Public Meeting 1 May 22, 2017

Branford Station Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Plan

1

2

  Phil Carloni

  Jamie Cosgrove

  Joe Chadwick

  Terry Elton

  William Horne, Ph.D.

  John F. Leonard

Steering Committee

  Cathy Lezon

  John Lust

  Marcia Palluzzi

  Preston Ranton

  Richard Sgueglia

  Harry Smith (Town Planner)

3

BFJ Planning Consultant Team

Project Management, Land Use, Zoning, Transportation, Public Outreach

Frank Fish, FAICP Principal-in-Charge

Georges Jacquemart, PE, AICP Lauren Rennée, AICP

Transportation and Traffic

Jonathan Martin, Ph. D. AICP Project Manager

Russell Design Wayfinding & Signage

Noah Levine, AICP Project Planner

Stantec Infrastructure

Landscape and Streetscape

Regina Armstrong Economic Analysis

4

Today’s Schedule

5

  Inventory and research

  Stakeholder and Community Outreach

  Zoning Analysis and Recommendations for Changes

  Concept Plan for Infrastructure, Pedestrian & Streetscape improvements

  Integrate With Other Efforts to Propose Solutions to Flooding Concerns

TOD Study Scope/Objectives

6

Timeline

Task Description APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP

1 Preliminary Research and Public Input

2 Technical Analysis and TOD Master Plan Preparation

3 Finalize TOD Master Plan and Zoning

Public Workshops

MEC Advisory Committee Meetings

7

Regional Context

This study is not related to the Amtrak proposals for quad tracking between Branford and Guilford.

8

Study Area

ROADS AND TRANSPORTATION (1 MILE CONTEXT MAP)

9

Study Area

0.5 MILE RADIUS FROM STATION

Main Street

Hammer Field

Branford Landing

Stony Creek Brewery

Branford Station

Hopson Avenue

Route 1

Anchor Reef

Atlantic Wharf (Wire)

10

  Population within region is concentrated on rail and highway corridors and is expected to grow by 20,000 residents by 2025.

  Migration from New Haven County has exceeded migration into New Haven County

  CT’s economy has slowed. Number of jobs is static.

Key Regional Trends

Source: Transit Oriented Development Opportunities for the South Central Region (SCRCOG, 2015)

11

  2015 Population: 28,071

Population

Branford

Population

2010 28,026 Change 2000-2010 -2.3%Households

2010 12,739 Change (2000-2010) 1.6%

Household Size

2010 2.18Change (2000-2010) -3.5%

12

  Demand for apartments have increased since 2004

  Baby Boomers and Millennials

  Shift in employment from manufacturing jobs to health care, education, and accommodation, retail and food services

Key Trends: Housing and Employment

Source: Transit Oriented Development Opportunities for the South Central Region (SCRCOG, 2015) Sououthh CCenttr lal RReggiion (S(S( CRCRCOCOGG,, 2201015)5))

13

  Commuting to work via rail transit is relatively low

  Station area households in region have a higher rate of auto ownership than the average ownership rate for transit areas across the country

Transportation

Branford

Source: Transit Oriented Development Opportunities for the South Central Region (SCRCOG, 2015)

Key Trends:

14

•  There are approximately 60 aces of land within the TOD area potentially available for development or redevelopment.

•  The entire area is served by municipal water and sewer

SCRCOG Report Analysis

Source: Transit Oriented Development Opportunities for the South Central Region (SCRCOG, 2015) South Central Region (SCRCOG 2015)

15

  Encourage TOD by: leveraging state and regional resources

  Adopt TOD supporting zoning and design standards;

  Enhance station area connectivity

  Provide needed infrastructure in station area

SCRCOG Report Recommendations

16

  Departing trains:

o  20/day during the week o  13 on weekends   465 parking spaces

o  185 in original lot o  280 in expansion   Train Station Expansion (2016)

o  Platform on north side of tracks o  “Kiss and ride”

Branford Station

Source: Transit Oriented Development Opportunities for the South Central Region (SCRCOG, 2015)

Existing Conditions

17

Existing Conditions Land Use

18

Existing Conditions Zoning

19

  Zoning Table to Come for IG-1, R-1, and R-3

Zoning

Existing Conditions

IG-1 R-1 R-3 Lot Area (sq ft) 20,000 6,000 15,000

Lot Area Per Unit N/A 4,000 15,000 Frontage 50 50 90 Square 100 50 100

Front Setback 30 15 30 Side Setback No Minimum 10 15 Rear Setback 30 20 30

Height 40 35 35 Floor Area 0.40 0.50 0.50

Lot Coverage 0.30 0.25 0.25 Impervious Surface

Area Ratio 0.60 N/A N/A

20

Existing Conditions Constraints (Wetlands and Floodplains)

21

Constraints (Wetlands and Floodplains)

Existing Conditions

Meadow Street Hammer Field

22

Constraints (Wetlands and Floodplains)

Existing Conditions

23

Constraints (Wetlands and Floodplains)

Existing Conditions

24

Existing Conditions Pedestrian Connectivity (Sidewalks)

Gaps in Sidewalk Network

25

Existing Conditions Sidewalk Conditions

26

Existing Conditions Sidewalk Conditions

Good Condition Fair Condition Poor Condition

27

Existing Conditions Sidewalk Conditions

Other Issues

Obstructions Cars parked on sidewalk Gaps

28

Existing Conditions Sidewalk Conditions

Intersections

Good condition Gaps Disrepair

29

Opportunity Areas Study Area Analysis

30

Issues and Opportunities Potential TOD Sites

31

Issues and Opportunities Potential TOD Sites

32

  Low utilization of parking, especially in west lot (expansion)

  Low utilization of Northern “Kiss & Ride”

  Access mode:

o  90% of riders drive (park or kiss & ride) o  5-6% of riders walk o  3-6% or riders bike

Preliminary Observations

Branford Station

33

  Stony Creek Brewery

  Atlantic Wharf (former Atlantic Wire site)

  Senior Center and multi-purpose path at Hammer Field

Recent Developments

Stony Creek Brewery Atlantic Wharf

34

  Branford Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD). This work may be incorporated into POCD.

  I-95 Exit 53 Redevelopment Plan

  Main Street/Route 146 Scenic Highway Gateway Study

Other Planning Efforts

35

 Questions and Answers (Town Hall Meeting)

 Dot Point Exercise o  Place 1 dot on ideas you feel

strongly about

 Comment Card

What Happens Next

Ideas you support or agree with

Ideas you do not support or agree with

= =

36

 Public survey

 Check Town website: http://branfordtod.weebly.com/ or http://www.branford-ct.gov/PnZ

 Send Comments to P&Z staff: todstudy@branford-ct.com

 Next public meeting will be on June 22nd, 7 PM Branford Fire Headquarters  Spread the word!

Next Steps

37

Questions