The Town of Crossfield held an open house May 13, asking residents for feedback about redevelopment and beautification.
The Area Redevelopment Plan’s (ARP) purpose is to provide guidelines for future development in the town’s downtown area.
The ARP focuses on Railway Street, the town’s main road, which houses many of the community’s businesses, including banks and groceries stores.
“It’s a combined effort of public improvements and setting new standards for the development of Railway Street,” said Crossfield town planner Don Schultz. “We have been working with a steering committee of downtown business people. We have heard good ideas and solutions.”
The Town has received funding and will begin sewer and water work on the South end of Railway Street next year, which is why Schultz says it’s important to set guidelines for the future of the area.
“We expect the extension of the sewer and water trunks will start next year in 2011,” Schultz said. “When they are busy ripping up Railway Street, we want to make sure they are well coordinated with the redevelopment plans.”
Parking is a hot topic along Railway Street. Currently, there are 77 angle-parking spots along the road.
“One of the big ideas has to do with converting the parking from parallel to angle parking,” said Schultz. “In order to do that, we need to find spaces off the street for parking for people.”
The east side of Railway street has fewer buildings, and a few open lots that could potentially be turned into parking lots.
The other major concern that came from residents who visited the open house was keeping the community walkable.
“There is desire to keep Crossfield a walkable community, and improve the community for pedestrians,” said Schultz. “People still walk to their appointments and walk to get their groceries in Crossfield.”
Along with updated benches, street lights and garbage bins, the ARP calls for widening the sidewalks and providing a cycling lane.
At the open house, a comment form was distributed, asking for feedback on redevelopment.
The next step in the process will be to take all the information that has been compiled from the open house, and feedback from the steering committee and create a draft plan that will again be presented to the public in an open house in September of this year. The ARP will go to council later this year.
