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QUALITY COMMUNITY SURVEY (QCS)
The first evening of the workshop consisted of two parts - a quality
Community Survey and a VPS or Visual Preference Survey. The Quality
Community Survey and Visual Preference Survey were used to collect a
consensus on the future development and redevelopment of the Route 1
corridor.
Participants were then asked to comment on existing conditions, the
market along Route 1, parking, the signing as viewed from US 1, transit
and mobility, road and street character, development options, economic
and financial implementation, and environmental issues; asking the
workgroup for their opinions and experiences regarding the
aforementioned topics.
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VISUAL PREFERENCE SURVEY (VPS)
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| Examples of VPS images |
The purpose of the VPS is to develop a consensus on the
physical character, appropriate intensity, street types and design
vocabulary desired by the community for future development or
revitalization along the Route 1 Corridor. Mr. Nelessen showed the
workshop participants set of visual images and asked to rate them
on a scale between negative ten (-10) and positive ten (10+).
These images illustrated visual, spatial, and functional
qualities of Route 1's existing development and alternative
approaches to land use and design. The highest value images
illustrated the preferred standards for the development of the
Route 1 Corridor. The abbreviation "sd" or standard
deviation refers to the range of scores used to calculate the
average. VPS images that do not stay positive when the sd is
subtracted are not considered positive.
Images that were rated negatively by the workshop group
represented inappropriate and unacceptable design. Inversely, the
images highly rated by the workshop group represented acceptable
and appropriate design or the workgroups vision for the Route 1
Corridor. The collected VPS data and attached questionnaire
provided the workgroup a synthesis in opinion of business owner
and community member. |
VPS Categories
Street type: Participants were asked to rate different street
types. The participants favored VPS images that showed more buffered
roadway types (as opposed to the existing Rt. 1 conditions)
VPS image of a boulevard |
VPS image of the existing Rt. 1 Corridor |
Pedestrian Realm: Workshop participants recognized the lack of
pedestrian access along Route 1. Images showing sidewalks with
landscaping and streetscape elements were rated favorably by the
community.
VPS image of pedestrian realm designed for
pedestrians - with sidewalk, trees and street lamps. |
VPS image of existing pedestrian realm conditions
along Rt. 1, designed for automobiles and not
pedestrians. |
Parking options: Participants were shown various images of
parking lots. Images of surface parking lots with heavy screening &
interior landscaping received higher ratings than those with little or
no landscaping and screening.
VPS image of a screened parking lot. |
VPS image of an unscreened parking lot. |
Street edges: VPS responses showed the participants concern
for street edge treatments and their desire for appropriate screening of
uses.
VPS image of a street edge with landscaping
materials providing screening. |
VPS image of the same street edge without
screening. |
Architecture: The participants were shown images of different
development options and possible architectural forms. The participants
favored multi-floored buildings with a distinct architectural character,
rating the development options that included suburban senior citizen
housing and civic-scaled buildings highly.
Negatively rated VPS image, note the structures
lack of character and site presence. |
Positively rated VPS image, note the building's
character, site treatment and use (suburban
senior housing). |
Signs: The business signs along the Route 1 corridor compete
for the attention of drivers. This has caused visual clutter, as the
signs are different sizes and colors, designed for high-speed automobile
traffic. The participants favored signs with less profile, lower in
height and size.
This VPS image was taken from the Route 1
corridor, note the different signs, their size and
varying locations. |
This VPS image was provided by the consultant
and shows a low profile sign that is landscaped. |
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