Santa Monica’s Downtown Community Plan Released
April 12, 2017 5:45 PM
SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Downtown Santa Monica is a thriving neighborhood, public gathering space and business district. Tonight, the community was invited to the Civic Auditorium for the official release event for the long awaited final draft of the Downtown Community Plan (DCP). City planners walked attendees through the document, highlighting key elements guided by community input. This draft marks the end of a six year process to develop the principal planning tool that will guide the direction of Downtown over the next 20 years. A digital copy of the DCP is available online at DowntownSMPlan.org.
Over the past year, City staff spearheaded an extensive engagement process to tackle the major issues and bring the community together, collecting views from over 2,000 residents, members of the business community, and employees. Outreach efforts included an interactive website, analytical tools, online questionnaires, a series of workshops and community conversations. While the final draft DCP builds on the strengths of previous planning efforts, it is infused with direction from Planning Commission, Council and the public.
“We heard thoughtful and heartfelt input from every corner of our community,” said David Martin, Director of Planning and Community Development. “We know that Downtown is a beloved public space that thrives because of its existing character. This final draft Plan takes a balanced approach towards preservation of our historic assets, the need for more housing options and allowing local businesses to continue to succeed.”
Overall, the input distilled around seven key areas:
- A lower scale Downtown
- Sustainable housing options
- Economic diversity
- Vibrant streets and public spaces
- Fluid transportation network
- Preservation of Downtown’s history
- More art and culture
From these insights, five significant focus themes are highlighted in the final draft DCP:
- A predictable process to encourage housing, both market-rate and affordable housing
- New protections for historic resources and incentives for adaptive reuse
- Making it easier for local businesses to thrive
- A rigorous public review process for most projects Downtown, including on the three Established Large Sites, that provides the community with the opportunity to weigh-in with concerns or suggestions
- Shaping a New Model of Mobility
The next steps for the final draft DPC include public hearings at Planning Commission with the following anticipated schedule of deliberations:
|
DATE |
TIME |
LOCATION |
DELIBERATION TOPIC |
|
Wednesday April 26, 2017 |
6:00PM |
Council Chamber, City Hall 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, California |
Overview of Final Draft of DCP/Final EIR; consideration of the Resolutions of Intention for amendments to LUCE, CCSP, and Zoning Ordinance |
|
Wednesday May 10, 2017 |
6:00PM |
Council Chamber, City Hall 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, California |
Arts/Culture, Open Space, Historic Preservation, and Housing Strategy |
|
Thursday, May 11, 2017 |
6:00PM |
Multi-Purpose Room, Main Library 601 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, California |
Development Standards |
|
Wednesday May 17, 2017 |
6:00PM |
Council Chamber, City Hall 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, California |
Development Standards (overflow), Review Process and Project Requirements |
|
Thursday May 18, 2017 |
6:00PM |
East Wing, Civic Auditorium 1855 Main Street, Santa Monica, California |
Mobility and Infrastructure |
|
Wednesday May 31, 2017 |
6:00PM |
Council Chamber, City Hall 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, California |
Vote on Planning Commission recommendations for amendments to the LUCE, CCSP, Zoning Ordinance, and Final Draft of DCP/Final EIR |
The City Council will hold public hearings on the final draft Downtown Community Plan this summer.
For more information, visit downtownsmplan.org.
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