The access road from this roundabout to Rutgers Avenue, pictured above on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, could be closed and a retail store built here as part of phase two under a revised master plan for Main Street Oak Ridge. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
A reminder: Oak Ridge officials will meet this evening to discuss proposed revisions to the plan for the second phase of Main Street Oak Ridge, the redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall.
It will be a joint work session between the Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission and Oak Ridge City Council. The meeting is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. today (Thursday, November 8) in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Courtroom at 200 South Tulane Avenue.
City officials hope to make progress and help produce a good plan, although they don’t expect to vote on anything today.
Oak Ridge officials have had concerns about the proposed revisions to the master plan for Main Street as the developer, RealtyLink, prepares to welcome a second wave of tenants. The Planning Commission postponed a vote on the revised master plan and requested today’s work session during a meeting on Thursday, October 18.
Among the concerns raised by city officials have been the possible closure of the road connecting Rutgers Avenue to the roundabout at Main Street. Officials, who have called the proposed revisions a significant change, have also emphasized their interest in having more than a shopping center; they want a mixed-use city center with pedestrian connections, green space or a central gathering spot in its interior, and restaurants and residential units.
Neil Wilson of RealtyLink has told planning commissioners that Main Street Oak Ridge, an unorthodox development that replaces the former mall, has 11 access points. He said the proposed changes to the plan are tenant-driven, and RealtyLink has limited control over the site plans. Five national tenants are “at the table,” Wilson said, and a postponement could be “very detrimental.”
It’s not clear yet if there could be changes to the proposed master plan revisions discussed tonight that would satisfy RealtyLink and its tenants, and Oak Ridge City Council and the Planning Commission.
Officials have said they would like to “get it right.” Emphasizing the long-term importance of the design, planning commissioners said they want the project to succeed, but they also want to make sure Main Street Oak Ridge reflects the desires of the community.
Pictured above is a proposed revision to the master plan for Main Street Oak Ridge.
A proposed revision to the master plan for Main Street Oak Ridge could close off the road at right above that connects the roundabout to Rutgers Avenue. A sidewalk could connect PetSmart, a new store at right, to JCPenney, in background at center, and four retail stores could be built along the sidewalk. The area is pictured above on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
See the work session agenda here.
See our previous story on phase two of Main Street Oak Ridge here.
Learn more about the proposed revisions to the master plan in this Planning Commission agenda from Thursday, October 18.
See more Main Street Oak Ridge stories here.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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