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Turner Station Charrette - Spring 2009

Pictured above are the design team and several of the community leaders who helped guide the County's recent charrette process in Turner Station.  This weeklong open studio planning process involved multiple County Planning Department staff gathering information, listening to community priorities and concerns, and developing design ideas to address those issues identified.  For more about the charrette, click HERE to go to the County webpage.  A Visual Preference Survey (PDF) was undertaken by the County at a meeting in Turner Station on April 30, 2009 to assist the Design Team in gauging the community's likes and dislikes regarding building materials, forms, and streetscaping treatments.

The presentation of their week of designs and recommendations was made on Tuesday, June 2, 2009.  The Final Charrette Report and Recommendations can be found on the County's Planning Department webpage. 

At right is a sketch of the Fleming Center with enhancements including the implementation of the previously-proposed Health Path, which will create a circuit that promotes exercise, connects residents with the waterfront, and connects various parts of Turner Station with each other including Lyon Homes, Day Village, and the Main Street area.

Proposed for Dundalk Avenue, to dress up a major entry point into Turner Station, is the creation of a linear park that also narrows the road, combining north- and south-bound traffic on one side of the median on Dundalk Avenue.  The result will be a more attractive, landscaped gateway, as well as slower traffic and a configuration that further discourages truck traffic from continuing down to the Watersedge and Turner Station areas.

Also at this entry point into Turner Station, the design team and the community discussed ideas for a large vacant property called "The Meadow." at the intersection of Main St. and Dundalk Avenue.  This triangular property creates an opportunity for development that also helps define the entrance into the community and would be a dramatic change from the first impression visitors see: the backs of houses.   Two proposals for this parcel were presented: a senior housing building with central courtyard (at right), and a grouping of live/work buildings that would help attract new residents and business activity to the area.

Other housing recommendations focused on doing some homeowner repair programs, buying and renovating houses by working with DRC or starting a separate Community Housing Development Organization, and building a number of new, infil houses on sites identified throughout the community.  The Design Team recommended the development of design guidelines similar to those established for East Towson (PDF), to encourage renovations and new construction that reinforce historic building types found in the community.

Other proposals for improving connections within Turner Station and expanding the community's access to the water and to recreational opportunities were created.  The new Community Center that is in the planning stages on the site of the current Sollers Point High School could be connected with Fleming Park, which has a majestic waterfront view but is hidden and largely serves as a boat launch.  Proposed would be additional ball fields or a tennis court, additional pavilions including a waterfront pavilion giving residents the feeling of being on the water without having to be in a boat, and the construction of a "History Circle" (below) near the historic Turner Track, that could serve as a monument and place for reflection on the community's history.   The Health Path would also extend through this park.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Improving the connection of Day Village residents to the rest of Turner Station was also recommended, with the extension of the Health Path into Day Village and the possible installation of more open fencing with gates that welcome people in and out of the Day Village complex.

Enhancing the look and function of the Main Street area, historically a main commercial area, and softening the barrier installed between Main Street and Broening Highway were also discussed by the community and the charrette team.  Longer term, proposed were new road connections within Turner Station, as well as an additional road connection to Broening highway at Sollers Point Road that would alleviate congestion on Avon Beach Road.

The Turner Station Charrette builds upon community planning efforts that have been underway for several years, including the Turner Station Community Conservation Plan (PDF) from 2003.  The County also worked with community leaders to identify buildings and parcels of historic significance for consideration for historic landmark or district designation.

The Turner Station Charrette process is also notable because it is the first time that County Planning staff ran such a charrette, under the leadership of County Planning Director Pat Keller and Charrette coordinator Amy Mantay.  It is an approach that County Planning hopes to undertake in many other locations throughout the County moving forward.