Carol Cole
The Norman Transcript

Ideas to improve Norman's neighborhoods, art scene and downtown were the fodder for Norman's third Community Dialogue.

About 200 people offered their input for the city's strategic vision Thursday evening at the Norman High School Commons.

Making the city more friendly to pedestrians and bicyclists appeared to be high on many participants' lists, which went well with developing multi-use trails and more sidewalks.

Linking downtown and Campus Corner was suggested, and another idea was to complete Front Street, now called James Garner Avenue, to downtown and link Legacy Trail southward to SH 9 and northwest along Robinson Street to University North Park's planned Legacy Park and Ruby Grant Park.

Several were in favor of developing and enforcing minimum property standards with landlord registration for rental properties.

There were suggestions of making Norman more friendly to persons with disabilities and encouraging more universally designed housing.

"Rezone neighborhoods in the core area so they are consistent with their use," said Jim Long. "There are lots of R-3 (multi-family) zonings that are single family neighborhoods."

He suggested encouraging people to continue to develop lofts above businesses downtown.

Developing and strengthening more neighborhood associations and parks were important to participants.

"I'd like to see more infill," said Gloria Long. "Growing in rather than growing out."
Improvements to the city's public transportation system were encouraged, including adding more bus routes and frequency to serve a larger cross-section of residents.

"We are spoiled and people like shopping close to their cars," said Ward 8 councilmember Dan Quinn, comparing Norman's traffic to several larger cities like Houston and Dallas. "We don't have any congestion except for 10 or 15 minutes a day."
Organizing more festivals was a popular idea, with the possibility of an annual sculpture festival and more music festivals.

Promoting downtown as an arts district was suggested, along with developing an arts incubator to assist in further development of galleries and artists studios in the downtown area.

Participants appeared interested in the city's discussions for a new library and the search for a suitable location in or close to downtown. A search for a large enough site for a new library in a central area is under way.

"I think we need to go up and not out so much," said participant Judith Blake.
Several participants thought traffic needed to be slowed going through downtown to encourage pedestrians and bicyclists and lessen dangers of motorists backing out of parking spaces into fast-moving traffic. More bike racks downtown and around town was another idea to lessen vehicular traffic.

Increasing public art in the city, particularly downtown, could be encouraged with a matching program similar to the city of Edmond's.

Several participants said they'd like to see the Farmer's Market moved downtown and perhaps an open-air structure built to shield vendors and shoppers from the elements, similar to some other markets in the metro area.

The Community Dialogue is a project of the city council's planning committee, chaired by Ward 4 councilmember Cindy Rosenthal.

The next Community Dialogue is planned Nov. 30.