SERVING HENDRICKS COUNTY SINCE 1847
Page 10
The Republican
Thursday, May 20, 2021
Danville
Defining Danville: A New Comprehensive Plan North Elementary Students
“There’s no time like the present, the saying goes. Another proverb adds, “A thousand unforeseen circumstances may interrupt you at a future time.” Those attending at an open house last Wednesday found themselves in that hazy world between the present and the future as they examined a presentation of the Town of Danville’s Comprehensive Plan on display in the Bosstick Gymnasium. Panels highlighting the areas being included in the study were lined up on the basketball court. Visitors were given stickers to place on the panels if they agree or disagree with the contents. They also were given pads of sticky notes for short written comments. Vision Statement: Danville is a community inspired by its hometown charm and prepared to embrace strategic investmens that cultivate sustainable growth and development. Priorities listed included managing growth, preserving the character and mix of local businesses, and using “livable neighborhoods, premier parks, walkable districts, and outstanding event programming” to strengthen quality of live. Comments included “Define livable neighborhoods,” and “Boom town is not quality of life.” Land Use: Priorities were maintaining the court house ssquare as the central core by prioritizing local businesses within the downtown. Maintain US 36/Main St. as commercial corridor with mix of local and chain businesses. Reserve land for: future parks; space for future roadway and utility infrastructure. One comment was “Seems smarter to build to the east of town.”
Community Character - Downtown: Support infill and redevelpment of existing urban areas - maintain compact develpment pattern with mixed uses and activities; maintain small scale buildings (1-3 stories) that house local businesses; encourage specialty retail shops downtown; emphasize local businesses downtown & mix of local/ chains outside downtown. Prioritize pedestrian environment downtown - incorporate a multi-use path on Main street; Use plantngs, street furniture, decorative paving and ornamental lighting to support downtown character; Encourage businesses to create outdoor dining along sidewalk. Comment: “So excited for more walk-ablilty” and “We love our downtown! I’m excited to see the thoughtfulness in our leadership is using in plans for future improvement. This place is special” Placemaking: Mission to expand activities, events and programming offered in Danville. Support growth and enhancement of year-round events. Partner with Visit Hendricks County to advertise & promote. Coordinate events across public and private sector. Offer diversity of programs - youth, family, seniors. Take community survey on types of programs. Establish community brand that celebrates Town’s heritage and identity - implement 2010 wayfinding study; Identify locations for gateway signage. Comments: “Consider signs that point to specific businesses on the square” and “Strongly agree with partnering with VHC - they do excellent work.”
Vehicular Transportation: This panel attraced the most attention. Goals are: Develop east-west corridors to alleviate Main St traffic. Extend CR 100 N from Money Lane to SR 39. Establish parallel routes along Broadway and/or Lincoln. Construct missing segments along 200N to connect with Marion County. Develop unofficial bypass to improve flow: a. use CR 300E and CR 200 S to connect US 36 & SR 39 b. evaluate route for SR 39 bypass along east side. c. investigate truck bypass on CR 75W as short term option 3. investigate turning downtown back to 2-way (so could traffic signal at E. Main& Tennessee could be eliminated. Coments: “Traffic thru town is nothing compared to almost any other town” and “30 years too late.” Pedestrian Infrastructure: Implement Pedestrian Pathways & Trails Plan of 2020 - evaluate best way to provide a major east-west trail on Main Steet. Require developers to construct shared-use trails on adjacent roadways & Town projects to follow same as outside develpments. Begin coordinatin with INDOT on longterm plan for trail & pedestrican connecivity along Main St/ US36, by-pass, trials and Safe Routes to School. Provide ADA compliant sidewalks and trails. Develop network of safe inclusive pedestiral pathways - Complete SRTS master plan & encourage students to walk & Bike to school - provid ADA compliant sidewalks & trails
Assistant Town Manager Will Lacey (right) answers questions.
Parks, Recreation & Natural Areas: With the mission to promote a safe and active lifestyle through recreation opportunities, a goal is to implement the 5-year plan to provide park space within half-mile walking distance of each neighborhoos and improve the trail network. Establish environmental polices to limit development in floodway and sensitive areas. Provide incentives for developments to preserve or dedicate natural areas for park, trails and open space. One note commented: “I like the idea of Danville striving to preserve wildelife areas/planting native grasses to help maintain water retention. New development & asphalt can lead to diminishing habitat. I’d love to see the town approach new develpment differently” Community Characer - Neighborhoods: Create diverse housing opportunities in north and northwest. Discourage residential developments with only one housing type. Ensure develpment proposals contribute to Danville’s overall community character - new develpments to provide non-motorized links to existing & planned trails; develop connects to existing sub streets; maintain grid pattern; require right-of-way dedication for future trails/roadways. Comment: “Love the plans for new housing but worry about too many apartments. Is there a cap or monitoring of this?” and “Concerned that too many apartments would bring too many people without financial benefits to town”
Economic Development: - Promote quality of place to support workforce attraction & new business. Promote inventory of available development ready sites. Use proximity of airport by attracting complimentary development. Promote “Buy Local” campaign. Support comprehensive ed & lifelong learning opportinities, collaboration among educational institutions, employers, workforce devopent partners to create training advancement. If you couldn’t make the public input session to the the following link to take part in the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DefiningDanville ______________________________________________
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Learn About Trees
Students have their free saplings ready to take home.
Trees. We often take them for granted, but on April 30, students at Danville North Elementary learned how important they are to our environment and how they can serve as a memorial to someone special. Best of all, thanks to the Danville Tree Advisory Committee, third grade students at North Elementary received free saplings to take home and plant with their families. ______________________________________________
Mrs. Barber, North Elementary Librarian, read “The Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever.” to all the third grade students. The book tells the story of activist Kate Sessions, who helped San Diego grow from a dry desert town into a lush, leafy city known for its gorgeous parks and gardens. Mrs. Barber discussed Arbor Day and all the useful benefits of trees. She also told the students about the Danville Tree Advisory Committee and their goal to see that the community has an abundance of healthy trees to help the environment and add to the beauty of our town. Several students wanted to know how old you must be to be on the Committee, in hopes of being a member someday! ______________________________________________
The school had purchased a larger tree in memory of MRs. Michele Russell, a third grade teacher who passed away last fall. Faculty and staff joined a tree-planting ceremony on the school grounds. ______________________________________________
