2.0. HRSR 03-10-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Encouraging multi-level buildings, preventing over-building of parking areas, and mixing uses (horizontally and vertically) will perpetuate the sense that this is the center of Monticello. Downtowns have a feeling of enclosure created by fbbuildings and place buildings as the focus of development. Downtowns — places of the highest degree of mixed use — also seem to have a sense that even conflicting uses find a way to work together. Mixing uses also keeps activity in a downtown during more of the day, allowing for a safer environ- ment by having more "eyes on the street." People know how to navigate streets that meet at right angles at regular inter- vals; they quickly become disoriented in environments with streets that wind !F,b ... wi •il: ~ ? ,, °�4e •% •'� I Q W • ltVl d%•y i-Ate c qty, �iof a R� y` �ra: r,",ftp '' I © h� 4,4Q`•'`'• • ! '� . ar414•1' r SAiA��r4 fti.: ! kR, • � ~7I +lj�, ' y 14 ; ,!7 .i e "."1. aF �- u'6 4h•i? `pi • Sd ;p4e\+ ' J l �1j • .4.47,-�s wt. Ay E ► tr- A downtown that is based on the original gri o ontice o.evelopment provides coherency for the down iwn area and a way for people to easily find their way. • • between buildings, where there is no terminal view and their orientation to the sun changes constantly. The patterns of the streets — maintaining a strong consistent grid—fulfills the notion of a legible downtown in Monticello. This pattern, as it already exists, should be easy to maintain. Any proposal to change the grid should be viewed with a great amount of skepticism. Downtown Monticello should be a place where the community gathers and that invites visitors. The public spaces (especially the streets of downtown) and the relationship of buildings to these spaces are vital — they need to be filled with the character of the community. Although the plan promotes prominent buildings, it will be people that are the highlight of Monticello's downtown. When the character of streets merges with the character of build- ings, and people fill the spaces of downtown with their activity, the place comes alive and becomes memorable. In this plan, patterns of land use and design features come together to form the Broad Patterns and Design Direction basis for the downtown—building on the character that exists here as well as maintaining a focus on Monticello's small town qualities. The use of land in the downtown and riverfront area is critical to many of the principles that guide the plan, and will become important in defining a"look" for the area that continues to identify it as downtown Monticello. The elements of the down- fatown and riverfront—the buildings, streets, gathering spaces—all need to be A New Bridge i RevttaPzing Monticello's Downtown and Riverhont - Page 3:11