November
2003 Design Session
City of Wilton Manors Project Summary
[See also the Results
page]
The City of Wilton Manors is looking for an overall design
framework for its primary main streets while addressing the
demands of development and redevelopment.. Wilton Station is
a development underway located at the future site for a railway
station of the Florida East Coast (FEC) Railway. Although not
in immediate plans there are proposals for the double-tracking
and passenger service on the FEC's line.
The questions posed by the City regarding this redevelopment
included:
- What is the ideal location for the municipal
complex and City Hall as a functional civic space?
- How can the transit-oriented design of Wilton
Station be coordinated with commercial development along
Wilton Drive and the Dixie Corridor?
- How can greenway and blueway projects be incorporated
into development and transportation goals?
- What suggestions does the Design Institute
have for an appropriate balance of commercial development
along Wilton Drive?
- What is the appropriate location for a parking
garage to serve current and future transit and retail?
- How does Wilton Manors address the need for workforce
housing?
Design Institute Recommendations
The Design Institute Resource Team focused first on the need
for developing a master plan for the City of Wilton Manors.
This master plan would serve as a guide for potential developers
and help to encourage development in specific areas. While
the Resource Team felt the City has done a fine job of working
with developers and reacting to market demand for residential
redevelopment, the Team felt the creation of a citywide master
plan would strengthen a unified long-term vision for the City.
The master plan would also serve as a valuable tool in directing
commercial redevelopment and offering developers certainty.
Resource Team members compiled the elements of a good master
plan and gave examples of cities whose master plans may serve
as models for Wilton Manors.
Elements of a good master plan:
- Placement of buildings
- The "look" that is desired, i.e., representative
illustrations, drawings and pictures
- Streetscapes
- Economic vitality and the regional market
demand
- Spacing and parking provisions
- Design guidelines
- Incentive packages for development
- Open space and parks
- Public space and civic sites
- Zoning and comprehensive plan compatibility
- Inclusion of community events
- A champion for the plan
- Retail tenant, commercial mix and quantities
- Define specific roles of: the city, CRA, private
sector, citizenry
Supporting Recommendations: Pursue creation of the CRA and financing for
redevelopment projects.
- Forge relationship with Oakland Park regarding
the future location of the FEC station.
- Look at corridor in a regional way; coordinate
with Oakland Park and Ft. Lauderdale.
- Don't rely upon FEC transit for the success
of the redevelopment plan.
- Coordinate the Main Street program with a
city vision and regional road issues.
A major concern the Design Institute Resource Team was the
City's need to gain control of Wilton Drive through an agreement
with FDOT. The City of West Palm Beach went through a similar
process, which could serve as a model for Wilton Manors to
follow in pursuing this objective. Wilton Manor's goals of
commercial redevelopment and the creation of a pedestrian-friendly
urban village will depend largely on controlling the physical
aspects of Wilton Drive. The Resource Team's action items for
transportation goals included:
Wilton Drive
- Develop a relationship with their district's
county commissioner.
- Work with the Broward County Metropolitan
Planning Organization in gaining control of Wilton Drive
- Negotiate with the county for public services
money.
- Work closely with their FDOT representative.
- Have projects developed (Planning Development
Engineering - PDE) and ready to receive money.
When focusing on Wilton Manor's issue of relocating their
City Hall, the Resource Team agreed that this vital public
investment can and should be tied to further private redevelopment
on Wilton Drive and that its relocation should be an immediate
concern. They felt City Hall should be developed as a catalyst
for the City's future growth and that the Pioneer site (Dixie
Highway/industrial area) would not serve as adequate public
civic space. The Team urged consideration of a third alternative
to the two being considered at this time. An additional option
could be to leverage the presently owned city property on Wilton
Drive, which holds valuable commercial redevelopment opportunities,
in hopes of an exchange for another site elsewhere in the City.
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