Exposition Convenes Community Study Group
To Begin Work on Pearl Street Vision Project
Saratoga Associates hired to develop proposals for village 'Gateway'
ESSEX JUNCTION - A diverse group of village officials, business owners, community members, and planners gathered recently at the Champlain Valley Exposition to explore how they want Pearl Street - the gateway to Essex Junction - to look, feel and function.
Saratoga Associates of Saratoga Springs, NY was hired by the Champlain Valley Exposition's Board of Directors to provide its architectural and streetscape planning services to the village as it begins reviewing how Pearl Street works and ways it could be improved. "It's a way of giving something back to the community that will have a lasting impact. It matters to us what happens because Pearl Street is the front door of the Fair and the many other events held here" said CVE's General Manager David Grimm.
The master plan for the Exposition currently includes upgrading the "front yard" it presents to Pearl Street, including a new main pedestrian gate, landscaping and eventually moving some of the agricultural buildings on the grounds away from the street.
The issue at hand, according to Dan Sitler, president of Saratoga Associates, is how can Essex Junction and Essex best compete in a market that already includes a very popular shopping district on Church Street and Waterfront in Burlington; a busy South Burlington shopping mall; and the big-box retail stores in Williston's Taft Corners.
"Our goal is to help you bring your 'main' street up to today's standards, while maintaining the New England village feel of your community. A lot of things are changing in the economy and communities and it's important to realize people's expectations are shifting as well," he said.
The review process, which included two, two-hour workshops, was designed to collect opinions and observations from residents, supplemented by a day spent driving around Chittenden County to see the "competition." Saratoga Associations will return here in June to present its formal recommendations to the focus group. Included will be suggestions on how to proceed with planning issues, finding the funding for projects and ways to gather feedback on the proposals from the community.
Saratoga Associates identified four distinct districts within the Route 15/Pearl Street corridor from Five Corners to Suzie Wilson Road - Five Corners and the historic downtown; the residential Hillcrest neighborhood; the shopping centers and Champlain Valley Exposition; and the transitional commercial highway section on Route 15.
Among the initial findings from the workshops:
· There is a need and desire to "tame" the highway with reduced speeds and additional crosswalks and create a "sense of arriving" in Essex Junction.
· Wider, more pedestrian-friendly sidewalks and bicycle paths would better serve the many residential neighborhoods and schools in the area.
· Benches, planters, better signs and pedestrian-scaled lighting would enhance the overall experience and encourage walking in the village.
· Maintain and enhance the architectural style of the village, especially as buildings are remodeled or reconfigured. Special attention should be paid to buildings, lot sizes and their relationship to the street with height and setback.
· A mix of affordable housing, shopping (including a grocery store in the village) and maintaing service-oriented businesses are key to the on-going success of the village as a center of community life.
"Essex Junction is already a very walkable, fun, friendly and livable village. It has a lot of what many other communities are striving to create or rebuild. The challenge for Essex Junction," Sitler told the focus group, "is to manage its growth, pay attention to the quality of commercial and residential projects, avoid sprawl and look for ways to creatively redevelop and reinvest in some of your problem areas along Pearl Street."
Everyone seemed to agree that while Pearl Street has already made some good strides with the addition of Highland Village condos and the recent façade upgrades at the two shopping centers, there is still much to be done. "You need to get the word out to the investors and developers that Essex Junction is open for business and looking for quality development. Keep the momentum going, showcase the Exposition and engage the community in this process," Sitler concluded.
----------------
For more information, contact Stephen Mease, Public Relations Director of Champlain Valley Exposition, 878-5545 or [email protected]