Street trees should be planted at no more than 30 to 40 feet on center when possible and alternate with street lighting.
During the design process, the lighting plan and tree selection/placement should be considered and coordinated
When possible, distance between sidewalk surface and tree canopy should be at least 8 feet and not more than 12 feet.
Street trees should be placed a minimum of 15 feet from utility or light poles, fire hydrants, and utility boxes.
Street trees should be placed a minimum of 5 feet from driveway curb cuts.
Street trees should be placed a minimum of 5 feet from driveway curb cuts.
Street trees should be placed a minimum of 3 feet from underground utility lines, water access covers, etc.
The next group of recommendations will address streetscape improvements within the public right-of-way. These can be broadly applied to streets within the Presque Isle Gateway District, but they should specifically be implemented for W 6th Street, W 8th Street, W 12th Street, and Peninsula Drive. These recommendations are primarily aimed at improving and enhancing conditions for vulnerable users - pedestrians and bicyclists. If implemented together, all streetscape components will improve the safety and comfort for all modes of travel and enhance the overall sense-of-place.
Consider a variety of appropriate native tree species.
Tree Canopy
The gateway feature package should be implemented strategically in the Presque Isle Gateway District using the location map (Figure 21) as a general guide. For more specifics on the gateways and when to each feature see Section 4.
Millcreek Township should be prepared to implement the W 8th Street Master Plan, addressing all components recommended in the 5 specified areas along the corridor. Detailed descriptions and graphics for the W 8th Street Master Plan can be found on pages 33-48 of this document.
Street trees provide shade which is not only beneficial to people but they also provide aesthetic benefits to passersby. Trees can also improve the function and feel of the street by creating enclosure which makes the street feel narrower, thereby slowing traffic and enhancing pedestrian friendliness. Street trees should be strategically placed to limit the obstruction to storefronts, merchant signs, and residential properties. Street trees should be planted and maintained along the four significant corridors in the District - W 6th Street, W 8th Street, W 12th Street, and Peninsula Drive - but they should also be considered along other local and collector streets in the district as well as Pittsburgh Avenue.
Street Tree Guidelines:
Placement of trees and other landscape materials should not violate sight lines for drivers or pedestrians.
- Street trees should be planted at no more than 30 to 40 feet on center when possible and alternate with street lighting.
The successful planting of street trees will require tree lawns between sidewalks and the curb. Tree lawns should be consistent and used on both sides of each district corridor. They should specifically be included for streetscape improvements on W 6th Street, W 8th Street, W 12th Street, and Peninsula Drive.
Tree Lawn Guidelines:
Tree lawns should be a minimum of 4-5 feet wide and not more than 10 feet.
Tree lawns should be located between sidewalk and the curb.
A comfortable pedestrian experience cannot exist without wide and continuous sidewalk. The walk surface materials need to be durable, safe to walk on, and contribute to the overall character of the district. Millcreek should install new sidewalk where upgrades are needed to address irregularities and necessary repairs and also to fill in existing gaps.