Revitalizing The Town Center(s) And Conserving Open Land In Kingston Springs Summary Report

THE A.I.A. 150 BLUEPRINT FOR AMERICA COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT AND VISIONING WORKSHOP FOR KINGSTON SPRINGS REVITALIZING THE TOWN CENTER(S) AND CONSERVING OPEN LAND IN KINGSTON SPRINGS SUMMARY REPORT A partnership of the Town of Kingston Springs, A.I.A. Middle Tennessee, Cumberland Region Tomorrow, the Greater Nashville Regional Council, the Nashville Civic Design Center and the University of Tennessee College of Architecture + Design.

March 14-15, 2008 Held at Harpeth High School, Kingston Springs, Tennessee

This report was produced by T. K. Davis, Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee College of Architecture + Design and Design Director at the Nashville Civic Design Center.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary

4

Kingston Springs Community Assessment and Visioning Workshop Schedules

6

Selected Photos from Workshops

8

Day One: Assessment 10 Day Two: Visioning 11 Here’s What you Told Us...Community Assessment Grouping Similar Responses 12 Visioning Questions 14 Here’s What you Told Us...Visioning Assessment Grouping Similar Responses 15 Appendix:

I. List of Workshop Facilitators 21

II. Guidelines for Facilitators 22

III. Cumberland Region Tomorrow Quality Growth Toolbox Guiding Principles 24

IV. Cumberland Region Tomorrow Quality Growth Toolbox List of Strategies 25

V. Density and Livability from the AIA’s Livable Communities website 27

VI. Develop Context Sensitive Design Guidance excerpt from the Quality Growth Toolbox 28

VII. What is Transit Oriented Development?

29

VIII. Workshop Community Assessment Questions / Responses by Table and Priority 30

XI. Workshop Community Visioning Questions / Responses by Table and Priority 43

X. Base Drawings Available at Workshop Tables 53

XI. Representative Drawings and Notes on Base Drawings 57

XII. Press Release and News Articles Regarding Workshops 60

XIII. Workshop Evaluation Comments 66 List of Attendees

69

List of Sponsors

70

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY On Friday and Saturday, March 14 and 15, 2008, citizens of Kingston Springs, Tennessee convened at Harpeth High School for Community Assessment and Visioning Workshops on “Revitalizing the Town Center(s) and Conserving Open Land in Kingston Springs.” This was the third of three such sets of workshops being convened in Middle Tennessee as part of the American Institute of Architects 150 Blueprint for America Middle Tennessee Initiative, which celebrates through community interaction the AIA’s 150th birthday. In Middle Tennessee, this program focuses on the challenges communities face under going rapid growth. The other two communities involved have been Robertson County, a historically rural agrarian landscape, and Lebanon, a commuter rail terminus with transit-oriented development potential.

Kingston Springs could be characterized as a rural hamlet. There are two essential elements in the AIA Middle Tennessee Initiative. The first is to address the interrelated challenges of revitalizing town centers and conserving open land through the AIA’s Ten Principles of Livable Communities, and second to get AIA architects intensively engaged for a two day period with the citizens of the three selected communities-- as grassroots outreach, public awareness, and cultural connectivity.

All concerned citizens of Kingston Springs were welcomed to participate. Invitations were sent out to approximately 120-150 stakeholders, offering a diverse range of perspectives, including residents, business owners, elected and appointed civic leaders and officials. The attendance both days was robust and energetic. Approximately 70 citizens participated both days, with 23 architects and planner facilitators on site as well. Invited stakeholders were strongly encouraged to participate both days of the workshop, because the education, assessment, and visioning discussions during both days were mutually reinforcing, although attendance at either day alone was also very beneficial.

On Friday, following welcoming remarks by Mayor John McLeroy and Marion Fowlkes, and an overview and orientation by Cyril Stewart AIA of Vanderbilt University, attendees viewed the provocative National Public Television documentary by Pulitzer Prize winner Thomas Hylton entitled Save Our Land, Save Our Towns. This comprehensive overview of the history and issues of post-war American growth underscored the point that conserving rural land and revitalizing town centers are mutually reinforcing intentions.

After the video concluded, the entire room broke out into groups of approximately seven citizens at each table led by one or more architects serving as facilitators. Each table assessed the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and risks facing Kingston Springs. These ideas were prioritized and then reported back to the auditorium as a whole. As Mayor McLeroy remarked the next morning, there were far more strengths than weaknesses cited, and far more opportunities than risks (averaging 11.6 strengths cited per table, 7.9 weaknesses, 10 opportunities, and 4.8 risks).

Saturday was similar in its structure. Following greetings and general information, T. K. Davis FAIA of the Nashville Civic Design Center and the University of Tennessee College of Architecture + Design made a presentation on “Communities By Design,” expanding on the AIA’s Ten Principles of Livable Communities. Dr. Bridget Jones of Cumberland Region Tomorrow then gave a presentation on “The Quality Growth Toolbox.” Following this, the entire group once again broke out into smaller groups, led by architect facilitators, to address (each table in their own way) the AIA’s Ten Principles of Livable Communities, specifically in light of the potential for revitalizing the town’s center(s) and conserving open land in Kingston Spring’s future. Drawing on base maps was encouraged. Ideas and responses were again prioritized by citizens and then again reported back to the auditorium as a whole.

All of the recorded results of both days workshops were collected and transcribed by the Nashville Civic Design Center, with similar ideas from the different tables grouped into “affinity” clusters. The participants ideas and responses in these exercises with the highest citizen priority are listed as “what we heard” and characterized as citizen observations, and are found on the subsequent four pages of this report.

The following general observations were made by the participating leadership of the AIA Middle Tennessee, Cumberland Region Tomorrow, the Greater Nashville Regional Council, the Nashville Civic Design Center, and the University of Tennessee College of Architecture + Design: •

There is a clear consensus and mandate for guiding growth and conserving open land in Kingston Springs. One valuable outcome of the workshops has been to confirm this consensus as a basis for future decision-making.

•

There is a general perception of “two differing town centers,” one historic near the former downtown rail depot, and the other commercial strip leading north from the interstate interchange.

•

Continue the community visioning workshop process with the Cheatham County Planner, and check and update growth regulations for compatibility with the workshop consensus.

•

Establish an outdoor public space in a strategic downtown location that can function as a town square, both as a visual amenity and as a place of public assembly for community events.

•

The interstate interchange and commercial strip leading north from the interchange does not reflect the character of the town, is unattractive, and doesn’t function well. Employ “Context Sensitive Design” (see appendix VI) on this strip, and engage in dialogue with TDOT environmental planning leadership regarding funding potential, using the workshop outcomes as a community consensus and mandate.

•

Continue learning and utilizing Randall Arendt’s Illustrated Design Principles, Model Village and Subdivision Design Ordinances, and Architectural Design Guidelines, in order to allow for compact development with significant land conservation. These are described in Crossroads, Hamlet,Village, Town: Design Characteristics of Traditional Neighborhoods, Old and New Revised Edition, an American Planning Association Planning Advisory Service Report Number 523/524.

•

Reinforce all of Kingston Springs as a walkable, interconnected community linking its town centers, neighborhoods, schools and natural features.

•

Join with other communities from Nashville to Dickson to continue advocacy for commuter rail on the CSX Nashville to Memphis line, with any subsequent development at a Kingston Springs’ station “transit-oriented development,” and not simply “transit adjacent development” (see appendix VII).

•

Finally, Cumberland Region Tomorrow’s Quality Growth Toolbox should be a primary resource document in the future planning of Kingston Springs. This document contains tools, incentives, resources, and contacts for public officials to implement the observations of citizens expressed in this assessment and visioning workshop, including their desire to ensure economic vitality through quality growth.

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE Friday, March 14 3:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

3:00 p.m.

Facilitators meet in the gymnasium to discuss the workshop

at the Harpeth High School (use back entrance lobby) 1170 East Kingston Springs Road

Kingston Springs, TN 37082

615.952.2811

Pre-registered stakeholders begin sign-in at the Harpeth High School and receive random table assignments (in back entrance lobby / coffee and drinks available)

3:30 p.m.

Welcome by Kingston Springs’ Mayor John McLeroy and Marion Fowlkes FAIA, Principal, Centric Architecture in the auditorium off the lobby

3:35 p.m.

Overview of the AIA 150 Blueprint for America Initiative

by Cyril Stewart AIA,Vanderbilt University Director of Medical Center Facilities Planning

3:40 p.m.

Orientation on the Kingston Springs program by T. K. Davis FAIA of the University of Tennessee and Nashville Civic Design Center

3:45 p.m.

View public television documentary by Thomas Hylton Save Our Land, Save Our Towns.

4:45 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

Breakout assessment workshop at tables in the Gymnasium with AIA facilitators (refreshments available in the lobby) “Revitalizing the Town Center and Conserving Open Land in Kingston Springs: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Risks”

7:30 p.m.

Wrap-up by Marion Fowlkes FAIA and adjournment

Ranking exercise and group reports from tables

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE Saturday, March 15

8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

8:30 a.m.

Facilitators meet in the gymnasium to discuss the workshop

at the Harpeth High School (use back entrance lobby) 1170 East Kingston Springs Road

Kingston Springs, TN 37082

615.952.2811

Pre-registered stakeholders begin sign-in and receive random table assignments at the Harpeth High School (in back entrance lobby / coffee and pastry available)

9:00 a.m.

9:05 a.m.

Welcome by Mayor John McLeroy and Marion Fowlkes FAIA

9:10 a.m.

“Communities by Design: The AIA Ten Principles of Livable Communities” Presentation by T. K. Davis FAIA

9:30 a.m.

“Cumberland Region Tomorrow’s Quality Growth Toolbox” Presentation by Dr. Bridget Jones of Cumberland Region Tomorrow

10:00 a.m.

Breakout visioning workshop at tables with AIA facilitators (refreshments available in the lobby) “Revitalizing the Town Center and Conserving Open Land in Kingston Springs”

11:45 a.m.

Ranking exercise and group highlight reports from tables

12:45 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

Wrap-up by Cheatham County Planner Sharon Caton, Mayor John McLeroy and Carol Pedigo Hon. AIA

Review of the program, its purpose, and the Thursday workshop

by Cyril Stewart AIA

Adjournment

SELECTED PHOTOS FROM WORKSHOPS

SELECTED PHOTOS FROM WORKSHOPS

Day One: ASSESSMENT Orientation: The facilitator will go around the table and ask each person to introduce them self, locating and marking their property on the 1”=400’ maps. After the table members have introduced themselves, as a group, try to identify and mark on the map what your table considers to be the “boundaries” of your town center(s).

Community Assessment Exercise: Think about the following four questions, using your individual note pads. When each table is ready, the facilitator will go around the table, in order, recording one idea per person, for as many rounds as are needed to hear all the ideas generated at the table. Write all ideas on the large Post-it pads, and draw them on the tracing paper map overlays whenever possible.

Avoid judging at this stage the value of the ideas generated. Each person should practice active listening, and avoid dominating the table discussion. There will be an idea ranking exercise later in the day.

Questions: What are the strengths of Kingston Springs that can help improve its town center and conserve open land?

What are the weaknesses of Kingston Springs that can hinder improving its town center and conserving open land?

What are the opportunities facing Kingston Springs that can help improve its town center and conserve open land?

What are the risks facing Kingston Springs that can hinder improving its town center and conserving open land?

Ranking: Place the Post-it pad sheets of your table’s question responses on the gym wall, and use the adhesive dots provided to place three dots per question on the three ideas or responses generated at your table that you consider most important. Please place no more than one dot per individual on any given response.

Group Report: Following the ranking exercise, each table will have a citizen volunteer report briefly to the entire group in the gym the most important and unique ideas or thoughts that the table generated.

A Summary Report of the two-day workshop, including all table responses to the questions, and the grouping of responses by affinity across all tables, will be delivered as a PowerPoint presentation at a subsequent public meeting.

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Day Two: VISIONING Orientation: The facilitator will go around the table and ask each person to introduce them self.

Community Visioning Exercise: Tables on the outer wall of the gym will address the ten questions on the following page starting from the top down, and going as far through the questions as the table is comfortable doing during the allocated time. Ideally, each table will address at least half of the questions, if not more, but it is not at all necessary to get through the entire list.

Each participant should think about the questions on the following page one at a time, using their individual note pads. When each table is ready, the facilitator will go around the table, in order, recording one idea per person, for as many rounds as are needed to hear all the ideas generated at the table. Write all ideas on the large Post-it pads, and draw them on the tracing paper map overlays whenever possible. Record each idea concisely, and confirm that the contributor is satisfied with the exact wording of the response.

Avoid judging at this stage the value of the ideas generated. Each person should practice active listening, and avoid dominating the table discussion. There will be an idea ranking exercise later in the day.

Ranking: Place the Post-it pad sheets of your table’s question responses on the gym wall, and use the adhesive dots provided to place three dots per question on the three ideas or responses generated at your table that you consider most important. Please place no more than one dot per individual on any given response.

Group Report: Following the ranking exercise, each table will have a citizen volunteer report briefly to the entire group in the gym the most important and unique ideas or thoughts that the table generated.

Follow-up: The Nashville Civic Design Center will coordinate a Summary Report of the two-day workshop, including all table responses to the questions, and the grouping of responses by affinity across all tables. This report will be delivered as a PowerPoint presentation at a subsequent public meeting.

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HERE’S WHAT YOU TOLD US… COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT GROUPING SIMILAR RESPONSES (with listing of priority dots) STRENGTHS: 42

Kingston Springs’ parks, river and trees

17

Proximity to Interstate 40 and its potential for new and better adjacent development

16

Small town sense of community

14

Good school system

13

Historical Downtown Main Street redevelopment

11

Planning Commission vigilance and unbuildable topography suggests open space can be preserved

10

Beautiful natural landscape and topography

9

Historic buildings and homes provide a community identity

WEAKNESSES 21

Interstate interchange does not reflect character of town and is unattractive

21

Lack of developable land due to topography and ownership

16

Insufficient shopping and activities downtown to attract local people

14

No attractive connection between downtown and the park and river

10

Lack of a “community center”

9

Lack of an ongoing comprehensive master plan

8

Small tax base revenues

12

HERE’S WHAT YOU TOLD US‌ (cont.)

COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT GROUPING SIMILAR RESPONSES OPPORTUNITIES 33

Promote quality growth through planning, policies and incentives

20

Nurture small town feel and recreational opportunities to attract tourism

10

Strengthen sense of community through citizen involvement

10

Establish a General Store, Farmers Market and/or weekend markets

8

7

Connect existing parks and river to town centers

7

Open more quality shops and restaurants

Improve appearance of Interstate 40 exit and commercial strip

RISKS 66

Uncontrolled, unplanned growth leading to loss of small town identity, along with traffic and infrastructure problems

20

An inadequate and undiversified tax base coupled with rising infrastructure costs

16

Environmental encroachments, especially pollution of the Harpeth River

11

Landowners vision is incompatible with community vision.

9

Apathy or lack of follow-through on good ideas

13

VISIONING QUESTIONS: The following questions, derived from the AIA’s Ten Principles of Livable Communities, will be under consideration.

Principle: CREATE NEIGHBORHOOD IDENTITY How would you describe “the sense of place” in Kingston Springs?

Principle: DESIGN MATTERS How do you feel design excellence can promote a successful and healthy Kingston Springs?

Principle: PROTECT ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES What environmental resources in Kingston Springs need to be protected and preserved?

Principle: PROVIDE CHOICES What housing, shopping, recreation, or employment choices are currently missing in Kingston Springs?

Principle: DESIGN IN A HUMAN SCALE How could Kingston Springs’ town center(s) become more compact and pedestrian friendly?

Principle: PRESERVE URBAN CENTERS How could we encourage the revitalization of the Kingston Springs community’s town center(s)?

Principle: BUILD VIBRANT SPACES What are the best public spaces in Kingston Springs, and where could new, memorable public spaces be established?

Principle:VARY TRANSPORTATION What additional transportation options, including walking, biking, driving, and public transit, are needed in Kingston Springs?

Principle: CONSERVE LANDSCAPES Where should open space be preserved in Kingston Springs?

Principle: ENCOURAGE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT Where and how could mixed-use development, integrating different land uses and varied building types, be encouraged in Kingston Springs?

14

HERE’S WHAT YOU TOLD US… COMMUNITY VISIONING GROUPING SIMILAR RESPONSES CREATE NEIGHBORHOOD IDENTITY… 13

Have more annual and monthly events downtown

10

Connecting the town center to enhanced parks and other neighborhoods

7

Encourage more housing choices

4

Establish a Farmers’ Market

3

Encourage more arts venues

3

Extend the hours of downtown shops

DESIGN MATTERS… 11

Create more well designed landscapes and green spaces, such as at the town center and at the interstate exit and commercial strip

7

Enact sign controls and provide better “way finding”

7

Enact design guidelines

4

Provide lighting that doesn’t interfere with wildlife

4

Modernize with planned designs

4

Encourage lofts over businesses

4

Encourage Internet services and telecommunications

4

Encourage pedestrian downtown, not a drive thru downtown

4

Encourage “controlled” diversity

3

Coordinate public and private entities to provide funding

3

Encourage porches

15

HERE’S WHAT YOU TOLD US… (cont.)

COMMUNITY VISIONING GROUPING SIMILAR RESPONSES PROTECT ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES… 21

Protect the river, its watershed, and its and rural character, as well as provide access

5

Protect and plant trees– especially at town centers

5

Encourage community awareness of litter issues

5

Protect views of hills (bluffs) north / south and green space east / west

4

At the Burns property, explore the feasibility of connecting continuous green spaces

4

Protect the open space between the river and downtown

4

Utilize the historic Civil War railroad bridge at the park

3

Preserve farms

PROVIDE CHOICES… 9

Encourage smaller footprint, storefront retail stores

6

Encourage more restaurant dining options

5

Encourage the sale of fresh produce

5

Encourage a Farmers’ Market / Artisans Market

4

Encourage a wildlife shop for bird watching, canoeing and fly-fishing (watching, feeding, equipment, books)

4

Encourage a senior living facility and senior taxi service

3

Encourage a medical specialty clinic (pediatrics, gerontology, etc.)

3

Encourage commuter rail service with the depot as an important destination

3

Encourage a Co-op or General Store / hardware store

3

Enhance two different commercial zones (downtown and at the interstate)

2

Provide a community center / swimming pool

16

HERE’S WHAT YOU TOLD US… (cont.)

COMMUNITY VISIONING GROUPING SIMILAR RESPONSES DESIGN IN A HUMAN SCALE… 15

Provide bikeways and sidewalks with trees and benches

8

Improve parking behind downtown buildings

7

Increase destination areas and shops downtown

6

Add signage, sidewalks and trees at interstate exit areas

6

Preserve historic structures and encourage re-use rather than removal

5

Initiate a beautification effort from downtown to the schools and the interstate exit to connect to the historic town center

5

Encourage mixed-use in the downtown area with shops and apartments

3

Control the appearance of new subdivisions to conform with regional character

3

Continue to restrict undesirable types of businesses

PRESERVE URBAN CENTERS… 8

Achieve consensus on a plan, including the business community, and stick to it

4

Create financial incentives

3

Support existing businesses and programs

3

Pursue grants available for local initiatives

3

Provide more information on the website in order to motivate people to use it

BUILD VIBRANT SPACES… 5

On Main Street

4

On the land next to High School and behind McDonald’s that links river-to-river

4

Acquire the flood plain for green space from the High School to a downtown park

4

With a General Store

4

Beautify the parking lot at the Town Hall

17

HERE’S WHAT YOU TOLD US… (cont.)

COMMUNITY VISIONING GROUPING SIMILAR RESPONSES 4

With an Artist Co-op

3

In the parks (example: amphitheater)

3

With a new downtown park

3

With a community center at the old school or by the lakes

3

With a senior citizen center

3

At a wildlife preserve in park

3

With a Farmers’ Market

VARY TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS… 28

Provide walking and biking paths linking uptown, downtown, parks, river, schools and neighborhoods (such as across the Harpeth River connecting the Woodlands and the city park)

9

Work toward establishing light rail or commuter rail between Dickson and Nashville

4

Repair old Civil War Bridge to link two parks

3

Provide bike paths

CONSERVE LANDSCAPES… 9

Provide and use greenways to connect all of Kingston Springs

6

Zoning for new developments should continue to require open space

4

Conserve existing parks

4

Restore and preserve the Civil War Bridge

4

Conserve the interactive garden at the library

4

Conserve open space at the floodplain and river corridor

3

Promote mixed-use, higher density development to preserve community green space

3

Conserve tree-lined streets

18

HERE’S WHAT YOU TOLD US… (cont.)

COMMUNITY VISIONING GROUPING SIMILAR RESPONSES 3

Require development setbacks from roadways to retain views and natural beauty

3

Utilize the old elementary school (i.e. City Hall, community center, etc.)

3

Incorporate more green space in future commercial developments

ENCOURAGE MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT… 7

Encourage mixed use at the Interstate 40 interchange, including better lodging

5

The old school could become a community center or retirement / assisted living

4

Encourage a mixed-use corridor linking both schools (High School and Middle School)

4

Establish a central park in the mixed-use zone downtown across from the library

4

Encourage mixed-use at Moore’s Circle with parking in the middle

3

Redevelop and improve the trailer park into mixed income and work force housing

3

Beautify and control with zoning the northeast entry into town

19

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APPENDIX I: WORKSHOP FACILITATORS Table Facilitators: • Paul Butts • Sabrina Butz • Betsy Clapsaddle • Gina Emmanuel • Buddy Ferguson AIA • Gary Gaston • David Keiser • Dana Kitzes • James Larkins • James Moore • Parvathi Naampothiri • Vanessa Paz • Mary Vavra • Ken Scalf AIA

Floating Facilitators Both Days: • Greer Broemel • TK Davis FAIA • Marion Fowlkes FAIA • Dr. Bridget Jones • David Mollenkopf • Carol Pedigo Hon. AIA • Cyril Stewart AIA Floating Facilitator One Day: • Sharon Caton

Architect Centric Architecture Buchart - Horn Centric Architecture Looney Ricks Kiss Architects Nashville Civic Design Center Cumberland Region Tomorrow Vanderbilt University Tisdale Gale Architects Hawkins + Partners Hastings Architecture Associates Gresham Smith + Partners Looney Ricks Kiss Architects Architectural Energy Corporation Greater Nashville Regional Council University of Tennessee / Nashville Civic Design Center Centric Architecture Cumberland Region Tomorrow Mollenkopf Design Group AIA Middle Tennessee Vanderbilt University Cheatham County Planning and Zoning

Partner Organizations: • AIA Middle Tennessee • Cumberland Region Tomorrow • The Greater Nashville Regional Council • The Nashville Civic Design Center • The University of Tennessee College of Architecture + Design

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APPENDIX II: GUIDELINES FOR FACILITATORS It is important to create a “safe” environment that encourages people to participate. This means that facilitators should follow the ground rules listed below. The ground rules will already have been presented to the entire group of participants, so you will be able to use the ground rules to assist you in your facilitation.

Please try to keep one or more individuals from dominating the discussion. Please be aware of all the people at the table and encourage everyone to participate. If need be, politely refer to the ground rules as you ask someone to be concise because you want others who have not spoken yet to have a chance.

Encourage table participants to: • Talk with their pens-- encourage drawing and note taking on the tracing paper over the table maps, as well as on the participant’s question lists.

• Be concise and considerate.

• Practice “active listening.”

• Allow others to participate-- no one dominates.

• Work as a team to stay on task.

• Avoid being judgmental-- there will be a ranking component for all ideas in the end.

• Use the commons, or “parking lot,” for off-task items worth revisiting towards the end of the two hours.

• Have fun!

Participants will have been broken into groups of approximately seven by numbered tables. Each table will have a facilitator, and a volunteer (or AIA member) or designee as recorder and spokesperson. Each table will be occupied (generally) by people living and/or working within one of the three types of communities found in Robertson County (the Historic County Seat, Historic Small Towns, or Arterial Communities).

The majority of participants will be from Springfield.

Each workshop will unfold with the following components: Review Ground Rules with Entire Room (T. K. Davis FAIA / 10 minutes) Table Introductions (5 minutes) Please introduce yourself as facilitator and have the entire table introduce themselves to each other, stating where they live and work, and why they have come to this event. What do they hope for as an outcome?

Table Group Discussion (30 minutes) As a table group, discuss the learning presentations that will have been made to stimulate thinking, and then discuss the strengths, weakness, opportunities and risks facing Kingston Springs with reference to revitalizing town centers and conserving open land. Then discuss the five questions before the group (listed on handouts) that relate to the Principles of Livable Communities advocated by the American Institute of Architects.

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GUIDELINES FOR FACILITATORS (cont.)

Thinking and Writing (10 Minutes) After 30 minutes of discussion, have the group take ten minutes to quietly think about the five questions and to write on their question handouts responses to each question (using the handouts back if needed). There may well be more than one response per person per question. While table members are thinking and writing, facilitators should write each of the five questions at the top of one Post-it sheet per question. Ultimately, more than one Post-it sheet will probably be used to record responses to each question.

List Ideas (30 minutes) Next, go around the table clockwise, and have each member of the table state concisely a response to each of the five questions before the group, question by question. Have the recorder write the response on the Post-it pads, confirming that the wording reflects the essence of the response. Keep going around the table clockwise until all table participants have listed all the question responses they desire. Then move onto to the next question and do the same.

Rank Ideas (5 minutes) Each member of the group will be given ten adhesive green dots. Table members (other than the facilitators) can use the dots to prioritize the ideas they have before them at the table. On the honor system, each table member may place no more than one dot next to any one response to any given question, although there is no obligation to rank within all question categories. In other words, someone, if they wish, could place four dots next to four different ideas to any given question.

Group Report (30 minutes) The volunteer or appointed recorder / spokesperson for each table will place the Post-it tablets of ideas on the wall and report t the entire room on their table’s group discussion of their principle ideas, as they have been ranked and prioritized.

Conclusion: Describe Next Steps to the Entire Group (Sharon Caton / Mayor John McLeroy / Carol Pedigo Hon. AIA) Request Completion and Submission of Anonymous Evaluation Forms

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APPENDIX III CUMBERLAND REGION TOMORROW - QUALITY GROWTH TOOLBOX GUIDING PRINCIPLES The Cumberland Region Tomorrow Quality Growth Toolbox should be utilized as a primary resource document in the future planning of Robertson County. This is the most significant observation made by the workshop’s participating leadership of AIA Middle Tennessee, Cumberland Region Tomorrow, the Greater Nashville Regional Council, the Nashville Civic Design Center and the University of Tennessee College of Architecture + Design. This document contains topical information on strategies, tools, incentives, resources and contacts for public officials to implement the recommendations of county citizens expressed in this visioning workshop, including the desire to ensure economic vitality through quality growth. The Quality Growth Toolbox Guiding Principles are the following:

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•

Guide our region’s growth with comprehensive community plans.

•

Update zoning, subdivision and building codes to implement community plans.

•

Use design to protect and enhance our region’s diversity of community character.

•

Redevelop and strengthen our region’s cities, towns and rural communities to ensure a range of unique lifestyle choices.

•

Create a variety of housing choices for our region’s diverse workforce.

•

Conserve our region’s land, water, natural and cultural resources for our future economic, health, and social well-being.

•

Link land use and transportation planning to promote an integrated framework to guide growth and development.

•

Guide public and private investment to efficiently use pre-existing infrastructure and developed land.

•

Think and act regionally to ensure our future livability and economic vitality.

APPENDIX IV: CUMBERLAND REGION TOMORROW - QUALITY GROWTH TOOLBOX LIST OF STRATEGIES Each chapter in the Quality Growth Toolbox explains why the chapter topic is important, what we can do about it strategically, how we can do it with tools and incentives, and who can help through resources and contacts.

PROLOGUE: CREATING QUALITY GROWTH IN THE CUMBERLAND REGION

Principles: • Guide our region’s growth with comprehensive community plans • Update zoning, subdivision and building codes to implement community plans • Use design to protect and enhance our region’s diversity of community character • Redevelop and strengthen our region’s diversity of community character • Create a variety of housing choices a for our region’s diverse workforce • Conserve our region’s land, water, natural and cultural resources for our economic, health, and social wellbeing • Link land use and transportation planning to promote an integrated framework to guide growth and development • Guide public and private investment to efficiently use pre-existing infrastructure and developed land • Think and act regionally to ensure our future livability and economic vitality Chapter One: REINVESTING IN TOWNS, CITY CENTERS AND COMMUNITIES

Strategies: • Define and focus on promising areas • Create a good redevelopment plan • Make reinvestment possible • Use incentives to promote reinvestment • Design attractive community centers • Maximize organizations and resources in revitalizing areas Chapter Two: CREATING A VARIETY OF HOUSING CHOICES

Strategies: • Identify the housing needs of each community • Examine existing planning and zoning regulations • Expand comprehensive plans to allow more housing options • Design to create attractive communities and housing • Use incentives to promote housing choice Chapter Three: CONSERVING OUR REGION’S LAND, WATER, NATURAL, AND CULTURAL RESOURCES

Strategies: • Plan for natural infrastructure • Identify and establish land, water, natural, and cultural resource priorities • Integrate priorities into community and regional plans 25

• • • • • • • • • •

Use existing resources for conservation Increase flexibility of regulations to allow conservation and low impact development Prevent unsafe development Preserve historical and cultural resources Use incentives to promote conservation Preserve water resources Protect critical habitat Keep agriculture viable Link and connect corridors of public and private open space Use sustainable building and development strategies

Chapter Four: TRANSPORTATION AND LAND USE PLANNING FOR QUALITY GROWTH

Strategies: • Optimize existing transportation systems first • Recognize and use the goals of adopted land use plans • Work with existing agencies to coordinate land use and transportation planning • Adopt design guidelines • Develop good plans and follow them • Encourage development of vacant and reuse of older sites • Strengthen downtowns • Promote concentrated activity centers and corridors • Promote good site design • Provide a balanced transportation system that creates choices Chapter Five: GUIDING INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

Strategies: • Create and implement comprehensive community level and regional plans that guide growth and align infrastructure investments to accomplish them • Target infrastructure investments strategically to support community and regional plans • Plan for regional economic development readiness • Create regional jobs / housing balance • Use Tennessee state laws and programs to guide growth and infrastructure investments • Use community and regional leadership to create good comprehensive and infrastructure plans CONCLUSION: ENSURING OUR ECONOMIC VITALITY THROUGH QUALITY GROWTH

Strategies: • Support all economic sectors through quality growth • Guide growth for economic development readiness and quality of life • Develop and follow comprehensive community and regional plans to create quality growth and sustainable development • Use our resources wisely • Work collaboratively to create the region that we all desire

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APPENDIX V: DENSITY AND LIVABILITY From the AIA’s Livable Communities website: “In the general debate about development, people tend to fear density. Many people believe that ‘density’ means more traffic, crowded schools, and new buildings shoehorned together. Yet, opposition often evaporates when people are presented with examples of dense communities that feature beautiful architecture and protected open space, where people can walk along shady sidewalks and feel safe letting their kids play in the front yard.

Compact development preserves natural resources, encourages independence from automobiles, reuses existing infrastructure, and feels more like fondly remembered, traditional neighborhoods. The AIA’s member architects can help citizens design dense communities to be attractive, cost effective, healthy, and environmentally friendly.

Quick Facts: •

Good design can create dense developments that are appealing, functional and feel less crowded.

•

Well-designed, dense housing sells as well as, and sometimes better than, widely spaced homes.

Dense, 24-hour neighborhoods are consistently among the top recommended real-estate investments.

•

The top consumers of compact, auto-independent housing - empty nesters, childless couples, and singles - will make up the majority of American households for the foreseeable future.

•

Dense developments with a clear identity, nearby shops and recreational facilities, and a sense of community feel more like the traditional neighborhoods many people admire.

•

Children and the elderly can be more independent in a community where they can walk to visit friends or to a community center, rather than having to wait for a ride.

•

Using land efficiently as possible preserves open space for recreation within easy reach of city dwellers, while protecting the environment and natural systems.

•

Compact developments offer higher tax revenues with lower per-unit infrastructure costs.

•

Compact, attractively designed neighborhoods that offer a variety of amenities encourage people to walk, bike, or take public transit rather than drive. High density is necessary to maintain effective public transit.

•

In a 2003 public opinion poll, nearly half or the respondents favored designing communities to be more walkable, even if it means they are denser.

•

People often believe that spread-out, suburban areas are safer than urban neighborhoods, but, in fact, compact communities generally have fewer traffic fatalities and faster police, fire and ambulance response times.”

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APPENDIX VI: DEVELOP CONTEXT SENSITIVE DESIGN GUIDANCE (Excerpt from Cumberland Region Tomorrow Quality Growth Toolbox pp. 149–155) (In accordance with TDOT’s Tennessee Long Range Transportation Plan “Policy R: Promote and implement context-sensitive solutions and balance safety, mobility, community, and environmental goals in all projects” and The Institute for Transportation Engineers’ publication Context Sensitive Solutions in Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares for Walkable Communities) What is Context Sensitive Design?

Context Sensitive Design or CSD is a way of approaching the development of transportation projects that serve all users and that are compatible with their surroundings-- the community and the environment.

Successful CSD results from a collaborative, multidisciplinary, and holistic approach to transportation planning and project development. It is a process of balancing the competing needs of many stakeholders starting in the earliest stages of project development. It is also flexibility in the application of engineering standards to design a facility that is safe for all users regardless of the mode of travel they chose. There are many definitions of CSD but they share a common set of tenets:

28

•

Balance safety, mobility, community and environmental goals in all projects.

•

Involve the public and stakeholders early and continuously throughout the planning and project development process

•

Use an interdisciplinary team tailored to project needs

•

Address all modes of travel

•

Apply flexibility inherent in design standards

•

Incorporate aesthetics as an integral part of good design

APPENDIX VII: WHAT IS TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT?

The TOD definition, diagram and principles are from Peter Calthorpe’s The Next Metropolis: Ecology, Community and the American Dream.

A Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) is a mixed-use community within an average 2,000 foot walking distance of a transit stop and core commercial area. Transit-Oriented Developments mix residential, retail, office, open space, and public uses in a walkable environment, making it convenient for residents and employees to travel by transit, bicycle, foot or car.

In summary, the principles of Transit-Oriented Development are to: •

Organize growth on a regional level to be compact and transit-supportive;

•

Place commercial, housing, jobs, parks, and civic uses within walking distance of transit stops;

•

Create pedestrian-friendly street networks that directly connect local destinations;

•

Provide a mix of housing types, densities, and costs;

•

Preserve sensitive habitat, riparian zones, and high quality open space;

•

Make spaces the focus of building orientation and neighborhood activity; and

•

Encourage infill and redevelopment along transit corridors within existing neighborhoods.

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APPENDIX VIII: COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT - COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE LISTS BY TABLE (WITH LISTING OF PRIORITY DOTS) Table One

Strengths: 5 Historic buildings and homes 3 River access points 3 Schools – good quality and location 3 Planning Commission thoughtfully considers steep slopes, floodable and sensitive areas / ridges 2 Burns Park wonderful 2 Interstate invites tourism 1 Undeveloped, open 1 Local talent wiling to be involved

Vistas

Farmland

New development with sidewalks from High School to Burns Park

High per capita income

Low crime rate

Rail line potential

Ecological diversity of both plants and animals

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5 5 1 1 1 1

Weaknesses Interstate doesn’t lend itself to character of Kingston Springs Get locals to shop / trade locally Lack of police protection Need sidewalks in neighborhoods Commute to Nashville No transportation options Much land steep slopes and floodway / plain

5 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1

Opportunities Nurture small town feel to attract visitors / residents Connect existing parks to town center Create local jobs Good restaurants Extend scenic river status of Harpeth to Kingston Springs Small sustainable farms in flood plains – local More small businesses Address interstate area to be more pedestrian friendly, welcoming Brand something – create identity, focus on this for promotion. What’s our thing?

Farmer’s Market here (brings) agriculture tourism!

The Kingston Spring Water sports on river Utilize open space Options in restaurants / retail etc. – price variety

Rock climbing on bluff – lead to entertainment Use developable land wisely Solar energy east/west orientation / topography

2 2 2 2 1 1 1

Risks How existing green spaces are being developed Lack of involvement in planning process Losing small town feel Losing young people Nashville sprawl Upstream pollution threat of Harpeth River Unrealistic grasp of dollar resources Too dependent on Nashville gods and services Hill top development

Table Two

Strengths 2 Small town community – not too many people / traffic 2 Easy access to outdoor sports and activities 2 Harpeth River 1 Good schools at walking distances from each other 1 Low crime rate 1 Economic diversity in households

Easy interstate access

5 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 1

Weaknesses No seniors center or seniors’ development Lack of zoning protection Past failure to address planning infrastructure Not enough restaurants Lack of medical services – especially specialties Too much truck traffic (Petro) at the interchange Overlapping government jurisdiction (TDOT and interstate areas) Interstate interchange does not reflect character of town and is ugly Too many residential developments – no other clear options for land use County government located in Ashland City – too far away No pedestrian walkways

3 3 3 2 2 1 1 1

Opportunities Maintain natural beauty Preserve farms and open spaces and woods Farmers market Mixed use developments (retail with condo above) Better enforcement of property standard regulations Preserve small town character Proximity to Nashville – options for mass transit / rail system Preserve / revive historic buildings Expansion of medical facilities 31

4 3 2 1

Risks Unsafe roads Poor zoning control Increased population due to sprawl from Nashville Increased pollution – air, water, light, noise No warning for tornados or public shelters Poverty in the rural (nearby) areas on our southwestern expanses – lack of medical care, no pediatricians, ENTs, gerontologists

Table Three

Strengths 3 Historical downtown 3 River access and activities 2 Great schools 2 Progressive city government 2 Town annual events 2 Natural beauty 1 Access to interstate 1 Connectivity – sidewalks 1 Downtown infrastructure improvements

Diversified parks

Surrounding historical sites

Library

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2 4 3 3 2 1 1

Weaknesses Population declining Small tax base revenues – commercial and tourism opportunities Lack of community center Master plan Lack of bike trails and racks Resistance to change Lack of safe affordable housing Ten year road plan funding Few pedestrian crossings Lack of tree protection ordinance Downtown parking

6 4 3 2

1 1 1

Opportunities Tourism General store Open mindedness to change Reopen bridge – historic driving trail Creative talent – art, music Recreation Community Center School age and senior activities

1 1

River protection Historical preservation Transportation (train tour) Evening opportunities Existing infrastructure for system

4 4 3 3 1

Risks Crime near interstate Environmental encroachments Neighborhood subdivision regulations expiring Neighboring encroachment Urban sprawl encroachment

Table Four

Strengths 2 Separate commercial / town centers 2 Railroad (potential for commuter rail) 2 Scenic vistas – historical 1 River 1 Parks – recreation opportunities 1 Good schools 1 Compactness of downtown

Topography

Floodplain preservation

2 1 1

1 1

Weaknesses Poor options for affordable housing Resistant landowners Topography CSX – railroad crossings Lack of buildable land Codes and zoning / ordinance codes enforcement

3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1

Opportunities Small business development Tourism Greenways and trails Public access to rivers Recreation development Office development to minimize commuters Community development Preserving history as community Town center Natural springs area Family entertainment and activities

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4 3 2 2 2

Risks Harpeth River – beauty, access Resistance of landowners to work with community for public good Reactionary planning Unplanned development / sprawl Undiversified tax base

Table Five

Strengths 3 Close to highway but “tucked away” 2 Great restaurant equals magnet 2 Land that isn’t buildable will keep much from being developed

Railroad close – commuter rail?

Two parks – fishing hole

Rural feel

Open land

Some nice new downtown buildings

Good schools / clustered together 1 Art in the Park

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4

3 2 1

Weaknesses Not sufficient activities downtown to attract and ‘keep people Bedroom community equals citizens not familiar or involved Empty buildings not available for development No central gathering spots Condition of some roads- drop off on shoulder and no center lines Limited library facility

4 4 3 3 1 1

Opportunities Master plan for all new construction Recreate Kingston Springs as the small getaway place I the country with recreational opportunities Weekend markets – farmers, art, antiques Open more shops and restaurants More trees at park Preserve character of downtown Railroad Potential for the Springs and historic buildings More greenways and river access Community center equals gathering spot

3 3 3 1

Risks Lowered property values if “wrong” business and developments come in Subdivision regulations expiring equals lack of deed and restrictions check by codes No master plan / vision No common vision

Table Six

Strengths 7 Parks / Rivers and Trees 4 Accessibility 3 Open slate 3 Mayberry environment 1 Safety 1 Outstanding schools

Railroad

Topography

Future growth and development

Diverse community

Community participation

4 4 3 2 1

Weaknesses Lack of shopping Tax base Ratio of property owners to land Lack of buildable land Lack of diversity interest from the community Property owners

3 3 2 2 1

Opportunities Timing for planning River / outdoor recreation Good existing layout Tax base increased Community involvement / activities Railroad Views / scenic

4 4 2

Risks Infrastructure utility growth Tax burden balanced with growth Easier / cheaper growth Traffic

Table Seven (redistributed to other tables) Table Eight

Strengths 8 Excellent park system 3 Well-educated populous 2 Money and interest 2 Good project land ownership

Historic places preserved by individuals

Preserved the feel of downtown 35

5 4 3 1 1 1

Weaknesses Parking issues Most of historic downtown s owned by two people No mass transit No preservation laws? (no historical association) Small downtown Only a few concerned with the downtown

5 5 5

Opportunities Improve appearance of Highway 40 exit (commercial) More public involvement Guidelines to help preserve open space on undeveloped land

7 1

Risks Apathy Apathy

Table Nine

Strengths 3 Sense of unity 3 Centrally located 2 Historic architecture 2 Unique identity 1 Places to gather 1 Lots of potential 1 Easy aces to park and river 1 Landscaping 1 Annual events

Visual interest due to curves (slow down)

Small change equals big impact

Railroad

No stop lights—only stop signs.

Existing businesses (could attract more)

Well-lit equals sense of safety

3 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1

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Weaknesses No connection between downtown and park / river Ugly, new parking lot Needs to be cleaned up Area around train depot needs some help Small, narrow streets Factory Sidewalk to nowhere Lack of shopping choices Lack of unity in type of building (homes and businesses mixed together) Lack of (financial) support Need more landscaping Side streets need sidewalks No space for future parking

4 4 3 2 1 1 1

Opportunities Develop land along river and connect to downtown Preserve and incorporate historic architecture To become a destination Increase / strengthen sense of community Tax incentives to attract new businesses Opportunity for controlled and planned expansion Train Depot Phased development would still feel like major change Ball is already rolling

5 4 4 3 3 3

Risks Uncontrolled growth Lack of continued support Too much privately owned stuff Uncontrolled growth Lack of tax base (money) Apartments overtaxing facilities, not adding to tax base Traffic congestion

Table Ten

Strengths 5 Good schools 3 Parks –accessible to most via sidewalks 3 Community feeling / friendly 3 Town Center 2 Beautiful landscape topography 2 Proximity to I-40 2 Desirable bedroom community 1 Harpeth River – water, scenic. Nature 1 Old elementary school

Railroad

3 3 3 2

Weaknesses Topography – limits developable land Not enough to do… food, shopping, gifts, etc.

Ugly buildings – in commercial areas Empty buildings / businesses downtown Lot of land owned by few No affordable housing options for people (kids after school, aging, etc.)

Appearance of mobile home area could be better

4 2 2 2 1

Opportunities Challenges to get businesses to stay downtown “how to keep businesses?”

Old elementary school Plan for future appearance of commercial areas Railroad – transit connection to Nashville / transit oriented development Area behind Petro 37

1 1

Make commercial areas look good Greenway along Harpeth Sidewalk from 70 to downtown More businesses located downtown – more walking options

4 3

Risks Unknown of uncontrolled large tracts of land that could be poorly developed Balance – planning for future and leaving town quaint Planning – long term versus short term

Table Eleven

Strengths 5 River and terrain – helps conserve land 4 Downtown Main Street redevelopment 1 Current planning commission is dedicated to conserving open space 3 I-40 exit as a magnet for development and keep development out of open space 2 Good parks (water, skateboard, baseball)

Outdoor recreation i.e. golf course is bringing people into town

Kingston Sprigs road sidewalk project will help link uptown to downtown

Proximity of all three schools to each other (close)

Strong land value

Ellersley Way development

Sewer system (public safety)

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4 4 3 2 1 1

Weaknesses Motel and trailer homes at I-40 exit (safety) Old land – lack of developable land (owned multi-generational) Narrow traffic corridors (emergency exits) truck stop!

Lack of developable land Slow growth means equals funding Lack of public access One main entrance to Kingston Springs town center through I-40 Closed mindedness with regards to change High cost to do business

3 3 3 2 2 1 1

Opportunities McCorey Lane development AIA workshop event – consensus Utilizing Harpeth River more (use greenways) Tightening general economy will change lifestyle and help conserve land Restaurant growth Continuing development of parks and the Harpeth River Mass transit to Nashville Young families (and) growth Music business Cabellas in Bellevue

5 4 2 2 1 1

Risks Polluting the river Traffic 4 Uncontrolled growth No limit on standards Possible dissension during this planning process Storm water management Over population of the schools

Table Twelve

Strengths 3 Great parks (Burns) (with) soccer, walking trail, fishing pond, splash pond,

city park, boat launch, views of the bluffs 3 Quality law enforcement 1 Harpeth River 1 Community involvement 1 Library 1 Schools

Golf

Established neighborhoods

Community events

Green (trees)

Sidewalks

Churches (network) community services

4 3 2 2 1

Weaknesses Few interstate businesses Interstate exit poor gateway, prevents exploration of Kingston Springs, signage and building quality Poorly kept structures eyesore Few employment opportunities equals commuters Lack of diversity / tolerance Construction costs

3 3 2 2 2

Opportunities New, better development on I-40 Open space can be preserved Utilize game reserve (promotion) Community Center pool!

Business Park near I-40 Ellersly fill in community

4 3 3 1

Risks Failure to plan, zoning, education River pollution Crime Hilltop development (erosion)

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Table Thirteen

Strengths 1 Log Cabin Library 3 Sense of Community 1 Parks

Creative populace

Excellent restaurants 1 Churches 2 Natural resources 1 Public Safety Department

Log cabin business

Advocate newspaper

Recreation – golf

Canoe / river activities

Railroad

Banks community support 1 ARK community assistance

Churches 1 Nightlife 1 Historical

Great wellness community

Leapfest

1

3 3 2 2

Weaknesses Strip mall Fast food restaurants Codes Haphazard town planning Emergency medical care facility Communication

1 1

2 3

2

3

2 2 1 2 3

Opportunities Planning Commission AIA 150 Workshop Passenger rail Economic incentives for business / revenue Acquisition of land through foundations Incentives for artists Wellness Center / YMCA Communication (website) More community events Planned diversified neighborhoods Risks Cost Shortsightedness High density housing Overtaxing existing infrastructure Loss of identity

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Table Fourteen

Strengths

Park System (water, dog, skate, walking trail) • 2 Good school system

Good place to raise a family 1 Access to interstate, urban areas

Not too highly populated

Resident pride, education 1 Clean community

Essential services

Civil war sites 1 Log cabin library 2 Natural areas, flora, fauna, wildlife

Harpeth River

The Advocate newspaper 2 Award winning fire department

Good churches

Community tolerant and accepting

Very low crime

1 3 1 2 1

1 3

Weaknesses Not enough local retail No passenger rail service Appearance of truck stop Lack of strong tax base In town communication forum for people to get together Water department City Hall not as accommodated Part time police service

1 1 1 1 1 1 3 2 2

1

Opportunities Railroad / light rail Jobs – service, light industrial Office park / corporate headquarters Business incubator Entertainment, Making movies, scenery Organic / local farmers markets Retirement community (Small) Community Center Green belt Amphitheater Develop signature interstate entrance-“electronic” community activities information billboard Tie in with state parks, canoe ramp, trails Civil war bridge upgrade Pedestrian bridge

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Table Fifteen

Strengths 1 Existing rail line / future light rail 2 Good education 2 Harpeth recreation facility 2 Community atmosphere 2 Low crime 1 Lack of diversity 1 Collaboration 2 Lack of traffic problems

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2

3 1

1 1

3

Weaknesses Lack of business for tax base Growth is a threat Lack of long range planning Lack of diversity Topography Lack of a unified vision Limited thinking Lack of global thinking Apathy

3 3

3

1

Opportunities Potential for light rail Conservation of contiguous green space Smart growth Potential for tourism Citizen involvement Stricter zoning Pedestrian and bike transportation

5 2 2

Risks Apathy Growth Lack of follow through on good ideas Light rail

APPENDIX IX: COMMUNITY VISIONING - COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE LISTS BY TABLE (WITH LISTING OF PRIORITY DOTS) TABLE ONE (redistributed to table two) TABLE TWO Create Neighborhood Identity

Opportunities for music 3 Arts venues

Cool downtown 4 Farmers Market 1 Depot / weigh station – historic and future uses 2 Oldest residence (Dunn Home) part of expanded park Design Matters 4 Lighting that doesn’t interfere with wildlife 3 Sign controls 4 Welcoming signs at intersections both literal and figurative 1 Keep noise down Protect Environmental Resources 4 Barns property with log cabin – feasibility of connecting continuous green spaces 3 Tree inventory at both town centers 4 Open space near river downtown 2 Night sky at interstate center / exit 5 Create business awareness of litter issues 2 Viewscape of hills north/south / green space east/west 3 Watershed Provide Choices 3 Medical specialty clinic – Pediatrician, gerontology, other 4 Wildlife (watching, feeding, equipment) shop, birds, fly fishing, books 2 More restaurants (pizza)

Dry cleaners 3 Business / train commuter service – depot as important junction 2 Senior living 2 Senior taxi / transportation options 5 Fresh produce Design in a Human Scale 4 Add trees in interstate exit areas 2 Sidewalks in interstate exit area 5 Beautification effort along new sidewalk downtown to schools interstate exit 2 Mixed use encouraged in downtown area

Restrict heights of buildings mainly two story – three where appropriate 4 Conserve and preserve historic structures and encourage re-use rather than removal of historic

structure

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TABLE THREE Design Matters 4 Modernize – planned designs 4 Lofts over businesses 4 Internet services / telecommunications 2 Utilities

Roads Protect Environmental Resources 6 Protect river and rural character

Minimize light pollution 5 Trees – protect and plant 1 Storm water management 1 Water quality 1 Erosion 1 Pervious pavement 1 Fill illegal dumping prohibit Design in A Human Scale 5 Improved parking i.e. outside downtown 2 Bike tour 3 Increase destination areas, shops, etc.

1 Bike racks

Horse farm riding 2 Raft rental bike rental 4 Benches on walkways Create Neighborhood Identity 5 Annual / monthly events downtown 3 Extended hours downtown shops (periodic) 7 Housing choices

Name identity TABLE FOUR Provide Choices

YMCA 1 Hardware store

Outdoor movies 2 Community center / swimming pool 2 More dining options 2 Services – dry cleaners, etc.

2 Affordable housing

Fix old bridge

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Design in a Human Scale 2 Connection from town to parks 1 Parking on perimeter of town to encourage walking 1 Street trees, benches 2 Outdoor cafes

Pubic art

Pocket parks Design Matters

Better “wayfinding�

2 Design guidelines 2 Reestablish Kingston Springs identity (through the) character of older / historic buildings 2 Greenscapes that reflect some character 3 Coordination between public and private entities to provide funding Create Neighborhood Identity 2 Cultural center around old Inn with green spaces 2 Brand ourselves around our historic character 2 Connections from town center to parks and other neighborhoods Protect Environmental Resources 2 River and floodplain 2 Historic quality of town center

Large areas of farmland 2 Protect old inn Provide Choices

Outdoor outfitter 1 General store

Hardware store 1 Farmers Market 1 Safe affordable housing TABLE FIVE Provide Choices 5 Farmers Market / artisans

Larger library

Cleaners 3 Coop or general store / hardware store 2 Mid-price restaurants 1 Elderly residential housing 1 Antique shop 1 Hardware store

Swimming pool 2 Community center

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Professional offices downtown Coffee house Local business downtown Non-local commercial near highway

Create Neighborhood Identity 2 “Not quite there”

Potential

Charming bucolic

Hidden treasure 2 Connect city parks via new bridge / old bridge 2 Outdoor amphitheater at park with regular scheduled events 4 Nature center at park with staff naturalist to encourage eco-visitors Design in a Human Scale 3 Parking behind buildings 3 Encourage multi-use buildings equals shops / apartments - mixed-use 2 Preserve historic buildings and land 3 Create new destinations downtown 1 Connect downtown to parks to shop via sidewalks and greenways

Close downtown streets to cars on weekends – lots nearby

No more than three floors high for buildings downtown – “mid-rise” Protect Environmental Resources 5 Harpeth River access

Parks

Nature center – water plant educational

Wildflower preservation 2 Encourage native plants

Encourage mature trees

Protect floodplains 1 Protect “tunnel of trees” near park 4 Rail bridge at park

More parking access for soccer fans Design Matters

Plan reviews / TRD Traditional Residential Design 5 Design guidelines 4 Encourage pedestrian downtown not a drive thru downtown 1 Develop the Kingston Springs “identity”

Westhaven, Franklin, TN 5 Create green space at highway exit – can use empty lot next to McDonalds 1 Create boulevard and building design guidelines at highway exit incentives for existing businesses

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TABLE SIX Create Neighborhood Identity 3 Clean towns competition 1 Safety

Invite search and rescue 5 Leapfest type activities movies and concerts

Bonfires

“Village� identity Design Matters 3 Porches 1 Main Street 1 Brownstones 1 Walkability 4 Controlled diversity 4 Gardens

Parking

Public trash containers Provide Choices 5 Smaller footprint retail stores 4 Storefronts to human scale

Brownstones 1 Community Center

Banquet / meeting hall

Make town hall bigger?

1 YMCA

Swimming pool 3 Create two commercial zones (interstate and downtown)

Interstate businesses: auto parts, gas, food

Downtown: cleaners, hardware stores, antiques, Farmers Market / Coop, canoe, novelty

shop, bakery/coffee shop, ice cream, bed and breakfast, general store Design in a Human Scale 4 Link population via bike trails 5 Widen main road with sidewalks from 70 to downtown 2 Reintroduce trees along sidewalks 3 Control images of subdivisions 3 Restrict types of businesses Protect Environmental Resources 5 River and trees / river banks 3 Bluff views

Preserving hilltops

Clean air 3 Preserve farms 2 Parks

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TABLE SEVEN (redistributed to other tables) TABLE EIGHT Preserve Urban Centers

Tax incentives 3 Support what we currently have 3 See what grants are available 3 Provide more info on website in order to motivate people to use it Encourage Mixed Use Development 4 Utilize downtown along Kingston Springs road to uptown 3 Current residential areas located in downtown 1 Mixed use types – walk in clinic, high density residential, shops, etc., green space Build Vibrant Spaces 3 Parks 3 Main Street

Filling station 1 Library 1 Church

Village pub 1 New spaces out in residential areas

Amphitheater

River activities Vary Transportation 3 Provide bike paths 3 Light rail

Walking trail along river 3 Walking path from uptown to downtown

Trolley system (small) Conserve Landscapes 3 Mixed use development – high-density development to preserve community green space 2 Utilize existing open spaces 2 Conserve natural topography TABLE NINE (no ranking of ideas provided) Preserve Urban Centers

Relocate… free up space on the main drag for new businesses

Build Vibrant Spaces

Variety of node types (downtown, train depot, river) Encourage Mixed Use

Develop and locate a buffer between purely residential and historic downtown

Relocate city offices to old elementary school

Farmers Market with local produce 48

Vary Transportation Options

Bike path / walking path down to river and back to downtown

Light rail and /or bus connected to Nashville

Walk from “Visitor Center”

Trolley from interstate to downtown

Conserve Landscapes

Pattern of developed and natural areas form interstate to downtown

Create views to river TABLE TEN (recombined with other tables) TABLE ELEVEN Preserve Urban Centers 4 Creative incentives

Incentives for underground utilities 4 Clear plan that the public (business class is aware of) – the plan is clear and set in stone

Removal of unknowns

Improve marketing 4 Stick to the plan Vary Transportation Options 3 Bike lanes – uptown to downtown 4 Repair old Civil War bridge to link two parks 3 Commuter rail (regional) 2 Canoe launches?

Build Vibrant Spaces 3 Downtown park 4 Land next to High School and behind McDonalds that links river-to-river 4 Get the flood plain that would link green space from High School to downtown park 1 Buy historic “places” Conserve Landscapes

Steep slopes – GIS 3 Utilize old elementary school 1 Historic private property outside downtown 4 Floodplain land / river corridor

Randall Arendt way (development code “PUD” Planned Urban Development 3 Incorporate more green space in future commercial developments Encourage Mixed Use Development 4 Mixed use corridor linking both schools (High School and Middle School) 4 Central park in mixed use zone downtown across from library 4 I-40

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TABLE TWELVE / FOURTEEN (tables combined) Encourage Mixed Use Development 4 Moore’s circle parking in middle 2 Old school equals community center 2 Houses on Old Street rebuilt 4 Redevelop trailer park – mixed income / use 2 Mixed office / residential near park 3 Old school equals retirement / assisted living Conserve Landscapes 2 Parks

City cemetery 1 Horse farm 1 Buffalo Gap 4 Civil War bridge 2 Harpeth meadows / connection to river 1 Park near interstate (travelers rest) 3 Greenways from housing to park

Wildlife trail

Golf course 4 Zoning for new developments including open space Build Vibrant Spaces 3 Community center (at old school or by lakes) 3 Senior citizen center 3 Wildlife preserve in park

Bed/breakfast – historic part of town 1 Old hotel 4 General Store 1 Along the Harpeth 1 Exercise trail / bridge

Athletic fields behind Middle School Vary Transportation 4 Bike route at interstate (70) connecting to other neighborhoods 3 Greenbelt walkways

Horse trails 3 Railroad (Dixon – Nashville) 2 Small bus service between cities 2 Sidewalks in neighborhoods 3 Limit addition of concrete (incorporate bike / walking paths) TABLE THIRTEEN Build Vibrant Spaces 4 Beautify parking lot at Town Hall

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1 4

Farmers Market Transportation Center Park area close to town Artist Coop

Vary Transportation 4 Transportation Center

Dinner train 4 Walk from highway / schools to town sidewalks / greenway 4 Bike area along river Conserve Landscapes 4 Walking trails, reopen old bridge, connecting parks 4 Interactive garden at library 3 Tree lined streets 1 Beautify cemeteries Encourage Mixed Use Development 2 Farmers Market 2 Senior Center

Antique Store

Artist Coop 2 Relocate industrial out of town 2 Incentives / zoning for mixed-use development 3 Beautify / zone northeast entry into town 1 Revitalize trailer park TABLE FOURTEEN (combined with table twelve) TABLE FIFTEEN Conserve Landscapes 2 Existing parks 1 Adjacent property for park expansion 1 Historic hotel site 1 Open space adjacent to the Harpeth 2 Zoning might require 50% open space 3 Require development setback from roadways to retain views and natural beauty Build Vibrant Spaces 2 Develop mixed-use property adjacent to downtown 2 Bring downtown up a notch 2 Industrial park / corporate center for local employment restricted to interstate corridor

51

Preserve Urban Centers 2 Train station 2 Downtown 2 Old hotel / historic site Vary Transportation

“Bike Walk Hike�

Connections between neighborhoods 1 Connections between schools

Connections between park / open land 2 Potential industrial sites developed in interstate corridor 2 Middle School to the river via Woodlands / Hickory Drive Encourage Mixed Use 2 Encourage housing of garden home condominiums currently not available within walking distance of

the town center 3 Better lodging adjacent to interstate 2 Arts & crafts / specialty shops and retail

52

APPENDIX X: BASE DRAWINGS AVAILABLE AT WORKSHOP TABLES

53

54

55

56

APPENDIX XI: REPRESENTATIVE DRAWINGS AND NOTES ON BASE DRAWINGS

57

58

59

APPENDIX XII: PRESS RELEASE AND NEWS ARTICLES REGARDING WORKSHOPS

Blueprint for America AIA Middle TN Project FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Carol Pedigo, Hon. AIA, Executive Director AIA Middle Tennessee A Chapter of the American Institute of Architects Phone: 615-259-9664 Email: cpedigo@aiamidtn.org THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS CELEBRATES 150 YEARS IN KINGSTON SPRINGS TENNESSEE Nashville, TN – January 29, 2008 – The American Institute of Architects (AIA) will celebrate 150 years of shaping American communities – and lives this year.

The AIA 150 program, “Celebrating the Past, Designing the Future,” honors architects for their dedication and commitment to excellence in design and livability in our nation’s buildings and communities. The cornerstone of the AIA 150, the Blueprint for America project, serves as a nationwide platform to unite architects and citizens to collaborate on their communities’ design priorities.

The focus of the yearlong AIA celebration, “Celebrating the Past, Designing the Future,” seeks to remind people about architecture’s ability to connect, inspire, and empower people and communities. For 150 years, architects have used the design process to help citizens find their voices and realize a vision for beautiful, safe, and livable communities.

AIA 150 BluePrint for America in Kingston Springs Tennessee “Revitalizing the Town Center and Conserving Open Land” Kingston Springs has been selected for the third regional Blueprint for America Visioning Workshop to be held on March 14 and 15 at Harpeth High School.

Local community leaders and AIA Middle Tennessee Chapter members will join together for a two-day workshop to engage city, county and local community leaders in a design exercise where the outcome is a vision for revitalization of the town center and conservation of open lands.

Kingston Springs was selected for this Workshop because of its open land and rural hamlet attributes. This quaint historic town, rich in history and natural beauty, is easily accessed from Nashville by Interstate 40. Serving mostly as a bedroom community to Nashville, Kingston Springs is best known for its Blue Ribbon high school, the consistent award winning Band of Blue, the Narrows of the Harpeth River and the Harpeth River, a tributary to the Cumberland River that

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flows through much of the town. Kingston Springs is a small yet rapidly growing community of 2,773 people.

The Kingston Springs Community Visioning Workshop project, funded by the AIA Blueprint for America Grant Program, brings architects and the public together to address community needs related to design and livability. The Kingston Springs Workshop is being offered through The AIA Middle Tennessee Chapter in collaboration with Cumberland Region Tomorrow, the University of Tennessee’s College of Architecture, the Nashville Civic Design Center and the Greater Nashville Regional Council.

Local Chairs leading the process to organize the workshop are Marion Fowlkes, FAIA, Principal Architect of Centric Architecture and Laurie Cooper, Kingston Springs City Manager.

Through their leadership and knowledge of the community, a successful visioning workshop will occur. Upcoming pre-workshop meetings with key civic, public and private community stakeholders will also insure the focus and success for the event. Architects T.K. Davis, AIA, Design Director for the Nashville Civic Design Center and Professor of Architecture at the University of Tennessee, along with Cyril Stewart, AIA, Director of Vanderbilt University Medical Center Facilities Planning, are providing professional leadership to the workshop process geared to create community consensus on a vision for the Revitalization of the Town Center and Conservation of Open Land in Kingston Springs.

The March 2008 Kingston Springs Community Visioning Workshop, funded by AIA Blueprint for America Grant, is an excellent example of collaboration bringing architects and citizens together to address community needs related to design and livability. From downtown revitalization projects to affordable housing, Blueprint for America inspires people to think about the way architecture impacts their daily lives. Once completed, case studies from individual Blueprint projects will be compiled and shared with local officials interested in implementing similar programs in their communities. The completed piece titled, “Blueprint for America Mosaic: A Gift to the Nation,” will be presented in 2008. For more information, visit www.aia150.org.

If you are interested in participating in this special event, please call Laurie Cooper, City Manager, to RSVP at 615/952-2110, or e-mail: info@KingstonSprings-TN.gov.

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February 12, 2008

Visual Appeal of Where We Live Impacts Quality of Life

By Dave Keiser – Program Director, Cumberland Region Tomorrow (615.986.2698 – davek@cumberlandregiontomorrow.org

Five years ago, I flew down to Tennessee for the first time to see an old friend who lives in Kingston Springs.

At the time, I was attending grad school for community development, so I always liked to compare communities to what I was familiar with. Naturally, I asked my friend while we drove through the town center what the population of Kingston Springs was and I was surprised to find that it was similar to my hometown with regards to population (2,773 to 2,262) and to proximity to a major city (25 to 30 miles). However, there was one startling difference…open space!

Kingston Springs is a rural hamlet with beautiful open space, the Harpeth River State Park, quiet residences, and wildlife everywhere you turn, whereas my hometown was an agricultural based small town with square blocks surrounded by farmland that took only 2 minutes to get from one side of town to the other. The town of Kingston Springs currently occupies 6,272 acres, and my hometown of Ashland, Nebraska takes up only 704 acres. Now that’s a huge difference and a great opportunity.

When you think about open land, the first thing that comes to mind is how do you conserve it? Rural conservation encourages the use of conservation development strategies that include higher densities with quality design and increased open space conservation that can help Kingston Springs retain its unique rural feel and heritage. Clustering houses on small portions of a site can increase open space and retain unique attributes of land and water assets. These “conservation subdivisions” or “open space subdivisions” include standards that provide meaningful open space that is visible and accessible to all residents of a community. This approach to site design can reduce the cost of producing housing, while at the same time improving the quality of development by preserving the character of some of the most valuable land in the Kingston Springs area.

In addition, you don’t have to build the way you always have. Designing developments that retain rural character as an alternative approach to traditional suburban growth in rural areas utilizes a comprehensive design program, offering new housing that incorporates Kingston Springs’ rural character. This type of housing respects the vernacular architecture of rural areas and narrow roads and street sections, preserves existing vegetation and woodlands, limits pavement coverage, and guides fencing or edge treatments that mirror existing materials and features found in Kingston Springs’ rural environment. The approach accommodates housing needs in rural areas without destroying Kingston Springs’ natural character.

Now what? On March 14Ͳ15, the City of Kingston Springs will be hosting the AIA 150 BluePrint for America Workshop at Harpeth High School. It will be a two day workshop looking at revitalization of the town center and open land conservation. Please contact City Manager, Laurie Cooper at 615Ͳ952Ͳ2110 for more information.

I sure wish my hometown had this opportunity, so I moved down here instead.

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February 19, 2008

Benefits of Our Region’s Natural Features

By Dave Keiser – Program Director, Cumberland Region Tomorrow (615.986.2698) davek@cumberlandregiontomorrow.org

Kingston Springs, TN Ͳ Our region’s natural features provide irreplaceable benefits, such as open space, wildlife habitat, water resources, and agricultural products. We are fortunate to have a significant number of state and federal parks, forests, wildlife areas, and river corridors such as Cedars of Lebanon, Radnor Lake Natural Area, Narrows of the Harpeth, the Natchez Trace Corridor, and Cheatham and Yanahli Wildlife Management areas. However, more conserved public and private open space is needed to meet our region’s future needs.

Recognizing the critical role these resources play in the vitality of the region, it is important to establish proper land conservation and management techniques for additional open space. Kingston Springs’ leaders took a very important step towards this by adopting their new open land subdivision regulations recently. On March 14Ͳ15, Kingston Springs’ residents will be invited to attend a workshop that will look at ways of conserving and capitalizing on Kingston Springs many marvelous open green spaces with a vision for the future.

This is important because Middle Tennessee’s robust economy has led to significant job growth and land development, which inevitably places pressure on the region’s land, water, natural, and cultural resources. It can be easy to miss the full ramifications of community and regional growth patterns since often only the impact of individual developments are considered. Also, the cumulative rate of land conversion from open spaces to residential and commercial uses typically is not factored into the effect development patterns and practices have on our resources.

The Cumberland Region’s lands and natural resources will be significantly depleted if development occurs either in poorly chosen locations with insensitive site design, or under inappropriate construction practices. Rapid conversion of farmland, declining infiltration of rain, degraded water quality, increased storm water and flooding, slope instability, and overall loss of natural landscapes in the region all are potential results of current development practices.

Today, we face the challenge of balancing economic growth and its related land development with the conservation of our land, water, natural and cultural resources. The integrity of these regional attributes is being threatened. If we continue with current development practices and figure in population growth trends that project the 10Ͳcounty region around Nashville reaching 2,000,000 by 2020, we will develop 365,000 acres.

Let’s face it, we all want a beautiful place to live with clean and plentiful water. Development is inevitable wherever you go. It just needs to be planned in a better way that encourages quality growth thus giving our grandchildren an opportunity to experience the beautiful amenities we grew up with.

If you are a resident of Kingston Springs, please contact Laurie Cooper, City Manager, at 615Ͳ952Ͳ2110 for more information and to make your reservation for the March 14Ͳ15 American Institute of Architects (AIA) 150 BluePrint for America Kingston Springs Community Visioning Workshop.

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February 26, 2008

Benefits of Our Region’s Natural Features

By Marion Fowlkes –

Kingston Springs, TN Ͳ Our region’s natural features provide irreplaceable benefits, such as open space, wildlife habitat, water resources, and agricultural products. We are fortunate to have a significant number of state and federal parks, forests, wildlife areas, and river corridors such as Cedars of Lebanon, Radnor Lake Natural Area, Narrows of the Harpeth, the Natchez Trace Corridor, and Cheatham and Yanahli Wildlife Management areas. However, more conserved public and private open space is needed to meet our region’s future needs.

Recognizing the critical role these resources play in the vitality of the region, it is important to establish proper land conservation and management techniques for additional open space. Kingston Springs’ leaders took a very important step towards this by adopting their new open land subdivision regulations recently. On March 14Ͳ15, Kingston Springs’ residents will be invited to attend a workshop that will look at ways of conserving and capitalizing on Kingston Springs many marvelous open green spaces with a vision for the future.

This is important because Middle Tennessee’s robust economy has led to significant job growth and land development, which inevitably places pressure on the region’s land, water, natural, and cultural resources. It can be easy to miss the full ramifications of community and regional growth patterns since often only the impact of individual developments are considered. Also, the cumulative rate of land conversion from open spaces to residential and commercial uses typically is not factored into the effect development patterns and practices have on our resources.

The Cumberland Region’s lands and natural resources will be significantly depleted if development occurs either in poorly chosen locations with insensitive site design, or under inappropriate construction practices. Rapid conversion of farmland, declining infiltration of rain, degraded water quality, increased storm water and flooding, slope instability, and overall loss of natural landscapes in the region all are potential results of current development practices.

Today, we face the challenge of balancing economic growth and its related land development with the conservation of our land, water, natural and cultural resources. The integrity of these regional attributes is being threatened. If we continue with current development practices and figure in population growth trends that project the 10Ͳcounty region around Nashville reaching 2,000,000 by 2020, we will develop 365,000 acres.

Let’s face it, we all want a beautiful place to live with clean and plentiful water. Development is inevitable wherever you go. It just needs to be planned in a better way that encourages quality growth thus giving our grandchildren an opportunity to experience the beautiful amenities we grew up with.

If you are a resident of Kingston Springs, please contact Laurie Cooper, City Manager, at 615Ͳ952Ͳ2110 for more information and to make your reservation for the March 14Ͳ15 American Institute of Architects (AIA) 150 BluePrint for America Kingston Springs Community Visioning Workshop.

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APPENDIX XIII: WORKSHOP EVALUATION COMMENTS (All comments solicited anonymously and listed in random order) Question One: What worked well in this workshop? What would you not change?

“The video did a lot to help set “the tone” for the planning. Tables presenting their positions helped pull everybody to the same page. I liked the entire format and agenda. Facilitators were great.”

“The items presented to us to caused us to think beyond our usual boundaries. I tried to come with an open mind and am leaving feeling like I have been part of a real visioning to grow and preserve our little town. We’ll need a lot of level heads who can set priorities. I liked the media presentations that prepared us to dream.”

“What did work well was the punctuality of the time segments and the pace of the encounter, except the final summation at the end should be controlled by some timing device.”

“Good mixture of education and group brainstorming. Excellent guidance and input from facilitator. No change.”

“No constructive criticism. Great job!”

“Our group was cohesive and knowledgeable about the subject matter. The choice of participants was good.”

“Open discussion-- listening to each other one at a time. Good facilitator. The maps and being able to draw out our ideas. The videos and education.”

“Friday’s DVD. Format was quick, clear, efficient. Kept moving-- never a monotonous moment.”

“Great movie to start the first day. Thanks for providing maps. Good location, dates and times.”

“The presentations worked well. Would not change too much-- perhaps could include more pictures of smaller towns when dealing with a Kingston Springs. Was an excellent workshop.”

“Organization and goals of individual groups tables. Facilitators did a great job. Well planned-- focused.”

“The workshop was delightful. Very intelligently designed. Wouldn’t change the process. Thanks! Thanks, again!!”

“The brainstorming at the breakout tables worked very well. Having a facilitator at each table was key.”

“The film was a good way to start things off.”

“Great collaboration with various individuals throughout our area.”

“The input and cooperation in the table discussions. The exchange of ideas and the enthusiasm.”

“Liked the way we worked in table groups and then debriefed to find the common threads.”

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“The education on mixed use planning opens eyes on how important it is to bring character to a community.”

“The round table (small groups) communicating their thoughts openly and without criticism.”

“It was all great. No changes. Facilitators. Wide open participation (citizens).”

“Facilitation worked very well, kept the meeting on course and on time. Facilitators also knowledgeable and resourceful. Small groups of eight great! Handouts explaining process very helpful. Good source for resources.”

“Separate tables with architect to show us what we were talking about. Papers and questions suggesting topics. I would not change either of these.”

“The roundtable participation with a facilitator to keep us on track and answer questions we might not fully understand.”

“Working in groups. Using maps to visualize. Having facilitators. Presentation of findings-- brought to light many unique ideas for others to hear.”

“Having the maps helped visualize-- loved drawing out ideas. Taking turns around the table.

Having a moderator / facilitator with architectural / planning background to help us articulate ideas.”

“Table groups. Active maps and drawing our ideas. First presentation (movie) set up the procedure well.

Session length good. Random places of people kept the table groups interactive and vibrant. Dots on positive things made us all think about our ideas.”

The format seemed to work very well for our group and appeared to work fine for the others. It was interesting to see that there was a great deal of consensus amongst the groups with just a few differing ideas.

Great mix of people. Great facilitator. Liked the maps-- I’m a visual person.

The facilitators were great-- ours kept us focused and on task. I liked the questions that directed our shared conversations. Overall I really enjoyed it and came away with a lot of great ideas.

Group communication was great.

No change needed.

Not a thing.

Thank you to all AIA members / leaders.

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What did not work well in these workshops? What would you change?

“Some people digressed quickly and the moderators needed another way to get them back on track. Too much talking during presentation.”

“Saturday stage presentation: projection screen was obscured because of excessive lighting on stage.”

“Maybe there should be a little time spent in the presentation on bringing ones own attitude and dispositions that exist. Different people bring different reasons for being present. There’s real estate people with concerns. There’s business concerns. There’s entrepreneurial interest. There’s family interest, etc.”

“Each group presentation could be shortened and more concise, especially when the specific point was already addressed by another group.”

“Second day had too many topics to cover the subject matter.”

“Make it clearer how to use the maps and suggest the best artist in the group wield the marker.

Change up the group make-ups between first and second day; i.e. “count off by twos, all the two move a table to the right.”

“Would work on not letting people go on and on, on things already said-- also not go in too great detail on their suggestions.”

“A little too much repetition.”

“Facilitator tried to “brainstorm” with us even though she had not seen the area.”

“Do not have much that I would change.”

“Maybe have the large land owners comment on what they envision and what their plans are.”

“Film too long because of misdirected or misfocused (sic) on big cities (did not apply to us).

Need guidelines or background material.”

“Nothing! Change-- wrong work, add more table time!”

“The speakers didn’t listen to Marion’s instructions about not repeating a previously mentioned issue.”

“Facilitators need to keep things from going off track.”

“One person totally dominated the group.”

“Limit the time each group spoke-- presentations could go on too long.”

“Sorry, can’t answer this, I had a ball!”

“The comments the spokespersons made were often repetitive and too long.”

“Needed more time-- no changes needed.”

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We are grateful for the participation of our SESSION PARTICIPANTS FROM SIGN-IN SHEETS

Trey and Brenda Adkisson Ralph Allen Kim Astren Tonya Blades Phil Buma Melody Burr Linda Bush Sarah Bush Tony Campbell Zach Clayton Bill Clendening Tony Carletello Sonny Collins Steven Cooper Gary and Trina Corlew Bob and Martha Crouch Richard and Priscilla Dorris John Dunn Christine England WiIl Englehart Norm Finch Sam Francescon Michelle Frontera Richard Gibbs Dale Graham Aran Gupta Sarah Hamilton Meg Hamiter Craig Hanrahan Annette Hatfield Glynnis Helder Keith Honchell Craig and Michele Kitch Kyle and Dixie Lamb James Larkins Pam Lorenz Bill Lovell

Karen Marlin Ita Hardesty-Mason Ann Maddox John and Elke McLeroy John and Jeannie Marsh Leslie Maxwell David McCullough Paige McVity Ron Merville B. J. Mitcham Laurie Morgan Bill Orange Jane Polansky Tim and Sheri Reno Steve Rheinecker Shawn Rider Tom Robinson Paul and Jan Rucker Richard Russell Cheryl Saale Jim and Adair Schippers Shannon Schliwa Dawn Scott Betty Settle Alan and Janet Shew Charlie Smith Eric Smith Marie Spafford Stewart and Maggie Spielman Linda Swindle Ron Twist John Starron Anita Van Melle Janet Walker Suzie Ward Carrie Weir

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We are grateful to the following organizations and individuals that helped sponsor these workshops:

American Institute of Architects Middle Tennessee Town of Kingston Springs Community Bank & Trust Anita DeFrancesca of the Jean Downey Theatre Marion Fowlkes of Centric Architecture Dale Graham of the South Cheatham Advocate Harpeth High School Heritage Bank Phil Stevens of Sound System Wal-Mart of Ashland City Purity Dairies

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