Whalley Avenue Corridor Study July2010

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PublicReviewCommentsCommentsontheDraftWhalleyAvenueCorridorStudyarewelcome. Pleaseprovidecommentsby5:00PMFriday,July30,2010to:Email: [email protected]:SouthCentralRegionalCouncilofGovernments

WhalleyAvenueStudyCommentsAttn:Mr.StephenDudley

127WashingtonAve,4thFloorWestNorthHaven,CT06473

Preparedfor:SouthCentralRegionalCouncilofGovernmentsJuly2010

Preparedby:ParsonsBrinckerhoffwithFitzgerald&Halliday,Inc.

NOTE:Thisreportisformattedtoprinton11x17inchpaper.

CITYOFNEWHAVENDDDRRRAAAFFFTTTWWWHHHAAALLLLLLEEEYYYAAAVVVEEENNNUUUEEECCCOOORRRRRRIIIDDDOOORRRSSSTTTUUUDDDYYY


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CHAPTER2EXISTINGCONDITIO

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Exhibit24:CurrentZoning

Source:NewHavenZoningMap,updatedFebruary19,2010

CityofNewHavenZoningDistricts

Thefollowingzoningdistrictsareestablishedalongthestudycorridor. Theyareestablished

the

Zoning

Code

of

the

City

of

New

Haven

(Codified

through

Ordinance

No.

1598,

enact

September8,2009).

BADistrict(GeneralBusiness)

A predominantly retail oriented district that provides concentrations of convenience stor

specialtyshops,andservicesforadjacentneighborhoods.

BBDistrict(AutoSales)

Establisheszonesforthesaleofnewandusedvehiclesandexcludesnonrelatedusestopromo

thedevelopmentofautomobilesalesandrelateduses.

RM1District(LowMiddleDensity)

Protectslow

middle

density

areas

and

limits

dwellings

to

adensity

of

approximately

12

dwell

unitsperacre,andtononresidentialusestatgenerallysupportamiddledensityarea.

RM2District(HighMiddleDensityResidential)

Highmiddledensitydwellingsandlimitsdensitytoapproximately22dwellingunitsperacre,a

tononresidentialusesthatgenerallysupportamiddledensityarea.

ParkDistrict

Protectsareasthatarepubliclyorsemipubliclyownedanddesignatedaspublicparksandop

spaces.

CemeteryDistrict

Sets

aside

and

protects

areas

that

have

been

or

are

being

developed

predominantly

cemeteries.

RS1District(SpecialSingleFamily)

Preserves lowdensity residential areas by limiting the use of land and buildings within the

areastosinglefamilyhomes.

WhalleyOverlayDistrict

The Whalley Avenue Overlay District, which extends from Ella Grasso Boulevard (Route 10)

Sherman Avenue, was created to encourage the revitalization of this area and to reinfo

Whalley Avenue as a commercial corridor. Within the Overlay District, businesses fronting

WhalleyAvenuearelimitedtoallowedusesforBAzoningdistricts,withtheexceptionofcert

uses.Uses

that

are

not

allowed

include

pawn

shops,

auto

racing

clubs,

motels,

and

automob

repair and rental. The Whalley Overlay District also establishes design standards that a

intendedtopromotethisretaildistrict.

PDD(PlannedDevelopmentDistrict)

Aspecialdistrictthatallowslargetractstobedevelopedorredevelopedinanintegratedmann


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AmongthePlanningConsiderationsforHousingandNeighborhoodsare:

The citys neighborhoods have unique and organic qualities, which

contributetoaprofoundsenseofplaceandanagreeableurban living

environment.The

prevailing

land

use

pattern

is

aclassic

example

of

new

urbanist design philosophy (higher densities, pedestrian and transit

connections, highqualityaesthetics,etc.)

The citys most stable neighborhoods, in general, are pedestrian

oriented, aesthetically pleasing and environmentally sound. There are

walktowork options and convenience goods in accessible locations.

Communityservices,includingschools,parksandplaygroundsarewithina

reasonable walking distance of many homes. Treelined residential

streets,aswellasthesurroundingcommercialareas,enhancethisurban

environment.

This contextual urban environment is among the citys most important

assets and must be stewarded against inappropriate infill, conversions,

encroachmentsandotherpotentiallydeleterious/nuisanceinfluences.

Affordablehousingremainsan integralcomponenttothecityshousing

strategy.

As noted in the Comprehensive Plan, Over time, the encroachment of

incompatible urban design weakens the overall viability of the district.

(pg.V12)

The

Comprehensive

Plan

also

notes

that

The

citys

neighborhood

commercial districts are unique assets that must be stewarded from

incompatible suburbanoriented redevelopment. Design review and

targeted business development are prime issues for these districts.

Smaller,neighborhoodorientedcommercialdistrictsareessentialtothe

qualityoflifeinthecitysneighborhoods.

Thedevelopmentofnewretailusesislimitedbythelackofsuitable,large

developmentsitesalongWhalleyAvenue.Thereisanopportunityforinfill

development in retail centers along the corridor, particularly specialized

neighborhood orientedretail.


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Westville Village compared to the roadway segments leading to it was

identifiedasan issueofconcern. Nopedestriancollisionswerereported

during the time period 200608. Two crashes involving bicycles both

ridinginthewrongdirectionwerereported.

CollisionsElsewhereonWhalleyAvenue

The City of New Haven Provided a map of collisions reported at

intersectionscitywide in2008(Exhibit216). Thedatashowshighrates

of

collisions

at

all

intersections

between

Ella

Grasso

Blvd

and

OrchardStreet,aswellasatSperryStreet.

OtherConcernsIdentifiedthroughthePublicOutreachProces

A number of issues concerning the safety of pedestrians, bicyclis

motorists on the corridor were raised through the public ou

process.

Keyconcerns

raised

at

public

meetings

included:

Excessive traffic speeds throughout the corridor, but espbetweenHarrisonStreetandBlakeStreet(enteringWestvilleV

and between Fitch Street and Osborne Street. In both cases

travel lanes and lack of visual cues to alert the driver t

neighborhoodcontextarelikelycontributingfactors.

Lackofopportunities forpedestrianstosafelycrossWhalleyAand busier cross streets is a concern throughout the corridor

issue is discussed further in the subsequent section on pede

accommodations.

Red light running, including at West Rock Avenue as discpreviously.

Trafficconflictsanddifficultypositioning inthecorrect lanebeFountainStreetandFitchStreet.

Left turns to and from Whalley Avenue and the frequendriveways,particularlyeastofEllaGrassoBlvd.

Lackofbicycleaccommodation inconjunctionwithhighmotorvvolumesandspeeds.

Exhibit216:CollisionsatIntersectionsin2008

Source: Cit of New Haven


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BusstopsonWhalleyAvenuearelocatedincloseproximitytoeachother;

in some locations everyblock. Whilesuch frequency minimizes walking

distance to bus stop locations, it also increase bus travel times and can

reducetraveltimereliability. Eachstopalsodisplacesonstreetparkingas

wellto

reserve

access

to

the

stop

location

for

buses.

Exhibit223showsthedensityofbusstopsonWhalleyAvenue. A1000

foot shaded radius drawn around each stop shows those areas that are

within walking distance of bus stop locations and highlights the

redundancy of coverage in some locations. Green areas show inbound

bus stops (those on the south side of Whalley Avenue), while purple

corresponds to outbound (north side) bus stops. Darker shading

represents locations served by covered shelters, while lighter shading

shows areas served by uncovered bus stops. While most inbound bus

stops include shelters, only one shelter is provided in the outbound

direction.

Thecondition

of

shelters

is

poor

in

some

locations.

Exhibit223:WalkingDistancetoBusStops


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RI


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CONNE

TUT

COORDI

AT

SCALE 1"=60

60 120

HARRISON

STREETPHILPS

BKES

EXHIBIT 3-3

7 TV

P

P

Dw

P

1

A CITY OF NEW HAVENWHALLEY AVENUECORRIDOR STUDY


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TR


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CONNEC

TIUT

CORI

A

SCALE 1"=60

60 120

WESTROCK AVE.

WET R

OCK A

VE

T OURA V

E

FOUNTAIN

ST. CENTRALAVE.

EXHIBIT 3-7

7 TV

P

P

Dw

P

1



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UT IAT

R

FITCHS


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WESTROCK AVE.

CONNEC

TICO

R

SCALE 1"=100

100 200

WET R

OCK A

V E

T.

JEWELL

ST.

EXHIBIT 3-9

7 TV

P

P

Dw

P

1



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T IAT

R

ELLATGRBL


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CNNE C

OR

SCALE 1"=60

60 120

ELLATGRASSOBLVD.

ASSOBLVD.

AKEST.

BROWNELLST.

HOBARTST.

LANE

BIK E

LANE

BIKE

LANE

BIKE

LANE

BIKE

EXHIBIT 3-13

7 TV

P

P

DwP

1



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HE RCELLSW


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ELL AT .GR AS SOB LVD .

NORTONST .

SHERMANAVE.

M A NA V E

MES

W IN THROPAVE .

ELL SWORTHAVE.ARGONNE ST.

ORTHAVE

S CA LE 1"=150

150 300

EXHIBIT 3-16

7 TV

P

P

Dw

P

1

PM CITY OF NEW HAVENWHALLEY AVENUECORRIDOR STUDY


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SHERMANAVE.

S

RYSH ER M AN A VE

H UDO N

T

CO U NT YT

ORCHARDST.

ORCHARDS

DICKERMAN ST.

S CA LE 1"=150

150 300

EXHIBIT 3-17

7 TV

P

P

Dw

P

1

PM CITY OF NEW HAVENWHALLEY AVENUECORRIDOR STUDY

SHERMANAVE.

CHAPTER3CORRIDORRECOMMENDATIO


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SperryAveHoweSt(E3)

ThesegmenteastofSperryStreethasanarrowerrightofwayandfewer

driveways than locations to the west. Therefore, the proposed

recommendationsmaintaintheexistingfourlanecrosssectionandfocus

onimproving

streetscape

and

pedestrian

accommodations

(Exhibit

318).

Curb extension at Sperry Street, Dwight Street and Howe Street would

narrow the roadway and shorten crossing distances for pedestrians. A

newcrosswalkonthewestsideofHoweStreetwouldimprovepedestrian

accessacrossWhalleyandtotheBroadwaycorridor,thoughaccessfrom

WhalleyAvenuetothenorthsideoftheBroadwaycorridorisbeyondthis

studys project area and is not addressed. Study of this area with the

specific intention of strengthening pedestrianconnections between Yale

University,theBroadwaycorridorandWhalleyAvenueisrecommended.

As

with

elsewhere

in

the

corridor,

striped

parking

is

recommend.

Sidewalksandstreetscapearegenerallyinpoorconditiononthissegment

andmeritreplacementandupgrading.

Exhibit318:ConceptSketchWhalleyAvenue,SperryStreettoHoweStreet


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Appendix A: Public Meeting Summaries


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Yes, I think we could have fewer, better bus stops Yes Yes

Yes Yes Yes

Other transit issues:

It would be nice to see how CT Transit could market itself for trips to Stop & Shop inAmity.

Pedestrian crossings Put in electric buses, trolleys, down the middle of Whalley

9. Other issues or ideas for addressing transportation concerns within t he corridor? Focus on making it like a European Boulevard. More trees, fewer lanes. Aesthetic consideration-Whalley Avenue oak trees are very attractive and soften the

avenue. It is barren in front of cemetery across from Edgewood Park. Shade trees areneeded on curb strip on cemetery side.

The bottleneck confluence of Goffe, Whalley, Dixwell. Not conducive to pedestrians. I would license small shuttle buses to run up and down Whalley all day, like the Sharifs

in Israel or dollar cabs in Brooklyn.

Do you live on or near W halley Avenue?

No Yes Yes Barnett St No Yes Near

Yes Yes, nearby Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Do you own a business on W halley Avenue?

No No No No, Fountain Yes No No No No Within 500 feet No No No

Yes

Do you work or go to school on or near Whalley Avenue?

No Yes No No No

No Fairly close Yes Yes Yes No No

Do you shop on W halley Avenue?

Used to at Shaws Yes Yes Yes No Yes Used to at Shaws Yes Yes


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Documents

Whalley Avenue Corridor Study July2010