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Untitled (2) T.__.__.__.__._____._.____._._. • _ I , I krirb j 0 •1*- •- • •• 1 Idif`1c i i Ji _ ,) ' I Y : / iii., .:.1_ .r -' -• 3 i , ' " ' ": ' .''. t:. -W. .. , ; , ,•I , ; ..01-1144. tr. ;1.-i,/ \-, e. , r • 1 i '.':7 i l Ci i 1 F,.' l .. , c i��-ire'.• i ,/ I „-I !„'" Is I-jrr 1 iI' ,1:411-1-'=", j_..1:-...1 _.�i, '' `-}. ) \ -1• II '�� \ . - ' ' --- - `- ' ' I ( %L_j 1 It• {∎∎,, 4r„ 1,�=.11,m q-,-r==_ ' ' _ ) 1 1� •• 4 111 - 7 .it ',1:,-' .? su _ i�f� p 1 4110 it\ . ! { j .1 . \. ,,'''.` -xi , - Eng Ord PR Mil WYMAN. o 11.•MR= B —'NO.7.n ill I= Pilplime - arrr. Flew 2 ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ..,,.I. L,,., . ELF' City of Salina, Kansas ^ftr^-^- 1.w. Sue.moll wor t. i \ \`s\` i • I. \ '` k \ \ ,>,.. ' ,\, I! ' IN,,,s, \ \, rili.\4e..,,.....,,\.. I.\ \\ 4 _ \ � it, I _ i T .-- ' 1. _, a . i i \\.\\\ N; ':, 1 , .... •I --•Id 1, - ',•••\ '` 7_ ;I:, at_ . ,w_17.-....- _ o , i. ..1..:,,fi'',`i,-, • , :-\\\ ',�, '• \, k ::,• . ,::• --J.:i .N.p.,:.;.,.... ....-"; .:-... .k, N •".„. ,4—:,..; -., I \i I -. \ \_. . i \ i t.... - - ...„.- ,...- ....\\„, -- i, - ----- _ -- , . 1 , .. ..., , . , i . . ,,., i . . ,.... .. , i : 0 ‘,..,•■ Niiiih.4 • \, „"... w....Swam w Mime.. © PIOS Cwalwre.r.v...1,0CV• 0 Fpue3 FLOOD HAZARD AREAS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ' Li .0 .10 1000' IOOOP aE ui.. City of Salina, Kansas ..,. ;; parent materials. The soils are also primarily alluvium soils to the extent that they were created IIIthrough submergence and resubmergence of flood waters and lakes in the region's early history. The Detroit-Herd-Sutphen Association best characterizes these low-lying soils, while the remaining three associations are more predominantly upland soils within the area. All soils associations are most suitable for cropland and, to a rather limited extent,grazing. However, erosion is a concern in cropland management. All are principally floodplain soils and, in nearly every case, exhibit high moisture content and severe limitations for construction and development. Vegetation Natural vegetation within undeveloped parts of the planning area principally consists of grasses, and a limited number of trees. The presence of significant agricultural activity over the years has limited natural areas primarily to wetlands, streams and river banks, as shown in Figure 2, Environmental Features. Significant stands of trees should be preserved wherever possible, particularly where they exist in combination with other natural features. The general lack of natural vegetation emphasizes the need for the City to continue its urban forestry program in existing and developing portions of the City. Human-made Features Two important human-made environmental features which will affect future growth and development are present within the Salina planning area: Salina Municipal Airport and a variety of oil wells and related storage facilities. ill Salina Municipal Airport is operated by the Salina Municipal Airport Authority. This is an instrument-rated facility which currently serves two air carriers: Air Midwest and Capital Airlines. An airport master plan update, currently being prepared by Bucher, Willis and Ratliff, projects total operations to increase from an estimated 96,254 in 1990 to 203,500 in 2005. In addition, the airport is expected to continue serving two fixed-base operators:the Kansas Army National Guard helicopter training center, and the Kansas Technical Aero Vocational Division. The airport maintains three runways, the longest being 13,332 feet in length. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration regulates airport activity, flight approaches and paths for aircraft activity. Specifically, "imaginary surfaces" are regulated which determine the safe flying area for aircraft free from human-made structures such as towers and buildings, or natural features. These imaginary surfaces, in tandem with runway locations, permit a reasonable determination of noise impacts from various types of aircraft. This allows the identification of land-uses which may or may not be compatible within certain noise zones. The 75 and 65 noise decibel (Ldn) contours were selected for mapping because they extend beyond the limits of the airport facilities. The compatibility of certain land-uses and airport operations is based on application of a Land-use Guidance System) This system, which identifies acceptable levels of noise exposure upon certain land-use, is described in Appendix Table 29, Airport Noise Interpolation, and Appendix Table 30, Land-use Guidance: Land-use Noise Sensitivity Interpolation. 1 Urban Planning and Design Criteria, Third Edition, De Chiario & Koppelman, 1982. 4111 Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 46 Where the 75 Ldn noise contour penetrates the Crawford Street corridor to the north and Finley Road • to the south, uses should be limited to cultural, recreational, resource extraction, agricultural, and similar kinds. Within the 65 Ldn contour, more intensive business service uses are possible. Outside the 65 Ldn noise contour, residential uses should be discouraged for reasonable distances. These conditions will be considered in developing land-use alternatives in Phase II of the planning program. Oil wells represent a potential safety hazard, particularly when they have on-site oil storage facilities in close proximity to urban land-uses. The possibilities of tank leakage or spill and explosion resulting from lightning strikes or other accidents require that well and storage operations be set back from urban land-uses. Ideally, a 500 foot to 1,000 foot separation should be maintained. HISTORIC RESOURCES An overview of historic resources within the Salina community was undertaken to identify historic sites, and other features of local interest which should be considered in the planning program. This overview has been prepared from material provided by the Salina Department of Planning and Development. The geographic locations of existing historic districts and properties currently listed in the National Register of Historic Places are illustrated in Figure 2, Environmental Features. The community has discovered the value and character offered by these resources, and has begun to document the resources and undertake efforts to preserve them. The greatest concentration of historic resources within Salina is located in the Original Town Site, established in 1860, and in downtown Salina and the adjoining residential areas which were developed prior to 1930. A variety of historic resources, including residential and commercial buildings have been identified within this area. Two historic residential districts have been formed, and two are pending final approval. These districts are the responsibility of the Salina Heritage Commission, which serves as an advisory board to the City Board of Commissioners. • Historic resources within Salina are important planning considerations. The community has been advocating and promoting preservation within the community. A number of other groups that can influence historic resources are Downtown Salina, Inc., Salina Main Street, and the Salina Chamber of Commerce. Specific buildings and sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places include: • 200 South Seventh Street (Flanders-Lee House), a home noted for its Queen Anne style and Colonial Revival porch added at the turn of the century, built for William and Isabelle Flanders in 1888. • 636 East Iron Street(Schwartz House). A Victorian Renaissance-Second Empire home, built in 1875 by George Krueger. • 211 West Prescott (Prescott House). A Victorian Italianate built in 1884 for Judge John H. Prescott. • 163 South Santa Fe(Fox-Watson Theatre). An Art Deco theatre built in 1931 from a design by Chuster. • 271 West Iron (Smoky Hill Museum). An Art Deco building constructed in 1938 as a federal post office from a design by Lorimer Rich. • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 47 Numerous other historic resources exist within the community. Much work must be completed, • however, to systematically document historic resources and determine how they are to be treated in the future. COMMUNITY DESIGN Salina has a number of natural and human-made characteristics which should be considered in the Comprehensive Planning Program. These have been identified and discussed in earlier sections of this report. This chapter focuses on several key physical design features which relate to the community as a whole. Historic Sites, Landmarks, and Areas There are historic sites and buildings within the community currrently in the process of systematic identification, recording,and evaluation. Most of these are located within the Original Town Site and boundaries of the City as it existed in 1930. The geographic coverage of this historic area should be clearly determined, and development policies established recognizing its unique character. River Development The Growth and Development Focus Group identified the Smoky Hill River and other major drainageways as important natural resources and assets. Ways to protect these tributaries and increase public accessibility to portions of the system should be considered. One such opportunity has been identified for the western bank of the Smoky Hill River between Iron Street and Walnut Street, where redevelopment of marginal buildings and structures would shift the orientation of new development toward the river frontage. Other potential locations for development, preservation, or public areas should be explored. ill Functional Land-Use Groupings Functional land-use groupings separates uses into groups of similar and compatible kind. This includes the basic separation of residential, commercial, and industrial land-uses into distinct geographic subareas. In a number of locations within the community, a variety of residential, commercial, and industrial uses are mixed, and there is not a clear and distinct division among uses. This creates "edge" problems, a particular concern where commercial and industrial uses are placed within or immediately adjacent to larger residential neighborhoods. The lack of a clear land-use policy can often lead to incompatible land-use relationships where business operations, traffic, and parking conflict with the surrounding residential environment. Areas within Salina where this problem is most acute are in the northern portions of the City along the major railroads and Street corridors, including the Santa Fe, Union Pacific and Missouri Pacific Railroads and Ninth Street, State Street and Pacific Avenue. Street Corridors and Gateways In Salina, major"gateway"corridors include North and South Ninth Street,Ohio Avenue,State Street, Pacific Avenue, Schilling Road, and Crawford Street. Although 1-70 and 1-135 are not part of the local street system, they do represent important corridors, impacting the overall image and quality of the City. IIISalina Comprehensive Plan Page 48 Issues in Salina along the major gateway corridors include the overall physical condition and III appearance of private improvements such as buildings, signs, off-street parking areas, landscaping, and lighting. Gateways where the overall arrangement and condition of private development is a concern are North Ninth Street, State Street, Pacific Avenue, and portions of North Ohio Street. Public improvement issues include the condition of streets, curbs and gutters; public information and regulatory signage; placement of above-ground utilities; and median and parkway landscaping treatments. Other issues include the functional and operational conditions of the street system. "Gateway" improvements could be made at virtually all major routes signifying arrival to the City. A new, attractive entry sign has been placed on North Ninth Street, and improvements such as this should continue throughout all gateway locations and include special landscaping features. Another such "identity" need is the street system serving the municipal airport between I-135 and Schilling Road. Directional and identification signage highlighting the way to the airport terminal would increase access to the facility. This entry route could also receive special right-of-way improvements to establish a clearer street hierarchy to and from the airport as well as provide aesthetic improve- ments influencing visitor and business travelers'impressions of the airport area and community.There also is the need to facilitate a greater sense of identity and presence along the Interstate highway system serving the community. Public and private improvements which uniquely characterize Salina to its visitors and other motorists should be explored. Right-of-way improvements should be encouraged along all major corridors to upgrade streets,curbs and gutters, median and parkway landscaping, and to relocate overhead utility lines where practical. Commercial and Industrial Development and Design Commercial and industrial areas within the community are among the most highly visible areas to motorists along the major gateway corridors. A number of recent developments have benefited from III a planned and coordinated development approach integrating access, parking, circulation, signage, and other site design features, such as around the Central Mall. Coordination of access, parking, circulation and landscaping not only improves the appearance of the area, but also improves functional traffic operations and the development's relationship to adjoining sites. Requirements for transition yard screening and landscaping and orientation of loading dock and access drive facilities are important to ensure compatibility between dissimilar uses. The design of new commercial developments should encourage generous landscaping for building foundations and parking and perimeter areas. Improved landscaping requirements and the stipulation of appropriate species of planting material was a concern of the Community Character Focus Group. Individual development parcels should attempt to coordinate access, circulation, signage, and pedestrian improvements. Prototypical strip commercial development should be avoided. Pad site development should derive access to private, internal service roads and not directly access public streets. Flood Control Levee The flood control levee represents a significant local community design feature and could be considered for unique treatment. For example, Manhattan, Kansas utilizes its flood control levee for bicycle and pedestrian access linking parts of the community otherwise found inaccessible by these forms of transportation. Phase II of the Comprehensive Plan will explore this and other opportunities for use of the flood control levee. • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 49 COMMUNITY FACILITIES Community facilities and services are important parts of the Salina community. They provide for many of the day-to-day needs of residents and businesses, and help define the quality of community life. They include activities traditionally provided by local government, including education, recreation, police and fire protection, municipal services, and libraries. Some public facilities and services are absolutely necessary, while others are highly desirable. It is essential that Salina make plans for their provision in the future. This section describes existing conditions and future needs for the following facilities: parks and recreation, public elementary and secondary schools, fire department, police department, library, municipal offices, public works facilities, and cultural facilities. The locations of all community facilities are illustrated in Figure 4, Existing Community Facilities. This analysis is based on field surveys and interviews with representatives of each facility,conducted by City staff during the summer and fall of 1991; previously prepared reports and studies; local input received at the Community Facilities Focus Group Workshop; and research and investigation undertaken by the consultant. While the Comprehensive Plan focuses on physical facilities such as land and buildings, this analysis also documents several manpower, equipment and service delivery needs as identified by respective agencies and organizations. • Parks and Recreation The parks and recreation system consists of sites,facilities and programs which have several important functions. The most basic is the provision of recreational services to local residents; an effective system can create opportunities for a wide range of leisure time experiences. The system can also help protect sensitive environmental resources, define and delineate neighborhood areas, and be an important visual feature in the community. An effective parks and recreation system is particularly important in a traditionally strong residential community like Salina. Management and Organization The Parks & Recreation Department had its official beginning on October 1, 1988, when the City of Salina Park Department and Salina Recreation Commission merged into the Parks & Recreation Department. From 1980 until that time, the Department operated with an interlocal agreement, but kept its individual governing body and budgeting authority. This Department was called Community Services and included the Parks, Recreation,Golf Course,Neighborhood Centers and Swimming Pool divisions. Downtown and Forestry divisions were added in 1987 and 1988. The Salina Recreation Commission was established in 1947 through a referendum, and was a joint City-School District Commission with taxing authority within the boundaries of Unified School District #305. The Parks Department has been a function of the City since its start with the Oakdale Park area in the late I800s. Additional park land was acquired in 1918 (Sunset), although the majority of the present park system was acquired in the 1950s and 1960s. • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 50 Existing Parks and Open Space Areas 0 The Parks & Recreation Department currently operates 21 park sites on approximately 612 acres, which includes the Municipal Golf Course. The Downtown responsibilities of the Department,as well as medians along Belmont Avenue, are not included in these figures. The existing park sites can be classified into six categories: playgrounds, neighborhood parks, sub- community parks, community parks, special use areas, and ornamental parks. In addition, several other recreational facilities are available within the community which supplement the public park system. The existing park system, which is summarized in Appendix Table 29, is discussed below. Existing sites are also indicated in Figure 4. Playgrounds The playground is the smallest unit in the City's recreation system. It can range in size from a small plot of ground up to four acres. Playgrounds are intended primarily for children of elementary and junior high school age, and should be located within safe walking distance of the homes they serve. Playgrounds should offer a variety of imaginative play facilities such as sand boxes, wading pools, swings, slides, court games and play structures. The Parks & Recreation Department currently maintains one site classified as a play-ground-- Hawthorne, which is one acre in size-- although a number of the Department's larger park sites are equipped with playground areas. Neighborhood Parks The neighborhood park normally ranges in size from 5 to 14 acres, although it can be larger. It is designed to provide service for a broader range of age groups and activity levels than a playground, and serves a maximum of 7,000 people in one neighborhood. Whenever possible, neighborhood parks • should be developed in conjunction with elementary school sites, thereby providing both indoor and outdoor recreation facilities. The Parks & Recreation Department currently maintains eight sites classified as neighborhood parks, including Centennial, Country Club, Hawley, Kenwood, Parker, Phillips and Riverside. One neighborhood park site remains unnamed. Together, these neighborhood parks total 24.3 acres. Sub-Community Parks Sub-community parks range in size from 15 to 40 acres and are designed for use by several neigh- borhoods of totaling up to 20,000 persons. The sub-community park is intended to serve teenagers and adults with various recreational activities. Ideally, it should adjoin a junior or senior high school in order to provide a joint utilization of facilities for teenagers and adults. The Parks & Recreation Department currently maintains two sites which could be classified as sub- community parks-- Sunset and Ivey-- which total 49.6 acres. Community Parks Community parks range in size from 40-99 acres and are intended to provide a full range of recreational facilities for all age groups. Salina currently has one community park, Oakdale, which totals 45 acres. 0 Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 52 I I I • I . I - ( t I I I I 1 wt- 1,I' ' i I . i .' . I A. J L. I � � ' i ;. I _ I Iiiko tI•I • I 1 is-. - 1_- \ • ' q "V - �, I. _ L li .. I I i I 1 - laulakc Sanas 11E1 law Worm..Cw.w IlPwc Elementary SUVA Sot'ere No. © 1.0.y - OAK.a Um..a IllE SCansraaM G., - P,Me Sct.oIs © SmokytM Amman - Parks 8 R.C,.Mnn Areas - Public Works Seas LC aMgrUarnoo t GMs.* - Fs*S,,tons • Mil w•Com'M Bolding Figure 4 EXISTNG COMMUNITY FACILI I IFS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ., e I __,, ,, N r.1 LI •J City of Salina, Kansas Special Use Parks Special use parks are areas or facilities which serve one major function. The Parks & Recreation Department currently maintains nine sites classified as special use parks, including Burke, East Crawford, Felton, Indian Rock, Lakewood, Schilling, Stimmel, Thomas and the Municipal Golf Course. Together, these total 491.0 acres. Ornamental Parks Ornamental parks are passive areas designed primarily for trees, shrubs and flowers. The Parks & Recreation Department currently maintains one ornamental park-- Founders-- which is on approximately one acre. Neighborhood Centers and Other Facilities In addition to the park sites and recreational facilities described above, the Department also operates four neighborhood centers and one maintenance shop. The characteristics of each facility are summarized in Table 35. The four neighborhood centers provide meeting and recreational facilities for clubs,organizations and groups of Salina citizens. The largest neighborhood center is Memorial Hall, which was constructed in 1921 and provides meeting rooms and recreational facilities. It also houses USD #305 programs such as Little House. Both Carver Center and Friendship Center were built in the late 1970s and provide meeting places and limited recreational facilities for persons living in those neighborhoods. Lakewood Lodge is a former residence located at the edge of the lake in Lakewood Park. Several other agencies and organizations supplement the local park and recreation system in Salina. These include the YMCA, the YWCA and the Salvation Army. In addition, USD #305 provides facilities for the Parks & Recreation Department to operate and utilize. Recreational Programs The Salina Parks&Recreation Department offers a wide variety of programs and activities for all age groups in the City, County and surrounding area. Types of programs include: a. Special Programs: Sponsoring or co-sponsoring special events such as Spelling Bee, summer dances, Play Day in the Park, New Games day, Mayor's Christmas Party, Halloween Spooktacular, Water Carnival,summer concert series,ski trips and other trips such as baseball and senior citizens outings. b. Art Programs: Approximately 35 different offerings for both youth and adults exposing participants to a variety of art experiences. c. Senior Citizens: The Department sponsors the Golden Years Club, Spring Festival, monthly dances or parties, movies, twice-weekly social gatherings/card parties, monthly publications for senior citizens, and trips and tours. d. Special Populations(handicapped):This program offers year-round activities for all ages with physical or mental disabilities including dance,exercise,cooking,swimming,music, bowling, bingo, trips, and art programs. • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 53 e. Athletics: This includes youth football, soccer, basketball and track; competitive youth baseball and softball leagues; adult slow pitch, fast pitch and co-ed leagues; adult volleyball and basketball leagues, and tennis and golf tournaments. f. Instructional Programs: The Department offers a variety of introductory level programs for both youths and adults. Many of these programs are offered in the summer, but a number are available throughout the year. Types of programs include country dance, square dance, modern dance, swimming, aerobics, bowling, golf, gymnastics, tennis, etc. g. Nature Programs: The Environmental Education Outdoor Recreation programs include a variety of workshops and teacher training seminars,guided nature walks through trail systems and an environmental education resource center. h. Community Services: The Department also provides such things as Santa Claus suits and letters, tickets to Worlds of Fun and Silver Dollar City, game bags, park shelter reservations, and reservations for neighborhood centers such as Lakewood Lodge, Friendship Center, Carver Center, and Memorial Hall. In terms of participation the athletic programs,especially summer baseball and softball programs,are the most popular. The Department has seen an increase in almost every area of program offerings, with the fastest growing being the Environmental Education programs. The arts and special population programs have also seen an increase in the number of programs as well as participants over the last several years. The area that has seen the least amount of increase is the Senior Citizens program. Parks and Open Space Standards Basic minimum standards have been established by various public agencies to help communities • measure their local park system. These standards establish guidelines for the number of acres of park land per capita, the type and number of facilities for different kinds of parks, desirable services areas, and other system components. Park standards are for guidance only. Many communities strive to exceed recommended standards,while others find it impossible to meet all nationally recommended minimums. However, they do provide a target toward which most communities strive, and are a useful first step in assessing local systems. The Salina Parks & Recreation Department currently provides approximately 14.2 acres of park land and open space per 1,000 population, including the golf course and other special use areas. In general, this compares favorably with current standards. The National Recreation and Park Association recommends 10.0 acres per I,000,excluding regional parks,subdivided as follows:neighborhood parks (2.5 acres); district parks (2.5 acres); and large urban parks (5.0 acres). However, it is more important that Salina's park system respond to the special needs and desires of the local population than to national standards and guidelines. Future Needs and Opportunities The Parks & Recreation Department currently offers quality programs and has many excellent features. At the present time, Department officials believe that the park system is sufficient in terms of land availability and the number of people to maintain existing facilities and land. However, • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 54 several parks need to be improved and upgraded, including Ivey Park and the four acres of 0 undeveloped parkland currently owned by the City in east Salina. Golf Course Facilities The rising popularity of golf has increased rounds played at the Municipal Golf Course to over 50,000 annually. The Department has experienced such growth that tee time reservations are required daily. Through its programs, the Department encourages women and youth golf participation. However, with a number of inexperienced golfers, slow play often results. One solution would be the construction of a new nine-hole par 3 course, which would alleviate crowding and slow play, and could allow all golfers the opportunity to participate with a shorter time commitment. The City owns sufficient land adjacent to the 18-hole course for this addition. Indoor Recreation Facilities Department officials believe there is a definite need for indoor recreation facilities. Currently, the Department uses the gymnasium owned by Kansas State-Salina for a majority of its indoor programs. Kansas State's long-range plan indicates this property will be disposed of as part of their ongoing development of their north campus. The Department also utilizes Roosevelt/Lincoln Junior High School and will lose this, as well. The loss of both of these facilities would cause considerable disruption in winter programs. Other school facilities in Salina are currently utilized to the maximum by school programs,leaving little time for City programs. Therefore,the Department believes a City- owned indoor recreation center is a necessity for continued quality recreation programs. In November, 1987, a study was prepared by Key & Company to examine the current status of community recreation services in Salina and develop recommendations for meeting needs for indoor 0 facilities. While several existing facilities currently provide indoor recreational space, the study concluded that construction of a new recreational center would be the only realistic way of providing needed facilities in the future. The study articulated several criteria for selecting a site for a new recreation center: • Centrally located or convenient to most of the community • Convenient to concentrations of school children,the elderly, low income and minority persons • Containing at least four acres • Reasonably visible and accessible from a major street • Few, if any, physical impediments to development • Close proximity to other recreational facilities and programs After reviewing several alternative sites, the 1987 study recommended that a new 50,000 square foot recreation center be constructed at Kenwood Park. Outdoor Recreation Areas In regard to outdoor athletic facilities, Department officials believe that youth and adult baseball fields are adequate, but quality adult softball fields are needed. The anticipated loss of the two fields owned by Kansas State-Salina will provide additional hardship on that program. Replacement fields could be built at the East Crawford Recreation Area which would provide the benefit of concentrat- ing maintenance operations. Additional softball facilities could also be renovated at Sunset Park to provide for expansion of those programs. IIISalina Comprehensive Plan Page 55 Public Schools 410 Schools and educational facilities are among the most important community facilities, especially in predominantly residential communities such as Salina. They not only provide educational services, but also play important cultural, recreational and social roles as well. Quality public schools are among the most frequently mentioned assets in the community. Salina is served by Unified School District #305. The community also includes several private and parochial schools, the Salina campus of Kansas State University, and Kansas Wesleyan University. Unified School District #305 Unified School District #305 serves the entire City of Salina. USD #305 maintains 24 sites and facilities within Salina, including fifteen elementary schools, two middle schools, two secondary schools, one alternative secondary school, one vocational-technical school, one education center, one preschool facility, and one vacant site reserved for a future school facility. The features and characteristics of all existing schools in Salina are summarized in Appendix Table 30. In general, all existing school facilities are in adequate structural condition, although several were constructed over 50 years ago. District officials believe that several of the schools are operating near capacity at present, although these are located in areas where additional growth is not anticipated. In addition, several schools are hampered by small sites, which restrict land available for outdoor recreation and limit future expansion potentials. USD #305 has a continuous program of maintaining and upgrading its school facilities. In 1988, a bond issue was passed that supported remodelings and additions to several schools, including Meadowlark Ridge, Whittier, Coronado, Central, South High, and South Middle Schools. During the past year, two classrooms were added to Heusner Elementary, and the lunchroom expanded at Sunset Elementary. Additional classrooms may be needed at Heusner in the near future. An expansion plan is now being developed for Meadowlark Ridge Elementary. Any additional school improvement, expansion or construction will depend upon future needs. From an economic standpoint, District officials indicate that they would prefer fewer but larger elementary schools. However, even though several of the older elementary schools are located close to one another, there is strong public support to maintain all existing schools as they are at the present time. USD #305 had a September, 1991 enrollment of 7,509, up 155 students over 1990. According to enrollment projections prepared by the Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB), the district should experience a slow but steady growth in total enrollment,reaching approximately 7,612 students by 1995-96. In addition, USD#305 has also conducted a survey in the Meadowlark Ridge, Heusner, and Stewart Elementary School areas. The data indicate that a number of young families are moving into existing homes in all of these areas. This, along with additional new housing construction in these areas, will require more classrooms in the future. • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 56 Municipal Buildings and Facilities • In addition to schools, parks and recreational facilities, Salina also has several other public buildings and facilities which are essential to the day-to-day operations of the community, including: 1) fire stations; 2) police facilities; 3) the Library; 4) City Hall; 5) public works facilities; and 6) cultural facilities. These are discussed below. Salina Fire Department Fire protection services within the City are provided by the Salina Fire Department. The Department currently employs 85 full-time persons, 74 of whom are in shift positions. The Department has three 24-hour shifts operating out of four stations, furnishing fire suppression, rescue and emergency medical services. There are five positions in the Fire Prevention Division who work eight-hour days and furnish fire prevention/inspection, public education, investigation, and code enforcement services. There is one eight-hour a day position in vehicle maintenance, one eight-hour a day position for EMS Division Chief, two eight-hour a day positions for secretaries, and two eight-hour a day positions for Fire Chief and Deputy Chief. The size of the current force is considered adequate, and there are no plans to add manpower in the near future. The Department currently operates a wide range of apparatus and equipment. In the near future, the Department would like to replace a 1973, 100-foot ladder, and a 1963, 1,000 gallon-per-minute (GPM) pumper with a 1,500 GPM 65-foot quint. Both of the pieces to be replaced are reserve units. The new piece would be a first-out unit at Station #4. The pumper currently being used at Station #4 would then be moved to a reserve position. Department officials do not anticipate the need for adding any more equipment in the near future. The Fire Department currently operates four fire station facilities: Station #1, constructed in 1952 41) and located at 222 W. Elm; Station #2, constructed in 1957 and located at 1110 S. Santa Fe; Station #3, constructed in 1986 and located at 2633 Belmont; and Station #4, constructed in 1969 and located at 669 Briarcliff (See Table 37). In general, all existing stations are in good structural condition, and are well located to serve various parts of the community. However, the Department's plans to add equipment at Station #4 would require substantial improvements to this facility, including a new drive-through bay. In addition, Department officials anticipate that Station #1 may also need to be expanded in the future. The existing sites would be adequate to allow for these facility improvements without additional land acquisition. Additional fire stations may be needed as Salina continues to grow and expand in the future. Many factors must be considered in the selection of a new fire station site, including type of land-uses, density of development, street system characteristics, etc. However, as an area becomes urbanized, a standard "rule of thumb" is that each fire station can effectively serve an area of approximately 1.5 miles in radius. This should be considered in Phase II of the Comprehensive Planning Program. According to the Community Facilities Focus Group workshop, there is a perceived need to improve fire protection services in the far northern and southeastern portions of the community. Salina currently has a Class 3 fire insurance rating. While this rating is comparable to or better than neighboring communities, the Department is striving to get the rating upgraded to Class 2. It is hoped that the addition of a new water tower and other scheduled improvements will make this possible in the future. 41) Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 57 Salina Police Department The Salina Police Department currently employs 61 sworn officers and eight civilian support per- • sonnel. Sworn officers are divided into three divisions: administration, patrol, and investigation. Three patrol shifts provide twenty-four hour police protection for the community. The Department also operates a consolidated communications center serving police,fire, Emergency Medical Services, rural fire, sheriff, and emergency preparedness. Civilian support personnel maintain clerical, secretarial, and records functions. The Department's 1992 budget requests the addition of four civilian dispatchers for communications. Future staffing of communications will be with additional civilian personnel, placing current sworn communications officers back onto street duty. Upon completion of the communications civilian changeover, the Department's manpower needs will be adequate to serve Salina's current population. The Police Department currently operates 10 marked patrol vehicles, four marked motorcycles, three unmarked investigator's vehicles,and two administrative vehicles. According to Department officials, equipment levels are adequate. All Police operations are conducted at the Law Enforcement Center, located at 255 N.10th Street. This facility was constructed in 1967, is in adequate structural condition, and well located to serve the community. However, according to Department officials, the building is becoming inadequate to serve police, court and jail functions, and additional space is needed. Off-street parking has also become inadequate. The City is currently reviewing plans to acquire several residential properties located along Elm Street, north of the Law Enforcement Center, to allow for some future expansion. According to Police officials, there are no significant crime problems in Salina. Crime rates per thousand population are below average for the overall region. There are no geographic subareas • which pose particular problems for the Department. However, Police officials point out Ninth Street and its intersection with South Broadway as traffic control problem locations. Salina Public Library In 1903, Andrew Carnegie's gift of$15,000 funded construction of the first public library in Salina. An addition was built in 1928, and the library operated in that original building until the opening of the present facility in 1968. The Salina Public Library has grown and expanded significantly since its founding. There are currently 33 employees, and the circulation is over 400,000 items annually. The collection has increased to around 180,000 volumes,and the audio-visual collection has grown to include videos and books on tape. In addition to the circulation of materials, the library offers a reference and information service, homebound service, a local history resource collection, and many services to children. There are two bookdrops available for the return of materials. The existing library building, located in the Civic Center area in downtown, is in adequate structural condition and continues to serve the community well. However, during the last few years, mainte- nance needs have increased, and several original components and utilities are being upgraded or replaced. The roof,the front doors,carpeting and the main exterior sign have recently been replaced, and new installation of air conditioning units and upgrading of landscaping is now underway. The Children's Department, which has grown dramatically in recent years, has become inadequate. According to library officials, backroom workspace, programming space for children, and shelving Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 58 • are needed. In addition, shelf space for adult materials also needs to be expanded, and public service . areas, especially a meeting/program room, is needed. To help relieve some of these needs, library officials anticipate that the basement level of the present facility will be finished and developed. If Salina grows beyond 60,000 residents and housing continues to grow to the south and east, library officials anticipate many requests for a branch library. However, branches are expensive to establish and stock with materials, and funding is not in place for future branch facilities. The library already has bookdrop locations which are popular, especially in south Salina. Deposit collections in other locations are a possibility as a prelude to a branch, as is a mobile library service, such as a bookmo- bile. However, none of these options have been programmed at the present time. Library officials anticipate that the role and function of the library will continue to change and evolve in the future. As a medium-sized public library, it will continue to serve as a primary link between children and reading, as a source for popular reading materials, and also as a reference and information service. It is in the reference area where library officials see the most possibility for change, particularly as private sources get into the information market, through on-line networks, CD-ROM databases and fiber optic telecommunication networks. In the future, many library users may just dial for information from their home or office computers. City Administrative Offices City administrative offices are located in the City-County Building in downtown Salina. In addition to municipal offices,this building also houses administrative offices for Saline County, District Court, and offices for the Board of Education. The City-County Building was constructed in 1969, and is in good structural condition. Its downtown • location is easily accessible from the entire community. Along with the Public Library, the City- County Building is situated in the attractive civic center area, which is a major focal point within the community. The City-County Building has become crowded in recent years. Both the City and the Board of Education have undertaken internal space reorganization and remodeling to increase efficiency. However, space shortages still exist, particularly for the City-County Health Department, which provides an increasing number of programs and services. Several potential solutions have been discussed regarding space shortages in the City-County Building. Rather than expanding the present building or constructing a new facility, the preferred solution at this time is to relocate one or more departments which do not require close physical proximity to other City-County Building activities. However, no decision has been made regarding this issue. Salina Department of General Services The Department of General Services consists of eight divisions: 1) Building Division, which is responsible for maintenance and repair of various municipal buildings; 2) Street Division, which is responsible for maintenance of city streets,storm sewers and other special projects; 3)Traffic Control Division, which is responsible for maintenance of traffic control signs and devices; 4) Gypsum Hill Cemetery, which is responsible for maintenance of the cemetery; 5) Flood Control Division, which is responsible for maintenance of City waterways and flood dike systems; 6) Sanitation Division, which is responsible for garbage collection and disposal; 7) Solid Waste Disposal Division, which is Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 59 responsible for the City landfill; and 8) Central Garage Division, which is responsible for servicing • and repair of City equipment. In total, the General Services Department employs 77 full-time and 13 seasonal employees. According to Department officials,several divisions are operating at somewhat lower than ideal personnel levels. The most deficient is the Street Division, which currently employs 30 full-time and two seasonal workers. The ideal level for this division would be 40 full-time and 4 seasonal workers. This shortage results in a backlog of repair work on curbs and gutters, storm inlets, and older street surfaces. Each Division operates a range of vehicles and/or equipment. According to Department officials, a third street sweeper and truck should be added to the Street Division, and landfill equipment should be upgraded in the near future. However, the City's current program of replacing existing equipment is considered adequate and economical. The Department maintains three sites which house manpower, equipment and facilities: a) 412 East Ash Street; b) 2020 East Iron Street; and c) 4292 South Burma Road. 412 East Ash Street This site encompasses approximately three acres and contains buildings and facilities serving the Street, Building, Traffic Control, Flood Control, Sanitation and Central Garage Divisions of the Department of General Services. The site contains six structures: an office building, street storage building,tin storage building, utility building, traffic control addition,gas attendant building,central garage and sanitation building,central garage addition,general improvement building,storage hangar and salt shed. Several of the existing structures are becoming too small or otherwise inadequate to meet Department • needs. According to Department officials, the office building should be expanded; the street storage building should be replaced; the utility building and central garage should be upgraded; and the traffic control, flood control, and general improvement buildings should all be expanded. According the Department officials, the existing site may be too small to accommodate replacement and expansion of the various facilities in the future. If so, additional land may need to be acquired across Ash Street. 2020 East Iron Street This site, located at the Gypsum Hill Cemetery, contains buildings and facilities for the Gypsum Hill Cemetery Division. The site contains four separate structures, including the mausoleum, cemetery building, sexton's home and garage. While all existing buildings are generally in good condition, the home may need to be replaced or substantially upgraded if housing is to be provided for the sexton in the future. In addition, the mausoleum requires maintenance, repair and possibly a new furnace. The existing site is large enough for replacement and/or expansion of facilities in the future. 4292 South Burma Road This site, located at the landfill approximately 2 1/2 miles west of Salina, contains the fee building, storage building, maintenance building and tin storage building. All existing structures are relatively 411 Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 60 new and in good condition, except for the tin storage building which was relocated to its present site. • The existing site is large enough to allow for expansion of facilities in the future. Cultural Facilities In the summer and fall of 1990, the Wolf Organization, Inc., conducted a cultural planning study for Salina. This study recommended a number of improvements related to cultural facilities, activities, management and funding. Highlights of this study are presented below, and should be considered as Salina plans for the future. Existing Facilities Salina is a community with a long tradition of support for and participation in cultural activities. Its cultural organizations and activities range from community theater, musical performances, and the visual arts to historical research and programs for the humanities. There is also a long-standing tradition of public and private financial support for culture. A strong participatory emphasis has assisted in the growth of substantial institutions and a nationally-recognized local arts agency -- the Salina Arts and Humanities Commission. The most significant existing performing and visual arts facilities in Salina are the following: Bicentennial Center is a multi-purpose facility designed to accommodate meetings, conventions, sports events, banquets, exhibits and trade shows. The Center contains two major public spaces: Heritage Hall is a flat floor exhibit/trade show space of 18,000 square feet. Its 20 foot ceiling height allows for large-scale exhibits and the use of amplified sound for entertainment events. Heritage Hall • will accommodate up to 1,000 in banquet seating and 2,000 in formal auditorium style seating. The Arena is a 21,000 square foot sports and entertainment venue used for local and regional high school, college, and professional exhibition sports as well as a variety of commercial entertainment events. The Arena seats up to 7,000 for sports events and up to 8,000 for concerts in the round. In addition, it has been used for touring arts presentations. However, the Arena is limited by the lack of space built specifically for arts use, and most arts presentations are compromised by the multi- purpose nature of the building. The Bicentennial Center has never reached the levels of use and financial performance originally anticipated, and management is currently studying ways to improve marketing of the facility. A study was recently undertaken by Hammer, Siler, George to determine how the Bicentennial Center could be improved and enhanced in the future. In addition to a number of marketing and manage- ment concerns,several physical improvements are currently under consideration, including enclosure of the vestibule at the north end of the building and provision of office space for exhibitors and other users of the facility. Other facilities are: • Kansas Wesleyan University has two facilities regularly programmed with arts events and available for rent by outside users. Fitzpatrick Auditorium is a small, formal proscenium theatre which houses the college's drama courses and ensembles. It contains 208 seats. Sams Chapel also has a proscenium theatre and seats 1,200. It is used primarily for commencements, lectures and musical presentations. • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 61 • The Community Theatre building was completed in 1973. Its construction was funded • privately, and then ownership was transferred to the City. The Community Theatre occupies the building as prime tenant,and a variety of other organizations also use the theatre for performances. The Theatre seats 300. A major expansion of the building is now complete which provides a scene shop, a costume shop, and other features. • Central High School, with its large formal theatre seating 1,371, has long been an important venue in Salina. As in most communities, however, the high school's extensive instructional programs require the greatest share of time on the stage, and access for other users is limited. • The Art Center, converted from commercial properties, is primarily a visual arts facility housing exhibits, education programs for adults and children, and a variety of other programs. The Center is occasionally available for performances and other uses by other organizations in the community. The Art Center includes 456 square feet of classroom space and approximately 250 running feet of exhibit area. Its programs include the presentation of both locally curated and touring exhibits. Currently, the Center is planning to renovate another adjacent commercial building in order to expand its educational programs. • Smoky Hill Museum is located in the former Post Office on West Iron Street in Salina. Its 13,530 square feet of exhibit space chronicle the cultural history of the County and the region. Exhibits are primarily static, consisting of independent displays in a loosely sequenced viewing order.Several improvements are currently being considered for the building, including wall joint sealing and front steps replacement. An expansion of the museum space onto the second floor has been proposed,which would allow for the permanent display of a number of historical artifacts now confined to • the basement level. This would alter the current focus of the museum and require the relocation of offices. There is some feeling within the community that the Museum should become more of an historical museum. • The Fine Arts Building at Marymount College contains two high quality theaters: Fine Arts Theatre, which seats 1,000 and is a fully proportioned, professional-level theatre. It is not air conditioned, but the required duct work is in place. The theatre has been used for musical and theatrical events. The seating area and front of the house are in good condition and attractive,although the design and finishes are clearly those of an academic building. Little Theatre, a proscenium theatre seating 165. In the past, this facility has housed theatre, chamber music and solo recitals. The Little Theatre shares off-stage facilities with the Fine Arts Theatre, and it is air conditioned. Both theaters would require investment to upgrade their existing systems,lighting and sound equipment to provide a fully equipped professional quality environment. • The Fox-Watson Theatre Building is located on South Santa Fe in downtown Salina. It was constructed in 1931 in an Art Deco-influenced style. The Fox Theatre remained in operation as a movie house until 1987 and was reasonably well maintained throughout its active life. The Fox Theatre seats 1,324 patrons on two levels in an air Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 62 conditioned auditorium. The building also contains two stories of office/commercial • space along the South Santa Fe frontage. All areas of the building require updating for code compliance and handicapped access. In February, 1989, the City took ownership of the property with the intent of "mothballing" the building while evaluating proposals for its reuse. Its prominent downtown location and familiarity as a movie theatre contribute to considerable public sentiment for returning the Fox to active use as a theatre. The 1990 study produced a variety of recommendations regarding cultural facilities, activities, management and funding within Salina. Those most relevant to the new Comprehensive Plan are highlighted below: a. A facility for the presentation of touring drama, music, dance and popular entertain- ment should be available in Salina. b. The City should give highest priority to retaining the use of the Fine Arts Building at Marymount College for arts programming. c. Alternative uses for the Fox Theatre should be studied and investment in any ren- ovation should be conducted in phases and scaled to the identified uses. d. If the Fine Arts Building is secured for live performance use, then the Fox should be used as a facility for meetings, smaller performances, and community functions. Options for commercial and office usages should also be employed. III e. If the Fine Arts Building cannot be secured for long term use, then the Fox Theatre should be upgraded to serve as a facility for touring and other performing arts events. PUBLIC UTILITIES This section provides an overview of existing public utilities in the City of Salina. It focuses on existing conditions and future needs for each system and the constraints or implications related to future growth and development in Salina. It is based primarily on information received from the City Department of Engineering and Utilities. Water System The City of Salina owns and maintains its own water utility which includes a distribution system and water treatment plants. Plant No. 1 is located within the downtown area, and an auxiliary treatment plant is at the intersection of Ohio Street and Waterwell Road. Plant No. 1 has a current capacity of 13 million gallons of water per day. It currently draws its raw water supply from both surface and ground water. Plans exist to improve the facility within the next five to ten years to increase its treatment capacity to 20 million gallons per day. Plant No. 2 currently has a capacity of two million gallons per day. The plant was constructed in the 1950s to serve the Schilling Air Force Base area. The plant receives its water supply from three wells located approximately one mile south of the City. The facility is primarily used as a peak period demand backup to the main treatment plant. No expansion or renovation plans exist at this time. • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 63 The City's present distribution system consists of 270 miles of water mains, 30 million gallons of •underground storage (in two basins), 4.8 million gallons of elevated storage (seven towers) and other pumping stations and related facilities. By and large, the developed portions of the City are adequately served with water. Areas which are not served by water are vacant lands or areas that are currently undergoing development. The only developed area occupied by private property improvements which is not served by water is the residential subdivision east of the Smoky Hill River at its intersection with Albert Avenue. The background studies also identified areas of the community where water pressure at fire hydrants is less than 500 gallons per minute. The standard of 500 gallons per minute is required for adequate flow water pressure for fire suppression equipment. These areas are primarily located in older parts of the City, largely in the north and central areas. Proposed major water system improvements are depicted in Figure 13. Improvements include a 20-inch main to be installed in 1992, extending the existing main at Ohio Street and Magnolia Road east to Markley Road and then north along Markley Road to roughly Cloud Street. Near the Cloud Street/Markley Road intersection,a new 500,000 water tower will be erected. Large diameter mains are planned to be extended along Crawford Street, Country Club Road, Holmes Road, and Cloud Street to serve future development within the area. Finally, an important issue yet to be resolved is expansion of the raw water supply system. The City currently operates 18 water wells located throughout the City. In 1990 it received roughly 2.0 billion gallons of its total 5.94 billion gallons of raw water supply in 1990 from these wells. The remaining 3.94 billion gallons was drawn from the Smoky Hill River. With continued growth of the City, and planned water treatment expansions, water demand will increase. There are essentially three options for raw water supply expansion. The options include: 1. Increase the current ground water supply near Plant No. 2 by reactivation of two wells to increase the number of active wells to five. III 2. Install wells and pipeline for thirteen new wells south of Plant No. 2. This proposal was approved by the Division of Water Resources (Kansas Department of Agriculture) in 1981. 3. Obtain additional surface water releases from Kanopolis Reservoir through a State of Kansas Assurance Program or through the purchase of water storage in Kanopolis Reservoir. Options 1 and 2 would involve the installation of large diameter pipelines to transport the raw water to Plant No. 1, or the conversion of Plant No. 2 into a modern water treatment plant with softening capabilities. The cost of implementing Options 1 or 2 appears to be considerably more expensive than implementation of Option 3, which would only involve certain modifications and expansion at Plant No. 1. Wastewater System The City of Salina also owns and operates its wastewater treatment and collection system. The City currently operates two wastewater treatment plants. Plant No. 1, located in the northeast portion of the City, operates as a two-stage trickling filter plant. The current daily design flow is 7.8 million gallons; approximately 4 percent of the plant's total flow is industrial waste. The plant discharges directly into the Smoky Hill River. Plant No. 2 is located on Centennial Road and was originally installed as part of the Schilling Air Force Base development. The plant treats domestic wastes with an average daily design flow of 0.5 S Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 64 million gallons per day and a maximum wet weather design flow of 1.4 million gallons per day. • Approximately 20 percent of the average daily flow is industrial wastes. Plant No. 2 frequently does not meet the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System(NPDES)effluent requirements because capacity is exceeded. Currently, effluents discharge into Dry Creek, an intermittent water course. As part of a proposed new interceptor sanitary sewer, Plant No. 2 will be abandoned and bypassed to treatment Plant No. 1. This will necessitate extensive improvements to Treatment Plant No. 1, including conversion to an advanced treatment facility. The project is scheduled for completion in 1993 at an estimated cost of $11 million. Treatment Plant No. 2 will be removed. The wastewater collection system includes 53 pump stations and approximately 200 miles of sewage collection pipelines. Finally, the City maintains 53 wastewater pump stations. Five of these stations operate above their rated pumping capacities. Rehabilitation or replacement is planned within the next few years to restore their efficiency. The system serves most of the City. However, there are a few locations which are not served by sanitary sewer service. Nearly all these areas are vacant or under development, and largely coincide with areas not served by water. Exceptions include residential areas north of Euclid and east of Ninth Street. A major anticipated improvement for the wastewater collection system is the construction of a new sanitary sewer interceptor extending ten miles between Treatment Plants No. 1 and No. 2 through the south and eastern portions of the City. Significant sections of the improvement will be located within unincorporated areas of the planning area. The sewer is also intended to serve new development locations anticipated for future growth. A report entitled " East Dry Creek Interceptor Sewer, Phase 3 - Design Concept Report," Wilson & Company, 1991, has projected future development potentials based on trends and projections in population and employment for residential, commercial and industrial land-uses. The following table is an excerpt from the Wilson report indicating projected land-use compared to areas available within the sanitary sewer service areas: CITY OF SALINA COMPARISON OF REQUIRED ACRES/AVAILABLE ACRES BY Land-use: 1990-2030 Required Acres for Available Acres for Projected Growth Future Development Census Census Census Census Land-use Tracts 6-9 Tract 10 Tracts 6-9 Tract 10 Residential 450 870 850 1,350 Commercial 98 26 100 30 Industrial 100 0 1,200 0 TOTAL 648 896 2,150 1,380 Source: East Dry Creek Interceptor Sewer, Phase III - Design Concept Report, Wilson and Company, July, 1991. Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 65 In order to arrive at quantities of new residential, commercial, and industrial growth, assumptions • regarding future land-use areas need to be made. The Wilson report states, under the Service Area Summary,"The total acreage for future development is larger than that required to facilitate the City's projected growth. This allows the City and development community some flexibility in locating improvements within a readily serviceable area." The Demographic and Market Overview Analysis of this report projects more modest growth to the year 2010. Projected acreage consumption by land-use category is summarized as follows: 1) Residential - 556 acres; 2) Retail growth - 55 acres; 3) office uses - 27 acres; and 4) manufactur- ing/wholesale trade - 76 acres. Clearly, more than adequate capacity will exist for projected growth in the planning area to the year 2010. Additionally, the land-use planning elements proposed for the recommended sewer service areas as part of the Wilson Company report should be evaluated in context of the overall community-wide needs, issues, and opportunities in Phase II of the Planning Process. This major public works improvement will open development opportunities not available in the community in the past. However, the timing and location of future development must be considered. Concerns regarding "leap frog" development and the provision of public facilities become important factors in guiding orderly growth. Approvals to connect to the sewer system can be useful in directing future develop- ment patterns. Alternative approaches, policies, and implications of growth within this area should be an important focus of the next phase of the planning process. Storm Water System Storm water facilities within Salina include a system of storm water drainage pipes, culverts,drainage channels, streams and retention basins. This section focuses on issues and concerns which have been raised primarily in south Salina. In 1983, a major capital improvement project was undertaken to separate the combined sanitary and storm sewer system. The result has been an overall decrease in localized flooding and ponding. Localized flood conditions occur north of Cloud Street in scattered locations. The emphasis on storm water drainage system improvements, however, is generally south of Crawford Street. The South Salina Drainage Study prepared by Wilson Engineers in 1987 reflects with reasonable accuracy current plans for overall improvements in south Salina. Generally, storm water drainage runs from the south to the north within the planning area. As urban development continues to the south, the need to consider area-wide drainage improvements becomes apparent. Considering the nature and extent of drainage improvements in the planning process is important since improvements often comprise open ditches, and retention and detention areas influence the placement and arrangement of other land-uses. As part of the South Salina Drainage Study,seven separate drainage areas were identified and improvements evaluated within each of these areas. Noteworthy is that nearly all recommended improvements represent open ditch facilities, and a few areas include storm water detention or retention facilities. These need to be considered in the examination of alternatives in Phase II. The status of these improvements should be reconfirmed as part of the community's discussion of this report. S Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 66 • TRANSPORTATION This chapter provides an overview of the City's expected transportation needs during the period encompassed by the Comprehensive Plan. Much of this transportation component will focus on the new and developing land areas of the City because there is a direct relationship between land-use and traffic demand. New development will create a demand for an improved street system. Conversely, such new transportation improvements will also have implications for future land-use development, future travel patterns and the desirability of travel modes. The function of a transportation plan is to examine a wide range of issues to provide a comprehensive guide for making transportation decisions over a twenty to thirty year time horizon. The primary focus is to analyze Salina's major street system and its users. The system is comprised of a hierarchy of streets which provides for a gradation in traffic flow from movement to access. At one extreme is a freeway which carries no local access traffic; at the other is the local cul-de-sac street which carries no through traffic. The general operating characteristics of arterial routes, and, to a lesser extent, collector routes will be described. Analysis of local streets is primarily a site specific concern and is not described in this report. The transportation element will be completed in two parts. The first provides an inventory and 0 evaluation of current street system problems. The focus of the second is on identifying transportation improvements needed to accommodate expected future conditions. A transportation computer simulation model of traffic flow is being developed in order to determine the traffic impacts resulting from development expected to occur in the future. The anticipated traffic demands provide the basis for evaluating the adequacy of the existing street network to accommodate future traffic needs. Where deficiencies in the street network are anticipated, appropriate improvements which could support future land development will be recommended. This chapter addresses the analysis of the existing transportation system. It provides an overview of existing transportation conditions and is aided by review of previous transportation studies including the Maior Street and I-135 Interchange Improvement Study(1987)and the Salina Kansas Transporta- tion Plan (1982). Traffic Inventory The objective of this section is to document available transportation-related information which can be used to better understand existing conditions in the Salina area. A comprehensive data-collection process was undertaken to both identify current transportation problems and to serve as a basis for assessment of potential conditions in the future. The following categories of information are described in the following sections: • Arterial lanes • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 67 • Posted speeds • • Average daily traffic volumes (ADT) • Accidents Arterial Lanes The City of Salina's arterial streets have a grid-system orientation, with many of the City's major streets located on mile section lines. Interstate access is currently provided from both I-70 and I-135. Interchanges are located at I-70 and Ohio Street, 1-70 and Ninth Street, I-135 and State Street, I-135 and Crawford, and I-135 and Schilling Road. The street widths for arterial streets in Salina are shown in Figure 5. Historically, the main north- south route through Salina has been Ninth Street, which is primarily a two lane street with a center turn lane. Given the limited right-of-way available for widening Ninth Street, Broadway was constructed as a four lane road to provide an alternative route to Ninth Street. Other major north- south routes include Santa Fe, a four lane street located just east of Ninth Street, and Ohio Street, basically a two-lane road with five lanes between Iron Street and Wayne Street. Centennial Road is a two-lane roadway serving the west section of Salina. The primary east-west route is Crawford Street, which is being widened to a four-lane street. Magnolia Street, located two miles south of Crawford Street, is primarily a two-lane road; however, small segments are three or four lanes wide. Other east-west routes are State Street/Iron Avenue/Ash Street, Cloud Avenue, Schilling Road and Waterwell Road. Speed Limits • As part of this study, the transportation focus group identified the issues of posted speed limits and the possible raising of those limits on arterials, excluding school zones. The speed limits for Salina arterials are shown in Figure 6. As can be seen, the speed increments vary by 10 miles per hour. Speeds of 50 miles per hour (mph) are posted on the portion of Ninth Street located north of Euclid and on a section of Centennial Road. A speed limit of 40 mph is posted on many arterials, including Broadway, Ohio, portions of Ninth, a portion of Crawford and a portion of Pacific. Other routes are posted at 30 mph,except for school zones and residential areas which are posted at 20 mph. Speed limits are directly associated with traffic safety issues. Lowering speed limits is generally thought to be one of the best ways to reduce accidents. Typically, the speed along a roadway is not as responsible for accidents as generally thought; in fact, the safer the driving environment, the faster the motorists tend to drive. The danger connected with speed is when motorists drive faster than the prevailing environmental conditions warrant. Most experienced motorists have developed a sense of how quickly they can respond to unexpected conditions along a roadway, and generally drive in accordance with speed differentials. The statistical level that correlates with that speed is commonly considered to be the 85th percentile. 0 Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 68 ARTERIAL LANES 0 II A ��`F `ar tilt PACIFIC �• •• Itl ! •• Nom • B ■ ■ A9� 1\ STA7E a to �; __/ cower aua \� ■Soal/ ■U , , ■ SOON ■ / �: ( / / iii 111 ,� j A(P.0 1 , a 4 •4. 1 2GL0 \1 • ) 1 one • • NI4 OE • ■ •• • • SAUNA MUWOMAL •IF • ■/'■ 6440VQA1 / `- AI� F-' Ad , • ' S1]iLC2ING LEGEND S. aMILEY / ____ 3 LANES — 4LANES , NO WWII — 5 LANES Ill nit BUCI-ER, WILLIS & RATLFF Salina, Kansas Transportation Plan Figure 5 ARTERIAL SPEED LIMITS • ,; • 1r 55 M Pµ • • • P PAC 7C • •• •Rr j 01411 •• ■ {•••• NOM .�IIRM..M.■IN • r ■ ' / • ■ _A9I/ ) 1 STAR" / \��' COUNTRY QL8 ■\ —I—sown ■ I Si ti 0 \ • \1 ■.. ■.■.■.■ U • • • Ff • 1 1 •• • •: 11:1 ono • MN ihC ■ • • i $4.WA M/NQ AL ,v ----,, t M-11 • /7'4d . • • $••• • . ■ ■ li:j.1.AM.%...•I \ ■ ■ ■ • LEGEND ill • S6 Autry i ---- 20 MPH • • = 30 MPH • • --7 ■.igii...4.83.11 = 40 MPH 45 MPH • = 50 MPH 155 MPH • XX = Speed on County Roads Bit BUCHER, WILLIS & RATLFF Salina, Kansas ' Nt° "S Transportation Plan Figure 6 • The 85th percentile speed for traffic along a given roadway is determined by recording the speed of a significant sample (usually 100 or more) of vehicles and computing the speed at which 85 percent of the vehicles are traveling more slowly. However, the 85th percentile speed is not the sole factor in determining the speed limit. The Manual of Uniform Traffic Devices (MUTCD) suggests five other factors that enter into the engineering judgment involved in establishing a speed zone. These factors relate to roadside development and friction, roadway geometrics and condition, and a review of accident experience. The 1982 Traffic Safety Study identified five locations within the city that had 85th percentile speeds greater than the posted limits. Since that study, the speed limits of three of those locations have been raised to better reflect the 85th percentile speed. The results have been generally favorable: none of these roads have experienced a noticeable increase in their accident rates. Specific streets which could be evaluated for speed limit changes include Marymount, south of Crawford Street; Santa Fe, south of South Street; and other street segments as they become improved in the future. Average Daily Traffic The 1991 average daily traffic(ADT)volumes are shown in Figure 7. The ADT counts were obtained from the City of Salina, the Kansas Department of Transportation(KDOT), and from the 1987 I-135 Interchange Study. The traffic volumes from years other than 1991 were factored in order to better obtain consistent 1991 traffic count information. The highest traffic volumes occur on the north-south routes of Broadway, Ninth and Ohio, where traffic volumes exceed 15,000 vehicles per day. Traffic is also high on some sections of Crawford, on which volumes also exceeded 15,000 vehicles per day. • Using the traffic data, use of the routes entering Salina can be compared. The highest ADT near an interstate interchange is Crawford Avenue, where nearly 13,000 vehicles per day were recorded. A traffic count of over 11,000 vehicles per day was recorded on Ninth Street south of Schilling Road. Traffic counts on roads interchanging with 1-70 were less than those interchanging with 1-135. At Ninth Street, the traffic count was approximately 8,200 and on Ohio Street it was approximately 4,700. Interpretation of the traffic count data can be enhanced by comparison of traffic counts from the previous transportation plan completed in 1982. Comparisons yield the following observations. • Traffic volume increases generally have been highest in the eastern and southern areas of Salina. • Traffic volumes have also increased substantially at the Crawford and I-135 in- terchange area. • Traffic volume growth has been small in the central area of Salina, including such streets as Santa Fe and the portions of Ninth and Broadway located north of Crawford. A representative listing of traffic counts in 1981, 1991 and their change is presented in Table 31. Indicated in the table are the changes in traffic volumes over this ten year period. 1111 Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 71 1991 AVERAGE DAILY TRAFFIC (ADT) 0 5,181 11,184 ....7? el°°°' ,s 1 10 77 1,,118 Am. I J 8,214 �4667 11,127 8 4 PAO�k' 9,036 8,720 2 273 11 100 �� 8234 A.4/ �l ( srA 7 F 12 I 5�� \` _ c(4 au, 2,718` 1 pi 1 999 12,167 8 487 10 322 Scvm 14 LD7 1 3 542 i C 10.400 12 988 .11* a ,760, A 563 \ 16,362 A 2,908 U 3,223 • GPA 1F.-.7 ( \1 ; (3 382 10,198 6 510 y 16,900 (\ 1,817 10 7001 15,245 4 840 '7 876 a 280 i I 66 9i5, 7,326 `3�94 1.211 I as 2,468 _17,077 �l \1.252 10,192 i 9,780 orro WA TIE 15691- e 5 400 l._ ,c. 18,897 �- t1 10,144 8 231-7 6 350 10.161 10,791 f yAONOLU s+tIvAAL i 3,499) 9,304�� 3.800 1 3,100 16,903 dY3 \ 1 6,943 3,208 7 18,217 3,600 7 375 1.382 14,140 8,097) 11,342 N BAILEY 1,132 I S' Ifj \10,248 • Salina, Kansas Transportation Plan Figure 7 • Table 31 Average Daily Traffic Summary 1991 and 1981 1991 1981 10 Year Street Location Count Count Change Ninth North of Pacific Street 8,200 10,500 -2,300 Ohio North of Pacific Street 4,650 2,850 +1,800 Broadway North of North Street 9,050 9,000 +50 Santa Fe North of South Street 9,515 10,900 -1,385 Ninth North of Ash 8,235 6,900+ 1,335 Broadway North of Crawford 22,600 21,050 +1,550 Ohio South of Iron 14,675 9,050 +5,625 Crawford West of Centennial 13,000 7,000 +5,000 Crawford East of Santa Fe 12,910 10,300 +2,610 0 Crawford West of Marymount 10,200 4,850 +5,350 Centennial South of I-135 5,400 4,800 +600 Ninth North of Schilling 18,215 16,050 +2,165 Belmont North of Magnolia 10,790 5,150 +5,640 Ohio North of Wayne 15,700 12,800 +2,900 Traffic Safety The goal of a transportation system is to move people and goods in both an efficient and safe manner. Within any area, certain locations will have a higher incidence of accidents than others. To identify these locations, the last three years of accident data was collected and coded by location in the street system. An average over the three year period was used to determine the most frequent accident locations. The accident data was provided by the City of Salina from police department records. There were 19 locations having a higher frequency than other locations. These locations and the number of average annual accidents are shown in Figure 8. IPSalina Comprehensive Plan Page 73 AVERAGE ACCIDENTS PER YEAR 1988-1991 0 thbkrt___,____,4.„, 4...... h' ..el°'.1°.-0■ r 13 „.„. \ STA1£ ■ _ k _ W r -le• ��NE :4 svun,� � � / MAMA, \1 . 4 7 \ \ i 6 •6 rtauo l 6 — I aro iw nyC � !!! / •12 uAOK1fA 1 SALIN MdMPI'4 l 1\ 5 l • Q � SONCIAiC N eA LEGEND _5c" Number 1 Accidents Accident°Location • int BUCHER, WILLIS &AR RATUFF Salina, Kansas Transportation Plan Figure 8 The highest accident locations were found on streets intersecting with Broadway Boulevard, the ip southern portion of Ninth Street, and Crawford Street. The location where the most accidents occurred was the intersection of Ninth Street and Saturn(14),located adjacent to both the Central and Galaxy Malls. Other locations experiencing a high number of accidents per year were the intersec- tions of Crawford and Santa Fe (13), Ninth and Magnolia (12), and Broadway and Crawford (1 I). The intersection of Ninth (south) and Broadway was not included in the higher accident locations. CBD Traffic Circulation Analysis In recent years, traffic circulation in the central business district(CBD) has been a topic of concern. The focus of the discussion has been the operation of two parallel one-way streets, Fifth Street and Seventh Street. The primary concern was that the one-way streets reduce the number of drive-by customers and increase the amount of circuity to reach stores located on the one-way streets. Three street circulation alternatives have been previously presented and will be discussed in this section. The alternatives include: 1) converting the one block section of Fifth Street between Ash and Iron, and the sections of Fifth and Seventh Streets, south of Mulberry, to two-way traffic; 2) converting both Fifth Street and Seventh Street to two-way traffic; and 3) making no changes to existing circulation patterns. Existing CBD Traffic Operation Traffic operations in the CBD provide for two-way traffic on all streets except Fifth Street, which is one-way south from Ash Street to Mulberry Street; and Seventh Street, which is one-way north from South Street to Prescott Street. Traffic control in the CBD is provided by fixed-time traffic signals at 21 intersections and by stop-control at 11 intersections. Special mid-block pedestrian • signals are provided on Santa Fe Avenue, between Ash Street and Iron Avenue, between Iron Avenue and Walnut Street,and between Walnut Street and Mulberry Street. Between Elm Street and Mulberry Street,signals at the intersections of Santa Fe Avenue,Ninth Street,Eighth Street,Seventh Street,and Fifth Street are coordinated for traffic progression. They are connected by telephone lines which can be affected by rain or high winds. Signals are being converted to individual time clocks as funding becomes available. A detailed analysis of traffic volumes and intersection operation was conducted as part of the Long Range Parking Demand Study prepared for the City of Salina in 1985. While the data is somewhat dated, comparison with recent traffic counts in the CBD indicates very little growth in traffic volumes. In the 1985 Parking Study, traffic operation was determined to be satisfactory for all intersections in the CBD. An evaluation of intersection capacity indicated a level-of-service "A" in nearly all locations. Level-of-service criteria is based upon expected vehicle delay at an intersection, with "A" being the best condition and "F" being the worst. Based upon both previous and current traffic data, it can be concluded that there is sufficient traffic capacity in the CBD street network. Traffic delays are not a result of traffic congestion, but rather a result of the number of traffic signals and the difficulty in coordinating all traffic movements in a tightly spaced street network. In most cases, the existing one-way street system adds, at most, an additional one block in travel distance to reach a destination located on a one-way street. The exception is for trips entering the CBD from the east, where, because of the vacating of Fourth Street north of Iron Avenue, an additional three blocks travel distance is added to the trip. This problem would be resolved by converting the one block of Fifth Street between Ash Street and Iron Avenue to two-way traffic. • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 75 Evaluation of CBD Circulation Alternatives • The three street circulation alternatives have been evaluated based upon specific criteria which include aesthetics, street capacity, parking impact, travel circuity, pedestrian ease, cost, and overall economic impact. A summary of the evaluation is provided in Table 32. Aesthetics. The development of the one-way pairs has resulted in less street area allocated to traffic use, providing opportunities for street aesthetics, crosswalks, parking, lighting, and alleys converted for pedestrian traffic. Changing to two-way traffic would reduce landscape alternatives. Street Capacity. One-way streets increase street capacity; two-way streets decrease it. Neither Seventh Street nor Fifth Street is an arterial, and there is excess capacity on these streets. Changing to a two-way operation would increase the number of conflicting turning movements, which would increase expected vehicle delay at intersections. While loading zones would be provided, violations could result in lane blockings and traffic circulation problems. Parking Impact. Each loading zone could require elimination of five angle parking spaces. A total of 60 on-street parking spaces would be removed if two-way traffic was implemented. Removal of spaces in front of a given business could also negatively impact it. Circuity. A two-way street system would reduce the trip length by one block for about half of the trips to stores located on Fifth Street or Seventh Street. It would also reduce the trip length by three blocks for persons traveling on Iron Avenue destined for the Post Office or other nearby locations. Pedestrian Ease. One-way streets make pedestrian crossings half as difficult. Cost. The attached cost of converting the one-way streets to two-way streets would require a more detailed traffic signal design study. However, a preliminary cost was estimated at$95,000-$100,000, which included new signal heads, wiring, fixed time controllers, pavement striping, additional stop signs, and modification of four traffic signals. The estimate does not include staff time or engineer- ing fees. The cost for the one-block segment on Fifth Street, between Ash and Iron, was estimated between $15,000 to$20,000, depending on the need to replace the signal controller at Fifth and Iron. Economic Impacts. There is no evidence to support an increase in CBD economic activity following changes in traffic circulation. Potentially, if traffic volumes were to increase in front of a given store, its sales volume could increase. The net CBD sales activity would be expected to be unchanged as a result of the proposed street circulation changes. The conversion of one-way traffic on Seventh Street and Fifth Street involves weighing tradeoffs. The most significant tradeoff is between accommodating delivery trucks and other vehicular traffic. In order to accommodate both delivery trucks and vehicle traffic, loading zones would need to be designated on each side of the blocks. The loading zones would require removal of up to 60 parking • spaces in the CBD. They could also negatively impact the adjacent store fronts. The decision for two-way traffic becomes one of weighing cost, parking and access considerations. i Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 76 10 TABLE 32 CBD STREET CIRCULATION EVALUATION Fifth, Fifth Street Maintain Seventh Ash-Iron Existing Two-Way Two-Way Circulation Aesthetics Reduces Opportunities No Change No Change Street Capacity Reduced No Change No Change Parking Impact Eliminates 60 spaces Eliminates 10 spaces No Change for Loading Zones for Loading Zones Circuity Reduces some by Reduces a few No Change one block, a few by three blocks others by three blocks Pedestrian Ease Decrease Small decrease No Change Cost $90,000-$105,000 $15,000-$20,000 None Economic Impacts No evidence to support No Change No Change an increase in total CBD revenue 0 Assessment of Existing Circulation The compilation of transportation data has only limited intrinsic value. Rather, it is the correct interpretation of the data and its application to locally accepted values which adds significance to this study. The assessment of existing traffic circulation has been performed by analyzing traffic volumes,street capacity,accident statistics,speed limits,and the input provided by the transportation focus group. An assessment of existing traffic circulation is shown in Figure 9. The assessment indicates traffic problems which relate to insufficient street capacity or to problems related to accident frequency. Traffic congestion problems cited in this section were determined by comparing traffic volumes with estimates of street capacity. The information was developed for general planning purposes, and represents use of average daily data for typical street segments. More precise information would require a detailed traffic engineering approach which would include determining average travel speed, travel delay at signals, detailed intersection geometrics, signal timings, percentage of truck traffic, as well as accident type, severity and cause. The review of traffic data indicates the locations where traffic volumes approach street capacity. A general method of determining street congestion is to identify when traffic volumes are greater than 80 percent of street capacity. Typically, streets having volume-to-capacity ratios (v/c) of 0.80-0.89 are considered to have a Level of Service (LOS) "D" and those having v/c ratios 0.90-1.00 LOS "E". • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 77 TRAFFIC CIRCULATION ASSESMENT 110 i ii 1r PALM ply NOM ''7 (/'<//, -- / IV-- 1` STATE 1 COWRY ate \\ 1 scum i til III CRAMMTO 1: 1,37L4RJC I 1 \,..,. I i I Rpm S1LAMA IeJ AL , I Q J LEGEND NBAILEY ® Traffic Congestion Problems MIMI 1 • Traffic Safety Problems II III Roe BUCHER, WILLIS & NtORATLIFF Salina, Kansas Transportation Plan Figure 9 Streets having v/c ratios of 1.00 or greater are considered to have a LOS "F'. A level of service of • C or better (v/c ratios under 0.80) is desired for street operation in cities such as Salina. Problem areas were defined as streets where volume/capacity was 0.80 or worse. These locations are listed below. • Broadway Boulevard. Traffic volumes varied along this route. In most locations, there is sufficient street capacity to accommodate traffic, however, in the section between State and Crawford, volumes approached street capacity. This section is identified as operating at LOS "E" (0.94). • Ninth Street. Traffic congestion is identified at two locations along this route. One location is the three-lane section of Ninth Street, between Cloud and Ash Streets. The street capacity along this section of Ninth is lower than in other, less dense locations. Currently, the relatively high volume on Ninth Street does result in driver delay and inconvenience. Traffic has increased to nearly street capacity, and additional traffic increases would result in longer delays and potential safety problems. Given the availability of alternative routes such as Santa Fe, it would appear that Ninth Street should be used until traffic begins to slow. Santa Fe, which has a large amount of additional capacity,is available to accommodate additional vehicles from Ninth Street. While Ninth Street provides the most direct north-south connection, sufficient capacity does exist when both Ninth and Santa Fe are analyzed together. The second congested location on Ninth Street is located south of the intersection of Broadway and Ninth, the area of major retail activity. Recent traffic growth has resulted in traffic volumes operating at approximately 80 percent of street capacity. 0 The problem is complicated by high turning movements into shopping centers and the close proximity of traffic signals. With the widening of Crawford Street, a major east-west street, traffic congestion problems are primarily limited to north-south traffic movements. Additional vehicle capacity is available on Ohio Street and Santa Fe, but is limited on Ninth Street and Broadway Boulevard. Traffic circulation in the northern part of the City is limited less by capacity problems than by driver inconvenience resulting from railroad tracks, railroad crossings, and lack of contiguous east-west streets. In comparison, traffic circulation in the southern part of Salina is constrained by a limited number of four-lane arterial streets and the unconventional design of streets, such as the I-135/Schilling Road interchange, the "S" curve on Centennial Road, and by under-designed streets which now serve as arterials. Review of traffic growth in the last ten years in the southern and eastern parts of Salina supports the need to plan for new arterial widenings and collector streets to support traffic growth in the next ten years. Specific street capacity improvements will be made following the analysis of future development impacts, which will be described in Phase II of this study. The review of accident statistics provides a key indication of intersections which should be evaluated for potential intersection improvements. Since the traffic study in 1985, many intersection im- provements have been completed, resulting in a major positive impact on traffic safety. Aside from Ninth Street/Magnolia and Broadway/Cloud, most of the improved locations (see page 7) are not included in the current list of high accident locations. • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 79 The current deficiencies in existing traffic safety and operation were identified based upon recent • accident statistics. Based upon this information, a list of intersections which should be studied to identify potential geometric improvements is shown on the following Table. Table 33 Potential Intersection Safety Improvements I. All intersections of Ninth Street between Broadway (south) and Magnolia. 2. Ninth Street and Magnolia 3. Santa Fe and Crawford 4. Broadway and Crawford 5. Santa Fe and Prescott 6. Ninth and Cloud 7. Broadway and Hageman 8. Broadway and Cloud •Other circulation improvements should also be explored. Many of these recommendations are based upon local experience and from input from the transportation focus session and are given below. • Access and internal circulation improvements should be investigated in the area of the Central Mall. This observation is also supported by traffic volume and accident data. • Access from the interstate system to the CBD and mall areas should be improved. This could include geometric improvements or posting information signs. • Signal coordination should be pursued on Broadway Boulevard, Ninth Street, Craw- ford Street and other locations, as necessary. • The posted speed policy should be re-examined to include consideration of increasing speeds on certain segments of collector and CBD streets from 20 mph to 30 miles per hour. • The intersection operation of both Belmont/Ohio and North/Ohio should be reviewed. If operating deficiencies are identified, geometric improvements should be pro- grammed. • Based upon a review of CBD traffic operation, it can be concluded that the existing street pattern is functioning well. Travel length reductions resulting from two-way street operation would be off-set by additional intersection delay. With two-way III Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 80 traffic, potential problems with loading zone parking would also increase traffic conflicts and result in a reduction of 60 parking spaces. However, the current three block delay for motorists on Iron Avenue, traveling to the Post Office or other nearby locations, is considered excessive. The conversion of Fifth Street between Ash Street and Iron Avenue is recommended to relieve this problem. The conversion of the remaining portion of Fifth Street and Seventh Street to two-way traffic can be supported by the traffic analysis. It would, however, result in the loss of parking spaces which may not be acceptable to local merchants. • • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 81 PART II: Goals, Objectives and Policies • '/ � 'J•S ! �� / 'N lN/Si' CI O F• na Salina Comprehensive Plan 0 PART II - GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES To be effective, the Salina Comprehensive Plan must respond to the special needs, values and desires of the local community. Goals objectives, and policies help to provide this focused guidance. These statements transform the collective values of the community into operational statements which are used, in part, as guidelines in the planning process. Goals, objectives and policies each have a distinct meaning and purpose, ranging from the more general to the more specific: Goals articulate long-range aspirations of the community. They are stated in terms that can promote agreement of major issues or needs necessary to support actions and strategies required to realize aspirations. They represent an end to be sought, although some may never be fully realized. Objectives identify the types of initiatives that must be taken to realize goals. Objectives are stated to provide a means of measurement toward goal attainment. Policies identify specific courses of action required to achieve stated goals and objectives. 0 Policies are intended to be finite, measurable actions which can be undertaken by various organizations and interests in the community. Collectively the goals, objectives and policies indicate where the community wants to go and what it wants to become in the future. Goals and objectives help provide an overall focus and direction for the Comprehensive Plan, and provide important guidelines for specific recommendations regarding land-use and other components of the Comprehensive Plan. List of Goals, Objectives and Policies Goals, objectives and policies have been prepared for key community elements which include the following: 1. Overall Community Design, Image and Identity 2. Housing and Residential Areas 3. Commercial and Retail Development 4. Business and Industrial Development 5. Transportation 6. Community Facilities and Services 7. Parks and Recreation 8. Historic Resources 9. Natural Environment 10. Growth and Development • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 82 I. OVERALL COMMUNITY DESIGN, IMAGE AND IDENTITY 0 GOAL A strong and positive physical image of the community through public and private improvements which enhance various physical features of the community. Objective Improve the function, image and appearance of major "gateway" corridors to the City, recognizing the City's most heavily used streets are the strongest visual influences of the City's physical setting upon residents and visitors alike. For purposes of this plan,gateway corridors include: Ninth Street; Crawford Avenue; Schilling Road; Ohio Street; Iron Avenue; State Street; Centennial Road; Pacific Avenue; and I-70 and I-135. Policies • Establish as a high capital improvements priority the maintenance and repair of existing public improvements along gateway corridors. • Create a gateway or entryway to Salina Municipal Airport through establishing a major street connection between the airport and the greater community to the west which emphasizes unique right-of-way landscaping and public information signage. • Provide new entryway signage, in landscaped settings, announcing arrival to the • community. • Through a review of future development proposals, work to improve the overall appearance of buildings, structures, and landscaping along gateway routes. • Evaluate sign regulations and enforcement procedures to ensure quality signage in scale with existing and future planned development. • Work to improve the overall appearance of gateway streets which intersect with the interstate highway system through property maintenance, and signage improvements. Encourage intensification of land-use. Objective Support Downtown Salina as the City's attractive and intensive mixed-use urban center. Policies • Establish boundaries for the downtown to formalize its geographic coverage and maintain its overall compact character. • Continue to support downtown Salina as the location for major community and civic events. III Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 83 • • Continue to support Downtown Salina, Inc. and the business development and redevelopment district program efforts to promote and improve downtown. • Continue to make capital improvements which improve the overall image and appearance of the downtown. Objective Improve functional land-use relationships, particularly between residential and non-residen- tial land-use areas. Policies ■ Establish transition yard requirements in the City's Zoning Ordinance to physically separate incompatible uses. • Attempt to arrange land-uses so residential and non-residential traffic does not conflict in residential area. • Work to amortize and eventually remove incompatible land-uses in residential neighborhoods. ■ Maintain distinct edges between incompatible land-use areas. Objective • Establish comprehensive landscaping criteria,guidelines and standards to improve the physical appearance of public facilities, including street rights-of-way and private development. Policies • Establish minimum standards for public right-of-way parkway tree planting. ■ Establish minimum landscaping standards for commercial, business, industrial and multi-family developments for parking lots, building foundations, lot perimeter and transition yards. Further establish minimum standards for landscape plant material including species and planting size. GOAL A strong and positive civic, business and community identity which portrays Salina as an aggressive and independent regional center, as well as a community of high residential living quality. Objective Encourage and strengthen relationships between government,civic, business,and other groups in furthering business interests. • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 84 Policies ■ Continue to promote Salina as a competitive center for industry and growth. • • Work with the Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Salina, Inc., and other groups responsible or active in community improvement and support activities where possible. Objective Identify and market the characteristics of Salina which make it an attractive place to live, work and play, including the arts education and other cultural assets. Policies • Continue to create and make available information regarding Salina's community facilities and cultural attractions. • Work toward attracting conference and convention visitors to take interest in and utilize community cultural facilities through coordinated events programming. II. HOUSING AND RESIDENTIAL LAND-USE AREAS GOAL A housing inventory and living environment which will accommodate anticipated future growth and • maintain the overall character of the City. Objective Maintain a balance between single family and multiple family housing and establish growth areas for new low, medium and high density residential development. Policies • Establish a range of residential densities for low density, medium density and high density residential areas at selected geographic areas in the community. • Identify appropriate locations for new residential development within future growth areas. • Encourage attractive housing developments and residential living areas through a mix of housing types. • New residential development should make provision for the maintenance of common areas, drainageways and easements. • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 85 • Objective Maintain the stability of existing residential neighborhoods. Policies • Continue to provide high quality municipal services and facilities in support of residential areas. • Assure that adequate utilities and municipal services can be provided in connection with new residential development. ■ Encourage housing development which is innovative in design and respects and compliments human-made or natural constraints. GOAL A housing inventory which supports the needs of specific populations that are financially disadvan- taged for which housing availability is limited. Objective Explore opportunities between public, private and not-for-profit agencies to make available dwellings or financing for low and moderate income individuals and families. • Policies ■ Explore low interest loan opportunities with local lending institutions for moderate and low income families. • Continue to evaluate local development control ordinances to permit acceptable materials and construction policies which reduce the cost of construction without significantly sacrificing quality. • Monitor the availability and affordability of housing for senior citizens. ■ Evaluate potential locations and encourage the construction of low Cost housing for Salina's growing student population. • Work toward increasing the availability of all types of housing within the community. • Provide adequate opportunity for manufactured homes in suitable locations. Objective Explore opportunities for housing the disadvantaged, including elderly, female-headed households, persons with disabilities, and the homeless. • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 86 Policies • • Work with local social service agencies to identify the overall needs of the housing disadvantaged. • Attempt to create additional capital to subsidize the cost of new housing by leveraging local and state resources in the private market. • Continue to solicit the support of the local financial community to provide below market rate construction and permanent financing loans. III. COMMERCIAL AND RETAIL DEVELOPMENT GOAL A system of commercial development which is organized to provide various goods and services within the community and the greater region served by Salina. Objective Promote Downtown Salina as the civic and business center for the City. Policies • Continue to support the efforts of Downtown Salina, Inc. and aggressively market the 411 Downtown. • Reinforce downtown's image as the City's civic and cultural center and encourage new or expanding civic, public and institutional uses to locate within downtown. • Seek a high quality hotel at a location which is accessible to and supportive of the Bicentennial Center. • Explore and pursue unique or "niche" uses which are compatible with the general retail, commercial, and office composition of the downtown. • Evaluate future community-wide commercial and retail development proposals for potential impact on the strength of downtown Salina. Objective Encourage the infill of vacant parcels and buildings in existing retail and commercial areas and resist annexation and development of new land unless designated for commercial use within the land-use plan. III Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 87 Policies • • Insure that all newly annexed land can be adequately served with public facilities and services. • Evaluate development proposals to insure reasonable, staged timing of commercial development commensurate with need and demand. • Redevelopment around the intersections of the local street system and the interstate system should be designed and landscaped to protect and enhance the appearance of interstate entrances and points of major access to the City. Objective Encourage new highway commercial-oriented land-uses at major street intersections with the interstate highway system. Policies • Encourage annexation, the provision of utilities and urban services at highway intersection locations to encourage development. • Evaluate development control ordinances, including the zoning ordinance, to ensure an appropriate and compatible range of highway-oriented uses. • Development around interstate intersections with the local street system should be aldesigned and landscaped to protect and enhance the appearance of the intersections. Objective Encourage corrective maintenance of older commercial properties including deteriorating commercial corridors. Policy • Develop a property maintenance code particularly suited to Salina's commercial areas which sets minimum standards for site maintenance and building improvements and actively enforces the new regulations. Objective Reinforce and improve off-street parking, circulation, signage and other general operational conditions within commercial corridors. Policies • Review access control policies which apply along major commercial street corridors and develop minimum standards. • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 88 • Encourage the use of frontage roads, shared access, and shared parking facilities • wherever feasible. Objective Ensure compatible commercial and retail development with neighboring land-use areas. Policies • Provide protection in the form of land-use transition screening, particularly for service areas such as service drives and loading areas. • To the greatest extent possible,direct traffic, lights,and general center activities away from sensitive adjoining land-uses. Objective Discourage additional strip commercial development within the City. Policies • Encourage the design of new commercial development to facilitate a pedestrian access system. • Encourage coordinated development or redevelopment of obsolete sized, shaped, and platted parcels in a planned manner. •■ Identify appropriate locations for new retail and commercial development areas that encourage planned clusters or groupings of commercial use areas, based upon whether they are intended to serve neighborhood, community, or regional markets. • Encourage the locating of large commercial developments on major arterial streeets. IV. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT GOAL A strong employment base within the community which enhances the overall standard of living. Objective Encourage the orderly expansion of existing business and industrial areas and activities. Policies • Permit the expansion and development of new business and industrial land-use only when adequate municipal services and facilities are present to serve new land-uses. 0 Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 89 • Continue to facilitate and encourage the development of Salina Municipal Airport as • a key transportation mode for service and support to business,commerce and industry. • In collaboration with business and industry, the City should continue to market Salina as a center for economic commerce and industry. • Continued training and education to improve the overall skills of the local labor force through local educational institutions should be encouraged. • Maintain and enhance local efforts for business and industrial retention, and facilitate the expansion and development plans of local industrialists. Objective Ensure compatible land-use relationships between industrial development and surrounding land-use areas. Policies • Require all land-uses, and industrial land-uses in particular, to meet performance standards for noise, vibration,air, water and other forms of environmental protection. • Designate new, select industrial areas which are compatible with existing and future planned adjoining land-uses. Objective 0 Promote the development of business park and office research development within the community. Policies • Designate select locations for new business park and office research land-uses. • Amend the zoning ordinance to create a business park/office research zoning classification that establishes a compatible range of commercial, light industrial, research, light assembly and office activities in a low density, "campus"-like setting. Objective Focus local economic development incentives to reinforce the northern industrial area. Policies • Provide enterprise zone incentives for the northern industrial area and eliminate incentives for all other industrial areas. • Consider other forms of possible economic development incentives, including tax increment financing. • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 90 • Continue and maintain state and federal economic development programs. • • Actively market and promote development and redevelopment of the northern industrial area. ■ Develop a long-range plan for the area which considers the possibility of mixed land- use. Objective Seek development of areas within the community, represented by new public investment, where services and facilities already exist. Policies • Encourage new development which corrects platting and development deficiencies limiting the range of potential business and development activities. ■ Offer incentives for development and redevelopment which encourage utilization of existing infrastructure improvements. V. TRANSPORTATION GOAL 110 A transportation system serving Salina which provides for safe and efficient movement of vehicles and pedestrians. Objective Coordinate land-use and transportation planning to maximize and direct land-use opportuni- ties created by major transportation facilities within and around the City. Policies • Protect the function of the overall street hierarchy within the community through effective access control. • Designate new growth areas where existing transportation facilities or planned facilities are of capacity to support new development. • Ensure development of the major street system through the design and acquisition of sufficient right-of-way prior to large-scale development. Objective Improve the overall design and appearance of roadways within the community. • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 91 • Policies ■ Continue to maintain and improve streets, curbs, gutters and sidewalks through the City's capital improvements program. • Pursue recommended corridor and"gateway" improvements described under Commu- nity Design Goals, Objectives and Policies. Objective Provide for safe and convenient bicycle and pedestrian access throughout the community. Policies • Pedestrian and bicycle facilities should be established based on need criteria related to trip generators, such as schools, parks and other facilities. Objective Ensure that transportation facilities are designed and developed in harmony with the natural environment and adjacent land-uses. Policies • Ensure that new transportation improvements are designed in a manner which least impacts surrounding land-uses and environmentally sensitive areas including rivers, S streams, wetlands, and floodways; this could be a part of the development review process. Objective Encourage growth and expansion of airport services and facilities. Policies ■ Maintain and update the airport master plan so that airport facilities and services adequately support future projected air traffic demands. • Protect areas surrounding the airport from the development of incompatible land-uses. ■ Review the City's development control ordinances and consider the adoption of airport zoning regulations as part of the zoning ordinance. • Encourage business support facilities at the airport, such as rental services, to facilitate the needs and requirements of local business and industries. • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 92 GOAL • A public transportation system which serves the needs of the community. Objective Develop public transportation services for those local populations which require alternatives to the private automobile to meet daily needs. Policies • Inventory and assess transportation needs within the community to determine any service gaps. ■ Determine feasible approaches to meet local transportation needs based upon antici- pated costs. • Seek assistance under the Urban Mass Transportation Act (UMTA) for planning and developing transportation programs. ■ Based upon transportation needs identified, ascertain approaches to best meet transit demand. ■ Evaluate alternative solutions to realize maximum fiscal benefits to the City, which could include a combination of public and private transportation providers. • Seek alternative funding resources which can be leveraged with local resources. IV. COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND SERVICES GOAL A system of community facilities which provides for the efficient and effective delivery of high quality services to Salina residents and businesses. Objective Provide and maintain adequate sites and facilities for municipal departments. Policies • Plan and provide for additional building space or land for facilities which have been identified as having inadequate space. • Consider the potential and location for a new community recreational center. • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 93 • Plan for new sites for police, fire protection, recreation, schools and parks within IIIfuture growth areas, where required. • Ensure that new sites and buildings are designed as landmark locations that will enhance the overall life and quality of the community. ■ Work with local school officials in the selection and development of new school facilities and sites. Objective Maintain and improve all existing community services including, but not limited to, police, fire, public works, library, museum and related services. Policies • Seek new sources of funding to maintain community services. ■ Evaluate the land development process and determine if the City can require greater developer participation in maintaining existing service levels, especially where levels of service may be negatively impacted by new growth and development. ■ Maintain the City's essential services including, but not limited to, police, fire, public works, library, museum and related services. Objective IIIProvide high quality municipal water supply, waste water treatment and storm water management services to existing areas of the City as well as future growth areas. Policies • Continue to work toward utility services/connections to all areas within the City limits. • Encourage the extension and connection of utilities in a manner which promotes orderly development with a full compliment of all community services. • Determine future sources of raw water supply to meet the public water supply needs for the City in the future. ■ Continue to implement storm water drainage and management plans, particularly for south Salina. • Manage and dispose of,as provided by law, the increased stormwater runoff resulting from development. • Include minimum storm water detention and retention standards as a requirement of the City's development codes. IIISalina Comprehensive Plan Page 94 • Provide for the maintenance of minor drainageways by owners of abutting property. VII. PARKS AND RECREATION GOAL A park, recreational and open space system which satisfies the recreational and leisure time needs of local residents and enhances the unique quality and character of the City. Objective Maintain high standards for the type,quality and quantity of park and open space land within the community. Policies • Develop new parks and additional park facilities in residential areas with current park deficiencies. ■ Ensure that adequate park and recreational facilities can be provided in connection with new development. • Re-evaluate the need for a new community recreational center. • Consider establishing parkland dedication requirements as part of the City's develop- ment control ordinances. ■ Maintain and expand the local park system to serve all sections of the community. Objective Develop and improve park and recreational facilities which are sensitive to natural and human-made environmental features. Policies ■ Preserve natural areas, forested areas, wetlands, streams, and rivers as open space resources. ■ Consider the use of the flood control levee for recreational uses, i.e., for walking, hiking and jogging, that would connect other recreational areas throughout the community. • Encourage the preservation and protection of open space areas and environmental features on private property throughout the City. • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 95 • ■ Consider landscaping programs for publicly-held open spaces, including select street rights-of-way, which add to the attractive character of the City. • Ensure convenient access and off-street parking to public park sites and recreational areas. • Consider open space as well as recreational and educational opportunities for the Smoky Hill and Saline Rivers. VIII. HISTORIC RESOURCES GOAL Define, maintain and enhance Salina's historical values and resources as a means of preserving the community's history and character for future generations to enjoy. Objective Identify historic resources and values within the City of Salina. Policies • Continue to systematically identify and record sites, structures and areas of historical value to the community. • Determine the relative value of all historical resources and establish priorities for preservation. Objective Identify alternative ways to protect, enhance and improve historic buildings and areas. Policies • Where practical, continue to utilize state and federal historic preservation programs to protect local historic resources. • Work with the Chamber of Commerce and local developers to identify ways by which historic structures can be adaptively reused in an economical manner. • Establish a low interest loan pool with incentives for building and facade rehabilita- tions which protect the architectual and historic integrity of such structures. • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 96 Objective 0 Identify alternative ways to protect, enhance and improve resources. Policies • Consider establishing additional historic preservation districts where appropriate. • Encourage close cooperation between government, property owners and local organizations to work together to increase local awareness of historic preservation needs and projects. ■ Consider a special local historical site and area identification program which, through unique public improvements, establishes appropriate character and identification of preservation areas. • Continue public education programs concerning Salina's historical resources, such as the Heritage Commission Walking Tours. ■ Encourage the continued designation of local, state, and nationally registered land- marks. IX. NATURAL ENVIRONMENT GOAL • A balance between the natural and human-made features of the community which preserves and protects key natural features while promoting quality new growth and development. Objective Protect important hydrologic features such as streams, ponds, flood plains and drainage ways, all of which affect other natural processes. Policies • Seek to protect and improve the quality of Salina's waterways through identification and control of indirect as well as direct sources of pollution. Particular attention should be given to improved land-use configurations and standards to control degradation of streams and waterways caused by storm water run-off in urban areas. • Enhance and preserve the functional and aesthetic qualities of drainage courses and waterways in a manner compatible with a non-structural approach to flood control. • Identify and protect aquifer and ground water recharge areas to the greatest extent possible, in order to preserve these resources. This applies with particular emphasis • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 97 to mineral and other resource extraction processes which may particularly degrade • aquifers. Objective Integrate natural resource areas as part of the urban open space, park and recreation system. Policies • Maintain and improve the Smoky Hill and Saline River corridors as scenic amenities and, to the greatest extent possible, utilize the corridors for educational purposes. ■ Integrate sand and gravel pits as part of the open space plan under the assumption that active sites and excavation operations will eventually cease. ■ Make efforts to save trees in the development of new areas and the redevelopment and rehabilitation of older structures and neighborhoods. The continuation of the City's urban forestry throughout new development is important in maintaining the overall character of the City. Objective Manage growth and development in a manner which minimizes the threat of natural hazards to life and property. Policies • ■ Continue to enforce local and Federal regulations for development proximate to the flood control levee system. • Delineate hazardous areas which present danger to life and property from flood,steep slope or unstable soil, and limit or prohibit development. Such areas shall receive strong consideration for inclusion in the open space and recreation system. X. GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT GOAL A balance between the timing and location of the development of future growth areas which ensures maximum utilization of facilities and services and distinguishes between urban growth and preserva- tion areas. Objective Establish urban service areas for future growth based on the ability of the City to provide services as well as community facilities for residential, commercial and industrial land-uses. • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 98 Policies • • Service areas should identify: 1) existing areas in the City which have adequate facilities and services to accommodate new development; 2) unincorporated areas in the planning area that will more than likely accommodate new urban development coincident with the availability of adequate facilities and services through annexation; and 3) remaining sections of the planning area for which development is not planned and which are of a primarily rural or agricultural character. • Do not permit new development in the City and the extraterritorial planning area unless adequate urban facilities and services are available to serve the development. • Amend the City subdivision regulations to apply to the unincorporated sections of the planning area. • Define City Criteria and Standards for urban facilities and services to be provided with new development. • Obtain fiscal impact studies for all completed non-residential developments and residential developments of more than 40 dwelling units or lots. Alternately, the City can develop its own fiscal analysis system and apply it on a consistent basis to all projects. Objective Establish reasonable standards for new developments to support the expense of facilities and services which they may reasonably require. • Policies a Establish a working committee of appointed personnel to maintain rapport on issues of mutual and common concern. • Encourage simultaneous and combined review of City of Salina and Saline County annual capital improvements programs. • Consider coordinating any new development impact fees between the City of Salina and Saline County in unincorporated areas around the City's urban fringe. Objective Provide services within existing developed urban areas in the City, and make services and facilities available to growth areas as designated within the planning period, subject to the City's annexation policy and capital improvements program. Policies • Require annexation before adequate facilities and services are furnished. • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 99 • Offer annexation of existing substantially developed areas on terms and conditions II reasonably required to accommodate existing land-use;the City will expect these areas to be brought to City standards where necessary for health and safety purposes. • Do not permit annexations outside the City of Salina's planning area identified in the Comprehensive Plan. • Provide adequate facilities and services to undeveloped areas subject to annexation. • The City may impose terms and conditions to protect the public interest. III • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 100 e • • • PART III: Long-Range Plan 4 G• 5ALIA a Sal ina Comprehensive Plan 101 abed uvId a,trsuayaldwop vuzlvs • •luawdolanap Mau o1 alrsrnbaiald saornias put sarlrlroe3 altnbapE jo uorsrnold aql SurpitSai sarorlod sagsrlgelsa put `luawdolanap pue glMoJ8 ,Clrlorld `paStls Jo.;AID ay1 punolt sarlolriial paltlodioourun put Alrunwwoo ay1 urylrM start saleauriap 11 • uUrd anrsuayaldwoJ Mau ayl 3o uorltluawaldwr ur pazriun aq of C8a1e11s luawaSeutw t41MO18 ayl saquosaQ :luawdoiaAaQ pug g1,4koiO • •EUrles ur Sorlay2Sae Alrunwwoo put stare IEOIJOISry `sJOpr.JOO 1aaU1s /Cal of suorloas o1 drys -uontlai SI! put u8rsap Alrunwwoo 3o aautllodwr ayl sassnosiQ :u2rsaU &lrunwwo) • •Sarlllln .; laltM W1olS put `JalEM a3sEM `Ja1tM IEdrorunw of paltla.suorltpuawwooaJ put sutid sassnosrQ :uvid sarl!lrIf1 • .sluawanoldwr loj suorltpuawwooaJ sr tram se `sarlrrrotj put s8urprrnq Iedrorunw put 'stomps `uorltaloai put s)IJEd sagruosat meld sarlrrrag3 ,Clrunwwoj • •u8rsap Ituorloun3 put uorleor31sselo pails Burp.ESai Suoriepuawwooal mid `spaau luau! -anoldwr alnln j put swalgoid Alrotdto loans Surlsrxa saliiluapi :ugid uorlgliodsugjd, • • •sasn-put! orlgnd put ssaursnq ItroJawwoo lurluaprsa1 Jo3 suorltpuawwooaJ 1Corlod put utld ayl St IIaM SE Marled luawdolanap papuawwooal Nunn() ayl sagruosaQ :ugid asn-pug? • •salnita3 ItluawuoJrnua (p put :slstoaloj asn-puel (o :sloafold put sutld Surpuad(q `asn-putt Surlsrxa(u:apnlour asayl •utid aSutj-8uo-aqi adtys dray yorr{M suorlrpuoo put siolot j)utliodwr ltlanas Jo sMarna)J nIIOMawg1J Su!UUgld ■ •Molaq paquosap alt yor4M suopoas ,CJEwrid uanas sapnlour ueid a2uEN-Suo1 a a •sanrltura)rt luawdolanap put y1Mo.8 3o Jagwnu u woij ldaouoo paJJajaid t 3o uorloalas put uorlEJEdaid ay)put`sarorlod put sutld paltdaid l(isnornald`sanrloafgo put S1EOS,Clrunwwoo`wtJ8old Suruueid alp jo i astyd jo sarpnls punoiSlotq alp uo pasEq sr utid a8uEN-Suoi ay1 •luawdolanap put y1Mo18 put sarlrirot j Alrunwwoo `uoritliodsutil luawdolanap `asn-put! o1 partial suorl -Epuawwooa1 sapnlour lI 'ewes 3o rt2rJ alp Jo.; utid a8ue21-Suo1 papuawwooal ay1 sluasaid III lJgd NOIL)IlQOw LNI NV'Id 3ONVHI-9■O1 - III L2I�'d • • LAND-USE PLAN FRAMEWORK Several important features and conditions help establish a basic framework for the preliminary recommended Long-Range Plan. While nearly all these were presented in more detail in previous planning documents, they are briefly reintroduced here as a prelude to the Land-Use Plan. Sections include: existing land-use, preliminary plans and projects, land-use forecasts, and environmental features. EXISTING LAND-USE The existing form and structure of Salina is determined by the pattern of residential, commercial, industrial, public and semi-public land-uses in the community. This will significantly influence the new Comprehensive Plan. In terms of existing land-use and development, the City has developed in a rather compact manner due to the presence of floodway, river floodplains and drainage ways. A complex storm water control levee system has been developed around most of the City, and has been and will continue to be a major organizational feature influencing land-use patterns and development. Most large tracts within levee areas have been developed. • Salina is predominantly a residential community, but functions as a regional center for commerce and industry. The City has a broad range of neighborhoods and housing. The older historic areas are located in the northern and central portions of the City, while newer residential areas lie to the south and east. Salina's commercial areas focus on the downtown as a major community organizational feature. Other commercial areas are established along major corridors which include Broadway Boulevard,Crawford Street, Ohio Street, State Street, and Iron Avenue. South Ninth Street represents the City's fastest growing commercial area. South Ninth Street and Salina Municipal Airport are the location of the major industrial development areas; a third industrial area lies in the northern portion of the City. The Land-Use Plan reinforces and strengthens the existing land-use patterns and structure of the City. It includes recommendations for protection and enhancement of existing land-use areas as well as select new locations for future development and growth. Salina's corporate limits encompass approximately 12,000 acres of land, of which 1,600 acres are vacant. The City's extraterritorial planning area contains a total of 1,976 acres; 1,258 acres are vacant. • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 102 PLANS AND PROJECTS 0 Salina continues to grow at a moderate pace. Even though the analysis of existing land-use indicates the presence of significant amounts of vacant and undeveloped land, many vacant parcels are already either committed to new development, or are currently being considered for new projects. The Background Studies presents a summary of pending plans, projects and proposals in four general categories: 1) approved plans and projects under development; 2) approved plats and plans - no development; 3) pending projects; and 4) development plans approved. In summary, if all pending plans and projects are eventually developed, they would produce a significant amount of new residential commercial, office and industrial construction. This is summarized below: Land-Use Square Footage Acreage Single-Family Residential 360 d.u. 90 acres Multi-Family Residential 226 d.u. 28 acres Commercial 436,975 sq. ft. 55 acres Office 57,717 sq. ft. 27 acres Industrial 3,310,560 sq. ft. 69 acres • These pending plans and projects are important considerations in preparing Salina's new Land-Use Plan. Even though the Existing Land-Use map (Figure 1) indicates the presence of a significant amount of vacant land within existing developed areas, much of this is already committed to new projects. There are, however, a few large vacant parcels remaining in this portion of the community where future land-use has not yet been determined. Many of the proposed development plans and projects include "infill" development within existing land-use districts. These include office and retail development along Crawford Street, Ohio Street and Ninth Street, as well as new public, institutional and industrial uses within a number of industrial areas. LAND-USE FORECASTS The demographic and market overview analysis produced land-use forecasts for various market- related uses in the greater Salina area during the next 15-20 years. The analysis indicated continued, but moderate growth potential for new residential, commercial, office and industrial land-uses, as summarized below. • Residential Land-Use. This forecast is based upon population projections to the year 2010 when residents could reach 46,700 persons. It also takes into consideration declining household size and vacancy rates. The projected demand in 2010 for new residential housing will reach a total of 2,374 units on 445 acres in 2010. The split between multiple family and single-family dwellings is expected to follow past trends. • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 103 • Retail Land-Use. The forecast of retail space by the year 2010 is 600,086 square feet, 0 on 55 acres, based upon increased expendable income. This is due to population growth. ■ Office and Commercial Service Land-use. The market analysis indicates the potential for an additional 226,919 square feet on 21 acres by the year 2010. • Industrial Land-Use. There is the potential for 69 additional acres for manufacturing and distribution land-uses, based on projections for industrial jobs and net workers per acre. Of the 69 acres, distribution and warehouse uses should account for 27 acres. These land-use forecasts provide important measurements of development scale for Salina's new Comprehensive Plan. They indicate, in general terms, the basic scale and extent of new development which could occur within the community during the planning period. It is important to note, however, projections have not accounted for existing building vacancies and the location and quality of space already available. Therefore the scale and pace of new development should be tempered against useable, available space during the planning period. ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES Salina lies at the confluence of the Saline and Smoky Hill Rivers. Because of its location within the moderately sloped river valley, the community is impacted by extensive flood plains and floodways which virtually encircle the City. To protect the City from frequent floods, a flood control levee has been developed around most of the existing community with the exception of the far southern areas. • The levee system is a major organization feature of the new plan, separating natural and human- made areas. Soils conditions within the planning area are comprised essentially of alluvial plain material resulting in relatively flat, moist soils exceptionally suitable for crop land. Primarily because of extensive agricultural activities, there is little vegetation aside from the urban portions,where forestry programs have successfully reintroduced vegetation into the community. Two important human-made environmental features are the Salina Municipal Airport and a number of oil wells and tank storage sites. These will influence or limit the compatibility and arrangement of a number of land-use types, and need to be carefully considered in the planning process. i Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 104 • Land-Use Plan S t_\ CI T Y O F sa�ina Salina Comprehensive Plan • 11 • LAND-USE PLAN The Land-Use Plan provides a general framework for improvement and development in Salina over the next ten to twenty years. It establishes long-term recommendations for key aspects of the City, consistent with the community's overall goals and objectives. It is specific enough to guide day-to- day development decisions, yet is flexible enough to allow modification and continuous refinement. The Land-Use Plan is based in part, on the selection of a preferred Land-Use Concept described in detail in the Appendix. A key determinant in arriving at the Land-Use Plan was the determination of uses for vacant land within the existing community limits. These sites and the land-use selected for them are depicted in Figure 10, Fixed and Infill Sites. Fixed sites are parcels for which the land- use is fairly apparent due to the parcel size and surrounding conditions. Infill sites are parcels on which a range of potential land-uses may be acceptable. This chapter describes the recommended Land-Use Plan for Salina.(See Figure I I, Land-Use Plan). It includes a general description of the overall long-range development pattern for the City, and a summary of recommended policies and actions for residential, commercial, industrial, and public land-use areas. The chapter refers to Service Areas which are described under the Growth and Development Strategy portion of the Plan. • OVERALL DEVELOPMENT PATTERN The Land-Use Plan provides a guide for future development decisions within the community. It also describes interrelationships between various land-use areas, and the types of projects and improve- ments desirable within each area. Key features of the recommended Land-Use Plan are listed below. 1. The Land-Use Plan recommends compatible new infill development throughout the City. (The infill areas are described in greater detail in the Appendix). It recommends a range of residential,commercial,office, industrial and public uses within these parcels,consistent and compatible with the established land-use pattern in surrounding areas. 2. The Land-Use Plan generally recognizes the large number of plans and projects that are either underway or proposed. These pending projects will have a major impact on land-use patterns in several parts of the community. 3. The Land-Use Plan promotes large-scale new development in the southern and eastern portions of the City. A wide array of residential, commercial, industrial and public uses are arranged and interrelated to create high-quality new living and working environments. II/ Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 105 4. The City's excellent regional accessibility from and to I-70 and I-135 would continue to be IP the catalyst for new industrial and commercial development. The Land-Use Plan recommends that remaining vacant land around key intersections be used for commercial, industrial and more intensive uses in the future. 5. With new high-intensity development located along the peripheral freeway system, the Land- Use Plan recommends that the major portion of Salina's future growth area be preserved for new high-quality, low-density residential development and rural and agricultural uses. Residential growth should occur in a system of well-defined and interconnected neighborhood areas, designed and located to take advantage of the many attractive environmental features which are spread throughout this area. 6. The Land-Use Plan recommends that important natural environmental features be preserved, protected and utilized as focal points in new development areas. The most important of these are the Smoky Hill River, Saline River, and Mulberry Creek. In particular, linear open space linkages should be developed within and between neighborhood areas,and between residential areas and nearby activity centers. 7. The new Land-Use Plan recommends protection and preservation of the extensive flood plain and floodways that encircle the City. Although portions of these natural areas may be subject to future development, other environmentally sensitive areas and sites identified within the plan represent more economically viable locations for new development. 8. The Land-Use Plan recognizes the potentials of the flood control levee as a new major recreational facility and community organizational feature. The flood control levee is already adjacent to many parks and community facilities and, if made accessible to the general public, could provide important linkages between the various neighborhoods within the City. It is also II intended to serve as an important educational resource. 9. To the extent possible, the Land-Use Plan recommends that new parks, schools, public buildings and other institutions be located along or near the linear open space system created by existing environmental features, including the flood control levee. These features would not only provide an attractive setting for community facilities, but would also make them more easily accessible by bicyclists and pedestrians. 10. The Land-Use Plan indicates new medium-density and high-density residential development at selected locations around the periphery of the residential growth area. In general, these are located near major streets and high-intensity land-use areas, and in areas with attractive natural environments. Medium- and high-density housing is located to help achieve a transition in land-use and intensity levels, and to help avoid major or abrupt changes in density. High-density housing areas are also relatively small in size to avoid major concentra- tions of these land-uses. 11. The Land-Use Plan embraces the "urban service area concept." The areas immediately adjacent to the urbanized portion of the community, which can be most readily served by public facilities and services, would be scheduled for short-term development. Areas at greater distances from the urbanized portion or those not capable of economical services would not be scheduled for major new development in the near future. Ideally they would be developed only after contiguous areas would be developed. S Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 108 I . I ...... __ i . , . , , ...... 4 I_ . ----4--- ,„.., J..-• 17,1 - 1 * r • , % I ' r 7 a ..f.i i i -,.a 11,1).r. •. , 7.,,. . . 4 Li' 1 j .. .-. fy.,, 7 i.7..I 4 • "•'..• -- kc.:-.7.j.1-.1 .....'--- IT Ii... 1 I . ..I 'VI'44 4,-',.-1./ IL - ',, - 11'1- t..'-; I:*—.4:7' ----= 1 i, 1 1 . v , . _..,.-.Li .. 1,,-- •1, ; , -,- aw.,::;...7.1 -,,,:: i ,..., .__ ,. 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ISS9 =our Mt omit MI Loa ecaerm. iiii NOUNIIIAL gin UNRIIIIWIFIr III - Puomerwmuc MN weft wag MI ....s...MC RE ATKA Figure 10 FIXED AND INFILL DEVELOPMENT PARCELS r- -- COMPREHENSIVE PLAN .,..... . 2°.° City of Salina, Kansas brim lea t i I 1 • i1/4114 , . . 1 • ,_ , .r.„, 7.,...„..., ,______.1-- , . _. , _ , • .. , i „,„,,„„ . .....1 i _ • .,...ir ,i I till- . ,-7 Ilk - . ,:;, .._.:-...11....._■...:..;.,,.....7.,..,:::µ r to , ,,,,,� a,1� I - - _ 1 7p • _ 1 1 -r `• I -. - }• I I z L,; 1- a x 4 4110 I b , ., 1 'li- .N ‘%'-‘1. ____., r.... 1 '111.':. --------' . .... . x f°e I , __ l tl _ I 1 - I 1 1 , I •• I ;. . , I I I I (1.‘\S") i UCA.ID . .tr r.a . - L`1 LOWOENSI',...ND. - ® Q NEOEM DENSITY NE SIDENTUL - Q I�� HMI DENSITY RESIDENTIAL NM Pall Q COMPERE.AN0 RE. - CEMPERCIAL LE110 ME - OEEICE - ® Q 1101IT E DUS IRNL RNN SS RA RA 0 O INDUSTRIAL • -® � - ® NLIC ARO QUASI PUBLIC SPACE PAIELS MO RECREADON A(: EORAE MIA SITE IORwe IQ.b, rc POTENTIAL EIRE STATION■Gemp■La.A.... �� POTENTIAL SCHOOL SITE = DOWNTOWN MADAM Figure II LAND USE PLAN 11----: F= COMPREHENSIVE PLAN -_. —. KE. City of Salina, Kansas '-=� • 12. The Land-Use Plan recommends that the City consider utilizing the planned unit development process for all major land development projects in the future. This would give the City maximum control over design and development, as well as offer potential developers incentives for creative and high-quality new development. This overall development pattern provides the basic framework for the specific land-use recommen- dations which follow. Please note that wherever policies are recommended, they are intended to compliment and support the policies expressed in Part II Goals, Objectives and Policies. RESIDENTIAL LAND-USE Salina has traditionally been a strong and desirable residential community. The Land-Use Plan strives to strengthen and reinforce existing residential areas and promote quality new residential develop- ment. The Plan includes general principles and policies for guiding improvement and development within these areas, and specific recommendations for the type and location of new development. Residential Development Policies The following general policies should be used to guide improvement and development within residential areas: R1 • The existing visual and environmental character of Salina's various residential neighborhoods should be preserved and enhanced. The City is made up of several distinct neighborhoods, each with somewhat different physical characteristics, such as street configuration, topography, natural vegetation, landscaping, and lot sizes. Much of the City's overall image and identity is due to the unique character of its • neighborhoods, and these distinguishing features should be enhanced in the future. R2 • Existing residential neighborhoods should be improved and upgraded as needed. Overall environmental and public service improvements should be undertaken where necessary. The negative impact of traffic should be minimized. The City should continue to provide the highest affordable level of municipal services to all residential areas. The City should also maintain a neighborhood atmosphere in which all residents feel secure. R3 • Small-scale"infill"residential development within or near existing neighborhood areas should be compatible and in character with surrounding existing residential develop- ment_ R4 • Future residential growth should embrace the traditional"neighborhood unit"concept, updated to reflect current needs and desires. Neighborhoods should be self-contained areas designed primarily for residential use. Through-traffic should be routed around the neighborhood, with a limited number of collector streets penetrating it. Neigh- borhoods should have access to a small convenience shopping area, accessible by foot or bicycle. Each neighborhood should be adequately served by an elementary school. Safe pedestrian walkway systems should connect homes with schools and other neighborhood facilities. Where possible, multi-family housing should be located on the edge of residential neighborhoods and near other major traffic generators. • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 109 R5 • New housing areas should be served by a safe and convenient circulation system with III streets and roadways relating to and connecting with existing streets in adjacent areas. However,residential traffic should be separated from non-residential traffic wherever possible. New residential streets should generally follow the contour of the land and seek to highlight the natural features of the area. Access to residential properties should be limited to local streets wherever possible. R6 • Medium-density residential development should be promoted in locations between office/commercial areas and single-family neighborhoods. Abrupt changes in density should be avoided. R7 • Any significant new residential development should include a small new park site to serve new residents. R8 • Major new residential developments should be developed as planned unit develop- ments(PUD)or as planned development districts(PDD). PUDs or PDDs give the City maximum control over residential area design and development, and also gives the potential developers flexibility and incentives for creative and high-quality projects. R9 • New medium- and high-density housing should be located in selected areas along major streets, adjacent to major activity areas such as commercial/office areas and large institutions, or adjoining similar existing multi-family development. New higher-density development would also be appropriate adjacent to public parks or other significant open space features. R 10 • New medium and high-density areas should be developed as overall, planned residential environments. Within larger development areas, a range of housing types 411 should be encouraged, with each area sharing a common character and unified environment. R11 • New higher-density residential development should include a distinctive landscaping and open space system as an integral part of overall site design. R l 2 • Landscaping or other buffering techniques should be used to screen residential areas from adjacent non-residential uses. R13 • Innovative planning and design techniques in both housing construction and land development should be actively encouraged as a means of conserving land and energy, improving the pattern and quality of residential environments,and reducing develop- ment and public service costs. R 14 • No new residential development should be permitted until adequate water and sanitary sewer service are provided. Every effort should be made to discourage growth in locations where provision of these services are not available or planned as part of the City's future urban service growth areas. R15 • Natural environmental features within residential areas should be preserved and protected. Natural vegetation, developed wooded areas, and large mature trees in residential areas add greatly to the ambiance of the City as a whole and should be maintained. Changes to the natural topography should be minimal. Through public S Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 110 • policy and private cooperation,unique environmental features should be preserved for future generations. Rl6 • The City's Zoning Ordinance should be modified to reflect the policies and objectives of the new Land-Use Plan. In particular, zoning provisions related to densities, lot sizes, and zoning district classifications should be reassessed. Rezoning may be desirable in certain parts of the City. Residential Land-Use Areas The Land-Use Plan promotes a balanced mix of housing within the community and allows for a wide range of housing types and residential densities. The Plan includes three residential area designations. Each is briefly described below. Low-Density Residential Development Low-density residential development, reflecting a single-family density of 4.0 units per acre or less, would continue to be the predominant land-use within the community. While existing single-family neighborhoods are essentially built-up,several vacant parcels are scattered throughout the area where new low-density residential development should occur in the future. In general, new development should be of a scale and character similar to and compatible with existing homes in the immediate area. Large-scale new low-density single-family residential development is recommended generally in the southern and eastern areas of the City. These new neighborhood areas, which should be developed according to the policies listed above, would be designed and located to preserve and enhance the 40 stream corridors and environmental features existing within this area. In general, new low-density residential areas should not undergo major development until most of the land within the Existing Service Areas are developed first. Large area residential development should then follow the pattern described for Primary Service Areas. New low-density development could also be located on infill sites in the north and west. In total, the Land-Use Plan indicates approximately 2686 acres of land for new low-density residential development. Of this total, 226 acres are within Existing Service Areas and 1150 acres are within Primary Service Areas. Medium Density Residential Development Medium-density residential development, reflecting an overall density of 4.0 to 8.0 units per acre, is recommended at selected locations along major roadways, near high-intensity activity areas, or adjacent to important natural amenities. In total, the Plan indicates approximately 445 acres for new medium-density development. Medium-density residential areas are intended to promote a mix of housing types within planned and coordinated development areas. They should be encouraged to include a mix of single-family detached and attached homes, cluster homes, townhouses and similar housing types, designed and arranged to create compatible and attractive new residential environments. Extensive concentrations of the same housing type or development pattern should be avoided. ID Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 1 11 Most of the sites recommended for new medium-density development occupy transitional locations • between single-family neighborhoods and office/commercial areas along major commercial corridors. In addition to providing attractive new housing options within the community, these areas are also seen as a transition between land-use intensity levels, and help avoid major and abrupt changes in density. Existing medium-density residential development involves a variety of areas within the community. These primarily include south Ohio Street, east Crawford Street, and west Schilling Road. A number of new medium-density residential locations are recommended, with the majority located within the Existing Service Area. These include areas along west State Street at the flood control levee, in the northern industrial area, and a new site just west of Lakewood Park. The total acreage for Existing Service Area locations is approximately 330. Given this average amount in relation to future demand, only one new primary service area is designated as a transitional area. This is near the intersection of Schilling Road and south Ninth Street, and contains approximately 21 acres. Two secondary locations total 74 acres. High-Density Residential Development High-density residential development, reflecting an overall density of 8.0 to 16.0 units per acre, is recommended at selected locations near high-intensity activity areas or near existing high-density residential developments, such as east Crawford Street, south Ohio Street, and west Schilling Road. The Land-Use Plan indicates several areas for new high-density residential development. These are: east Crawford Street west of Markley Road; Lakewood Terrace just west of Lakewood Park; a site just west of 1-135 along Magnolia Road;and east of Front Street,north of the Union Pacific Railroad. All new sites recommended for high-density residential development are relatively small, ranging in • size from 15 to 30 acres. Large concentrations of high-density housing are not compatible with the overall character of the community, and should not be permitted. As with medium-density housing, a range of densities and housing types should be encouraged. The design and development of all new high-density residential development should be carefully controlled to ensure compatibility with surrounding uses, adequate screening and buffering, an attractive appearance from nearby roadways, and a high-quality living environment. In general, the market analysis suggested the potential for less medium- and high-density residential development than is indicated in the Land-Use Plan. At the present time, the community prefers to emphasize and promote low-density residential development. The Plan recommends that the City maintain some flexibility in this regard, and consider proposals for low density residential develop- ment as an alternative to medium or high density residential on a case-by-case basis. Areas other than those shown in the Land-Use Plan might prove suitable for medium- and high-density development, provided they are characterized by creative and innovative site design and development. Planned Residential Development All major new residential developments of twenty acres or more, regardless of housing type or density, are encouraged to be handled as "planned residential areas." The planned unit development technique would give the City maximum control over the specific type of residential uses to be located in an area,as well as other aspects of design and development. Residential development areas should be guided by an overall site plan to ensure the coordination of land-use areas, building sites, access points, internal circulation, and open space systems. This technique can help encourage • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 112 • creative approaches to residential site design and development. It can also help ensure that new residential development is compatible with and integrated into surrounding neighborhoods, is screened and buffered from nearby non-residential uses, and reinforces and enhances the overall quality of the community. This approach should be considered a requirement since it applies to the mixed-use option for the residential area south of and adjoining west Magnolia Road as well as the new location recommended east of Front Street, north of the Union Pacific Railroad. COMMERCIAL LAND-USE The Land-Use Plan strives to strengthen and reinforce the role and function of existing commercial areas within Salina and promote high-quality new commercial development in selected locations. Particular sensitivity is given to Downtown Salina as the community's primary retail, cultural and civic center. Commercial Development Policies The following general policies should be used to guide improvement and development within all commercial and office areas: Cl • Existing commercial and office areas should be improved and upgraded as required. Overall access, parking and environmental improvements should be undertaken where necessary. The negative impact of commercial areas on other land-uses should be minimized. Selected existing commercial areas may undergo growth and expansion, as called for in the Land-Use Plan. C2 • High-quality new commercial development should occur at selected locations in the future. While many commercial areas could include a mix of uses, the Land-Use Plan recommends that most new commercial areas be characterized by a dominant function, such as retail, office or service. New commercial areas should be sized and located to serve specific needs within the community. The amount of land reserved for commercial purposes should be based on projected market demand and consumer needs. C3 • In general, all new commercial and office development should occur in planned commercial areas. Further, "strip" commercial development should be discouraged. Wherever possible, new commercial uses should be clustered in small groupings with shared parking and common access drives, and should have a related design and appearance. C4 • Commercial and office development should occur only in locations served by transportation facilities capable of handling the traffic to be generated by new development. Commercial uses should not be allowed where street capacities will be exceeded by the additional traffic generated, or where significant problems in access or compatibility with adjacent uses are anticipated. C5 • Since most office and commercial areas are located along major thoroughfares, access to commercial properties should be carefully designed to minimize conflicts with through traffic movement. The consolidation of access drives for several individual III Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 113 properties should be encouraged. Commercial areas should be designed so that no IIIdirect vehicular access is provided between them and abutting residential areas. C6 • Adequate off-street parking and loading facilities should be provided within all commercial and office areas. The consolidation of parking and loading facilities for two or more individual uses should be encouraged. "Shared parking" should be encouraged wherever possible,particularly within mixed-use development areas. New commercial and office development should occur only on sites with sufficient land to provide well-landscaped, easily accessible and conveniently located parking areas. C7 • The overall image and appearance of existing commercial and office areas should continue to be upgraded and improved. Much could be done to improve commercial area lighting,landscaping,signage,and pedestrian conveniences which would not only help upgrade property, but also unify the overall appearance of corridors. C8 • All new commercial and office areas should be characterized by the highest possible standards of design and construction. The design and appearance of buildings, site development, landscaping, signs and graphics, and street furniture should all be of special concern. New commercial construction should promote a distinct image and identity for individual areas. C9 ■ Open space features should be incorporated into major new commercial and office projects. These should include the preservation and enhancement of natural environ- mental features as well as the provision of new open areas, squares, plazas and courtyards as focal points for pedestrian activities. CIO • Commercial areas should not be allowed to adversely impact adjacent residential areas. • Screening and buffering should be provided, including landscaped setbacks, earth berms and open space. Commercial operations, including traffic and parking, should not be allowed to affect neighborhood quality. Noise,safety,and overall maintenance of commercial properties should also be carefully controlled. C11 ■ "Planned"office and commercial development should be encouraged wherever possible to help ensure coordinated lot configuration, building design, access and parking, and overall environmental features as well as compatible relationships between new and existing development. C12 • Rezoning requests for new commercial developments must be carefully evaluated. If sufficient need cannot be determined or if commercial development policies cannot be met, then the rezoning request should not be approved. Commercial Land-Use Areas The preliminary Land-Use Plan includes recommendations for the improvement of existing commercial areas and the development of compatible new commercial areas. In total, the Plan indicates approximately 257 acres for new commercial development; 175 acres are located within the Existing Service Area. • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 114 • Existing Commercial Areas Salina currently has six main concentrations of commercial development•. 1) Downtown Salina; 2) Ninth Street corridor with retail concentrations at the northern and southern sections of the City; 3) Broadway Boulevard corridor; 4) Ohio Street corridor with major retail concentrations in central Salina; 5) Crawford Street corridor with extensive commercial uses throughout the community; and 6) the Iron Avenue corridor, principally east of Downtown Salina to the Smoky Hill River. Recommendations for existing commercial areas are presented below. ■ Downtown Salina. The downtown should continue to be the focus of retail activity as well as civic and governmental uses. The Downtown "edge"should be clearly defined, and improvement programs be focused within this area. The geographic extent of the Downtown is indicated in the Land-Use Plan. The City should continue to work with local organizations to identify new land-use opportunities which support the overall mixed use nature of the Downtown. Early actions to fill key existing vacant buildings, including the old Sears store, the Fox Theater and the old Days Inn should be pursued. Possible locations for a new quality hotel, including rehabilitation of the old Days Inn, should be explored. Key vacant properties should be developed as soon as possible, including the two blocks between Pine, Ash, Third and Fourth Streets. These two blocks form a strong north-east edge to the downtown and could include retail, institutional or public uses. The block north of Elm Street could be developed with industrial uses, although a commercial or retail use is preferred. • • Ninth Street Corridor. The Ninth Street corridor is both one of Salina's newest and oldest commercial corridors within the City. The older northern section is heavily impacted by flood hazard areas north of the flood control levee. The Land-Use Plan recommends little new commercial development in this area except for the interchange with 1-70. This northern corridor is an important entryway to the community, and aesthetic and functional transportation improvements are encouraged. South Ninth Street will continue to serve as a growing regional retail center for the community. Sites already zoned for commercial development should be priority development locations. Future projects within the area should coordinate access and circulation with adjoining properties. Furthermore, site development should coordi- nate site and architectural improvements in landscaped settings. ■ Broadway Boulevard. The Broadway Boulevard corridor maintains a broad mix of commercial and retail, as well as a concentration of auto-related and hotel uses. Broadway Boulevard serves as a sub-regional shopping and commercial area. The Land-Use plan recommends maintaining and improving the overall existing pattern. Infill sites for commercial uses are recommended where strongly influenced by existing commercial development. In order to improve land-use transitions, particu- larly to areas to the east, new medium density multiple family residences are recom- mended at select locations. The overall density of commercial development on Broadway Boulevard is relatively high compared to other areas of the community outside the Downtown. Coupled with • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 115 the fact that Broadway represents one of the City's oldest commercial corridors, there • is a great need to improve the overall image and appearance of the street. Property maintenance as well as off-street parking, landscaping, and signage improvements would improve the visual quality of the corridor. Further, the installation of addi- tional left-turn lanes in the barrier median in the street will improve overall access to individual properties. The wider section of the median may provide an opportunity to make modest landscaping improvements which can enhance the image of the street. ■ Ohio Street. The Ohio Street corridor has two concentrations of retail activity. The first is the Edison Plaza area north of the Smoky Hill River. The Land-Use Plan recommends that remaining frontages along the west side of the street be developed commercially, while the rear portions of deeper blocks fronting Ohio Street be developed with office uses. The second concentration of retail uses is located at the intersections of Cloud and Albert Streets with Ohio Street, where a number of vacant parcels with frontage on Ohio Street are recommended for commercial or office use. Although existing development is of significant physical scale, Ohio Street serves a community level of shopping and services. A major thrust of the Land-Use Plan is to prevent strip commercial development along Ohio Street and limit the range of automotive uses to maintain the office and retail nature of the corridor. • Crawford Street.Crawford Street represents the City's only major east-west commer- cially oriented corridor. Even so, the street passes through a number of established residential neighborhoods with commercial activity focusing in nodes at major street intersections. These key intersections include: I-135, Broadway Boulevard, and Ohio Street. The Plan recommends maintenance and improvement of these areas, although III no significant expansion is proposed. • Iron Avenue. Iron Avenue is the least commercially intensive of all the corridors. Concentrations of commercial land-uses occur at Ohio Street and the area east of Indiana Avenue to the Smoky Hill River. This area currently functions as a neighbor- hood retail center,although it includes some important public, quasi-public and office uses. New Commercial Areas The Land-Use Plan includes recommendations for several types of new commercial development. These include new mixed-use development along south Ninth Street; new highway commercial locations; and new neighborhood-oriented retail along east Crawford Street. Emphasis is placed on the need to continue to support Downtown Salina. • Convenience and Neighborhood Shopping Areas. The convenience shopping area provides for the sale of goods and personal services on the sub-neighborhood level. It typically requires a site of approximately one to five acres to accommodate buildings and parking areas. Its major tenant might include a small grocery store or drug store. The convenience shopping area should be located along a collector street, easily accessible to the area it is intended to serve. Generally, it will serve an area approximately one-half mile in radius. 0 Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 116 The neighborhood shopping area provides for the sale of goods and services on the • neighborhood level. It typically requires a site of approximately five to ten acres to accommodate buildings, parking and open space areas. Neighborhood shopping areas should be located at the intersection of collector streets, or at collector/minor arterial street intersections. Generally, they will serve an area approximately 1 to 1-1/2 miles in radius. The Land-Use Plan recommends two new neighborhood shopping areas. The first is at the northeast corner of the intersection of Crawford Street and Marymount Road. The total size of the site at this location is approximately 20 acres. This location has easy access to existing development east of the Smoky Hill River as well as planned new locations further east. The second site is located on the north side of Schilling Road, west of and adjoining Foxboro Street. It is approximately four acres in size and is intended to serve both the immediate residential neighborhood and employment uses. • Community Shopping Areas. The community shopping area provides goods and services to several different neighborhood and development areas. It typically requires a site of approximately twenty acres to thirty acres to accommodate buildings, parking, and associated open areas. In terms of building area, the community center can range from 100,000 to 250,000 square feet. While it may have a food or drug store, it also includes a range of retail and other uses, and is usually anchored by a small department store type tenant. Community shopping centers should be located at the intersection of arterial streets and be easily accessible from the surrounding community. Generally, the community shopping center will serve a two mile radius. • The Land-Use Plan indicates four new community shopping areas: the northwest quadrant of the Schilling Road interchange with I-135; the west side of the planned interchange at Magnolia Road and I-135; the south-west quadrant of the Crawford Street interchange with I- 135; and the eastern side of I-135 at its interchange with State Street. All these sites essentially take advantage of the interstate highway system for both access and market opportunities. Obviously, the Magnolia Road and I-135 location is contingent upon completion of a planned highway interchange. Wherever possible, these new, highly visible locations should be developed in a planned manner. • Regional Shopping Areas. The regional shopping area should provide the services of a community shopping center but have a greater variety and number of general merchandise, apparel, furniture, and other tenants. Although no new regional shopping areas are proposed per se, the Land-Use Plan encourages strengthening and capitalizing upon opportunities within two primary locations: Downtown and South Ninth Street. Two new major locations for commercial development are proposed along South Ninth Street. The first lies along the west side of Ninth Street at the intersection of Belmont Avenue extended. This site is approximately 50 acres and is designated as a mixed- use site. It is envisioned that the site could be developed with office and residential uses in combination with commercial land-uses. Mixed-use development should only occur through the planned unit development process which would permit the City to evaluate the appropriateness of overall land-use relation- ships, proposed densities, site amenities and development impacts. IPSalina Comprehensive Plan Page 1 17 The second site on south Ninth Street is located at the northeast corner of Schilling 0 Road and south Ninth Street. It is approximately 40 acres in area and is intended to serve as a regional retail location. Proper access control through the use of a frontage road system is very important for the development of this site. The site has good access to I-135 to the west and will serve as the southern terminus for any further commercial development on Ninth Street. The Land-Use Plan also recommends continuation of Downtown Salina as a major regional shopping "center" for the City and surrounding area. As mentioned above, the City should continue to work with local organizations interested in the Downtown to introduce new commercial activity wherever possible.Key vacant and underutilized sites should be targeted for early action. The City should attempt to attract a high quality hotel and give preference to the Downtown for new office development. Medical office and related health care uses should be advocated for the areas around both Asbury and St. John's Hospitals. Aggressive marketing efforts should continue to target specific commercial and retail opportunities. Wherever possible, strong consideration should be given to Downtown as the preferred location for new civic, institutional and public uses. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIAL LAND-USE Salina has been a major regional center for business and industrial development within central Kansas, and this appears to remain the pattern for the planning period. Excellent rail and highway access, low property taxes, good schools and other amenities should help maintain the City's competitive position in the future. The Land-Use Plan recommends new business and industrial development within the community during the planning period. In total, the Plan designates approximately 2,334 • acres for new business and industrial uses. Business and Industrial Development Policies The following policies should be used to guide all improvement and development within business and industrial areas. I1 • Development of vacant parcels within existing parks should be generally compatible with existing surrounding uses. Larger vacant parcels should be subdivided as needed to meet specific market requirements. In general, existing parks should be completed prior to large-scale development in the southern Secondary Service Area locations of the planning area. 12 IN New industrial areas should be located along or near major expressways, particularly I-135. This not only maximizes access, visibility and exposure for new business and industrial uses, but also locates these uses around the periphery of the community and helps minimize industrial traffic within other parts of the City. I3 ■ New business and industrial development should be located in planned industri- al/business parks to help ensure coordination of circulation systems, lot configuration, building design, parking and access facilities, and environmental amenities. • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 118 • I4 • New light industrial and business park uses should strive to emphasize office/research development. Areas designated for office/research uses should be designed and developed as unified, well-landscaped "campus" environments, capable of attracting high-quality tenants. There is a national trend toward such developments within planned business environments, and Salina's locational assets suggest potential in this area. In particular,office/research uses should be promoted along the I-135 corridor. I5 • New business park development should only be permitted in areas that can be adequately served by public facilities in accordance with the Urban Service Standards contained within the Plan. I6 • New business parks should be designed and developed so that offices,showrooms,and similar uses occupy high-visibility locations around park peripheries. These peripher- al locations should be subject to special building and site design controls to insure an attractive appearance from major roadways and surrounding development areas. Manufacturing and warehousing uses should be located within the interior portions of business parks. I7 ■ The present enterprise zone boundaries should continue to provide favorable differen- tial incentives for the north industrial area. The Comprehensive Plan encourages strong development incentives in the north industrial area. I8 • Major entrances into industrial and business parks should be identified by attractive "gateway" features. Gateways should include special signage, landscaping and accent lighting, and/or a common sculptural feature. Retention ponds with aerators, and other environmental features can also provide attractive gateways. • I9 • Access to individual building sites within business parks should be via an internal circulation system. Site access from peripheral arterial and collector streets should be limited to major entrances serving the overall development area. Industrial traffic and related conditions should not adversely affect other nearby land-use areas. I10 ■ Major entry roads and industrial collectors should be attractively designed and visually distinctive. These roadways should have street trees and street lighting, with accent landscaping at key access drives. This is particularity pertinent to access to Salina Municipal Airport. I 1 1 • Adequately screened off-street parking and loading facilities should be provided within all business and industrial sites, and the consolidation of parking areas and driveways serving two or more uses should be encouraged. I12 • New business and industrial development areas should be designed to allow maximum flexibility, with larger land areas capable of being subdivided and developed accord- ing to specific market demand. I 1 3 • Site improvements within business and industrial areas such as lighting, signage and landscaping should be well designed and coordinated in order to help create a positive identity and visual image throughout the development area. 0 Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 119 I14 ■ Compatible building design and setbacks should be encouraged. Building materials or structures incompatible with the image of a high-quality development, such as 411 chain-link fences, outdoor storage facilities, etc., should be avoided in areas visible from public streets or adjacent parcels. I15 ■ Overall industrial park design should also consider the needs of pedestrians and cyclists, even though business and industrial areas will be primarily oriented to vehicular traffic. It is also suggested that industrial collector streets have designated bicycle lanes. I16 • Particular attention should be given to screening and visual separation between business and industrial uses and other nearby land-uses. The periphery of industrial areas should be heavily landscaped and attractively designed. Where new industrial parks border commercial areas, residential neighborhoods or major roadways, earth berms should be considered as a buffer. This type of transitional treatment is particu- larly important in the northern and southern areas of the community. I17 • Uniform performance standards should be enforced to protect adjacent property and surrounding land-uses from noise, dust, odor, air and water pollution. Salina should encourage those industries which meet these performance standards or those which can eliminate objectionable negative impacts to locate in its business and industrial areas. Business and Industrial Land-Use Areas The Land-Use Plan designates several areas for future business and industrial development, located both east and west of I-135. These include the development of new business park areas along • Schilling and Magnolia Roads. Existing Industrial Areas Salina currently has three primary industrial areas: 1) the north industrial area generally bounded by Elm Street to the south and Pacific Avenue to the north; 2) the Airport Industrial area which lies west of I-135; and 3) the south industrial area which lies east of I-135 and south of Schilling Road. These existing industrial areas (Existing Service Area) still contain approximately 736 acres of undeveloped land. The Land-Use Plan recommends that these existing parks continue to be developed, consistent with established policies, and in accordance with the overall urban service standards and criteria for the City. New and Expanded Industrial and Business Development Locations The preliminary Land-Use Plan designates the existing three industrial areas for continued and new industrial business park projects. Two new office research/business park developments are also recommended. With the exception of the north industrial area, each area has excellent accessibility from the freeway system, is located around the periphery of the community, and is large enough to allow for considerable flexibility in terms of design and development. Each of the five industrial and business park areas have somewhat different characteristics and potentials, and these are described below. O Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 120 • • North Industrial Area. The north industrial area represents the oldest of the industrial areas. Without the advantage of direct access to the expressway system it is not as desirable as the other industrial and business park locations within the planning area. However, the amount and scale of public and private investment in existing industrial facilities warrants protection and enhancement of the area. The Land-Use Plan attempts to correct"edge" problems associated with more random land-use patterns through a clearer separation of different areas. It is also suggested, that because the remaining residential "enclave" surrounded by Forest Street, Fifth Street, Pacific Avenue and Front Street is rather small, an additional medium-density residential site be developed east of Front Street. This expanded location would provide new housing opportunities in the north end of the community and strengthen the existing residential areas. ■ Airport Industrial Area, The Airport industrial area currently has two areas for future development: approximately 300 acres within the Existing Service Area and 370 acres in the Secondary Service Area. This location has excellent transportation facilities including Salina Municipal Airport and I-135. The development of the area will be influenced by the short-term development of the Kansas State University Technology Campus. It will be important for the City to monitor the projects on the campus to take full advantage of resulting private sector development opportunities. It is also important that new development on streets proximate to the campus be of high quality and reflective of the image and identity of a low-density campus setting. ■ South Industrial Area. Continued growth and development of this area will require annexation to meet urban service standard policies of the Comprehensive Plan. There • are a number of vacant sites within existing developed areas which are priority industrial development areas. A number of these sites can accommodate the scale of industrial development which is present today. The South Industrial area contains approximately 440 acres of land in Primary Service Areas and 780 acres in Secondary Service Areas. However, a number of restrictions apply to the business park and industrial Secondary Service Areas south of Schilling Road and east of the Union Pacific Railroad. • Magnolia Road OfficelResearch-Business Park. This site takes advantage of both excellent visibility and access to I-135. It is approximately 75 acres and suitable for light industrial, business and office development in a"campus-like"setting. Due to its proximity to existing and planned residential areas,access to and from the park should be from Magnolia Road to avoid traffic conflicts in residential areas. This development location is designated as a Secondary Service Area. A primary pre- requisite to development is the Magnolia Road and I-135 interchange. The absence of the interchange would result in a street capacity deficiency on Magnolia Road. In the absence of the planned interchange the site may alternatively accommodate a mixed medium- to low-density residential development. The Dry Creek tributary crosses portions of this area and sensitivity should be given to its proper protection and enhancement as a recreation opportunity 10 Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 121 • North Ninth Street and I-70, This 55 acre area, already subdivided and within the III City, is planned as a new business park location. It is highly suitable for transportation and distribution land-uses. 411 • Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 122 • Transportation Plan • Sc I T Y O F A.111A Salina Comprehensive Plan 0 TRANSPORTATION PLAN The transportation projects and strategies needed to support anticipated growth are described in this section. The recommendations were based upon previous findings regarding existing or projected traffic conditions. Described in the plan are: • A map indicating projected traffic volumes for the recommended street system given the build-out of the Salina area; • Design guidelines for each street functional classification; • The future street functional classification system; • Street improvements needed to maintain or improve existing traffic service levels as Salina continues to grow; • Preliminary cost estimates of recommended street improvement projects; and • A list of future transportation studies which could be prepared to further address issues identified in the Transportation Plan. • Forecast Traffic Volumes The transportation model was used to analyze the traffic impacts of the future land use plan on the Salina area street system. The traffic projections indicated that higher traffic volumes would result on many Salina streets. The amount of traffic increase for a number of street locations is summarized in Table 34. The projected traffic volumes reflect the impacts of potential future development. Commercial development typically results in the highest amount of tripmaking. Other developments such as anticipated industrial growth, the Kansas State University expansion, and to a lesser extent, anticipated residential expansion, also contribute to projected traffic increases. The central area of Salina showed only a moderate increase in travel. Traffic growth is primarily anticipated in the northernmost area of Salina near I-70, near the Salina Municipal Airport and along Ohio. The decrease in traffic on Ninth Street north of Schilling Road resulted from a shift of traffic to the Magnolia interchange with I-135. The future year traffic volumes for the Salina area are shown in Figure 12. 0 Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 123 TABLE 34 PROJECTED TRAFFIC CHANGE 1991 Projected Street Location Count Traffic Change • Ninth North of Pacific 8,200 13,375 5,375 Ohio North of Pacific 4,650 5,530 880 Broadway North of North 9,050 11,270 2,220 Santa Fe North of South 9,515 9,600 85 Ninth North of Ash 8,235 10,152 1,915 Broadway North of Crawford 22,600 23,000 400 Ohio South of Iron 14,675 14,925 250 Crawford West of Centennial 13,000 13,300 300 Crawford East of Santa Fe 12,910 13,000 90 • Crawford West of Marymount 10,200 10,500 300 Centennial South of I-135 5,400 7,050 1,650 Ninth North of Schilling 18,215 15,700 -2,515 Belmont North of Magnolia 10,790 13,880 3,090 Ohio North of Wayne 15,700 18,740 3,040 110 Salina Comprehensive Plan Page 124