Audubon meeting set for this Friday

By Patrick Johnston
Published: June 3, 2008

A process that has taken nearly four years will reach a significant milestone this Friday.
That’s when David Risinger of Audubon Partnership will return to the Bluff City to offer the group’s final report on land use recommendations. He’ll meet with city officials and the public at 10 a.m. from the Eufaula Community Center. The meeting is open to the public.
“He’ll be presenting their land use sustainability analysis and their recommendations for how undeveloped lands should be developed along the parkway,” City Planner Tim Milner said.
Audubon Partnership officials have been working with the city for three and one-half years, thanks in large part to grants the city received from the Munson Foundation.
In April, Audubon Partnership officials met with nearly four dozen individuals to discuss initial recommendations - particularly along a proposed western alternate route to U.S. Highway 431.
At that time they said the city should be thinking about more than residential and commercial development opportunities along the route. They recommended that the city think about equestrian trails, street lights and visually-appealing medians along the seven-mile route.
“Make this road a prototype. Make it something they want to see,” Risinger said in April.
Risinger and other Audubon officials suggested that the right-of-way be narrower, even though there will still be two 12-foot wide driving lanes in each direction.
In one sketch drawing they showed trees on each side and in the median, walking and biking lanes (a safe distance away from the roadway) and lighting for pedestrians and motorists. They predict that would make the route safer, with a designed speed of 50 to 55 mph as opposed to 65 mph.
Risinger also talked about using roundabouts - a circular intersection where traffic flows around a center island - to and from the route.
He says that would eliminate the need for traffic signals, be more aesthetically-pleasant, safer and cost-efficient. He said the flow of traffic would also move better because there would be no stopping at the traffic signal.
Commercial development would mainly occur at the intersections of the alternate route and U.S. Highway 431.
Audubon officials have also talked about land-use planning and what areas would be suitable for development.