At long last, we've got our consulting team under contract and work on the Downtown Redevelopment and Expansion Master Plan is about to get under way.
The City Council approved a contract with the lead consulting firm on Aug. 28. The goal
of the planning effort is to create a series of practical yet forward-thinking
strategies to guide the future development and growth of the downtown area. The
Plan will be environmentally responsible, respectful of the existing landscape
and built environment, financially feasible, and visionary.
In
addition to land use and design, the planning process includes an analysis of
economic opportunities, transportation and utility infrastructure needs, and
historic preservation issues associated with the redevelopment and expansion of
the downtown area.
Torti Gallas is the lead
firm for the effort. Sub-consultants are Economic Research Associates (economic
analysis), Walter P. Moore Inc. (transportation
engineering), Meléndrez (landscape architecture), Urban Design Group (civil engineering), Limbacher & Godfrey (historic
preservation), and BWM Group (landscaping, way
finding and local support).
The City hired consulting firm Glatting Jackson in 2007 to develop a scope of work to ensure
we included the appropriate topics in this sector development planning. As part
of the scoping process late last year, City staff and the consultants held an
intensive two-day series of focus groups, interviews, and a public meeting with
key stakeholders, technical experts, and members of the community.
If you want specifics of how the planning process will unfold, here's the scope of services that lays it out in some detail.
We expect the first opportunities
for broad public input will occur in approximately two months when Torti Gallas
will lead a week-long charrette, featuring a store-front studio downtown where
people can come and go to provide input. The consultants are also scheduled for
a site visit approximately one month after the contract is awarded, and we
expect they will conduct some one-on-one interviews at that time.
We
anticipate the planning effort to last nine to 12 months.
We'll
provide regular updates as the plan progresses, including a timeline, and look
forward to everyone's input on this exciting project.
Will
Hampton is the project manager for the Downtown Redevelopment and Expansion
Master Plan. If you have questions, contact him directly at 218-5409 or whampton@round-rock.tx.us.