The document outlines an agenda and best practices for designing a successful town square. It summarizes feedback from a visioning meeting where community members expressed a preference for an open town square space without parking over other development options. Key priorities included creating a flexible space that can accommodate different uses and activities for all ages, while maintaining a sense of community and place. Design considerations discussed ensuring accessibility, safety, maintenance needs and balancing active and quiet areas.

1. TOWN SQUARE
MEETING AGENDA
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Project Overview and Next Steps
3. Summary of trends and findings from the Town Square Visioning Meeting.
(10 minutes)
4. “Town Square” Inspiration and Best Practices
(10 minutes)
5. Table Discussion and Design Exercise
(30 minutes)
6. Group Report and Conclusion

2. CREATING A SUCCESSFUL TOWN SQUARE
• Understanding how people are using or will use the square
• A common vision among the community and stakeholders
• A program of uses and activities that represents the community
vision and that can be used to inform the design and
management strategy
• A management plan and strategy
• Good Design

3. Visioning Meeting: Summary of Trends and Design Considerations
Discuss the merits of the Town Square concept compared to other types of
space such as a parking lot or mixed-use commercial/residential
development.
Group 1: Prefer Town Square/open space, consider retaining some parking.
Group 2: Prefer Town Square/open space, No parking.
Group 3: Prefer Town Square/open space, No parking.
Group 4: Like Town Square/open space, consider retaining some parking.
Group 5: Prefer Town Square/open space, consider retaining some parking.
Group 6: Prefer Town Square/open space, No parking.
Group 7: Prefer Town Square/open space, No parking.
Group 8: Prefer Town Square/open space, No parking.

4. Visioning Meeting: Summary of Trends and Design Considerations
• Open Space - Commons
• Farmers Market: enhance the site for the Farmers Market; maintain flexibility.
• Children: provide for children’s activities and play.
• Sense of Place: desire to create an activated, fun space that enlivens the
community and is friendly, neighborly and approachable.
• A Place for everyone: create a space that is accessible to all members of the
community: kids, teens, families, singles, couples, elderly.
• Flexibility: allow for multiple uses, consider mobile furniture and play elements
• Zones: Desire to have a zoned space with active, quiet and play areas
• Sustainable: desire to employ sustainable construction and use practices
• Alive: integrate greenery and planting into the plan

5. Visioning Meeting: Summary of Trends and Design Considerations
• Parking: coordinate parking plan with Merchants and City Agencies
• Farmers Market Access and infrastructure needs
• Play: Amount of space allocated to children and children's play structure
• Buffer: Neighbors adjacent to space: noise from activity in the space
• Safety: during the day and night time hours, consider a fence and gate to control
access.
• Management, Maintenance, Programming.
• Noise: events, music and noise generating activities
• Restroom: desire to include coupled with concern about maintenance.
• Flexibility vs. Permanence of the built elements

6. Visioning Meeting: Summary of Trends and Design Considerations

7. Visioning Meeting: Summary of Trends and Design Considerations

8. Visioning Meeting: Summary of Trends and Design Considerations

9. NOE VALLEY TOWN SQUARE
A STAGE FOR COMMUNITY LIFE

10. Campo
Sienna, Italy

11. OPEN –VISIBLE AND FLEXIBLE SPACES

12. MINT PLAZA SAN FRANCISCO

13. INTEGRATION OF STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND GARDEN AREAS

16. FARMERS MARKET

17. CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

18. LOOSE PARTS PLAY

19. LOOSE PARTS PLAY

20. Jameson Square
Portland, Oregon
MAKE THE MOST OF LIMITED PLANTING AREAS

22. COMMUNITY ORIENTED AND INTERACTIVE

23. INTEGRATION OF STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND GARDEN AREAS

24. DIVERSITY OF SEATING TYPES AND ARRANGEMENTS
ACTIVATE THE EDGES

25. THE FLOOR – PAVING PATTERNS ADD TEXTURE AND VARIETY

26. INTEGRATION OF STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND GARDEN AREAS

27. Plaza de los Fueros
Estella, Spain
LIGHTING: SAFETY AND AMBIENCE

28. Plaza de los Fueros
Estella, Spain
INTEGRATE STORAGE AND RESTROOMS

29. ACTIVATE THE SPACE WITH A STAGE OR PAVILLION

30. TOWN SQUARE
TABLE DISCUSSION