7A, Draft Guiding Plan for B2 District

Home Browse Search

Current Physical Conditions Off-Street Parking Off-street parking is provided for every building in the study area; there is no parking allowed on County Road E. Parking is allowed on Pine Tree Drive and Harriet Avenue but rarely used. All parking areas appear to provide adequate capacity for the land uses that they serve including the more intensive uses such as Arden Plaza, Flaherty's Arden Bowl and the Northpark Corporate Center. Structured parking in the study area is located under the two major Northpark Corporate Center office buildings. Pedestrian and Bicyclist Circulation Pedestrian and bicyclist circulation in the study area is difficult and hazardous. A concrete sidewalk exists along the south side of County Road E from the Highway 51 off-ramp to Lexington Avenue. On the north side, there is a sidewalk only from the west leg of Connelly to Pine Tree Drive. Walking along County Road E is an intimidating experience because of the high speed traffic. Crossing driveways or Pine Tree Drive is dangerous because of the many turning vehicles. There are no sidewalks along Pine Tree Drive, Harriet, Lexington or Highway 51. There is a walking path in the open space owned by Country Financial. There are no designated pedestrian crossings on County Road E. The only signalized intersections are at the Highway 51 ramps and at the Lexington Avenue intersection. There are no on-street striped bicycling lanes or off-street bicycling paths in the study area. Crossing the Highway 51 bridge is especially hazardous for pedestrians or bicyclists. The bridge deck consists of two auto lanes, no sidewalks and no bicycling lanes. County Road E is five lanes east of the bridge and two lanes west of the bridge. Crossing Lexington Avenue on foot or bicycle is equally intimidating. There are striped pedestrian crossings and walk indicators at the signalized Lexington intersection but no such help at the Arden Plaza driveway nor the Harriet Avenue intersection. Streetscape Improvements Along County Road E there are decorative street lights elevated and spaced to illuminate the road for auto traffic and, secondarily, pedestrian movement. The metal poles and "shoebox" light fixtures are a step up from the most basic equipment and provide a high level of illumination and enhance the sense that this is a special district. There are no trees in any of the public street rights-of-way. Trees along County Road E would help soften and effect of the wide road and add identity and unity to the corridor. There is probably insufficient space between the curb and the right-of-way boundary 20 October Guiding Plan for the 82 District 2-21