Beaver Street closure to be made semi-permanent
Council looking at creating a pedestrian mall alongside park
Road closure signage seeming to endlessly be in place during summers on one block of Beaver Avenue could soon be a thing of the past.
The Fort Morgan City Council has supported a semi-permanent closure of the road between Main Street and State Street, an effort to create a pedestrian mall adjacent to Downtown City Park, renamed this week as Glenn Miller Park. The means by which the road would be closed – planters, ballards or other traffic calming device – was not discussed.
“The idea came about in discussions with the chamber of commerce and others,” City Manager Steve Glammeyer said. “It is closed often for events and throughout this summer.”
A book popular among city planners titled “The Walkable City,” by Jeff Speck, led cities across the country to begin consider adding more walkable areas about a decade ago, such as pedestrian malls, saying walkability is a route to viable and thriving downtown areas.
Many cities also integrate alleyways and trails into their walkable spaces.
“We thought the city might take the opportunity for a permanent closure to create a pedestrian mall,” Glammeyer said.
Beaver Avenue in that block of the city is neighbored by arguably the most used park in town to the north and no frontagefacing business to the south. The park hosts a majority of the community’s planned outdoor special events.
The concept received support in a petition signature drive from 18 nearby business owners, although some of the signers expressed some reservations.
Flower Petaler owner Diana Schulte opposes the proposal, expressing the concern of access for deliveries. She faces increased per-delivery
truck shipping charges based upon the parking distance from her store.
“The concerns are valid,” Glammeyer said. “We will certainly work to ensure her trucks have alley access. That concern has not been lost on us.”
She noted the semi-permanent closure would result in the loss of 20 parking spaces “critical to all downtown businesses during high volume shopping times and special events.” She noted no opposition to temporary closures.
Her neighbor Double R Embroidery, situated on the corner closest to the closure, supports the concept if two assigned, 10minute parking spots could allow access to the business.
“I believe that’s a reasonable request,” Glammeyer said.
Truck deliveries are also a concern Cover 4 Theatre owner Wayne Johnson expressed to Mayor Lyn Deal. He also expressed the need for any closure device to be made semi-permanent, Deal said, to allow for food truck parking during events. At least two representatives from Cover 4 signed in support of the plan.
While members of City Council indicated their sharing of concerns with some business owners, Deal proposed a possible solution to parking and access issues.
“I have started a conversation with Wells Fargo to see if they would sell us their back lot,” Deal said.
“I think it is worth asking.”
She indicated that, should the bank be agreeable, negotiations would include city staff.
City Councilman Brian Urdiales asked to have the agenda item tabled, possibly a call to postpone consideration until a future meeting, as he urged that more input may be necessary prior to action. He did not make a motion to either postpone consideration or table the item.
City Councilman Clint Anderson attempted to mediate between the city and business concerns of a semi-permanent closure by proposing some access could be created.
“We’re definitely willing to work with the project partners,” said Glammeyer, seeming to be unwilling to commit on behalf of other stakeholders as to what could lead to agreement.
City Council approved the proposal, 5-1, with Urdiales opposed and City Councilman Bill Garcia not in attendance. The motion by Anderson did not include stipulations, as Deal proposed following the motion, with direction to city staff.
“I think we can trust the city to do what they can to work with downtown business owners,” said Anderson, explaining his motion. “I trust our staff.”
The resolution reads the city has the power to “lay out, establish, open, alter, widen, extend, grade, pave or otherwise improve street, parks, and public grounds and vacate the same.”