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1 San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan & EIR September 22nd, 2014 ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 • Staff – Review background – Precedent Policies – Planning Process – Introduce Administrative Components – Review Form Based Code – Review Complete Streets – Infrastructure – EIR • City Council – Open Public Hearing – Consider Legislative Components Overview of Tonight’s Meeting ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 • 1999 General Plan – Major Issue: Development within the San Pablo Avenue Corridor unattractive and not pedestrian friendly – Primary Action Strategies: • Del Norte, Plaza and Midtown Revitalization Strategies Economic Development Strategy • San Pablo Avenue Corridor Design Guidelines • Green Infrastructure Initiative • 2006 Economic Development Action Plan – Goal: Create consistent vision of El Cerrito’s transition to an urban lifestyle (along SPA) that attracts high quality development and sustains a strong sense of community Local Goals ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 • 2013 Strategic Plan – Achieve long-term financial sustainability • Attract and maximize opportunities for new/expanding businesses – Deepen a sense of place and community identity • Reimagine underdeveloped and underutilized properties • Encourage use of alternative modes of transportation – Foster Environmental Sustainability • Implement the City’s Climate Action Plan - Reduce vehicle-miles traveled through transit-oriented urban form Local Goals ---PAGE BREAK--- 5 • 2013 Climate Action Plan – Encourage more compact, higher density infill development along transportation corridors – Increase economic base • More jobs • Greater vitality and more pedestrian-friendly economic activity • Invest in infrastructure that supports walking, biking and transit-use Local Goals …driving 19 miles less per week per household member! ---PAGE BREAK--- 6 Ohlone Greenwa Master Plan Climate Action Plan (CAP) San Pablo Specific Plan Urban Greenin Plan Active Transportation (Ped/Bike) Plan Update El Cerrito Strategic Plan City of Richmon • Richmond General Plan 2030 • Livable Corridors Form Based Code (Draft) • South Richmond Connectivity Plan Planning Context: Local General Plan Update ---PAGE BREAK--- 7 San Pablo Streetscape Baxter Creek Gateway Park City Hall / Cerrito Theater Reconstruction Planning Context: Related Capital Efforts San Pablo Ave, Moeser- Central-Liberty Ohlone Greenway Station Improvements Past & Upcoming Raingarden Capital Plannin Efforts ---PAGE BREAK--- 8 Planning Context: State and Regional SB Plan Bay AB 32 ABAG FOCUS Program California Complete Streets Act ---PAGE BREAK--- 9 Planning Process ---PAGE BREAK--- 10 • 2010 Draft/Established Principles – Balanced Transportation – Appropriate Mix of Land Uses – Context-Sensitive & Ecologically- Friendly Design – Appropriate Transitions Between Existing Neighborhoods & New Development – Intensification of Uses on Strategic Sites/Maximize Proximity to Transit San Pablo Ave Specific Plan “A vibrant, cohesive and community-strengthening corridor” ---PAGE BREAK--- 11 Planning Process 2007: SPASP Initiated • SPA Advisory Committee, Design Review Board, Planning Commission 2009: Draft Plan & Mitigated Negative Declaration 2010: 2nd Draft 2011: City Council Study Session • Open issues: Parking, Economic Feasibility, Need for More Location Appropriate TOD 2012: TOD Feasibility Analysis • Height, Density and Parking Recommendations 2013: Proposed SPASP Contract Authorized • Add Form Based Code, Programmatic EIR, Complete Streets and respond to feasibility analyses ---PAGE BREAK--- 12 Planning Process 2013-14 • Technical Advisory Committee: BART, AC Transit, Contra Costa Public Health, East Bay Bicycle Coalition, Caltrans • Internal Coordination: Police, Fire, Public Works, Planning, Economic Development, Sustainability • Study Sessions with Design Review Board, Planning Commission, City Council • Three Public Meetings Coordinated with Active Transportation Plan and Urban Greening • Developer and Architect Charrette • 45-Day Public Comment Period for EIR • Planning Commission Recommendation of Specific Plan and EIR to City Council ---PAGE BREAK--- 13 Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Form-Based Code • Administration • Regulation Chapter 3: Complete Streets Chapter 4: Infrastructure Appendices Specific Plan Outline ---PAGE BREAK--- 14 San Pablo Ave Urban Design Framework ---PAGE BREAK--- 15 San Pablo Ave Specific Plan Study Area ---PAGE BREAK--- 16 Urban Design Framework Overall Vision Map Moeser Node Stockton Node ---PAGE BREAK--- 17 A. Strengthen Sense of Place B. Ensure Return on Investment (ROI) C. Encourage Practical & Market Friendly Development D. Enhance & Humanize the Public Realm E. Catalyze Mode Shift Overarching Plan Strategies Uptown Midtown Downtown ---PAGE BREAK--- 18 Specific Plan Administration ---PAGE BREAK--- 19 • Intent: Set clear standards for high-quality development and incentivize investment • Tiered Approval System – Tier 1: Minor improvement existing structures, Administrative Review – Tier 2: Projects which precisely meet standards, Design Review Board at public hearing – Tier 3: Major improvements to existing structures, Design Review Board at Public Hearing – Tier 4: New development with specific deviations to Tier 2, Design Review Board and Planning Commission at Public Hearings Specific Plan Form‐Based Code Administration ---PAGE BREAK--- 20 FBC Administration – Land Use Regulations • Desired land uses residential, service, restaurant) allowed by right • Some land uses require Administrative or Conditional Use Permit (based on potential community impact) • Both residential and commercial allowed on ground floor throughout Plan Area • Commercial uses required on 50% of ground floor frontage in key commercial nodes ---PAGE BREAK--- 21 Regulating Plan ---PAGE BREAK--- 22 Regulating Plan Transect Zones: • Transit Oriented Higher- Intensity Mixed Use (TOHIMU) • Transit Oriented Mid-Intensity Mixed Use (TOMIMU) Street Types: • San Pablo Commercial • Major Commercial • Commercial • Gateway Streets • Neighborhood Streets • Ohlone Greenway • Potential Plaza Connections ---PAGE BREAK--- 23 Transect Zones: Desired Form: • Small to Large footprint • Up to 65' (85' if project is consistent as an affordable housing project) • Flush ground floor - ADA compliant • Shop fronts on Commercial Street types General Use: • Vertical & horizontal mixed-use Transit Oriented High-Intensity Mixed Use Transit Oriented Mid-Intensity Mixed Use Desired Form: • Buildings at or close to ROW • Medium to Large footprint/grain • Up to 55' (65' if affordable housing) General Use: • Vertical & horizontal mixed-use • Primarily residential with mixed use at Stockton and Moeser nodes ---PAGE BREAK--- 24 Mid Town Down Town Up Town • Support the unique existing conditions while building a stronger sense of place along the Avenue • Form responds to the adjoining street and neighborhood context • Uses are market friendly • Encouraged/desired uses on ground floor include retail, personal services, flex space and residential • Concentrated retail and commercial development provides higher walkability and convenience Overarching Goals Street Types Plan ---PAGE BREAK--- 25 Mid Town Down Town Up Town San Pablo Ave Commercial Street Street Types Plan ---PAGE BREAK--- 26 Mid Town Down Town Up Town Major Commercial Streets Street Types Plan ---PAGE BREAK--- 27 • Streets to walk, shop, etc • Flex space on ground floor with 50% of street frontage devoted to sidewalk activation uses like retail • Commercial uses prioritized at key blocks, corners and intersections Mid Town Down Town Up Town Commercial Streets Street Types Plan ---PAGE BREAK--- 28 Mid Town Down Town Up Town • Major to the City • Landscape and aesthetic improvements enhance the first impression & buffer traffic impacts • Complete streets that celebrate all users Gateway Streets Street Types Plan ---PAGE BREAK--- 29 Mid Town Down Town Up Town • Local residential and commercial streets • Calm traffic and recaptured right-of-way for placemaking Neighborhood Streets Street Types Plan ---PAGE BREAK--- 30 Mid Town Down Town Up Town Ohlone Greenway Street Types Plan ---PAGE BREAK--- 31 Mid Town Down Town Up Town Mid-Block Connections Potential Plaza Connections Street Types Plan ---PAGE BREAK--- 32 Mid Town Down Town Up Town Complete Streets Type Vision Map Street Types Plan ---PAGE BREAK--- 33 Form Based Code Standards ---PAGE BREAK--- 34 – Height (and to some extent, intensity) • Transit Oriented Higher Intensity : Up to 65’; 85’ with density bonus • Transit Oriented Med-Intensity: Up to 55’; 65’ with density bonus • Minimum 3 Stories Residential (Except on Constrained Lots) • Minimum 2 Stories Commercial (Exceptions granted with CUP) • Exceptions granted for commercial development with CUP Building Form ---PAGE BREAK--- 35 – Setback • Ensure space for clear contiguous pedestrian pathway, trees and amenities : – Up to 10’ for ground floor, especially with narrow sidewalks – Up to 15’ for ground floor residential • Respect access to sun and light to adjoining residential uses Building Form ---PAGE BREAK--- 36 – Variable Wall Plane – Transparency – Colors, Materials and Textures – Ecological & Environmental Elements Building Articulation ---PAGE BREAK--- 37 Shopfront Forecourt Arcade/ Gallery Flexible Front yard Frontage Standards ---PAGE BREAK--- 38 – Wide variety of parcels and adjoining conditions – Not many contiguous large parcels & generally 100’ deep – Need to respect the adjoining residential development Context Sensitive Design ---PAGE BREAK--- 39 Adjacent Lots Ohlone Greenway Local Streets (Mixed-Use, Commercial) Local Streets (Mixed-Use, Commercial) Major Commercial & Community Streets Shadow Guidelines ---PAGE BREAK--- 40 Mt Tamalpais Golden Gate Bridge San Francisco Skyline Albany Hill East Bay Hills 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 City of El Cerrito 5 5 Context Sensitive Design – Key Views from Public Spaces ---PAGE BREAK--- 41 – Key Locations for Views • Public ROW (east-west streets, sidewalks, etc) • BART platform • Public Plazas – Leverage the best design solution Views ---PAGE BREAK--- 42 • Provides adequate parking for motor vehicles and bicycles • Directs location and access for on-site parking • Allows for adjustable parking requirements to balance desired character, location of transit facilities and market friendly development patterns • Integrates opportunities for parking management strategies • Optimizes on-street parking opportunities Parking Overview ---PAGE BREAK--- 43 – Location Guidelines • Behind habitable space, underground, or on the interior or rear of buildings • Separated at least 5’ from buildings to ensure room for sidewalks, landscaping, and other plantings • No curbs cuts more than 24’ feet wide. • One curb cut per use per site. Conditional permit for more than one driveway per site. Parking ---PAGE BREAK--- 44 Parking: Commercial: • No off-street auto parking required for less than 3000 sq. ft.; • Up to 1 auto space/1,000 sq. ft. for spaces larger than 3000 sq. ft for TOHIMU and 1 space/500 sq. ft. for TOMIMU. • 1.5 short-term bicycle parking space per 3000 sq. ft. and 1 long-term for 10,000 sq. ft., minimum 2 spaces per establishment Residential: • Up to 1 auto space/unit for TOHIMU and up to 1.5/unit for TOMIMU • 1.5 short-term bicycle parking space per 10 units (minimum 2 spaces), 1 long-term space per unit Parking changes and reduction may require a parking study and additional Transportation Demand Management measures; Parking increases require Tier 4 approval process ---PAGE BREAK--- 45 – Type Guidelines • Tandem and stacked parking allowed for all uses • Shared, stacked and unbundled for mixed use and multi-family • ADA accessible parking distinct and conveniently located Parking ---PAGE BREAK--- 46 – Allowed Signs • Maximum area of signs per property limited to 1 sq. ft. per linear foot of building frontage • Wall mural signs may exceed maximum, with zoning administrator approval – Sign Types • Awning Sign • Blade Sign • Marquee Sign • Wall Sign • Wall Mural Sign • Floor Sign • Yard Sign • Sidewalk Sign • Monument Sign Signage ---PAGE BREAK--- 47 – Residential Uses • Private/Common Open Space: Minimum 80 sq. ft per unit • Public Open space: For buildings greater than 25,000 sq. ft., require 25 sq. ft. for each1,000 sq. ft. above 25,000 sq. ft.; For buildings less than 25,000 sq. ft., no open space requirement – Non-residential Uses • Public Open space: For buildings greater than 25,000 sq. ft., required 25 sq. ft. per 1,000 sq. ft. of building; For buildings less than 25,000 sq. ft., no open space requirement Open Space ---PAGE BREAK--- 48 Complete Streets Concepts ---PAGE BREAK--- 49 • Works with Form Based Code • Encourages mode shift – consistent with Climate Action Plan • Builds on recent investments • Designs a balanced and comfortable streetscape environment • Welcomes and accommodates users of all ages and abilities • Maintains travel lanes and on-street parking in majority of locations Complete Streets Overview ---PAGE BREAK--- 50 • Identifies transit, pedestrian, and bicycle infrastructure improvements throughout the corridor • Establishes multimodal performance measures to determine impacts of land use development and infrastructure projects on all modes • Addresses worst vehicle congestion around Del Norte • Incorporates specific transit related improvements: – Introduces MMLOS to reduce corridor-long travel time by 5% – Provides far-side bus platforms including accessible paths of travel and door zones, shelters, wayfinding, and bicycle parking – Identifies need for robust Transportation Demand Strategies (such as EcoPass Program) to encourage transit use Walking, Biking and Transit Use Improvements ---PAGE BREAK--- 51 • Ensures clear, unobstructed, contiguous path of travel – meaningfully integrates accessibility: – Wider minimums for sidewalks throughout- each sidewalk zone designed to incorporate accessibility requirements. – Clearances from street furniture/vertical obstructions Accessibility Improvements ---PAGE BREAK--- 52 • Incorporates wide variety of seating: – Caters to range of physical abilities including companion seating – Allows permanent accessible seating areas every ¼ mile along Major Commercial Streets & Neighborhood Commercial Streets • Provides dual directional curb ramps at 4 way intersections • Considers on-street ADA- accessible parking spaces Accessibility Improvements ---PAGE BREAK--- 53 Streetscape Design: Existing ---PAGE BREAK--- 54 Overarching: • Maintain travel lanes and on- street in majority of locations. • Widen sidewalk widths for contiguous clear pedestrian path • Add more cross-walks (at key intersections & mid-block) & pedestrian refuge area • Provide far-side bus platforms Uptown: • Convert Cutting to two-way traffic • Eliminate second left-turn lanes on San Pablo Ave • Provide bike lanes in one section and consideration of sharrows in another Mid-Town: • Add buffered bike lanes Downtown: • Consider bike sharrows Streetscape Design: Proposed ---PAGE BREAK--- 55 ---PAGE BREAK--- 56 Uptown Existing Prototypical Section ---PAGE BREAK--- 57 Uptown Proposed Prototypical Section ---PAGE BREAK--- 58 Midtown Existing Prototypical Section ---PAGE BREAK--- 59 Midtown Proposed Prototypical Section Cycle Track Cycle Track 11’ 11’ 11’ 11’ Placement of trees near traffic lights/intersections must not block their visibility ---PAGE BREAK--- 60 ---PAGE BREAK--- 61 ---PAGE BREAK--- 62 Downtown Existing Prototypical Section ---PAGE BREAK--- 63 Downtown Proposed Prototypical Section ---PAGE BREAK--- 64 Multi-Modal Level of Service (MMLOS) ---PAGE BREAK--- 65 Traditional Auto Level of Service • Highway Capacity Manual 2000 • Level of Service measured in delay to automobiles • Does not calculate level of service for bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit ---PAGE BREAK--- 66 Traditional Goal: Maintain Auto LOS Source: NACTO Urban Streets Design Guide Why Move to Multi-Modal LOS? ---PAGE BREAK--- 67 New Goal: Balance Service to All Modes Source: NACTO Urban Streets Design Guide Why Move to Multi-Modal LOS? ---PAGE BREAK--- 68 • Uses a combination of: • Built Environment Factors Assessment • Person-Delay Calculations • Evaluates each mode to weigh development project impacts, as well as benefits/drawbacks of proposed infrastructure improvements • Combines individual mode metrics into one overall LOS: • Corridor • Individual segments • Single intersections MMLOS Approach for San Pablo Ave ---PAGE BREAK--- 69 LOS Goals: • Bus: High • Pedestrian: High • Bicycle: Medium to High • Auto: LOS E – but LOS F considered if needed to ensure non-auto goals are achieved Proposed Approach for San Pablo Ave ---PAGE BREAK--- 70 * Assumes a new mid-block crosswalk Built Environment Factors Assessment LOS (High/Medium/Low) Transit LOS Pedestrian LOS Bicycle LOS Existing Proposed Existing Proposed Existing Proposed Uptown: Cutting to Hill Cutting Intersection 7 10 0 7 SPA Segment Macdonald to Potrero 3 9 4 10 0 6 Mid-block at Del Norte BART 0 8 Mid-Town: Moeser to Waldo Moeser Intersection 7 10 0 10 SPA Segment Potrero to Lincoln 7 9 7 8* 0 8 Plumas Intersection 0 10 Downtown: Central to Fairmount San Diego Intersection 0 10 SPA Segment Lincoln to Albany City Limit 4 9 5 10* 0 2 Fairmount Intersection 9 9 0 2 ---PAGE BREAK--- 71 * Assumes a new mid-block crosswalk Built Environment Factors Assessment LOS (High/Medium/Low) Transit LOS Pedestrian LOS Bicycle LOS Existing Proposed Existing Proposed Existing Proposed Uptown: Cutting to Hill Cutting Intersection 7 10 0 7 SPA Segment Macdonald to Potrero 3 9 4 10 0 6 Mid-block at Del Norte BART 0 8 Mid-Town: Moeser to Waldo Moeser Intersection 7 10 0 10 SPA Segment Potrero to Lincoln 7 9 7 8* 0 8 Plumas Intersection 0 10 Downtown: Central to Fairmount San Diego Intersection 0 10 SPA Segment Lincoln to Albany City Limit 4 9 5 10* 0 2 Fairmount Intersection 9 9 0 2 ---PAGE BREAK--- 72 Multimodal LOS Summary • Improve transit conditions to a High level-of-service, with the largest change in Uptown and Downtown • Improve the pedestrian environment to a High level-of- service throughout the corridor • Improve the bicycle environment, especially in Midtown • Maintain acceptable auto level- of-service ---PAGE BREAK--- 73 Infrastructure ---PAGE BREAK--- 74 • Identifies the utility providers for the corridor • Provides a general review of potential limitations in the currently installed systems • Recommends feasibility-level improvements and associated costs, for: – Storm Drainage System – Water System – Sanitary Sewer System – Dry Utilities Infrastructure Analysis ---PAGE BREAK--- 75 CEQA & Environmental Impact Report ---PAGE BREAK--- 76 • CEQA Guidelines • Inform decision makers and the public • Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR) • Impacts and Mitigation California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) ---PAGE BREAK--- 77 • Aesthetics and Visual Resources • Air Quality • Biological Resources • Cultural and Historic Resources • Geology and Soils • GHGs and Global Climate Change • Hazards & Hazardous Materials • Hydrology and Water Quality Draft Program EIR evaluates: • Land Use and Planning • Noise • Population and Housing • Public Services • Transportation and Circulation • Utilities and Service Systems • Project Consistency with Local and Regional Plans • Alternatives to the Proposed Project ---PAGE BREAK--- 78 • Significant impacts • Mitigations to reduce most impacts to less-than-significant levels • Significant unavoidable impacts Draft Program EIR identifies: ---PAGE BREAK--- 79 • Scenic vistas • Historic resources • Construction noise • Construction vibration • Cumulative traffic at San Pablo Avenue/Cutting Boulevard intersection Statement of Overriding Considerations required for potential significant unavoidable impacts on: ---PAGE BREAK--- 80 • Draft EIR (June 2014) • Responses to comments and revised EIR pages (August 2014) • Appendices (air quality, traffic) Final EIR includes: ---PAGE BREAK--- 81 • Is identified by CEQA for evaluating a long-term plan • Identifies mitigations that will be applied to future individual projects • Is intended to streamline future CEQA review • Allows for future site-specific analysis Program EIR : ---PAGE BREAK--- 82 • Business retention/ expansion/attraction • Reaching out to high-quality developers • Ongoing development of parking and transportation/demand management programs • Monitor plan success towards goals • Living document Next Steps After Adoption : ---PAGE BREAK--- 83 San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan & EIR September 22nd, 2014