DRAFT Workshop Summary for City of Crestwood Staff Review Version 6.17.16

VISIONING WORKSHOP SUMMARY June 7, 2016

On the evening of June 7, 2016, more than 25 people attended the Visioning Workshop as part of the Crestwood Comprehensive Plan public outreach process. The workshop was held in the Alderman Chambers at the Crestwood Government Center and included a mix of residents, community stakeholders, business owners, City staff, and appointed and elected officials. While the previous Community Workshop focused on gathering information regarding issues facing the City, this workshop was aimed at creating a vision for the future of Crestwood.

After a short introduction, workshop participants were broken up into five groups to begin a hands-on exercise. Each group was given a large-scale map of Crestwood, and asked to identify projects, developments, or any other ideas that would benefit Crestwood in the future. Participants were given an hour to discuss their ideas with fellow community members and draw those on the map. Each group then presented their map and described their vision for the community.

The themes that emerged from the five groups included: development and visual improvements along the Watson Road, community gateway improvements, connectivity improvements in the neighborhoods for cyclists and pedestrians, the potential/desire for annexation of Grant’s Farm, and developing an arts and culture hub.

The results of the exercise will be used to formulate a vision statement that will guide policy recommendations within the Comprehensive Plan. Main points and ideas include the following, listed in no order of priority:

Transportation • Bury power lines and take down poles on Watson Road to start, and eventually remove medians on

Watson Road • Landscape whole City, but especially Watson Road • Adjust traffic lights on Sappington Road and Watson Road • Sidewalks on Sappington Road, Watson Road, and Pardee Lane • More bike paths/lanes • Push-button pedestrian signals with audio at crosswalks on Watson Road • Connect Crestwood Mall Greenspace to Grant’s Trail • Creatively painted crosswalk art • Provide creatively decorated benches at bus stops, street trees, trash cans, and public electric plug

charging stations/capability • Walkway bridge across Watson Road to mall development • Public transit improvements, could include an extension of Metrolink, a trolley, etc. • Make an official connection/trail head for Grant’s Trail at the Crestwood Plaza • Keep street maintained, especially for stormwater infrastructure • Keep grading and use waterfalls, bridge, and landscaping into the new Crestwood Plaza • Bring buildings closer to the street with parking behind the buildings • Slow the speed of travel on local roads • Road diet along Watson Road • Work with Sunset Hills and Rock Hill to make Watson Road look more uniform • Bike path with better/safer access to Whitecliff Park

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Parks, Open Space & Arts • Add more programming in parks • Add an amphitheater in Whitecliff Park • Create space for community gardens • Make improvements to Rayburn Park • Add more signage for Whitecliff Park trails • Add more bike trail connectivity to parks and schools • Exemplify historic features such as Father Dickson cemetery and the Sappington House • Redevelop Watson industrial park as green space • Improve trash management along the trail • Allow the flex use of industrial area on weekends for other purposes • Create a “town square” as part of the Crestwood mall redevelopment • Add water stations along the trail • Add more public art in the community • Improve the fitness/community center • Address the gravel road connector to Whitecliff Park • Add a public parking lot near Grant’s Trail • Add a rotating sculpture exhibit in parks and/or in Crestwood Plaza • Add unique and attractive/artsy markers for historic sites • Add softball leagues at multiple unused fields

Residential Areas

• More/better code enforcement • Designate “historic” neighborhoods • Bury all utility lines • Construct senior housing villas • Evaluate of current City property that could be developed as housing • Increase residential density in some areas • Stronger rental code enforcement • Better senior housing options • Add more condo/apartments along Watson Road and mixed use development • More “eyes on the street” pedestrian activity • Eliminate street parking • Less apartments in Crestwood Plaza

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Commercial Areas

• Businesses/structures should be closer to the road • Create more destination businesses • Tie the business district into Route 66 heritage • Watson Industrial Park—buildings are no longer suitable for current use • Redevelop Watson and Reco Road industrial parks • Create connection between Reco Road and Camera Avenue • Create a city-owned theater to rent out live shows, movies, social nights, etc. • Create a vision for Crestwood commercial areas • Make walking more feasible • Create an eat local/outside campaign • Trade off of retail versus commercial versus living space • Art district area on Sappington Road, or elsewhere • Art community –Webster U and Meramec Community College art programs with cool restaurants • More industrial/factory for employment • Tech innovations center • Add a Christmas tree to the Crestwood Mall Development with outdoor speakers and play holiday

music, and an outdoor screen on building, similar to City Park in St Louis Community Facilities

• Draw more attention to Whiteciff Park and pool amenities • Find a way to celebrate our police and fire departments • Tie Crestwood into Lindbergh Schools (i.e. banners for street lights) • Relocate Crestwood Elementary • Open a post office in Crestwood • Move the City Hall to the Mall site • Create an Arts district • Indoor swimming pool shared by Crestwood and Sunset Hills at the Truman School • Alternative funding of fire protection in annexed area • Improve the community center • If we need another grade school, use the land Victory Church (or have them move); adequate space is

available on the property. Economy (employment & industrial areas, etc.)

• Sustainable storm water management where we encourage infiltration and discourage run off and erosion

• Develop more commercial office buildings • More local restaurants • Connect the industrial parks • Improve business licenses and taxation environment • Identify solutions to full big box retail • No more fitness centers, pharmacies, banks • Add a farmers market • Capitalize on Route 66 historical value and promote the heritage • More tech industry

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Image, Character & Identity

• New movie theater should rent part of their building to local theatres and schools • Add gateway signs/entrances to City • Look at historical parts of Crestwood and do a better job of talking about them • Previously known for Crestwood Mall; find our new identity • Route 66 visitors center at Fifth Third Bank with interpretive signs/identifying markers and wayfinding

to designate historic Route 66 sites • Add more signs that say you’re in Crestwood, in a similar character to “The Grove,” in the City of St.

Louis • Strip malls should be different and distinctive • Add more community gathering places • Highlight the history of Crestwood, including Route 66, Sappington House, etc. • Street lights with blue neon strip from east to west end of Watson; new signs at Big Bend and all other

City entrances • Crestwood shopping day • Crestwood art festival • More activities, concerts, events, and draw people into “Cool Crestwood”

Other Topics

• Communication system to inform citizens of events and meetings o Like the visioning workshop and other community meetings o Sappington House

• Merge municipalities with Sunset Hills • Take advantage of Grant’s Farm proximity • Sidewalks on Grant’s Road

o Push back the fence along Pardee Lane • Improve ADA sidewalks • Office Max is too far from the road • Put powerlines underground • Keep beautification of streets with street trees, and mowed lawns etc. • Mosaic Project—use as a transition for development, or pop-up restaurants and other pop-up

businesses or events

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