City residents discuss growth
CIVIC CENTER Santa Monicans might disagree on rent control and other citywide issues, but they are united in one vision — to one day see a bicycle and pedestrian friendly community where parking is abundant and mom-and-pop stores are thriving.
They’re the elements of a Santa Monican’s utopia, where motorists and bicyclists can peacefully coexist and new development is designed to scale with the existing neighborhood.
The feedback from three neighborhood workshops held in March and April were absorbed Monday night during a citywide meeting on the formulation of an updated Land Use and Circulation Element (LUCE) of the city’s general plan. Last updated in 1984, the LUCE would shape the city’s developmental appearance in the future through changes in the city’s Zoning Ordinance.
The walls of the East Annex in the Civic Center were lined with worksheets, maps and photos from each of the three previous workshops, which covered the Sunset and Ocean Park neighborhoods, the Wilshire and Mid City regions, and the Pico neighborhood.
Scribbled on the worksheets were notations to improve each neighborhood. One person recommended removing chain link fences along Pico Boulevard while another resident suggested implementing an electric shuttle bus service on Wilshire Boulevard. Removing through traffic from the residential streets in Sunset and Ocean parks was also suggested.
“The main theme was we have got to come together with a shared vision,” said Eileen Fogarty, director of the city’s Planning and Community Development. “We will not succeed if we have winners and losers.”
Everyone’s voice must be represented in the LUCE, Fogarty added.
Taking suggestions and community input from the workshops, city staff compiled a list of so-called guiding neighborhood “principles,” asking residents in attendance to rate the list of 46 principles in order of preference. Principles are outlined under six different sections, addressing issues such as parking and transportation, urban design for mixed-use neighborhoods, boulevards and walkable communities.
City consultant Daniel Iacofano of Moore-Iacofano-Goltsman moderated the community discussion throughout the evening, reviewing several of the principles and asking residents to raise one of three cards to express their sentiments — green if they agreed, yellow if they were unsure and red if they disagreed.
For the most part, residents seemed to be in agreement with the majority of the guiding principles that were highlighted. These principles point to a city filled with community gathering places where there is plenty of alternative transportation and where there is preservation of the existing housing stock.
One woman said biking is more dangerous now that there are more designated bike lanes because it gives bicyclists a false sense of security. Another resident said the city should try to encourage more underground parking, while another resident urged the city to protect local small businesses.
Many of the desired amenities already exist in Santa Monica, Nina Fresco, who is also the chairwoman of the Landmarks Commission, pointed out.
“We’re not rebuilding the entire city from scratch,” Fresco said. “We’re trying to add to the best parts without contributing to the parts we’re not so fond of.”
Though there were common themes from all three community workshops, there were suggestions specific to each neighborhood. The residents of the Pico Neighborhood agreed that they wanted to see traffic congestion resolved at Pico and Cloverfield boulevards, an underground tunnel to Trader Joe’s and less fast food restaurants.
The residents of the Wilshire and Mid City areas said they would like to see more green landscaping, parking eliminated during morning peak traffic hours and diagonal parking on 15th Street. The residents in the south side of the city — Ocean and Sunset parks — believe there should be a pedestrian bridge over the intersection of Ocean Park and Lincoln boulevards as well as public restrooms.
City staff will report to City Council on June 19, asking it to support the initial direction of the Land Use and Circulation Element as well as the guiding principles. Staff will then hold another workshop for the industrial community on June 23 before taking a summer break. In the fall, another workshop will be held on workforce housing. The goal is to present a draft of the LUCE to the Planning Commission and City Council in the late winter of next year.
“If you think in terms of the general plan, this is the first couple of chapters,” Fogarty said.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 9, 2007. Read the original PDF.