Implement the Town Branch Commons Strategic Master Plan as an element of the Comprehensive Plan.
Town Branch Commons will be a strip of Bluegrass running through downtown Lexington, roughly following the path of Town Branch, Lexington’s first water source. It will link the city's two major trails, Town Branch Trail and the Legacy Trail, to provide 22 miles of uninterrupted trail connecting downtown to the rural landscape. The Town Branch Commons is all-inclusive of the Town Branch Park, Town Branch Trail, immediately adjacent parks, pedestrian spaces, and connections to other downtown parks/plazas/etc. To establish Town Branch Commons as the centerpiece of the community, the following critical pieces need to be ensured and safeguarded, particularly as future development occurs along the trail:
Access Management:
Limit the number of access points to maintain the safety and aesthetics of the multi-use trail, and ensure the fewest potential conflict points between vehicles and pedestrians or cyclists.
Design Guidelines:
Establish design guidelines for existing and future development adjacent to the corridor that strengthen the City’s zoning and further lay out key elements, such as: encouraging pedestrian entrances and facades that face rather than turn their backs to the multi-use trail system; defining appropriate and inappropriate uses along the corridor (e.g. back of house or dumpster locations, drive-thrus, etc.); and ensuring access to surrounding open space and trail systems.
Economic Development:
Perform a study to determine the direct economic impact of potential redevelopment along the entire corridor, as well as the potential social and economic impact to the surrounding neighborhoods and downtown as a whole. This study should also explore incentive feasibility and policy changes that may assist and guide future development along the corridor.
Green Infrastructure:
Continue to make design and development decisions that work to improve the overall water quality and urban ecology of the surrounding properties which directly feed into the Town Branch Commons infrastructure and help to maintain the performative landscape established in the Master Plan.
History & Education:
Enhance the experience of Town Branch Commons through ongoing way-finding and educational signage that highlights not only the history of Town Branch itself but the surrounding neighborhoods, people, and public spaces.
Action Item(s)
- Establish land use and transportation design guidelines for development adjacent to Town Branch Commons.Perform a study to determine the economic and social impacts of Town Branch Commons.