Implementation Methods

The Comprehensive Downtown Plan for Oswego presents a vision to guide decision making, allocation of resources, and specific implementation actions. This plan provides a framework for the revitalization of downtown Oswego that is expected to take place over several years.

Implementation often requires that actions be taken simultaneously. Each year, action can be initiated by the Village Board, and imple-mented based on the relative priority of the recommendation, cost and funding availability. The following provides a list of prioritized actions that can be carried out to achieve the vision established by the plan.

Priority #1 Actions

Officially adopt Comprehensive Downtown Development Plan with a schedule for implementation. Use the Oswego Economic Development Corporation (OEDC) to build support for the plan:

• Provide support for:
  • Advertising/promotion
  • Special events
  • Fund raising events (trees, paving bricks, etc.)
  • Business recruitment and retention
• Work with local banks to encourage low interest loans for downtown improvements.
• Direct new businesses to appropriate areas identified on land use plan.
• Communicate with businesses and property owners during construction, to ensure that the lines of communication are kept open.
• Consider alternative sites for professional service firms who agree to relocate from their existing, first floor location.

Replace the Downtown Technical and Citizens'sAdvisory Committees with a Downtown De-velopment Committee, in order to ensure that all components of the plan are followed.

• Include at least one member of the Downtown Technical Committee, to ensure continuity between the planning process and plan implementation.
• Appoint Village officials, existing staff, and consultant staff as necessary to ensure that the technical expertise is available for all areas of work, including engineering, design and funding.

As soon as the plan is adopted, direct staff to review Village regulations:

• Amend the Comprehensive Plan as needed to encourage any new development or redevelopment according to the uses identified on the adopted future land use map
• Consider an overlay district for the down-town, that has a separate set of regulations and plan review process
• Establish an Architectural Review Commission:
  • Include an architect knowledgeable in historic preservation, and director of community development
  • Develop submittal requirements and time lines for review and approval
• Evaluate the Zoning Ordinance as it relates to the downtown, and draft amendments as needed:
  • Are existing ordinances applicable for the downtown, or are they too restrictive?
  • Does the zoning ordinance require retail and service business that deal directly with the customer (i.e. hair salon) to be located on the ground floor of buildings along Main Street?
  • Are buildings allowed to be constructed at the building line?
  • Is parking allowed as a principal use in the downtown?
  • Can off-street loading occur in a drive aisle, or "on-street"?
  • Should ordinance include requirements for "off-street" employee parking?
  • Is outdoor dining allowed as a permitted use (a special use permit should be required for alcohol)?
  • Are awnings listed as permitted obstructions in required yards, and allowed to project over sidewalks into the public right-of-way?
  • Will new drive-through uses in the downtown be prohibited, since they are automobile, rather than pedestrian oriented?
• Review the sign ordinance to determine whether:
  • Historic signs, such as the old Hardware sign, can be preserved
  • Signs on the rear entrances of buildings are allowed, in addition to front and corner;
  • Window signs are allowed, but regulated (number, area, location, etc.);
  • The ordinance promotes continuity in area, height, logos, method of illumination, etc.
• Confirm that ordinance requires trash bins and other utilitarian elements to be screened by fences or walls.

Initiate common Village maintenance of streets and sidewalks in the downtown as soon as is practicable;

• Adopt a unified maintenance program for the downtown that will:
  • Clean off and remove snow and ice daily;
  • Remove blowing trash/debris daily;
  • Maintain landscaping (lawn, trees, annual, perennials, etc.);
  • Maintain pavers, screen walls, street lighting, etc.;
• Identify funding options for this effort. The creation of a special service area could allow reasonable participation by the Village of Oswego and benefitting businesses and property owners.
• Determine whether this program can be carried out by the existing public works department, or whether:
  • Additional staffing is required;
  • Maintenance should be "outsourced" to a private contractor.

Identify funding options for downtown improvements, so that the final plans can be prepared and implemented, beginning January 1999:

• Explore alternative funding methodologies for selected improvements (see selected funding techniques, below)
• Initiate funding, beginning in 1999, to carry out phase one improvements, based on needs and priority:
  • Streetscape improvements
  • Relocating overhead utilities underground
  • Facade improvement program
  • Waubonsee Creek promenade plan
  • Active recreation area west of Washington
  • Downtown redevelopment plan
  • Adaptive reuse and facade improvements along Monroe Street

Priority #2 Actions

In January of 1999, initiate the final design of streetscape plan, and coordinate its design with existing utilities and planned infrastructure improvements:

• Prepare final plan, developed to implement adopted streetscape concepts
• Coordinate all work with Village Engineer and/or consultant engineer
• Use this final plan to:
  • Maintain access to properties during construction (vehicular and pedestrian)
  • Carry out detailed design and specification of all improvements (now "typicals")
  • Coordinate between Village and property owners on:
    • Sidewalk relocations
    • Off-street parking (location of employee, customer and metered parking)
    • Benches/litter containers/planters
    • Screen walls
    • Trash enclosures
    • Landscaping/street trees
    • Lighting
  • Develop detailed cost estimates for planned improvements
  • Prepare final bid documents

Phase the work associated with the Main Street Redevelopment Plan to minimize disruption of existing businesses

• Initiate infrastructure-based improvements in the spring of 1999, including:
  • Street, curb and driveway improvements
  • Parking area improvements
  • Sidewalk replacement
  • Non-structural pedestrian enhancements (signs, pavement markings)
  • Paver installation
  • Fountain (water feature)
  • Street lighting
  • Undergrounding of utility wires
• Install trees and hardscape elements not related to infrastructure:
  • Street trees and other landscaping
  • Topsoil and sod installation
  • Screen walls
  • Decorative iron railings
  • Community identification/entry monument signs
• Install street furniture and other amenities:
  • Benches
  • Banners
  • Litter containers
  • Movable planters
  • Annuals and perennials
  • Seasonal decorations

Initiate a program that places utilities under-ground during the redevelopment of Main Street:

• Identify priorities for relocating overhead utilities underground
• Identify funding options/participation by utility companies, Village, and property owners

Work cooperatively with utility companies to cost-effectively relocate utilities during implementation of the streetscape program

Develop a strategy for helping businesses to operate during construction:

• Prepare a plan that maintains pedestrian and vehicular access to individual properties:
  • Install infrastructure/hardscape in front of individual business at same time, to minimize disruption
  • Complete, and move onto next set of businesses
• Keep the lines of communication open between contractors, business and property owners:
  • Maintain a calendar of scheduled improvements
  • Create and circulate a weekly newsletter to update business and property owners on the status of construction
  • Inform property and business owners of type, timing, and scope of planned improvements at least two weeks before they occur
  • Monitor progress, and immediately address concerns that may be raised by businesses prior to, or during construction
• Require contractors to maintain essential traffic circulation in the downtown, and keep downtown clean

Priority #3 Actions

Launch a facade improvement program:

• Use OEDC to encourage facade improve-ments for buildings along Main, Jackson and Washington Streets as first priority.
• Follow adopted guidelines developed for facade improvements.
• Prepare and adopt design guidelines for:
  • Awnings (location, proportion, color, material, etc.);
  • Color styling of buildings;
  • Signs (placement, style, method of illumination, number, etc.);
  • Screening mechanical equipment and trash.
• Consider providing design services for concept architecture (hire an architect)
• Offer Village grants to cover a portion of the qualifying improvement, up to a maximum amount, based the type and extent (lineal feet) of improvement:
  • Determine dollars that can be made available during next three fiscal years
  • Identify criteria for selection:
  • Tuckpointing, new windows, restoration of the facade, etc.
  • Awnings, color styling, etc.
• Identify maximum dollars that will be made available for improvements that comply with adopted criteria
• Consider reducing Village's financial participation by 20 percent, year #2, to encourage early participation
• Create a similar program for replacing non-conforming signs

Initiate Waubonsee Creek preliminary plan:

• Prepare the final plan, based on the adopted concept plan
• Apply for grants to help fund this component of the downtown plan
• Initiate fundrasing for some of the improvements
• Coordinate the final plan with Fox River Trail, Park District and Library
• Follow the process identified for final design and phasing construction of the Main Street Development Plan, above

Initiate active recreation area plan west of Washington Street, south of the Fox River, after Hudson Crossing Park is completed:

• Initiate the preparation of the final plan by the Oswegoland Park District
• Initiate the relocation of the maintenance facility
• Apply for grants
• Coordinate the plan with Fox River Trail (including access to islands) and Park District

Follow the process identified in items for final design and phasing construction of the Main Street Development Plan, above

Priority #4 Actions

Initiate redevelopment according to the adopted downtown redevelopment plan:

• Target the old hardware store building as a priority for facade improvements
• Continue plans for Village Hall expansion and promote as "building for the future"
• Meet with individual property and business owners to generate a consensus on the adopted plan
• Identify relocation options for existing businesses and residences that are within the Village limits and in the downtown, where feasible and appropriate
• Prepare a development prospectus for the block bounded by Washington, Harrison, Jackson and Adams Streets
• Provide low-interest loans and/or grants for relocation to Village-endorsed sites
• Coordinate facade improvements and redevelopment of business that have frontage along the west side of Washington Street
• Work with the Park District to develop final plans for boat launch, fishing pier, and island parks, and coordinate with applicable agencies for approval of bridge crossing
• Prepare and implement shared parking agreement between Park District and Village for special event/parking area east of Jackson Street
• Use OEDC to attract new businesses in areas planned for future redevelopment (excluding businesses in the block bounded by Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Harrison Streets, previously discussed) at such time as a property is sold, or a business is relocated. This includes:
  • Fire station
  • Dodd Construction

Coordinate adaptive reuse and facade improvement of buildings along Monroe Street:

• Use OEDC to encourage property owners to implement facade improvements
• Work with property owners to follow the adopted plan, with respect to:
  • Business recruitment and retention
  • Adaptive reuse