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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/17/1998, C13 - MID-HIGUERA DISTRICT ENHANCEMENT PLAN. council Md° j acEnaa Repoin 1=4 ell's CITY OF SAN LUIS O B I S P O FROM: Arnold Jonas, Community Development Director BY: John Mandeville, Long-Range Planning Manager and Jeff Hook, Associate Planner SUBJECT: Mid-Higuera District Enhancement Plan. CAO RECOMMENDATION: 1) Approve the Mid-Higuera District Enhancement Plan workscope; 2) authorize staff to solicit consultant proposals; and 3) authorize the CAO to contract for consultant services costing up to $65,000. DISCUSSION One of City Council's goals in the 1997-99 Financial Plan is to prepare an enhancement plan for the mid-Higuera Street area. The Council gave this plan the priority of an important goal in the Financial Plan, to be worked on after the major city goals had been addressed. The Mid-Higuera District Enhancement Plan is a long-range planning project. The major city goals for long-range planning, the Airport Area and Margarita Area specific plans, are currently being addressed. The work programs for these plans provide staff with an opportunity to work on other city goals while consultants work on various portions of the specific plans. Staff resources will be available to manage the preparation of the Mid-Higuera District Enhancement Plan. The $65,000 funding for the plan was allocated in the 1997-98.budget. Council approval of the attached workscope and authorization to solicit proposals and to contract for consultant services will get the Mid-Higuera District Enhancement Plan underway. As stated in the budget documents, the purpose of the plan is to achieve several General Plan objectives for this mixed-use commercial area near Downtown: • to provide space to meet future demand for certain retail and office use space near the downtown without competing with downtown retail; • to improve compatibility of land uses in the area; • to encourage new development and improve the area's appearance and traffic circulation; • to improve the creek, minimize flood hazards and provide for future creek access and/or trails; • to enhance the area's economic potential through increased public and private investment, increase commercial activity, property values and overall fiscal benefits to the community; and • to identify public and private improvement projects to help accomplish the objectives stated above. The General Plan Land Use Element (LUE) designates the Mid-Higuera District as an Optional Use/Special Design Area. It is one of several areas where the City wants to promote mixed uses in connection with a specific physical design plan for the area. The LUE designation is intended, in part, to encourage renovation of public areas, building facades, signs and landscaping. The LUE states that a Mid-Higuera District plan should address street and driveway improvements, flood Council Agenda Report - Mid-Higuera District Enhancement Plan RFP Page 2 hazards, and habitat restoration and parkway opportunities along San Luis Obispo Creek. The plan should also serve as a "conceptual redevelopment plan" to maintain and enhance the vitality of the business district and to ensure compatibility between various land uses in the district and adjacent areas. The proposed "district" is not a redevelopment area in the formal sense; however, the area may coincide with all or part of a future redevelopment area if one is determined feasible and is eventually established. The enhancement plan could be instrumental in the creation of a redevelopment plan for this portion of Higuera Street. The area is undergoing transition as older, non-conforming buildings and uses are gradually replaced with new, generally more intensive land uses. As shown in Exhibit A, the Mid-Higuera District is essentially a narrowly defined corridor along a portion of Higuera Street, from Archer Street south to Elks Lane. Staff feels that the proposed district boundaries, while defining a smaller area than the conceptual area shown in the LUE, more closely meets the City's needs and budget at this time, since most of the planning issues are focused within the proposed district boundaries as shown in Exhibit A. The proposed project area is sufficiently distinct to allow a subsequent plan to address the remainder of the area identified in the General Plan. Most of the property within the district is privately held. The district has been redeveloping incrementally, without a clear vision of the district's potential or needs. An enhancement plan will help the community reach consensus on a comprehensive "vision" for the area and provide short- term as well as long-term development standards for property owners, developers, and design professionals. From an environmental standpoint, the plan is needed to facilitate restoration and enhancement of San Luis Obispo Creek and adjacent open space, and to take advantage of creek and morro views, possibly including the development of a trail or path along the easterly bank of the creek. Planning issues to be addressed in the plan are discussed in the draft Request For Proposals, available in the Council reading file, and the City Clerk's Office. Following selection of a consultant, staff expects the planning process to take nine months to a year. The planning process would involve substantive public involvement, with at least two community planning workshops along with numerous public hearings. Community Development Department staff would manage consultant preparation of a plan, help the consultant develop policies and programs for streetscapes, building facade improvements, street and driveway improvements, flood hazard management, habitat restoration and creek parkway options, and would complete environmental review. Other City departments are expected to provide key support to the planning and design team. FISCAL IMPACT The 1997-98 Budget includes $65,000 to fund the Mid-Higuera District Enhancement Plan. The proposed source of funding is the General Fund. The proposed scope of work is extensive, reflecting the broad range of goals for this area. Staff recommends that we solicit consultant proposals statewide to attract as wide a range of consultants as possible. Staff will negotiate and enter into a contract costing up to $65,000, or return to Council for further direction if no proposals are received within the specified budget. Conncil.Agenda Report - Mid-Higuera Distriif.Enhancement Plan.RFP Page-S. --- - - ALTERNATIVE 1. Do not prepare a Mi&Higuera District Enhancement Plan at this time. Staff does not recommend this approach because it will iesult in continued piecemeal development which Will not correct, and may aggravate, existing problems in the district; including: traffic congestion, conflicting land uses, flood'hazard,. substandard or non-conforniing structures, and the lack of overall vision to guide public and private development ih the Mid-Higuera area. 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L `L HL m e. "#-Y, '' .7. 'ar'`'ri^f 7�'hvs r b 5y•�� � + ���. I' d e+,,'�5'dd''Y+f &��4F''wah`n Wo- r% a#"fie f�.'a�i ['l S �S' YL, � ya, C" L. I ,}•1 li �- '^•� !P $. j. ems^ i � '?!!. .d L:: �e �•, .i-M'kr s l > �ib r r'a � i�s f .. oa: nr '" q.�fv �' `S ti r4 i° "5-,\.,-:.! a 4.^.,_•ti_"..Yt�`, a;:. v'�.."ca. b n RGA' i.I. s:�.r°..':�hn.�. ...., � ` ba:Y t r i.�„ Fn?��1Y, :•c°id-v l\,aa t����:..2 w•T.�' EXHIBIT B city of San IDIS OBISpo Preliminary Workscope: Mid-Higuera Street Enhancement Plan The consultant shall prepare the following documents: => Mid-Higuera Street Enhancement Plan, which will include, as a minimum, these sections: => Land Use/Market Demand Analysis; => Traffic and Circulation Plan; => Creek Restoration/Parkway Plan; and => Land Use Plan/Redevelopment Strategy; => Urban Design Plan. Specific Work Products The final plan and supporting documents will provide plans,policies, and programs to serve as a "blueprint" for the gradual redevelopment and improvement of this key commercial corridor. They will also show how this district will be functionally, aesthetically, environmentally, and economically integrated with adjacent areas, in a manner that is consistent with other general plan goals and policies. The Mid-Higuera Street Enhancement Plan will address the area shown in Exhibit A, which is a smaller subarea of the Special Design Area shown in the General Plan shall include these specific work products: I. Two public workshops and an opinion survey to solicit community, business owner, resident, and property owner views on the district's issues, opportunities, and needs. At the workshops,the City encourages the use of multi-media presentations including video, graphic imaging, "hands on"audience participation, and effective media and outreach strategies to solicit maximum community interest and input; H. An illustrative Plan map summarizing the district's land use and street circulation strategy; creek corridor improvements and uses; natural and man-made features; and other relevant land use/development information; III. A narrative Plan, in booklet format, which will, as a minimum: A) Summarize and explain the recommended Goals, Policies, and Programs for the Mid- Higuera District,presented in a format which could be adopted by the City Council; B) Describe key features of the Plan in both written and graphic format, including,but not limited to these sections: C-l3-S Mid-Higuera Street Enhancement Plan- Tentative Workscope Page 7 1) An analysis of the district's existing conditions, development capacity and limitations, form and visual character, utilities,historic development and use factors,relationship to creek and adjacent use areas, and an analysis of general plan and zoning issues as these relate to the City's objectives, as described in the Request For Proposals; 2) Results of an opinion survey, conducted by the consultant, to determine occupant and property owner concerns, interests and opinions for the district's future land uses;visual quality; creek use; economic vitality; and traffic circulation; 3) A market demand/land use analysis to identify the highest and best uses of the properties from a long-range sales tax per square foot perspective, a land use/redevelopment strategy to plan for the district's gradual transition of uses; 4) A street circulation and improvement program, including a schematic improvement plan showing necessary street changes, including, where applicable: street widening, street closures, driveway access changes/limitations, bikeway, pedestrian and related frontage improvements and connections,public/private parking provisions, utility undergrounding, and intersection/signaling improvements; 5) An analysis of San Luis Obispo Creek in terms of biotic,visual, hydrologic factors, and a strategy for restoring and enhancing the creek within the district, possibly including public access, expanding creek setbacks, and improving riparian habitat while improving opportunities for businesses to take positive advantage of their creek setting; 6) A visual assessment of the district's man-made and natural features to identify significant features,view corridors, and the effects of recommended land use/streets/urban design changes on the district's visual character and economic vitality; 7) Urban design guidelines, including the identification of visual goals for the district, development standards, and architectural and landscape design guidelines for both public and private areas. Consultanataff Teamwork Approach The consultant will work cooperatively with City staff to clearly establish project parameters, to clarify approaches and project responsibilities, finalize workschedule and key milestones, identify, collect and analyze resource information, organize and lead the public survey and workshop, and to keep City staff informed of study progress,methodology, important issues, findings, alternative views, and conclusions. City staff will assign a project manager to assist the consultant on a limited basis: to develop a list of available background information, including Mid-Higuera Street Enhancement Plan- Tentative Workscope Page 8 prior City reports, local codes, policies and development standards, existing maps, photos, and land use information, and other data available to the consultant. Information available includes: zoning and land use data,permit information, infrastructure, and citywide traffic model. An orientation meeting between the consultant team and City staff early in the planning process will be held to provide information and to discuss project details, followed by regular progress conferences with staff. The consultant will submit an administrative draft plan for staff review and comment prior to submitting the final plan. The consultant workscope should plan to present the plan at four public hearings and two informal public workshops. The strategy for completing the Master Plan is envisioned in five phases: • Phase 1: Issue Identification. Key tasks will include information collection, site reconnaissance, issue identification, and designing a community survey and holding a workshop. • Phase 2: Specific Studies. Key tasks will include land use,market demand,traffic, and creek and visual studies; and an evaluation of community input, leading to a constraints and opportunities analysis. • Phase 3: Evaluate Alternatives. The consultant will develop appropriate alternatives to address land use, economic vitality, creek preservation/use,traffic and circulation, and visual character/urban design. Alternatives will be designed to address multiple objectives, taking into account phasing,public/private costs, difficulty of implementation,public actions necessary, environmental implications, and consistency with City plans and goals. • Phase 4: Prepare Administrative Draft Plan and supporting documents. The consultant will prepare an administrative Master Plan and supporting documents, and submit them to staff for review and comment; followed by presentation of the plan at a follow-up public workshop. • Phase S: Finalize and Adopt Plan. The Consultant will prepare the final draft plan and narrative booklet, and present these at public hearings. Following the hearing,the consultant will make final changes/corrections and submit the completed plan. Mid-Higuera Street Enhancement Plan- Tentative Workschedule Page 9 Format All plans, documents, illustrations, photos and other supporting information should be presented in a format compatible with the City's Word/GIS computer environment. Final documents shall be submitted both in hard copy and on CD-Rom. The City's wide area computer network includes these components: C- !3 -7 Mid-Higuera Street Enhancement Plan- Tentative Workscope Page 9 • PC desktops, IBM compatible with Microsoft Office, Windows '95 operating systems; • AutoCad R-14 drafting system; • Geographic Information System products by ESRI (ArcView, Arclnfo, MapObjects) • Land Use Data Base on FoxPro, by Microsoft; • the City is on the Internet @ slonet.org\w\slocity. • San Luis Obispo Citywide Traffic Model runs on Dos-based 1997A version of MINUTP software and FoxPro version 2.6. The City can provide the modeling data on disk. Workscope Changes This is a preliminary workscope and proposals shall be based on the listed workproducts and related information. The consultant may, after carefully considering the RFP and the study area, amend the workscope if the consultant believes changes are necessary or appropriate to meet the City's objectives. So that the City can compare consultant proposals equally, consultants should structure their proposals to provide a base bid for the workscope described above, with any workprogram amendments included as bid alternates. Tentative Workschedule The City has set the following tentative timetable for the selection of a consultant and the completion of the Mid-Higuera Street Enhancement Plan: By this Date: Milestone Completed: April 27, 1998 Submit Consultant Proposals 2nd week/May Interview/select Consultants 3rd week/May Submit insurance information/Notice to Proceed Issued 4th week/May Consultant/Staff Orientation Meeting 4th week/June Complete Phase 1/Staff meeting 1 st week/July Community Workshop 4th week/July Complete Phase 2/Staff meeting 4th'week/August Complete Phase 3/Staff meeting 4th week/September Complete Phase 4: Submit Admin. Draft Plan/Staff meeting 3rd week/October Community Workshop 3rd week/November Complete Phase 5: Submit Final Draft Plan/Staff meeting Dec:Mar. 1999 Environmental Review(conducted by City staff) April/May Public Hearings End of June Submit Final Plan in hard copy and CD-Rom versions Jhftgucmrrp