sahuarita district & phase 1 master plan

Town Council | December 11, 2017

Sahuarita District & Phase 1 Master Plan

Visioning Study

Visioning Process

• Advisory Group Meetings

• Community Questionnaire

• Town Center Case Studies

• Community Analysis

• The District Vision and Areas of Focus

Community Demographics

• Sahuarita Median Age: 34.4

• Baby Boomers (1946-1964): 20%

• Gen Xers (1965-1981): 24%

• Millennials (1982-2004): 23%

Community Service Area

Restaurants

Splash Pad & Water Elements

Bar / Tavern / Brewery

Coffee Shop

Central Plaza & Green Space

Bowling Alley

Movie Theater

Retailers

Retail / Shopping Area

Market Space / Farmer’s Market

Public Gathering Spaces

Kid’s Activities

Indoor Recreation Center

Special Event / Festival Space

Library / Community Center

Office

Trails

Playgrounds

Character

Streetscapes

Ice Cream Shop

Amphitheater

Visioning Areas of Focus & Guiding Principles

• Create a Destinational Draw

• Offer a Mix of Uses

• Expand and Enhance Connectivity

• Showcase Arts, Culture, Food and Entertainment

• Foster Community Collaboration

Create a Destinational Draw

A1. Develop a Central District

A2. Utilize a district framework and definitive boundaries to help guide and focus growth as more intense development; and enabling the cultivation of a strong, distinct and self-sustaining Central District.

A3. Explore increasing residential densities in conjunction with more intense mixed-use development.

A4. Incorporate community gathering spaces and a green infrastructure plan in the design of infill and future development.

A5. Form Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) at key commercial nodes within the District.

A6. Evaluate Acquisition of Properties

A7. Develop an Economic Development Program

Offer a Mix of Uses

B1. Establish a set of design guidelines that honor the local history and architectural character of the area while offering opportunities for creativity in design to foster a robust and unique sense of place for the District.

B2. Review Zoning / Develop an Overlay District

B3. Create incentives for small businesses to help keep small businesses in town while maintaining the community’s unique character.

B4. Integrate higher density housing such as townhomes and condominiums into higher-intensity, mixed-use development to ensure all public spaces are well used and active for the entirety of each and every day.

B5. Offer a variety of housing to support the community’s set of diverse housing needs.

Expand and Enhance Connectivity

C1. Guide development and land use patterns at key nodes along the corridor focusing more intense walkable mixed-use environments towards the center of each key node while decreasing the mix and intensity of uses moving away from the core.

C2. Cluster a mix of compatible uses and amenities such as residential, schools, retail districts, and recreational facilities within a walkable quarter- to half-mile radii to support a reduced dependency on cars.

C3. Cultivate social connections for community members through HOA supported outreach programs, education, special events, festivals, and performances.

C4. Implement Complete Street strategies to diversify transportation options such as transit lanes, bikeways, multi-use paths, trails, and sidewalks.

C5. Utilize universal design and ADA concepts such as curb cuts, crosswalks, mid-block crossings and pedestrian refuges to create safer connections for the most vulnerable of users.

C6. Explore opportunities to diversify the way people travel with multi-modal transportation strategies.

Expand and Enhance Connectivity

C7. Consider a reallocation of available space along existing public rights of way through lane diets, road diets, and right-of-way acquisition to accommodate more types of travel and offer more comfortable connections for pedestrians.

C8. Maximize underutilized space in the public right-of-way with complete street supporting Green Street strategies such as bulb-outs, parklets, medians, water-harvesting design elements, bioswales, infiltration trenches, xeriscaping, and rain gardens.

C9. Incorporate environmentally friendly initiatives to decrease CO2 emissions by reducing the dependence on cars, and utilizing led lighting and recycled water (irrigating landscaping) to reduce energy consumption

C10. Investigate existing sites’ conditions for any potential brownfield challenges such as presence of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants;

C11. Share existing and develop new community facilities such as community and recreation centers with schools to maximize development resources and maximize daily use of community-funded facilities.

Showcase Arts, Culture, Food and Entertainment

D1. Consider hiring or designating a Town of Sahuarita staff person as the “District Champion” to organize events, coordinate marketing, and generally promote the District as a desirable place to visit, spend time, and develop businesses.

D2. Consider private financing and support in establishing farmer’s markets and other public facilities such as a performing arts center or arts district.

D3. Promote architectural character that acknowledges historic architectural styles of Sahuarita while offering opportunities for unique, distinctive design of different developments.

D4. Promote employment opportunities in the interior of the town center through small-scale, mixed-use development that offers aspiring entrepreneurs’ attainable opportunities to kick start businesses, expand commerce, and activate the District.

D5. Focus on kid and family friendly events and activities to engage the community and activate the District.

D6. Focus on opportunities to capture nightlife activities as part of the District.

Foster Community Collaboration

E1. Establish a District Advisory Group to actively collaborate in the District planning process.

E2. Develop the District Program in collaboration with the community through working sessions and community input.

E3. Facilitate a Public Information Program and Meetings through the master planning process.

E4. Seek Private-Public Partnerships to leverage resources and attract larger audiences.

E5. Review Financing/Grants Opportunities/Public Financing Tools.

E6. Develop Incentive-Based Strategies

District & Phase 1 Concept Studies

Areas of Interest

Sahuarita District Programming & Transportation Strategies

N

District & Phase 1 Scale Comparison


N

Sahuarita Phase 1 Concept Program

CIVIC USES(+/- 52,000 SF)

COMMERCIAL(+/- 25,000 SF)


HOTEL(+/- 36,000 SF)

OFFICE / MIXED USE

(+/- 22,000 SF)

CONDO/APARTMENT/SR. HOUSING(100-140 UNITS)

PLAZA

PARK

CENTRAL PARK





HOTEL(+/- 36,000 SF) OFFICE /

MIXED USE(+/- 22,000 SF)


PARK

CENTRAL PARK FESTIVAL STREET

Sahuarita Phase 1 Concept Study

DRAFT

Open House Findings & Takeaways

Opportunities

Include neighborhood-serving retail and services (grocery store, urgent care).

Family-friendly recreation facilities and activities.

Job-creating businesses.

A town center should include opportunities to attract companies that can offer better-paying jobs in addition to service jobs in retail and restaurants.

Desirable employment sectors:

Ensure all neighborhoods and communities of the greater Sahuarita area have the opportunity to offer input.

• Healthcare• Professional Services• Manufacturing • Technology• Clean Energy

• Trade School• Higher Education• Hospitality • Neighborhood Services

(daycare, senior-care)

Streetscape

Comfortable pedestrian-oriented spaces.

Shade and street trees.

Safe and lighted spaces.

Proximity to street/building edge ground-floor activation.

Character

Open to a range of scales from 2 to 4 stories.

Materials desired should respect and complement the region.

Mix of traditional Spanish revival and contemporary architectural styles.

Suggested forms for buildings might be 3 stories with Spanish-influenced contemporary design. Perhaps porticos, breezeways, and wide shaded sidewalks with ground-floor activation, and two stories of office and residential above.

Gathering Spaces

Variety, flexibility, and a casual feel in common gathering areas.

A plaza-scaled space that was flexible, activated by surrounding businesses along the edge, and of quality materials, shade, and seating that allowed the space to feel welcoming and relaxing to be in.

Open Spaces

Provide a diversity of recreation and community uses.

Open spaces that can cater to a broader range of age groups, uses less water, and offers shade.

District & Phase 1 Key Findings

The District will help bring the Sahuarita Community together.

Broader town planning strategy should seek greater connection to more isolated areas towards the southern end of town.

More types of transportation choices (transit – bus, maybe rail, bike share, golf carts).

Expanded, more complete and connected infrastructure (infill roadways, expanded pedestrian/bicycle routes/trails and sidewalks, golf cart access).

Flexibility to change with market trend.

Attract job growth and foster retention of youth for future employment.

Introduce more event-supporting uses that create attraction and destination (amphitheater, movie theater, natatorium, mixed use sports, hotel, emerging industry employers/sponsors).

Housing, services, and amenities should address the needs of a broader target audience including young professionals and the local workforce (teachers, police, fire, border patrol).

District & Phase 1 Key Findings

Mix of uses that address the broad needs of the user, connectivity that is comprehensive, complete and variety of modes, and flexible comfortable spaces that are well landscaped, shaded, and can be utilized for passive uses, pop-up events and commerce (farmers markets, food trucks, art fairs, community events).

Preferred a pedestrian promenade street concept.

Pedestrian-oriented designs felt safe and conducive for interacting with others.

Positive reaction to the modern take on a traditional small town.

Seek to maintain a small town feel with growth.

Foster a unique, diverse and eclectic feel.

Want a unique, walkable district with a distinct style and feel that is more inclusive in identity that can reflect all of Sahuarita.


N





HOTEL(+/- 36,000 SF)

OFFICE / MIXED USE

(+/- 22,000 SF)


PLAZA

PARK

CENTRAL PARK





HOTEL(+/- 36,000 SF) OFFICE /

MIXED USE(+/- 22,000 SF)


PARK

CENTRAL PARK FESTIVAL STREET

Sahuarita Phase 1 Concept Study

DRAFT

The Vision

A Vision for the Community

sahuaritanow.com

District and Phase 1 Master Plan

• Develop a District & Phase 1 Master Plan with Community Involvement• In Process

• Acquisition of Properties, Partnerships and/or Private Development Partners• Start as soon as possible

• Development of Phase 1 of the District• Estimated 3 – 4 Years

Thanks to the Town, Community, Advisory Group and Staff.

Thanks

sahuarita district & phase 1 master plan

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