PCD:AA:AS:JL:F:\CityPlanning\Share\COUNCIL\STRPT\2005\Emerging Themes 04.26.05.doc

Council Mtg: April 26, 2005                                                                                  Santa Monica, California

 

TO:                  Mayor and City Council

                        Planning Commission

 

FROM:           City Staff

 

SUBJECT:    Initial Outreach, Assessment, and Emerging Themes Report for the Land Use and Circulation Elements Project

 

 

INTRODUCTION

This report recommends that the City Council and Planning Commission review the attached Initial Outreach, Assessment, and Emerging Themes Report and conceptually approve the Emerging Themes.

 

BACKGROUND

Six months ago, the City embarked on a process to create new Land Use and Circulation Elements for the General Plan. This two year effort will also include a comprehensive rewrite of the Zoning Ordinance. During the first phase of the four-phased project, staff conducted four community workshops; met with over 36 community groups, City task forces, boards and commissions; and, implemented a broad public outreach program to educate, inform and receive feedback from its residents, business owners and visitors.

 

DISCUSSION

Throughout the process participants offered their perspectives on what Santa Monica should look and feel like in 20 years, what they enjoy, and aspects of the community that they would like to see change. Each of these ideas and concerns has been recorded, and made available to the public through the project websites. The culmination of this component of the project has yielded key themes that are critically important to the community. These themes will provide the starting point for further analysis and consideration of alternative plans as the project enters its second phase. It is anticipated that the identified themes will be further refined as the project moves forward.

 

The attached report begins to capture community sentiment of a vision for land use and circulation in Santa Monica over the next twenty years, which is reflected in Chapter Two of the document, “Emerging Themes”. These emerging themes are expanded upon in the report, and include:

·        A unique city with a strong sense of community

·        A city rich in amenities, with walking access to shops and services from neighborhoods

·        A diverse and inclusive city

·        A town-scale community

·        A city of strong neighborhoods, protected from commercial and industrial uses

·        A pedestrian and bicycle-friendly place

·        A city rich in its array of transit offerings

·        A city where traffic and parking work

·        A city of modest and balanced growth

·        A city with attractive boulevards

·        A safe and secure community

·        An environmentally sustainable place

 

Other sections of the report provide greater detail of the community outreach effort and share some of the specific comments heard from the community; this is covered in Chapter Three. The final chapter provides a retrospective evaluation of the 1984 Land Use and Circulation Elements of the existing General Plan; particular attention is given to where the City did or did not achieve major land use, circulation, urban design, and citizen participation proposals. Attached to the document is a comprehensive Appendix that includes other supplemental reports and data sources.

 

Also, attached to this staff report are comment letters, emails, and one survey conducted by the Friends of Sunset Park neighborhood organization.

 

Because each phase of the project builds on the previous component, it is important to reach consensus on the Emerging Themes, which as noted above, will provide the framework for further study, analysis and ultimately lead to new General Plan elements. For this reason, it recommended that the City Council and Planning Commission consider in particular the Emerging Themes chapter of the report and affirmatively support the conclusions made to date, or as necessary, suggest modifications that more accurately reflect the community’s perspective.

 

PUBLIC NOTICE

While there has been considerable awareness of this project and more particularly, the release of this report, an advertisement announcing the availability of the Initial Outreach, Assessment, and Emerging Themes Report was published in each of the local papers prior to the public hearing. Also, copies of the report are available at City Hall, each branch library, and it has been posted on the project website at: www.shapethefuture2025.net.

 

BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT

The recommendations presented in this report have no budget or financial impacts.

 

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends that the City Council and Planning Commission review the attached Initial Outreach, Assessment, and Emerging Themes Report and conceptually approve the Emerging Themes.

 

Prepared by:              Andy Agle, Interim Director

                                    Ellen Gelbard, Assistant Director

                                    Amanda Schachter, Planning Manager

                                    Lucy Dyke, Transportation Planning Manager

                                    Jonathan Lait, AICP, Acting Principal Planner

                                    Beth Rolandson, Senior Transportation Planner

                                    Liz Bar-El, AICP, Associate Planner

                                    Michelle Glickert, Transportation Planning Associate

                                    Tony Kim, Associate Planner

                                    Planning and Community Development Department

 

 

Attachments: 

A.           Initial Outreach, Assessment, and Emerging Themes Report

Appendix A

Appendix B

Appendix C, D, and E

B.          Public, Board & Commission Correspondence, and the Friends of Sunset Park Survey (Not available electronically.  Available at the City’s Public Libraries and the City Clerk’s Office.)