The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About06 DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL CORE PLAN UPDATEAgenda Item 6 Reviewed AGENDA REPORT City Manager Finance Director V NSA MEETING DATE: NOVEMBER 4, 2014 TO: JEFFREY C. PARKER, CITY MANAGER FROM: ELIZABETH A. BINSACK, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR SUBJECT: DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL CORE PLAN UPDATE SUMMARY: The purpose of this report is to update the City Council on the progress made to date on the preparation of the Downtown Commercial Core Plan and provide the City Council the current schedule for project completion. RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council receive and file this report. FISCAL IMPACT: There are no direct fiscal impacts associated with this update. BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION: On February 4, 2014, the City Council approved an authorization for City staff to advertise an RFP for consultant services to prepare Tustin's Downtown Commercial Core Plan. On June 25, 2014, "MIG" was selected as the planning consultant firm to prepare a potential Master Plan/Specific Plan and Implementation Program for the Downtown Commercial Core Area of Tustin (See map below). The MIG team (with offices nationwide) has extensive experience and a proven track record in developing innovative, sustainable and implementable plans based on performing detailed technical planning and design as well as building wide- spread community support. Their approach emphasizes strategic implementation resulting in new policies, programs and projects tha, directly and tangibly impact communities. This includes building in tools to create new public and private sector investments in the near City Council Report November 4, 2014 DCCP Status Update Page 2 term; providing guidance for staff in assessment of future development initiatives; building capacity to optimize scarce City and stakeholder resources; and aligning the right partners to catalyze real, lasting change. The Downtown Commercial Core Master Plan /Specific Plan will define strategies to enhance and protect the heart of Tustin's historic Old Town village atmosphere while creating a stronger, vibrant, pedestran- oriented destination intended to revitalize the community's commercial core. The proposed Master Plan /Specific Plan will ensure implementation of architecturally - coordinated development in the area, attract thriving new businesses, encourage private sector investment and reinvestment, and enhance customer visitation to the commercial corridors of Old Town, First Street, Newport Avenue, and the freeway interface at 6`h Street for a vibrant downtown commercial core (see map below). City Council Report November 4, 2014 DCCP Status Update Page 3 MIG and staff have made significant progress on the project since execution of the contract. A summary of the approved Scope of Work is provided as Attachment 1. Approximately 80 people attended Community Workshop #1 on October 1, 2014 at the Clifton C. Miller Community Center to help shape the future of Downtown Tustin through the development of a new Specific Plan for the Downtown area. Staff, MIG and the public discussed and shared thoughts on the overarching goals for the Master Plan /Specific Plan: s Create an action - oriented strategic plan that is implementable and brings about tangible change. Bolster an economically vibrant and active Downtown environment. Enhance Downtown's brand, identity and visibility in the region. Support and build upon Downtown Tustin's unique character and history. Foster a walkable and bikeable environment that is accessible for residents, workers and visitors. MIG and City staff are also looking for emerging opportunities, trends and ideas for enhancing the buildable and livable environment that composes the Downtown commercial community. Some of the specific topics that are considered critically important to consider include: Walkable and Vibrant streets ➢ Public Space Programming and Placemaki ,ig Connectivity, Mobility and Parking Gateways, Wayfinding and Signage Catalytic Development ➢ Design and Character The project includes extensive community input opportunities and tools to keep people informed, including: Community Workshops Stakeholder Interviews Technical Staff Commit,ee Public Meet'ngs and Hear!ngs Press Releases/Flyers/Web Alerts City Council Report November 4, 2014 DCCP Status Update Page 4 CONCLUSION: The project is scheduled to take a minimum of 14 months to complete with Planning Commission and City Council consideration of the Master Plan /Specific Plan and Environmental Impact Report prepared during Spring and Summer of 2015 and City Council consideration of a final product anticipated around October 2015 (see Attachment 2). The next public workshop is scheduled for Thursday, December 4, 2014 in the Clifton C. Miller Community Center at 6:00 PM. City staff will continue to apprise the City Council of the project's status throughout the process. Commun ty Workshop 02 Community Workshop 03 Draft Plan E ramework Draft Specific Plan December 4 March 19 za2t;4&,-- -- -,�a4k- Dana Ogdon,SAl P E izabeth A. Binsack Assistant DirectbO Community Development Director Attachment 1: Summary Scope of Work for Downtown Commercial Core Plan Project Attachment 2: Summary Process Schedule for Downtown Commercial Core Plan Project Attachment 1 PART I — VISION AND SWOT ANALYSIS REVIEW EXISTING CONDITIONS,,< AND PLANNING CONTE'%'T (Statics - Nearly Complete) o Obtain and review critical information, existing planning documents and other studies such as the Tustin General Plan, Tustin Old "cWV Town AIA RUDAT (1991), � TOET Tustin Historic Resources , Survey, First Street Specific Plan and Design Guidelines (2012), Parking Study for Old Town Tustin (2007), The _ Neighborhoods of Tustin Town Center: A New Beginnin.- (2010), Old Town Parking and Outdoor Restaurant Seating Ordinances (20I0), and Residential and Commercial Design Guidelines for Old Town (2012). o Project area site analysis and overall inventory and assessment of existing buildings and parks, sidewalks, street lighting, street furniture, street trees and other landscaping, and wayfinding signage, o Assessment of area historic resources. o Preparation of corridor sections. PREPARATION OF TECHNICAL STUDIES (Status - Currently Undenvay) o Prepare Base Maps o Market/Economic Assessment • Critical demo.traphic and socioeconomic data for the plan area and surrounding markets. • Value of commercial land transactions. • Labor force occupation and income data for the plan area and surrounding markets. • Residential market trends. • Taxable retail sales. • Transient occupancy tax. • Other factors. o Mobility Assessment • Existing parking demand and utilization. • Existing traffic and level of service. • Existing bike and pedestrian routes. • Transit routes (OCTA). o Infrastructure Assessment • Existing City drainage master plan data. • Existing sewer master plan data. • Existing watts master plan data. • City GIS data. o Land Use Study ■ Retail • Visitor- servin;: hospitality • Office /employment • Public /institutional • Residential • Public Outreach (Status — Currently Undenvay) o Press Releases/Flyers/Mailings. o Stakeholder Interviews (policymakers, executive staff, community leaders). o Community Workshops (Workshop # I —October 1, 2014 -Complete). • REFINED VISION, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES (Slants— Currently Underway) o Identification of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT). o Input from above tasks utilized to refine vision, goals and objectives. PART 2 — PLANNING FRAMEWORK AND CONCEPT DRAFT CONCEPT PLAN o Land Use and Zoning o Height and Massing o Infrastructure/Utilities o Streetscape/Landscape o Mobility and Parking o Market Conditions • PUBLIC OUTREACH o Press Releases/Flyers/Mailings o Community Workshop (Workshop # 2 — December 4, 2014) _I PART 3 — COMMERCIAL CORE PLAN AND CE QA REVIEW • MASTER PLAN /SPECIFIC PLAN o Planning Framework (Branding concepts, Placemaking, Gateways, etc.) o Land Use and Zonin^ o Urban Desi ,.n and Aesthetics o Mobility o Infrastructure • IMPLEMENTATION AND WORK PROGRAM o Placemaking to create a vibrant Old Town. o Enhanced connectivity for pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles. o Creation of a recognizable and memorable gateways and "branding" for the historic downtown area. o Preparation of Design Guidelines. o Identification of underutilized Iand uses. o Recommendations for adaptive reuse. o Signage concepts/Wayfinding. • CEQA - PREPARE INITIAL STUDY, NOTICE OF PREPARATION, EIR o Aesthetics o Air quality o Cultural Resources o Land Use and Planning o Noise o Transportation and Traffic o Utilities and Services Systems o Etc. • PUBLIC OUTREACH • Press Releases/Flyers/Mailings • Community Workshop (Workshop # 3 —March 19, 2015) • PIanning Commission and City Council Hearings (Fall 2015) Attachment 2 16 Press Release 0 Community Workshop #1 10/1/14 C� O (��* WIN Community Workshop #2 12/4/14 Stakeholder Technical Advisory Stakeholder TAC Meeting #2 Interviews Committee (TAC) Interviews 3/19/15 Meeting #1 8/26/14 II II II II II II I+ II II Refined Vision, Goals, and I�► \anning Fre 177 Objectives e IV _ IBase I I Maps Qtak� r� Land Use &Zoning Height / Massing Infrastructure / Utilities Review Existing Technical Studies Streetscape / Landscape Mobilit &Parkin Y g Conditions Market Conditions and Planning Context L � SWOT Analysis Kick -off Regular Coordination Calls Meeting and Meetings TAC Meeting #3 (t� Planning Commission and City Council Session(s) +I I I I I II I �► Draft Concept Concept Plan for Plan Session(s) 0 Community Workshop #3 3/19/15 TAC Meeting #4 Scoping Meeting TI II II I �► Prepare Draft Commercial Core Plan I �O Prepare Implementation and Work Program Prepare Initial Study and Notice of Preparation Prepare Draft EIR Planning Commission and City Council Hearing(s) and Adoption O Final Commercial Core Plan O Final EIR and Support Documents