CITY OF SOUTH BURLINGTON
South Burlington Designated City Center Area
Urban Design Workshop 00/00/00 and 00/00/00
The Technical Advisory Committee reviewed available land use information, principally the 1984 Civic Center Master Plan and explored urban design concepts and ideas that would support the creation of a city focal point and anchor, be a catalyst for further downtown development and generate economic and cultural vitality. The exploration was further energized by a desire for solutions that would build on the existing infrastructure and activity, linking with it to add to its vitality.
Several developments of the 1984 Civic Center Master Plan emerged. There was a renewed commitment to Market Street in its current location and configuration. Four portals or connections between the existing street system and the Civic Center site were identified: two on Dorset Street and one each on Williston Road and Hinesburg Road. These portals were seen as vital to making existing activity and the new Civic Center’s activity mutually supportive especially one each on Williston Road and Dorset Street. Connecting these two primary sources of public activity through the Civic Center was seen as a powerful strategy.
Two strategies were identified to stimulate further downtown development and economic vitality: structured parking as part of the civic center; zoning to encourage mixed use development between the civic center and the existing commercial strips along Williston Road and Dorset Street. Inclusion of publicly funded parking will make surrounding development economically viable. Encouraging mixed use, multi-story development will provide marketable living, working and live-work spaces that will also populate the area.
Finally, ideas were explored that respond to the city’s identity as a prosperous, contemporary, suburban community set in the beautiful Vermont landscape. Urban forms were identified that express the contemporary suburban culture and connect with the Vermont landscape.
3.0 Urban Design
3.10 Streets
3.20 Growth and Development
3.30 Civic Space
3.40 Parking
TECHNICAL ADVISORY
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
Use existing Market Street.
Make the four portals work.
Acknowledge the car.
Take advantage of our beautiful setting.
Give the building “presence”.
Stimulate private development.
Give the City something modern, contemporary and something to be proud of.
Create a large civic space and put the building in it.
Make a “Main Street”.
Embrace the car.
Respond to the view of Camel’s hump.
Create a center for an e-city.
Provide orientation to Vermont’s natural landscape.
Make a park as the center piece.
Connect Williston Road and Dorset Street with an new “Main Street”.
Fit structured parking behind existing buildings.
New location for existing pond.
Views to Camel’s hump from within the civic space and within the building.
A civic green space for the building site.
A pond.
Vehicular access through the building.
The building as part of Main Street.
A ceremonial entrance.
A boulevard.
Concealed, centralized public parking.
A pedestrian way through the building.