Charrette Outlines Future Development Near Mowatt Lane

June 4th, 2010 | by Clay Gump | Published in Domain at College Park, Mosaic at Turtle Creek, Speculation | 1 Comment

On April 30, 2010 a Charrette was held in City Hall on the Domain project and the surrounding area. This also includes the area of the Mosaic at Turtle Creek. The goal was to come up with a overall vision for the area that can guide future development and create a mixed use neighborhood with tree-lined, predestrian and bicycle-friendly streets.

This area is located at the intersection of the Campus edge (near the Smith Business School) and a residential area. This is mostly on undeveloped property. There are many religious buildings in the immediate vicinity. The Domain project is located at the intersection of Campus Drive and Mowatt Lane while the Mosaic project located off Mowatt Lane.

The comprehensive vision includes 3 primary themes.

1) Create a compact, pedestrian-friendly mixed-use neighborhood

Create a walkable neighborhood with a mix of housing types and neighborhood services
Maximize transit-oriented opportunities
Respect property owner objectives
Improve pedestrian and bicycle connectivity
Improve internal circulation – disperse traffic efficiently
Create a network of neighborhood greens, squares, and plazas
Protect and enhance environmental resources
2- to 8-story buildings

2) Enhance Campus Drive as an attractive pedestrian-oriented “gateway” and calm traffic

Transform as a “gateway” to campus and surrounding neighborhoods
Reduce auto-oriented character with traffic calming and safe crosswalks
Align curb-cuts and intersections
Create standard streetscape design criteria to “activate the street”
Encourage some neighborhood service and retail
Enhance sidewalks with consistent build-to-line (varies per options from 18 to 35 feet)
Maintain 4 lanes in all scenarios
Consider bicycle lanes and/or on-street parking
Streetscape enhancements support
Purple Line options
- Centerline or side-loaded platform
- Understand dimensional standards/options

3) Improve MowattLane as a pedestrian and bicycle-friendly residential-scale street

Improve and maintain as a 2-lane “residential street” with median (UMCP option – 2011)
Establish streetscape design criteria for a “residential character”
Maintain low, safe speeds
Align curb cuts and intersections
Preference: 2-lane street
Consider bicycle lanes
Review Options:
- Allow for median to become leftturn “pockets” where needed to improve traffic flow (3-lane)
- 4-lane option
Understand dimensional standards/options