concept design san antonio river improvements project

INTEGRATION WITH OTHER PROJECTS
Unified Development Code
In May 2001, the City of San Antonio completed a
revised Unified Development Code (UDC). In
August 2001, San Antonio City Council is expected to
consider an additional component to the UDC that
outlines a River Overlay District for the entire river,
called the River Zone Districts. The districts will
preserve the character of the San Antonio River and
ensure public access to the river from the roadways
and commercial/residential facilities. The San
Antonio River Improvements Master Plan is intended
to work hand-in-hand with the development
opportunities outlined by the UDC. The major
requirements outlined in the UDC include:
1. Standards for Landscape Design at the Street Level
2. Standards for Landscape Design at the River Level
3. Building Design Standards
4. Awnings and Canopies
5. Mechanical Equipment and Service Utilities
6. Portable Carts
7. Boats, Barges and Water Taxis
8. Parking
9. Signs
Additional linkages from the river and into the
surrounding city are very important for the long-term
viability of the river. In the north, the most important
connections are east to Broadway Street and west to
St. Mary’s Street. These connections must be
considered when addressing the bridge crossings and
access from the street to the river. The Historical
Mission (Southern) Reach linkages include those to the
Missions, existing parks, and adjacent neighborhoods.
Mission Trails
The City of San Antonio has been working on the
Mission Trails Project since 1992. The first phase of
improvements has been implemented and the second
phase is anticipated to begin in late 2000. This Design
Guidelines manual has been carefully coordinated with
that plan to integrate pathway systems and minimize
duplicated work.
It is also a goal of the River Improvements Project to
link the river with important destination points. This
includes the Missions and other historic destinations in
the south and the San Antonio Museum of Art and
other cultural institutions in the north. The design
teams should consider these opportunities when
preparing the final design solutions.
The City, in coordination with neighborhood groups
and other citizen groups, has also developed a plan for
an on-street bicycle pathway through downtown to
connect the two Reaches. A Hike and Bike Pathway
Diagram is included as an Appendix. It describes the
entire pathway system for the project, which will be
approximately 15 miles long in its entirety.
Existing Mission Trails Bridge
Eagleland Project
The Eagleland Reach, between Guenther Street and
Lone Star Boulevard, will be one of the first projects
to be implemented. This project is a venture between
the US Army Corps of Engineers, Bexar County, the
City of San Antonio, and the San Antonio River
Authority. The concepts presented in this Design
Guidelines manual have been carefully coordinated
with them, as well.
Typical south channel
Downtown Reach
The Downtown Reach between Houston Street and
Lexington Avenue is currently undergoing restoration
and the pathway systems north and south of that reach
have been designed to connect to it.
Symphony Lane Study
The Design Guidelines include a recommended
solution to the flooding problem at the Symphony Lane
neighborhood. However, an engineering study will be
completed in the fall of 2001 that will make a final
recommendation based upon the Master Plan goals.
SAN ANTONIO RIVER DESIGN GUIDELINES 19