Carefree Truth

Issue #400, June 15, 2015

 

 

 

During the June Council meeting, Matt Klyzeiko, representing Michael Baker International, presented their conclusions and suggestions for a Carefree Village Master Plan to refresh and revitalize the downtown.  The Baker Study has been a long process, focused on community feedback, involving numerous public meetings and an online poll.  The Vision Plan is flexible, allowing for unknown future opportunities, but provides a vision of possibilities for the Village Center.  The Master Plan Strategy includes:

1. Improve visibility and access.

2. Foster development of a strong retail, residential, and     entertainment core.

3. Enhance the experience of visitors to the downtown.

4. Market and promote the town.

5. Develop a strong organizational structure.  

 

 

 

A well defined town center already exists.  The following Action Steps were recommended to direct people to the interior facing downtown and to enhance the Carefree Village experience once they have arrived. 

1. Place iconic vertical landmarks and build gateways by the major entry streets to direct those who are unfamiliar with Carefree.

2. Establish street hierarchies, and feed drivers into the primary entries by decreasing minor entry points from the two arterial streets that can leave people lost and confused. 

3. Enhance the pedestrian friendly design with kiosk commercial directories, sidewalks, and street lamps.   

4. Provide additional parking opportunities for cars and bikes.

 

 

 

Foster development by identifying a key anchor such as a multi use cultural center, which could involve local, regional, and/or national organizations.  Solicit a boutique hotel as an anchor.  Revitalize commercial areas through incentivized rehabilitation and adaptive uses such as pop ups.   The poll indicated that the top five businesses area residents desired are more restaurants (63%), a specialty food store (48%), a bakery (47%), a movie theater (44%), and live theater performances (29%).  Recruit desired businesses. Network with and support existing businesses.  Consider property acquisitions to seed and guide redevelopment.  Modify existing land use policies and development standards to allow more flexibility, and add housing.

 

 

 

Activate the Carefree Desert Gardens during non-event periods by catering to residents, the larger trade area, and tourists.  Improve sight lines, and put in place people friendly amenities such as fireplaces, movable seating, retail kiosks, al fresco food vendors, and an activity fountain/splash pad, referenced in the Village Center Master Plan, page 41, section f. 

 

 

 

Visit resort concierges and invite them to Carefree, sending them away with "Carefree goodie bags".  Work with the Carefree/Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce and link with the U.S. Small Business Development Center's office in the Valley.  Contact preferred festival promoters.  Visit other successful communities for ideas.  Increase online marketing and promotion.  Utilize C.O.I.N.S. to keep the community updated on progress and events, creating an ongoing stand- alone section dedicated to that purpose.  Work with local businesses and organizations on joint marketing campaigns.  During the off season months, hold mini events in the evenings and encourage businesses to stay open for those events.  Establish and market the Carefree Village Center as the "Next great neighborhood".

 

 

 

Slides in the video show graphics of some suggested  enhancements.

https://vimeo.com/user18676056/review/129871366/23ce21c4e9

 

 

 

Mayor Les Peterson thanked Baker International for their work.  He pointed out that the Council had also been involved, particularly Councilwoman Melissa Price and Councilman Mike Farrar.  He asked for questions and comments from the Council. 

 

 

 

Mr. Farrar said the Baker White Paper showed Wampum Way and Carefree Drive as gateways.  Mr. Klyzeiko replied that these were only suggestions. The locations of primary gateways using monuments should be determined by the Council.  Many elements come into play, such as existing infrastructure, land use, where does the entry lead, and does it support existing businesses.  He added that secondary gateways could also be established with landscaping.

 

 

 

Mr. Farrar requested a distinction between primary and secondary gateways, saying primary gateways would have expensive vertical structures.  How many should there be, and where should they be located?  Can there be too many?  Should they be phased?   Mr. Klyzeiko expressed the need to be sensitive and not clutter the corridors with more than two primary gateways to direct visitors.  It there is more than one, phase them to be in conjunction with downtown preparedness and development.   

 

 

 

Mr. Farrar again insisted on a specific recommendation for gateway monument placements on Tom Darlington Drive and on Cave Creek Road intersections, saying they had paid a lot of money for the study, and Baker should provide expert answers.  Mr. Klyzeiko explained that Baker looked at the locations from both design and cost standpoints.  Wampum Way and Carefree Drive have existing infrastructure to coincide with entrances.  But perhaps others would better support existing businesses.  The Council would know more about that aspect, so it should ultimately be a Council decision.  The Baker White Paper was created as a means to aid the Council.  Councilman Glenn Miller clarified that the study is meant to be a guideline, not a decision making document.  Mr. Klyzeiko agreed, explaining that it is like a menu, and the Council could select what it likes from that menu.  

 

 

 

Mr. Farrar asked what critical elements determined priorities.  Mr. Klyzeiko said the study grouped implementation over a 0-2 year period, a mid year period, and a long term period.  Expensive suggestions such as a cultural center and

re-purposing the Los Portalas Mall were examples of long term projects.  The marketing suggestions are low cost and high yield, so are short term.  Other short term, but more costly projects, were the ones that got repeated mentions during the workshops.  These include increasing visibility and access to the Village Center.  He stressed that these are suggestions and are not rigid. 

 

 

 

Councilman Gene Orrico noted that the survey reported 43% of the respondents wanted a movie theater.  He pointed out that the demographics don't support a first run multiplex.  Mr. Klyzeiko agreed, but said people who attended the workshops elaborated on the concept, saying they would like to see a small theater showing, for instance, independent films.  It could be part of a multi-use cultural center, as suggested by the Desert Foothills Theater.  I suggested showing old black and white films from the 1930s and 40's, which I think would be popular with Carefree residents, myself included.  Mr. Farrar asked me what I thought of outdoor movie nights in the Gardens.  I agreed that would be popular too.  

 

 

 

 

The Mayor again thanked Mr. Klyzeiko.  Hearing no further discussion, he asked for a vote to accept the Baker Study.  The Council voted 7-0 to accept it.

 

https://vimeo.com/user18676056/review/129988420/91985aaf85

 

 

Lyn Hitchon

 

 

 

Prepared by Carefree Truth

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