■Brainstorming (pdf)

Synopsis of Community Brainstorming

The OTDA March meeting opened with a presentation by Starke Irvine, Chairman, Downtown Redevelopment Authority (DRA).  Mr. Irvine highlighted the following DRA accomplishments and initiatives.

Accomplishments:

·Overlay district established in Daphne land use ordinance

·Oak tree grant for streetscape ($10,000 matching grant)

·Creation of Elizabeth Yelding Park underway by Daphne Utilities

Initiatives:

·Priority to bury utilities on Main Street

·Desire to widen sidewalks and narrow streets—part of recommendation from Dan  

           Burden during a walking audit of Daphne.

Vision to create uniformity down Main Street from South boundary to Bayfront Park

·Architectural guidelines are under discussion

·DRA is looking at MainStreet.org, Smartcoast.org, Smartgrowth.org, Historic grants, etc.

·Looking for a City source of funding

We asked the question “What do you want your community to be when it grows up” and “What suggestions do you have to improve our community?” Here are the residents responses. 

The Big Picture...

·Look at impact fees to pay for needed infrastructure with growth, future fire stations, etc

·Assemble a team for Grant writing.

·Promote follow up between civic groups, don’t need to re-invent wheel

·Find sources of City income for DRA projects

·Investigate the option of the City sponsoring incentives for downtown redevelopment 

·Clarify Beautification Committee duties and increase budget

·Lower lumens at night in public lighting to save energy

·Examine potential public/private partnership at Lake Forest Yacht Club

Traffic and roads

·Sheet of steel on Hwy 98!

·City must determine impact of growth and address traffic e.g. extend Pollard Road into Lake Forest.

·Create a turn lane at intersection from Target & Staples parking lots onto Hwy 64

·Create a Veterans Parkway along Hwy 13

·Address impact of traffic from current schools and plan future schools with traffic flow in mind

·Compile a list of uncut roads and plan future use

·Private roads should have the same requirements as city roads (setbacks, services, etc.)

Beautification/identity

·Plan fountains and small sitting areas as a “signature” of our community

·Enhance charm and character of Daphne with distinctive identities for each district such as:

     sign style, flowers, flower boxes, visual images, goddess, shirts, flags, etc.  

·Establish green spaces and plan future parks as we develop to the east

·Use small unbuildable or irregular pieces of property as green areas and/or pocket parks                               

·Look at linking unused or uncut roads into walking trails throughout the community

·Plan appealing height limits

·Identify scenic areas and highlight them

·Develop a district appropriate “lighting-scape”

Olde Towne Specific

Architecture/scale/preservation in Olde Towne

·    Encourage mixed use development

·    Add historic preservation to the land use ordinance

·    Develop architectural themes  

·    Create a program to preserve or purchase properties of historical/cultural interest

·    Establish architectural covenants

·    Preserve quaint, small scale buildings

Parking in Olde Towne

·    Develop program for shared parking e.g. Christ the King, Lott Park, etc.

·    Investigate feasibility of downtown parking garage 

Small improvements: signs/lights/plants in Olde Towne

·    Improve coordination between civic/city groups

·    Continue to enhance landscaping and streetscape

·    Encourage highlighting older style plants such as Camellias

·    Establish a design theme for directional signage     

Bay access/water in Olde Towne

·    Complete the Bay Trail

·    Assist Village Point Foundation to enhance efforts

·    Develop a plan for all potential waterfront access points, open, reclaim or purchase for the future

·    Improve May Day boat launch and expand launching facilities (and throughout the City)  

Baldwin County Bicentennial/history:

·    Look for activity in Olde Towne to support Baldwin County Bi-Centennial

·    Re-establish the May Day celebration in May Day Park

·    Find a way for citizens to show individual commitment to Daphne history or identity, e.g. planting flowers at mailboxes, flagpoles, etc. 

Last modified: 07/05/08.