middle Tennessee, Cumberland Region Tomorrow,the Greater Nashville Regional Council, the Nashville Civic Design Center,and the University of Tennessee College of Architecture + Design

We are grateful to the following organizations and individuals that helped sponsor these workshops:

American Institute of Architects Middle TennesseeTown of Kingston SpringsCommunity Bank & Trust

Anita DeFrancesca of the Jean Downey TheatreMarion Fowlkes of Centric Architecture

Dale Graham of the South Cheatham AdvocateHarpeth High School

Heritage BankPhil Stevens of Sound System

Wal-Mart of Ashland CityPurity Dairies

Kingston Springs Mayor John McLeroy

Cyril Stewart, AIAVanderbilt University

TK Davis, FAIA,Nashville Civic Design CenterUniversity of Tennessee

GROUP WORK

GROUP WORK

PRESENTING TO THE LARGER GROUP

PRESENTING TO THE LARGER GROUP

TABLE MAP DRAWINGS

TABLE MAP DRAWINGS

STRENGTHS

• Kingston Springs’ parks, river and trees (42 priority dots)

• Proximity to Interstate 40 and its potential for new and betteradjacent development (17)

• Small town sense of community (16)

COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT: HERE’S WHAT YOU TOLD US…

WEAKNESSES

• Interstate interchange does not reflect character of town and isunattractive (21)

• Lack of developable land due to topography and ownership(21)

• Insufficient shopping and activities downtown to attract localpeople (16)

COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT: HERE’S WHAT YOU TOLD US…

OPPORTUNITIES

• Promote quality growth through planning, policies andincentives (33)

• Nurture small town feel and recreational opportunities toattract tourism (20)

COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT: HERE’S WHAT YOU TOLD US…

RISKS

• Uncontrolled, unplanned growth leading to loss of small townidentity, along with traffic and infrastructure problems (66)

• An inadequate and undiversified tax base coupled with risinginfrastructure costs (20)

COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT: HERE’S WHAT YOU TOLD US…

Day Two: VISIONINGCITIZEN OBSERVATIONS-- HERE IS WHAT WE HEARD…

As breakout groups, tables were encouraged to consider the followingquestions, which are based on the AIA’s Ten Principles of LivableCommunities, in any way desired to help structure their discussion.

Principle One: DESIGN IN A HUMAN SCALEHow could Kingston Springs’ town center(s) become more compactand pedestrian friendly?

THE A.I.A. TEN PRINCIPLES OF LIVABLE COMMUNITIES

THE A.I.A. TEN PRINCIPLES OF LIVABLE COMMUNITIES

Principle Two: PROVIDE CHOICESWhat housing, shopping, recreation, or employment choices arecurrently missing in Kingston Springs’ town center?

Principle Three: ENCOURAGE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENTWhere and how could mixed-use development, integrating differentland uses and varied building types, be encouraged in KingstonSprings?

THE A.I.A. TEN PRINCIPLES OF LIVABLE COMMUNITIES

Principle Four: PRESERVE URBAN CENTERSHow can we encourage the revitalization of the Kingston Springscommunity’s town center(s)?

THE A.I.A. TEN PRINCIPLES OF LIVABLE COMMUNITIES

Principle Five: VARY TRANSPORTATIONWhat additional transportation options, including walking, biking,driving, and public transit, are needed in Kingston Springs?

THE A.I.A. TEN PRINCIPLES OF LIVABLE COMMUNITIES

Principle Six: BUILD VIBRANT SPACESWhat are the best public spaces in Kingston Springs, and wherecould new, memorable public spaces be established?

THE A.I.A. TEN PRINCIPLES OF LIVABLE COMMUNITIES

Principle Seven: CREATE A NEIGHBORHOOD IDENTITYHow would you describe “the sense of place” in Kingston Springs?

THE A.I.A. TEN PRINCIPLES OF LIVABLE COMMUNITIES

Principle Eight: PROTECT ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCESWhat environmental resources in Kingston Springs need to beprotected and preserved?

THE A.I.A. TEN PRINCIPLES OF LIVABLE COMMUNITIES

THE A.I.A. TEN PRINCIPLES OF LIVABLE COMMUNITIES

Principle Nine: CONSERVE LANDSCAPESWhere should open space be preserved in Kingston Springs?

THE A.I.A. TEN PRINCIPLES OF LIVABLE COMMUNITIES

Principle Ten: DESIGN MATTERSHow do you feel design excellence can promote a successful andhealthy Kingston Springs?

CREATE NEIGHBORHOOD IDENTITY…

• Have more annual and monthly events downtown (13)

• Connecting the town center to enhanced parks and otherneighborhoods (10)

• Encourage more housing choices (7)

COMMUNITY VISIONING: HERE’S WHAT YOU TOLD US…

COMMUNITY VISIONING: HERE’S WHAT YOU TOLD US…

DESIGN MATTERS…

• Create more well designed landscapes and green spaces, suchas at the town centers (11)

• Enact sign controls and provide better “way finding” (7)

• Enact design guidelines (7)

COMMUNITY VISIONING: HERE’S WHAT YOU TOLD US…

PROTECT ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES…

• Protect the river, its watershed, and its rural character, as wellas provide access (21)

• Protect and plant trees– especially at town centers (5)

• Protect views of hills (bluffs) north / south and green space east/ west (5)

• Encourage community awareness of litter issues (5)

COMMUNITY VISIONING: HERE’S WHAT YOU TOLD US…

PROVIDE CHOICES…

• Encourage smaller footprint, storefront retail stores (9)

• Encourage more restaurant dining options (8)

• Encourage the sale of fresh produce (6)

• Encourage a Farmers’ Market / Artisans Market (5)

• Encourage a wildlife shop for bird watching, canoeing and fly-fishing (watching, feeding, equipment, books) (4)

COMMUNITY VISIONING: HERE’S WHAT YOU TOLD US…

DESIGN IN A HUMAN SCALE…

• Provide bikeways and sidewalks with trees and benches (15)

• Improve parking behind downtown buildings (8)

• Increase destination areas and shops downtown (7)

• Add signage, sidewalks and trees at interstate exit areas toconnect to the historic town center (6)

• Preserve historic structures and encourage re-use rather thanremoval (6)

COMMUNITY VISIONING: HERE’S WHAT YOU TOLD US…

PRESERVE URBAN CENTERS…

• Achieve consensus on a plan, including the business community,and stick to it (8)

• Create financial incentives (4)

• Support existing businesses and programs (3)

• Pursue grants available for local initiatives (3)

COMMUNITY VISIONING: HERE’S WHAT YOU TOLD US…

BUILD VIBRANT SPACES…

• On Main Street

• On the land next to the High School and behind McDonald’sthat links river-to-river (5)

• Acquire the flood plain for green space from the High Schoolto a downtown park (4)

• With a General Store and or an Artist Co-op (4 each)

• Beautify the parking lot at the Town Hall (4)

COMMUNITY VISIONING: HERE’S WHAT YOU TOLD US…

VARY TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS…

• Provide walking and biking paths linking uptown, downtown,parks, river, schools and neighborhoods (such as across theHarpeth River connecting the Woodlands and the city park)(28)

• Work toward establishing light rail or commuter rail betweenDickson and Nashville (9)

• Repair old Civil War Bridge to link two parks (4)

• Provide bike paths (3)

COMMUNITY VISIONING: HERE’S WHAT YOU TOLD US…

CONSERVE LANDSCAPES…

• Provide and use greenways to connect all of Kingston Springs(9)

• Zoning for new developments should continue to require openspace (6)

• Conserve existing parks (4)

• Restore and preserve the Civil War Bridge (4)

• Conserve open space at the floodplain and river corridor (4)

COMMUNITY VISIONING: HERE’S WHAT YOU TOLD US…

ENCOURAGE MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT…

• Encourage mixed use at the Interstate 40 interchange, includingbetter lodging (7)

• The old school could become a community center orretirement / assisted living (5)

• Encourage a mixed-use corridor linking both schools (HighSchool and Middle School) (4)

• Establish a central park in the mixed-use zone downtownacross from the library (4)

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

The following general observations were made by theparticipating leadership of the AIA Middle Tennessee,Cumberland Region Tomorrow, the Greater Nashville RegionalCouncil, the Nashville Civic Design Center, and the University ofTennessee College of Architecture + Design:

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

• There is a clear consensus and mandate for guiding growth andconserving open land in Kingston Springs.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

• There is a general perception of “two different town centers,”one historic near the former downtown rail depot, and theother the commercial strip leading north from the interstateinterchange.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

• Continue the community visioning workshop process with theCheatham County Planner, and check and update growthregulations for compatibility with the workshop consensus.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

• Establish an outdoor public space in a strategic downtownlocation that can function as a town square, both as a visualamenity and as a place of public assembly for communityevents.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

• The interstate interchange and commercial strip leading northfrom the interchange does not reflect the character of thetown, is unattractive, and doesn’t function well. Employ“Context Sensitive Design” on this strip and engage in dialoguewith TDOT environmental planning leadership regardingfunding potential, using the workshop outcomes as acommunity consensus and mandate.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

• Continue learning and utilizing Randall Arendt’s• Illustrated Design Principles• Model Village and Subdivision Design Ordinances• Architectural Design Guidelinesin order to allow for compact development with significant land

conservation.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

• Reinforce all of Kingston Springs as a walkable, interconnectedcommunity linking its town centers, neighborhoods, schoolsand natural resources.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

• Join with other communities from Nashville to Dickson tocontinue advocacy for commuter rail on the CSX Nashville toMemphis line.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

• Finally, Cumberland Region Tomorrow’s Quality Growth Toolboxshould be a primary resource document in the future planningof the town. This document contains tools, incentives,resources, and contacts for public officials to implement theobservations of citizens, ensuring economic vitality throughquality growth.