Aldermen, developers discuss Ruskin Heights development
Posted on Friday, July 28, 2006
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/43209/
Fayetteville City Council members expressed enthusiasm toward a proposed 28-acre development on Thursday during the second of nine charrette meetings held to gain public input.
“ They’re doing everything they can to include everyone, ” said Project Director Mike Watkins. “ There’s an effort to be as one-on-one with people as they can. ”
Dubbed Ruskin Heights after John Ruskin, a Victorian period critic of art and society, the project is anticipated to be mixed-use and open to a diverse range of residents.
“ Right now, there are three houses on 28 acres, ” said Dirk Van Veen, one of the project partners. “ Onefifth of it is wooded. We’re looking at clustering to leave meaningful amounts of space and concentrating that space into large gathering areas. We’re projecting this site to have as much as 35 percent public space. ”
Located along Mission Boulevard, Ruskin Heights lies between the downtown and the historic district area and the upscale suburban neighborhoods in east Fayetteville.
The goal of the project is to create a “ complete neighborhood” using a process that involves residents, elected officials and members of city staff — the same process used to develop City Plan 2025 and the Downtown Master Plan. The group kicked off its first charrette meeting Wednesday night.
“ We had about 100 people show up, which was really good, ” Van Veen said. “ I predict we’ll see as many as 500 people at our last meeting. ”
Ward 1 Alderman Brenda Thiel said some residents had environmental concerns over the proposed development
“ I think some people have concerns over trees and that it’s coming in as a [Planned Community District ], which supersedes the hillside ordinance, ” she said.
The ordinance serves as a compromise between preserving the natural features and character of hills while still allowing development in a responsible and appropriate manner.
“ You can preserve open space when you build compact, ” said Steve Mouzon, project architect. “ Let us show you ways that are worthy of being built on the slopes. ”
Thiel said she would like the group to come up with a model for the hillside ordinance to be used for future development.
“ I’d like it if we could inoculate our citizens with the theory that growth is not a bad thing, ” said Fayetteville Mayor Dan Coody. “ If they could see a model of it, maybe they won’t be so resistant to future development. ”
Van Veen said other issues that will be addressed during the planning phase include traffic calming and connectivity.
“ We don’t see any way of taking care of it at this point, ” he said. “ We’re landlocked by cul-de-sacs. ”
As planners, Watkins said, the group has the responsibility to plan for the long-term.
“ We could design it in a way that would leave it possible to connect in the future, ” he said.
As for traffic calming, Watkins suggested off-setting an intersection. Traffic calming devices aren’t necessary when they are designed correctly the first time, he said.
“ If you can present us with some really good options, we’ll be happy partners, ” Coody said. “ Let’s help each other make Fayetteville the best town it can be. ”
The charrette process continues today with a meeting with city staff about utilities and city services at 10 a. m.; a meeting with architects, builders and Realtors at 2 p. m.; and a meeting with retailers and small-business owners at 4 p. m.
The public can view updates on the process Saturday from 2 to 3: 30 p. m. at Scarpino, 329 N. West Ave.
A closing presentation is scheduled for 7 p. m. Wednesday at the Town Center on the Square.