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D~ ~Ia :r4J1o~ 4. Actively participate in the redevelopment of the Northwest Quadrant. 5. Pursue a strategy that is intended to phase out interim uses in a sequence that is consistent with redevelopment and reuse. 6. Encourage developments to reflect the heritage of New Brighton and, in particular, the stockyard and original downtown era. 7. Ensure that the design guidelines of the Old Highway 8 Corridor Study are implemented. 8. Provide developers with site-planning guidance for large-scale developments. Urban Design Principles In the early 1900's, New Brighton had a thriving, pedestrian-oriented downtown. The intent of the urban design principles is not to exactly recreate the downtown of the past, but rather to bring the spirit of that place to today's New Brighton in particularly within the City Center area. The urban principles concentrate development, integrate different land uses, and establish a human scale for the built environment (streets, sidewalks, parking areas, buildings), creating places that entice the pedestrian with a wide variety of activities. Within the urban district, people can find opportunities to live, work, shop, be entertained, dine, stroll, and gather with friends and neighbors. City Center (see vision plan Figure 1-1) is the obvious place for establishment of an urban district and application of the urban design principles. However, to varying degrees, the principles can also be applied to other parts of the city. Segments of main street outside city center should have buildings that hug the street, a consistent streetscape treatment, and a pedestrian-friendly environment. A sense of spatial enclosure (created through placing buildings at the street), an attractive and consistent streetscape, and indoor and outdoor places for people to gather will be critical elements if New Brighton's shopping and service nodes are transformed into "community gathering nodes." This transformation is indicated in the vision plan. A set of urban design principles is included in Appendix C. The urban design principles in Appendix C were established specifically for the City Center area building from the principles outlined in the Old Highway 8 Corridor Study. However, these principles may be used to help establish identity within other urban districts that may be identified as redevelopment areas. Typically these redevelopment areas would include commercial nodes such as the Rice Creek Shopping Center. The urban design principles in Appendix C should not be mistaken for a more detailed and defined tool, such as design "guidelines" that might be drafted in an ordinance format. As part of the redevelopment planning process a set of urban design "guidelines" should be established unique to that district but using the principles in Appendix C as the general "rules" for development. The urban design guidelines can follow the format of the principles, but should provide further details specific to each district. Items such as building setback, build-to lines, and lot coverage should be quantified, acceptable materials and colors for buildings and street furnishing should be further discussed and illustrated, and specific guidelines for signage and other items should be developed in establishing urban design guidelines for specific redevelopment districts. A more thorough master plan would be needed to guide the general redevelopment pattern within each district where these principles are desired or appropriate. August 4,1999 New Brighton Comprehensive Plan Page 5.15