A master Plan for West Valley View Street Network

Background

A Master Plan for West Valley View Street Network
For more information, or to be placed on a mailing list for special meeting notices, contact Executive Director Marla Cates, 535-6170 or [e-mail]
Click below on the colored links to see visuals from this project

Plan Description:  The Talent Urban Renewal Agency is currently in the process of developing a Master Plan for the West Valley View area street network. The West Valley View area lies between Talent Avenue and Highway 99, and is bordered by New Street on the North and the Gangnes subdivision on the South. The purpose of the plan is to design a new street network for the area that will incorporate alleyways, pedestrian accesses, and shared parking options. The plan’s goals are to provide a safe and efficient transportation system, open up properties for business development or re-development, address awkward lot configurations and street geometries, support historic preservation, provide community amenities and support the downtown core area for businesses and for citizen use.
In December 2005, the Agency’s planning consultant, Fregonese Calthorpe Associates of Portland, began preliminary background research and fact finding, including informal one-on-one meetings with property owners in the West Valley View area. Key themes identified were:

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  The small town feel is important to Talent residents
  
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  The West Valley View area is in need of a “facelift”
  
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  It is important to preserve and restore historic structures within the study area
  
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  The plan must respects the uniqueness of “old” Downtown Talent
  
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  People realize the potential for redevelopment in the area
  
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  The plan should address concerns about traffic problems increasing
  
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  Providing sufficient parking is important to the future of the area
  
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  Bringing more business to Talent is essential
  
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  Keeping Talent’s own identity is desired, and not try to emulate other cities in the region
  
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  There is great interest in mixed-use development
  
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  Pedestrian amenities should be a cornerstone of the plan, the area must be walkable
  

Feedback was also received from representatives from various entities such as fire, police, public works, public transportation, city planning and parks, chamber of commerce, and a few adjacent businesses.

On February 28, 2006, the consultants presented three Basic “Armatures” at a hands-on public design workshop. Over 50 people attended this interactive workshop to help develop a vision of how the West Valley View area should look and how it should function as an important part of the downtown core area. Breaking into small groups, each group selected one armature as a starting point and added alleys, smaller streets, public areas, parks, and preferred locations for residential, commercial and retail uses. The resulting six design concepts were digitized, compiled and analyzed by the consultants for commonalities and needs identified by workshop participants.
On April 25, 2006, the consultants presented the Workshop Results and a Preferred and Alternative design to the public. Based on the public feedback received, and with further analysis by the consultants (traffic engineering, urban design, financial feasibility, etc.) the Preferred Alternative was selected as the consultants’ recommendation. During the summer of 2006, some minor modifications were made to the Preferred Alternative and the Master Plan document (Study Draft – September 2006) was developed.
In fall 2006, the Study Draft of the Master Plan will be presented to the public (October 9) to solicit questions and comments, and then studied at a Joint Study Session of the City Council, Planning Commission and Urban Renewal Agency Board of Directors (November 2) at which the public is welcome to listen in. Then, the Planning Commission will conduct a planning review (November 9) and the City Council will hold a public hearing on the Plan (November 15). The public may submit oral or written testimony at this public hearing.
Project update: 8-10-06

Be sure and check this page for future updates!
Information on this site is also available via hard copy at Talent City Hall.