Hello, my name is Logan and I live in downtown Frederick. I have 3 parts to this comment. The first 2 are about specific bike/pedestrian spots surrounding the overall site. The third is some general ideas about open space in the site.
1. I bicycle often on the existing shared-use paths along E Church and Monocacy. I look forward to the new paths this development will be adding along Monroe and Highland. However, I see that the drawing shows the proposed curb ramps for the paths as only sidewalk width (~5'). Is it possible for the proposed curb ramps from these paths to be wider (~10')? In my experience when the curb ramp is only sidewalk width it creates an unsafe pinch point between pedestrians and cyclists. I think this is especially important where one path connects to another across a crosswalk (see corner of Monroe and Highland, as well as corner of Highland and Monocacy on the larger plans). But I do also find it useful in places like the south end of Al Cohen, where I may want to get between the Al Cohen roadway and the Highland sidepath. Overall I think it makes the shared-use experience easier and safer for both bikes and peds when the appropriate curb ramps are wide.
2. It'd be great if the crosswalk across Highland at Monocacy could cut through an extension of the entrance island, to make a refuge for easier crossing. This could be exactly like the one provided between the new Royal Farms and McDonalds just down Monocacy Blvd, which is also a wide shared-use path crosswalk.
3. I think HOA OS-4 could be a neat opportunity for a little corner plaza, maybe reusing the bricks from the old silo in some way to make a public gateway? Looking at HOA OS-2, is it feasible to expand it? Maybe by removing lots 64-67, and also expanding north through that part of Street A to become a larger village square (with some lots fronting on it)? Street A could instead curl down into Public Alley 4? I'm thinking of where kids might be able to play. Husky Park is nearby, but there's no sidewalk yet along Highland Street. So something like this could be a great gathering place for this townhouse community.
I'm happy to see this development move forward and think it will be a great addition to Frederick. Thank you!
Love the density and want to see more of it throughout the city! On this particular proposal, I believe showing a SUP on the south side of Highland is disingenuous unless it was previously approved and think that if the city thinks the northern side of future highland is going to develop first that is where the SUP should go.
Additionally, a pedestrian connection from Monroe/the intersection of Monroe and Highland into the development is paramount so that pedestrians do not have to go midblock to access the townhomes
Hello, my name is Logan and I live in downtown Frederick. I have 3 parts to this comment. The first 2 are about specific bike/pedestrian spots surrounding the overall site. The third is some general ideas about open space in the site.
1. I bicycle often on the existing shared-use paths along E Church and Monocacy. I look forward to the new paths this development will be adding along Monroe and Highland. However, I see that the drawing shows the proposed curb ramps for the paths as only sidewalk width (~5'). Is it possible for the proposed curb ramps from these paths to be wider (~10')? In my experience when the curb ramp is only sidewalk width it creates an unsafe pinch point between pedestrians and cyclists. I think this is especially important where one path connects to another across a crosswalk (see corner of Monroe and Highland, as well as corner of Highland and Monocacy on the larger plans). But I do also find it useful in places like the south end of Al Cohen, where I may want to get between the Al Cohen roadway and the Highland sidepath. Overall I think it makes the shared-use experience easier and safer for both bikes and peds when the appropriate curb ramps are wide.
2. It'd be great if the crosswalk across Highland at Monocacy could cut through an extension of the entrance island, to make a refuge for easier crossing. This could be exactly like the one provided between the new Royal Farms and McDonalds just down Monocacy Blvd, which is also a wide shared-use path crosswalk.
3. I think HOA OS-4 could be a neat opportunity for a little corner plaza, maybe reusing the bricks from the old silo in some way to make a public gateway? Looking at HOA OS-2, is it feasible to expand it? Maybe by removing lots 64-67, and also expanding north through that part of Street A to become a larger village square (with some lots fronting on it)? Street A could instead curl down into Public Alley 4? I'm thinking of where kids might be able to play. Husky Park is nearby, but there's no sidewalk yet along Highland Street. So something like this could be a great gathering place for this townhouse community.
I'm happy to see this development move forward and think it will be a great addition to Frederick. Thank you!
Love the density and want to see more of it throughout the city! On this particular proposal, I believe showing a SUP on the south side of Highland is disingenuous unless it was previously approved and think that if the city thinks the northern side of future highland is going to develop first that is where the SUP should go.
Additionally, a pedestrian connection from Monroe/the intersection of Monroe and Highland into the development is paramount so that pedestrians do not have to go midblock to access the townhomes