cleveland avenue corridor study

This study proposes recommendations for:

Vision and Goals  *  Parks, Greenspace and Open Space
Transportation  *  Economic Development
Land Use  *  Urban Design

• Springdale Rd
• Old Hapeville Rd
• Metropolitan Parkway
• Macon Rd
• Interstate 75
• Browns Mill Rd
• Interstate 85
• Jonesboro Rd
• Metropolitan and Mt. Zion Rd

Project Study Areas:

• Development Strategy
• Land Use and Zoning
• Urban Design
• Transportation
• Parks and Open space

Planning Process History:

The Bureau of Planning of the Department of Planning and Community Development with the support of District 12 council member Joyce Sheperd, led the planning process. Bleakly Advisory Group conducted the Market Research and provided re-development strategies. JJG conducted the transportation analysis and made implementation recommendations. Community participation was a key element of the planning process. Community input was provided thru an Advisory Committee, community meetings and stakeholder interviews.  Throughout the planning process, the Advisory Committee met 5 times. Four community meetings were held with the final one scheduled for August 1, 2009. Community members participated in a vision preference survey at the first meeting on September 6^th, 2007. The second meeting was held on October 18^th, 2007 to discuss the existing conditions and the visual preference survey. A visioning working shop was held on December 1^st, 2007.  The plan’s preliminary recommendations were discussed at a February 21^st, 2008 community meeting. These recommendations were as follows:

Development Strategy

• Reinforce the character of the Cleveland Avenue Corridor as a major thoroughfare connecting numerous residential neighborhoods and providing excellent access to in-town Atlanta and the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport area.
• Revitalize the appeal of the commercial areas and encourage greater residential diversity in the housing stock of the Corridor.

 Land Use and Zoning

• Revitalize the existing retail centers into a more pedestrian-friendly mixed use developments and encourage new mixed-use developments as well as redevelopment of existing older apartment complexes into modern apartments and/or townhome developments.
• Adopt land use changes to encourage mixed-use and residential redevelopment in designated areas while promoting quality-of-life design standards.
• Encourage 4-6 story mixed use buildings, with ground-floor commercial under residential, along Cleveland Avenue and Metropolitan Parkway in catalyst project areas.
• Encourage 2 Story buildings with a mix of local serving retail and residential at minor commercial nodes (Macon Road & Browns Mill Road).

Urban Design

• Encourage all major development to provide equal or greater connectivity to existing street network.
• Establish new pedestrian-friendly street grid in major redevelopment areas.
• Increase access, visibility, and awareness of historic cemeteries.
• Implement enhanced streetscaping including landscaping, street furniture, and wider sidewalks in major and minor commercial areas.
• Provide Gateway monuments and/or signage to establish positive identity for Cleveland Avenue Corridor.  

Transportation

• Widen Cleveland Ave to five lanes (Two travel lanes plus turn lane) from Hapeville Rd to Browns Mill Rd.
• Improve sidewalks to meet to ADA standards.
• Provide improved shelters and seating at high-volume bus stops.
• Add or improve street lighting along entire Cleveland Avenue corridor and add enhanced pedestrian lighting in commercial areas.
• Implement signal coordination along Cleveland Ave for improved traffic flow and safety.
• Reduce curb cuts and encourage inter-parcel access for new developments planned along Cleveland Ave.

Parks and Open Space

• Include a park or plaza adjacent to or visible from Cleveland Avenue as part of major redevelopment initiatives.
• Acquire two parcels immediately south of Cleveland Avenue Park to increase park size and provide street frontage.  Remodel park to accommodate new acreage and configuration.
• Reconfigure street frontage at Rosel Fann Recreation Center to engage street and welcome pedestrians.

Project Schedule:

• NPU X Meeting – Plan Introduction                                                              July 13, 2009
• NPU Z Meeting – Plan Introduction                                                              July 27, 2009
• Community Meeting – Review Draft Plan/Community Input                            July 30, 2009
• NPU X Meeting – Approval of Plan and Land Use                                          August 10, 2009
• NPU Z Meeting – Approval of Plan and Land Use                                          August 24, 2009
• CDHR – 1^st read                                                                                        September 1, 2009
• CDHR Public Hearing – Plan and Land Use                                                 September 14, 2009
• CDHR Meeting – Vote on Plan and Land Use                                              September 15, 2009
• City Council – Vote on Plan and Land Use                                                  September 21, 2009