20 minute read
CHAPTER 3: CONCEPTUAL DOWNTOWN
INTRODUCTION This plan is divided into four pillars: Conservation & the Built Environment, Growth, The Square & Historic Preservation, and Vitality. These four pillars together support a cohesive concept for the future of downtown Adel through well defined goals, policies, and actions. Each pillar is summarized in the following sections of this chapter, and described in depth in the following chapters.
Advertisement
CONSERVATION & THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT Bicycling, Natural Assets, Community Participation
Conservation Vision: Utilize and accentuate downtown Adel’s natural features through infrastructure improvement, greenery expansion, modernized building codes, and active community programming.
One of the pillars for downtown is conservation and its relationship with the built environment. This pillar focuses on bicycle infrastructure, Adel’s natural assets, green building policies, and community participation in stewardship and education.
Conservation and the natural environment have a direct impact on the quality of life within a community for years to come. Water protection, the presence of greenspace, minimization of pollutants, stormwater management or flood prevention, and the promotion of native flora and fauna are all benefits conservation planning can provide. As the connections between humans and their surroundings become clearer, planning with nature in mind is growing in importance. The natural environment is often not fully appreciated until it is compromised.
With the incorporation of the Raccoon River Valley Trail into Adel’s existing bicycle infrastructure, the city has the potential to modernize transportation initiatives and encourage bike usage. Bicycles use fewer resources than cars, produce less pollution, and reduce noise in commercial and residential neighborhoods.
Adel should update its infrastructure plans to account for the needs of bicycle riders, encourage further bicycle usage, and aid current bicycle traffic. These initiatives include bike lanes, bike parking racks located throughout Main Street, and other downtown hotspots, public bathrooms for bicycle riders to use, and increased signage for both bicycle riders and to increase automobile driver awareness of riders. Clear routes (see Chapter 4 for suggested routes) from the Raccoon River Valley Trail to other parts of downtown should also be installed to help increase movement around the city center. This can be accomplished through designated bike lanes and increased signage.
Adel has been favored with lovely scenery and natural assets. To emphasize these features and increase downtown Adel’s charm, an effort should be made to add greenery and incorporate natural vegetation. Beyond being pleasing to the eye, protecting pedestrians from wind and sun, and conserving habitats for local wildlife, the addition of natural elements has been found to calm traffic and management stormwater.
Trees can alert drivers that they are entering a residential neighborhood and studies have shown that tree cover can encourage drivers to slow down and take extra care when entering these districts. This strategy has been identified as a potential method of calming traffic as it enters Adel, particularly along Greene Street. Other streetscaping elements such as bump-outs, sidewalk planters, and bike racks provide a barrier between cars and pedestrians and help encourage cars to slow down even further. Greenery –like tree plantings and gardens along the street –also absorbs rainwater, mitigating flooding and aiding the city's stormwater infrastructure. In this form, greenery can also act as a filter, helping to prevent pollutants and garbage from entering the water system.
The built environment is constantly being revised and rebuilt. Using and renovating existing buildings has a threefold benefit for Adel: environmental, economic, and social. Environmentally, the amount of raw material used in renovating is greatly diminished compared to the resources consumed in demolishing and rebuilding processes. Economically the reduction in required materials translates into a decrease in start-up costs for new businesses. Socially, protecting the historic buildings and atmosphere of downtown Adel can help the city maintain its original character and sense of place as it continues to grow.
In situations where the best option is to construct entirely new buildings, this provides the opportunity to institute modern sustainability practices and environmental standards in development. Moving forward, Adel can focus on a three-pronged approach to green building standards: longevity, energy efficiency, and permeable pavement. Prolonging the life span of buildings and reducing the number of resources needed to build and run buildings can help maximize the efficiency of resource consumption for the city and reduce the cost of building maintenance going forward. Permeable pavements can help Adel cope with predicted increases in rainfall in the coming years by increasing stormwater absorption.
To supplement and support these changes, Adel should encourage active programming involving natural features and the Raccoon River Valley Trail. The city already allows snowmobiling and cross country skiing along the trail, among other activities. The expansion of nature appreciation programs such as bird watching or bulb planting can help the community better incorporate the trail into downtown Adel’s identity.
Arranging environmental proficiency classes and activities for the residents of Adel can help improve the city and its natural surroundings. Integrating these programs in schools as well as providing opportunities for adult-targeted education campaigns can encourage all-ages activities from nature tours to recycling to seasonal cleanup programs for public areas.
GROWTH Thriving Economy, Housing Opportunities, Entrepreneurship
Growth Vision: Increase downtown employment opportunities through business attraction, retention, and revitalization, while accounting for the need for workforce housing opportunities.
One of the pillars for downtown is growth: both economic growth and Adel’s population growth. This pillar focuses on encouraging workforce housing opportunities, creating a diverse economic and entertainment hub, and addressing traffic congestion and pedestrian safety within downtown.
Population and employment growth is crucial to maintaining the tax base needed for necessary civic improvements to maintain a positive quality of life for all. This key benefit aside, growth also
helps small businesses thrive so that the city maintains its unique character and stands out as a desirable place to live and visit. With an increasing population, the city should also strive to provide housing opportunities for all income levels so that Adel continues to thrive.
A variety of housing opportunities in downtown can increase foot traffic for local businesses, while maintaining downtown as an active center. Beyond the impact that such activity can have on the ability of the city to attract and retain new businesses, a variety of housing opportunities will also ensure that Adel remains an equitable place to live. Workforce housing caters to varying income levels and is an asset to the community due, in part, to the possibilities of rehabilitating properties. Such housing opportunities can also positively improve Adel’s ability to meet employment needs, increasing the strength of the local economy, rather than detracting from it.
Efforts should be continued to develop downtown Adel as a diverse economic and entertainment hub. The historic square surrounding the Dallas County Courthouse is an asset to the city and can be further utilized for entertainment and civic events, such as art fairs and holiday festivities. Increasing the economic growth downtown could be investing in a business incubator for small start-up businesses. Such an incubator would allow Adel residents and visitors to have access to original business ideas from entrepreneurs who may otherwise not have the necessary capital to break into the local market.
As Adel’s economy grows, it will be helpful to create a marketing campaign to recruit entrepreneurs, as well as national retail and restaurant brands that can add value to Adel. A concerted effort to recruit new business can create a balance between small, locally owned businesses and national brands that provide services that could not otherwise be met.
With economic growth occurring downtown, the city will need to continue to address traffic congestion at the intersection of Nile Kinnick Drive and Greene Street. This congestion is frustrating and potentially dangerous for drivers. Working with the Iowa Department of Transportation, roadway improvements can be made so that downtown remains accessible to residents and visitors; however, part of this accessibility must address pedestrian safety through more visible crosswalks and crossing lights. Pedestrian safety has widespread benefits, including economic growth: encouragement and ease of pedestrian access can help retain small businesses that may otherwise be driven past. Pedestrian safety can also create equitable opportunities to access entertainment events and the local economy.
THE SQUARE & HISTORIC PRESERVATION Historic Preservation, Trail Integration, Reinvestment
The Square Vision: Preserve the historic atmosphere of downtown with renovations, improvements, and tourism.
The Adel Public Square Historic District, or “The Square,” forms a significant pillar of the plan. This pillar focuses on preserving the historical significance and character of the downtown square around the Dallas County Courthouse, integrating the Raccoon River Valley Trail so that it has a connection to The Square, and encouraging reinvestment in The Square.
Maintaining the historical significance of communities is a vital element of planning. Adel’s downtown square helps define the city’s identity, which impacts how residents relate to their community and how visitors view it. The Square is both a significant
historical district and the heart of downtown. By including The Square as its own pillar of the plan, its continued protection becomes a major priority that will have widespread effects on downtown as a whole, as well as the larger Adel community.
Preserving historic buildings and details downtown will maintain The Square as a focal point within Adel. Such maintenance will require a large investment of time and funds, but many resources within the state of Iowa are available to help educate property owners and offset costs. This investment is worthwhile to keep The Square as an important economic and entertainment hub, which could in turn create further investment in the community as a whole. This plan hopes to inspire new ideas regarding how to efficiently and effectively offset preservation costs for property owners, as well as how to help visitors to Adel engage with the history of the city. As Adel’s population expands, maintaining the history of downtown can unite new and long-time residents and maintain The Square as a central location.
In concert with preserving the historic square, Adel should prioritize expanding one of its other assets: the Raccoon River Valley Trail. A trail connection to The Square would bring additional visitors to the historic district, thus helping retain small businesses, as well as helping engage visitors with the unique atmosphere of downtown Adel. Expanding the trail to The Square would include adding wayfinding signage that would delineate the historic square as the heart of downtown and instill a sense of pride in how special both the trail and The Square are. Further integration can be achieved by utilizing trail appropriate alley spaces for additional bike parking, so bicyclists will feel welcome downtown and patronizing local businesses will be more convenient. Ease of access to The Square from the trail will create additional vibrancy and align with other goals to make downtown Adel more pedestrian focused. While maintaining the historic charm of the downtown square is clearly a priority, residents have also voiced a desire for The Square to be revitalized. This plan proposes a few ways that The Square can benefit from reinvestment while staying true to its historic character. Creating “gateways” to The Square is one way to delineate it as a vital location in Adel, and such gateways could incorporate local art and brickwork to both celebrate Adel’s history and to highlight the continued presence of the brickyard. In the long term, this plan also proposes strategies for The Square to achieve a balance between publicly owned buildings and privately owned buildings. Though there will always be public office buildings in The Square due to Adel’s position as the county seat, this plan lays out the need to also foster an atmosphere that is vibrant through active, community spaces. Such reinvestment should respect the needs of both the county government and those of Adel’s residents and visitors.
VITALITY Culture, Equity, Social Opportunities
Vitality Vision: Maximize downtown activity for all residents by expanding shopping, events, and public art.
The final pillar for downtown is vitality. This pillar focuses on safety, equity, and culture in downtown Adel. Vitality is energy –the state of being strong and active. Developing a strong, active downtown will provide a foundation for social opportunities, economic development, and a unique culture to continue to prosper in Adel. Including a focus on vitality will help this plan achieve its primary goal - to make downtown Adel a livable space that people want to come to.
As small towns across the nation face the potential of being engulfed by local metropolitan areas, Adel has the prime
opportunity to address Central Iowa's growth and situate itself as a cultural and retail destination in the region. Features that will create this vitality include diversity, mobility, safety, and beauty.
Increasing diversity should always be a goal, since new people and ideas can bring more life to a place and make it an equitable space for everyone to share and enjoy. Transportation and mobility options are also a focus, as creating a safe, friendly downtown space where people of all levels of mobility feel welcome is crucial. Promoting partnerships between business owners and the city can help employers understand current trends and opportunities to grow businesses and downtown as a whole. Finally, beautification of streets, alleys, and storefronts can give downtown a sense of place that is special and uniquely Adel, and makes people want to spend time there. All of these factors will be laid out in the Vitality chapter, as goals that progress towards these ideals will aid in making downtown Adel a vibrant, strong, and beautiful place for generations to come.
Chapter 4: Conservation & the Built Environment
INTRODUCTION Downtown Adel’s relationship with its natural surroundings can be amplified with the planned development of the proposed city-wide trail system as well as the integration of the Raccoon River Trail with the downtown (2017 Comprehensive Parks and Open Space Plan). The integration of the trail system will increase the ways bring people downtown, visitors and citizens alike. To build upon Adel’s natural features, there should be more modes of transportation for people to arrive in downtown Adel, conservation efforts made to downtown infrastructure, and improved streetscapes through new partnerships within the city and county. With these efforts, downtown can become a better version of itself, beautifying the public space and promoting year-round activity downtown and in the parks for people of all ages.
GOALS & POLICIES Goal 1: Increase sustainable modes of transportation in downtown Adel. 1. Promote non-motorized modes of transportation through the development of bike and pedestrian-friendly initiatives. 2. Encourage bike usage through the implementation of bike infrastructure and services, like those in Figure 4.1.
Figure 4.1 Bike Lanes, an Example ofBike Infrastructure
Source: Ride Illinois
Goal 2: Encourage conservation efforts and enhance natural features as well as public open spaces to maximize Adel’s natural assets. 1. Beautify downtown Adel by utilizing natural features and streetscaping, as in Figure 4.2. 2. Implement new stormwater management initiatives. 3. Establish policies that recognize the benefits provided by conserving natural ecosystems.
Figure 4.2 An Example ofNatural Streetscaping on Main Street, Greenville, SC
CASE STUDY: SWAMP RABBIT TRAIL, TRAVELERS REST, SC Figure 4.3 The Swamp Rabbit Trail in Travelers Rest, SC
Source: The Cultural Landscape Foundation
Goal 3: Use the built environment to support the natural environment. 1. Continue to prioritize the use of existing infrastructure before building new to reduce the environmental impact of new development. 2. Implement green building standards in new construction projects.
Goal 4: Encourage community stewardship of Adel’s natural features through continued and enhanced active programming. 1. Develop community education and engagement programs for environmental sustainability techniques. 2. Promote year-round activity on the Raccoon River Valley Trail. 3. Develop a community recycling program with public space to dispose of items. 4. Develop cost-share program to encourage environmental practices on private property including rain gardens, rain barrels, and permeable paving.
26 Source: Alta Planning
Railbed trails are a great way to connect a town to nature while bringing in foot or bike traffic to relax, eat or shop downtown. An example of utilizing an existing trail is in Travelers Rest, South Carolina, a town of similar size and composition to Adel. The Swamp Rabbit Trail is a railbed trail that runs through the heart of downtown Travelers Rest. In order to capitalize on the traffic that this trail brings to town, the city developed a branding scheme, which was implemented through improved signage on the stretch of trail that went through town and served as an open invitation to downtown. This strategy worked well in that it did not require any new physical development to connect the trail to downtown, but resulted in better connectivity through the efforts of unifying the trail and town through wayfinding infrastructure.
Connecting the trail both physically and through signage was a successful strategy. Many businesses saw a significant increase in
traffic. Furthermore, the trail then served as a venue for year-round event programming. Annual activities such as a fun run and local art exhibitions take place on the trail. In a way, the trail served as public event space for the town to utilize. The improvements led to an impact on residents as it not only improved mobility but also instilled a sense of pride in the local culture.
TRAIL INTEGRATION & CONSERVATION ZONE Proposed Trail Integration The proposed Main St. integration of the Raccoon River Valley Trail is a first step the city can take to make the trail a part of downtown Adel. The current trail proposal in Figure 4.4 focuses on the trail diverting off of 9th St. towards Main St. from the west, and on 6th St. from the East. These streets, as they are now, are safer and calmer compared to going down Niles Kinnick. Our proposal also diverts south to Greene St. but emphasizes safety measures of traffic calming through streetscaping tactics like bump-outs, lining the streets with trees, and creating bike lanes. The 2017 Comprehensive Park and Open Space plan developed by the City of Adel speaks to a more ambitious plan for trail integration, but our proposal emphasizes short-term action, with further integration coming later.
Conservation Zone The conservation zone highlights areas of land use policy to emphasize conservation efforts for environmentally focused streetscaping improvements and future building requirements for new development. Sustainable streetscaping areas are planned along Greene St. and Niles Kinnick. These efforts focus specifically on streetscaping infrastructure in areas where there are major intersections for pedestrian and bike crossing. This overlay zone also includes the Raccoon River Valley Trail and the area directly adjacent to the Raccoon River. The conservation in these areas focuses on maintaining the trail’s functionality and charm through native plantings, trail signage, stormwater mitigation, and green building restrictions. In the current conservation district directly south of the trail, there is an opportunity to build commercial retail or restaurants that focus on the trail as an asset to downtown. The Conservation Zone can also be seen in Figure 4.4.
CONCLUSION Conservation in downtown Adel is significant because linking the natural environment to the built environment can not only help beautify downtown, but can also enhance the quality of life for all who call Adel home. Integrating the Raccoon River Valley Trail, sustainably improving the natural and built environments, and involving all residents in supporting a sustainable downtown will all have substantial benefits for the city as a whole. This action plan can help conserve the beauty and function of downtown Adel and the natural area it is a part of for generations to come.
POTENTIAL PARTNERS • Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IADNR) • Dallas Soil & Water Conservation District (DSWCD) • Adel Partners Chamber of Commerce (APCC) • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) • Raccoon River Valley Trail Association (RRVTA) • Trees Forever: Planting a Better Tomorrow • The Nature Conservancy
POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES • Clean Water State Revolving Fund from the EPA • Recreational Trails Program Funds (RTP) • Iowa’s Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) • National Trails Fund • Kodak American Greenways Grant • Bikes Belong - PeopleforBikes Community Grants
Figure 4.4 Downtown Adel Proposed Trail Integration & Conservation Zone Map
Table 4.1 Conservation Implementation Matrix
IMPLEMENTATION AND TIMELINE
Goal 1: Increase sustainable modes of transportation in downtown Adel.
Policy Actions Timeline Partners Funding Priority Promote non-motorized modes of transportation through the development of bike and pedestrian-friendly initiatives. Develop plans to create a bike share program Improve connections to downtown and to local parks Medium IADOT, NGOs, Transportation Engineering Firm PeopleforBikes Community Grants Kodak American Greenways Grant Medium
Encourage bike usage through the implementation of bike infrastructure and services. Construct more bicycle lanes
Provision of bicycle parking and maps along bike paths Medium IADOT, Transportation Engineering Firm RTP High
TAP
Goal 2: Encourage conservation efforts and enhance natural features as well as public open spaces to maximize Adel’s natural assets.
Policy Actions Timeline Partners Funding Priority Beautify downtown Adel by utilizing natural features and streetscaping. Design areas that integrate natural features such as trees, native plants, etc. Plant trees, maintain prairies Medium CoA, IADOT, IADNR Kodak American Greenways Grant TAP Medium
Design traffic slowing streets that utilize natural features
Plant trees along Greene Street
Install bump-outs at critical pedestrian crossings
Implement new stormwater management initiatives. Identify areas where natural buffers can be installed
Add mesh screens to storm drains
Plant native plants near streams and rivers
Maintain stream buffers
Establish policies that recognize the benefits provided by conserving natural ecosystems. Recognize positive impacts to water quality from installing native buffers
Implement zoning measures to protect viewsheds along the Raccoon River
Quantify the benefit of natural stormwater conservation measures Medium CoA, DSWCD, IADNR Clean Water State Revolving Fund
Watershed Improvement Grants (319) High
Long CoA Wildlife Habitat with Local Entities Grant Program High
Goal 3: Use the built environment to support the natural environment.
Policy Actions Timeline Partners Funding Priority Continue to prioritize the use of existing infrastructure before building new to reduce the environmental impact of new development. Assess potential uses of vacant buildings Promote vacant buildings or empty lots downtown to incoming businesses Ongoing CoA, APCC Tax incentives Historic tax credits Low
Implement green building standards in new construction projects. Maximize durability and adaptability in building codes when new structures are created. Short, Medium, Ongoing
Set a minimum energy efficiency standard for new buildings
Install electric charging stations in parking lots downtown
Look into replacing parking lots, alleys, and some sidewalks with permeable options
Plan so that infrastructure updates for a given location are all done simultaneously PZC, EPA Community Development Block Grant Medium
Local, State, and Federal tax incentives
Goal 4: Encourage community stewardship of Adel’s natural features through continued and enhanced active programming.
Policy Actions Timeline Partners Funding Priority Develop community education and engagement programs for environmental sustainability techniques. K-12: Short lectures on the importance of recycling with a demonstration on how recycling happens Using recyclables in crafting sessions Birdhouse building Andy Goldsworthy art interventions on the trail and in the surrounding parks Using recycling in the Short, Medium CoA, APCC, IDNR, DC SWCD, EPA, Trees Forever, The Nature Conservancy, RRVTA, Adel School District Recreational Trails Program Funds High
lunchroom Composting on school ground Native plantings on school grounds Community garden on school grounds A student from each class is assigned as the recycling monitor for the classroom
Adult: Composting seminars Seed bomb making Bird watching Tree tours Native planting seminar Stormwater seminar Bird and bat house making Clean up around the trail Hiking and trash clean up
Promote year-round activity on the Raccoon River Valley Trail. Winter: Snowmobiling Cross-country skiing Snow-shoeing Winter Festival
32 Spring: Flower tour Bird-watching Planting & cleanup Maple syrup tapping Summer: Biking, walking, and running events
Fall: Harvest Festival Short DC, APCC, CoA, RRVTA, Adel School District, Trees Forever: Planting a Better Tomorrow Low
Turkey Run Bulb planting
Develop a community recycling program with public space to dispose of items. Create recycling events with learning based prizes and opportunities to get rid of recyclable material
Implement recycling bins with instructions
Install recycling based sculpture and art Short, Medium
Develop cost-share program to encourage environmental practices on private property including rain gardens, rain barrels, and permeable paving. Set up a downtown conservation fund
Set up a downtown conservation committee
Round Up for Rain Gardens Short, Medium CoA, APCC Recreational Trails Program Funds Medium
CoA, APCC High
