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263 <br /> <br />Municipal Band, Three Presidents Museum, and relocation of <br />the war. memorial; 2) Improvements to the Downtown Mall - <br />side streets, entrances and clustering of vendors; 3) South <br />Street - undergrounding of utilities and increased housing; <br />4) Water Street - parking garage with office and retail <br />space and possible second parking garage in future; 5) West <br />End of Downtown Mall - installation of traffic circle; 6) <br />Road ImprOvements _ make Water Street two-way, Garrett <br />Street connection, new West Main Street feeder Road and <br />Garrett Street intersection at bridge; 7) West Main Street - <br />large scale projects including transportation center, small <br />infill, and increased affordable housing; and 8) Corner Area <br />- remove on-street parking, widen sidewalks to increase <br />pedestrian areas and plaza on University land between Corner <br />and Medical School. <br /> <br /> Mr. Boeschenstein also reviewed recommendations for the <br />following major corridors into the City: 1) Fontaine Avenue <br />- maintain natural area at outer edge, widen road and add <br />median strip, not extend commercial area beyond Maury <br />Avenue, reorganize commercial buildings and underground <br />utilities on Jefferson Park Avenue; 2) East High Street - <br />improve area around Free Bridge and better control <br />commercial area; 3) 5th Street Extended - commercial area <br />remain south of Harris Road and improve landscaping; 4) <br />Monticello Avenue - continue present character of <br />neighborhood and install overlook at present location of <br />video store. <br /> <br /> Mr. Towe questioned the impact on the downtown post <br />office if the east end of the downtown mall is developed and <br />traffic rerouted. <br /> <br /> There was general agreement that it was desirable for <br />the post office to remain downtown and it was suggested that <br />it could be relocated to the retail/office space on the <br />first floor of the parking garage proposed for Water Street. <br /> <br /> Mr. Buck questioned whether it would be possible to <br />make ~ccommodations for the Municipal Band on the east end <br />of the downtown mall that would not preclude further <br />development in that area. <br /> <br /> Mr. Hendrix stated that it was his understanding that <br />the Band was interested in a permanent location. <br /> <br /> Mr. Gary O'Connell, Deputy City Manager, stated that <br />the architects for both the new City Hall Annex and for <br />McIntire Park will be looking at the feasibility of <br />including space for the Municipal Band at those facilities. <br /> <br /> There was a discussion about closing 7th Street at the <br />east end of the mall and about making Water Street two-way. <br />Mr. Hendrix stated that a detailed traffic engineering study <br />will need to be done to look at the traffic recommendations. <br />Mr. Hendrix stated that the Department of Transportation may <br />not approve the installation of traffic circles as <br />recommended by the consultants. <br /> <br /> It was noted that while undergrounding of utilities was <br />desirable, it had been found to be prohibitively expensive. <br /> <br /> Mr. Michael Bednar, Chairman of the Planning <br />Commission, questioned whether it would be possible to clean <br />up existing overground utility lines and Ms. Judith Mueller, <br />Director of Public Works, stated that she has been working <br />with VEPCO on the matter. <br /> <br /> Mr. Bednar stated that another public forum was being <br />planned for September 15th to present the final Urban Design <br />Plan. <br /> <br />CONFLICT OF INTEREST LAW <br /> <br /> <br />