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GJ City Council Hears Latest North Avenue Plans

by KREX News Room
by Amanda Brandeis

Story Created: Nov 19, 2012 at 9:33 PM MDT

Story Updated: Nov 19, 2012 at 9:33 PM MDT

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. On Monday the Grand Junction City Council heard new details regarding the North Avenue Overlay Plan. The North Avenue Advisory Committee laid out what they envision for the busy corridor in the future. They also discussed incentives for businesses, among them a point system.

Dave Thornton, principal planner for the City of Grand Junction, said, "Trying to create an urban landscape in the sense of building up close to the street, rather than tucked away behind parking lots."

Shelly Dackonish, senior staff attorney, said, "Personally when I look up and down that corridor I'm dazzled by the potential for activity and revitalization."

"This overlay will help implement that vision," Thornton said.

They've created several incentive-based opt-in standards for new development.

Thornton said, "An optional zoning overlay that would allow people to develop differently than they would under their current zoning."

Planners are also looking at a point-system to spur development activity.

"The point system we've developed is a mechanism for property owners, along North Avenue who are in the overlay district, to make improvements to their property and then re-capture some of the cost," Dackonish said.

The system establishes a point value for various improvements from least important to most important.

"As later funding becomes available they can capture some of their own investment based on the point values they've accumulated," said Dackonish.

"Our goal is whatever we can do to try and visually improve it. We look at examples from around the country doing street-scape type projects, it helps corridors," Thornton said.

There are several possible funding mechanisms for the point system, including general fund allocations, BID funds, tax rebates or tax increment financing (TIF). TIF requires formation of an Urban Renewal Authority, blight determination and adoption of Urban Renewal Plan for the area.

Planners are hopeful these incentives will visually improve the corridor, attracting the people, investors and confidence needed to really finish the job.

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dave argenta said on Thursday, Dec 13 at 12:13 AM

Any news on future developments at the Plaza on North Avenue site surrounding the Hooters restaurant? I did a sales pitch to Restaurants of America (Hooters home company in Atlanta) back in 2000-2001 touting GJ as a prime location for a Hooters. I did the same for a Hooters location on the north side of Colorado Springs in the 1990's which also was a successful sales pitch. Just curious about future developments around Hooters at the North Ave. Plaza site. Thanks! Sincerely, Dave Argenta Master's Community & Regional Planning Iowa State University, 1979

Realist said on Tuesday, Nov 20 at 11:54 AM

David, go get in your race car and drive outta state.

David said on Tuesday, Nov 20 at 10:39 AM

I wonder if they'll butcher North Ave like they did Colorado and Main streets, or neck it down to one lane like 12th street so the occasional bicyclist can feel good about themselves.

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