The Arroyo Group Planning, Urban Design, and Community Engagement Stanley R. Hoffman Associates Economics Iteris Transportation Planning EPT Design Landscape Architecture JMC 2 Civil Engineering
• Introduction to the Downtown Hemet Specific Plan – Background and Purpose – Specific Plan Area – Specific Plan Goals and Benefits – Scope and Schedule • Existing Land Uses, Zoning and General Plan • Land Use and Urban Design Opportunities • Circulation and Parking • Economic and Demographic Trends and Analysis • Summary of Stakeholder Input • Key Questions and Facilitated Group Discussion • Open Forum: Opportunity for Additional Input
• The City has established the revitalization of Downtown as a priority in its 2030 General Plan. • The City is actively working with Metrolink to site a station for the future extension of the Perris Valley Line in Downtown Hemet. • The City was awarded a Sustainability Planning Grant from the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) to prepare a Specific Plan for Downtown Hemet to address revitalization issues and facilitate transit oriented development.
Specific Plan Area OAKLAND AVE Hemet Stock Farm Santa Fe Education Center SANTA FE ST GILBERT ST Civic Center Historic Weston Commercial Park Core City Hall Hemet Elementary School ACACIA AVE
• A regulatory tool that local governments use to guide development in a localized area. • Focuses on the unique characteristics of a special area by customizing the planning process and land use regulations to that area. • Builds on previous planning efforts for the Downtown. • Comprehensive planning: – Overall urban design framework – Public realm recommendations and design guidelines – Private realm zoning, development standards and design guidelines – Implementation strategies
• City-initiated Specific Plan to demonstrate a clear vision for new development. • Economic development tool to facilitate development. • Regulatory to ensure long-term change. • Will be adopted with a Program EIR (separate process): – Creates certainty for future development by providing environmental clearance for specified levels of development intensity; and – Saves future development applicants future time and money by streamlining their CEQA review . • Will support and enhance the future Perris Valley Line Metrolink Station planned to be located in Downtown by facilitating Transit Oriented Development (TOD) .
• Located within easy walking distance of a major transit stop. • Contains a mix of residential, employment, retail, and public uses. • Design emphasizes pedestrian-oriented environment and reinforces the use of public transportation. • Can be new construction or redevelopment. • Reduces auto dependency, provides housing options, and helps revitalize areas.
• Revitalize the historic downtown area and stimulate infill development. • Foster economic development and job creation. • Promote public health and safety. • Increase housing opportunities in mixed-use development. • Enhance greater equity in the community. • Incorporate green building techniques/technologies. • Create a thriving community center for residents, visitors and workers. • Increase access to transit facilities , Metrolink and encourage alternative modes of transportation. • Eliminate blighted conditions and enhance the attractiveness of public spaces .
May-July 2015 Existing Conditions Data Collection June 16, 2015 Stakeholder Interviews and Planning Commission Work Study Session July 8, 2015 Community Workshop #1: Visioning, Opportunities & Constraints September 2015 Community Workshop #2: Preliminary Land Use & Urban Design Concept Sept-Dec 2015 Preparation of Administrative Review Draft Specific Plan Jan-March 2016 Preparation of Public Review Draft Specific Plan April-May 2016 Public Hearings and Preparation of Final Specific Plan
Land Use Designations
Existing Zoning
General Plan Designations
Build on Downtown’s history, traditional street grid, and human scale to create a vibrant, walkable Downtown with a unique identity and sense of place.
Take advantage of various anchors (civic uses, Weston Park, schools, historic core, etc.) in Downtown to create the foundation for revitalization.
Intensify development at appropriate locations – particularly around the site of the future Metrolink station. Site design of the Metrolink Station and its environs will be critical to providing connectivity to the Civic Center and historic Downtown.
Capitalize on the large vacant and underutilized sites in the Downtown which can serve as catalytic development opportunities. Take advantage of City owned properties to leverage development.
The traditional street pattern facilitates a legible environment. Improve the streetscape with additional amenities and make Downtown more pedestrian, bicycle and transit friendly.
Preserve and enhance Downtown’s historic residential neighborhoods and p romote infill development to help stabilize neighborhoods, improve the housing stock and preserve neighborhood character.
Build on the growing arts and cultural scene centered in Downtown Hemet, such that it becomes a part of Downtown’s identity, further contributing to the area’s revitalization and economic vitality.
Enhance and make better use of the various open spaces, parks, and pocket parks within Downtown and provide improved linkages between them.
Enhance pedestrian connections and linkages between major destinations in Downtown and to the residential neighborhoods.
Improve key intersections in the historic core and create gateways (major entry points) into Downtown.
• Major elements of Mobility Plan for Downtown Hemet: – Regional Roadways and Transit Access – GP Circulation Network and Traffic Conditions – Florida Avenue (SR-74) – Parking – Non-Motorized Transportation Pedestrian Bikeways
Opportunities • Extensive multimodal transportation network . Opportunities exist to expand these facilities and enhance their utilization. • The future realignment of Hwy 79 will help mitigate current circulation issues. Constraints • Need for regional transportation facilities directly serving the City and Downtown , integrating Hemet with the Greater Riverside County area. • Caltrans’ jurisdiction over the two state highways: Hwy 74 (Florida Avenue) and Hwy 79 (various roadways) acts as a big constraint while planning for Florida Avenue. Opportunities for Improvement • Promote the extension of the Metrolink . • Explore opportunities for other forms of transit including trolley systems, bus rapid transit, and local transit routes. • The future Metrolink station will provide the opportunity for residents to commute to jobs outside the community .
Opportunities LOS D or Street Name Classification ADT Better • Circulation system accommodates 2-lane undivided cars, pedestrian movements, bike Gilbert Street 1,100 Yes collector/secon paths and links neighborhoods with dary 4-lane nearby shopping, consistent with the State Street undivided North of Florida Avenue 15,900 Yes state’s “complete streets program” . secondary (SR-74) roadway 2-lane State Street undivided South of Florida Avenue 12,200 Yes • Most of the roadways have secondary (SR-74) roadway additional capacity available , with 2-lane the exception of the intersection Buena Vista Street undivided 16,400 Yes collector capacity on State Street 2-lane Devonshire Avenue undivided 6,100 Yes intersections and roadway capacity collector on Florida Avenue. 4-lane undivided Florida Avenue (SR-74) 33,900 No* secondary roadway • Harvard Street is Downtown’s major 2-lane Acacia Avenue undivided 8,400 Yes asset that can be developed. collector
Constraints • Connectivity Gaps : For example Devonshire Avenue is an important east-west street, but it does not connect State Street to San Jacinto Street. • Hemet’s circulation has mostly acceptable level of traffic service . However, Florida Avenue experiences congestion at key intersections such as at Sanderson Avenue, State Street and San Jacinto Street. Opportunities for Improvement • Enhanced intersection geometrics such as adding turn lanes, and upgraded and synchronized signal phasing will improve overall traffic flow. • Addition of missing Devonshire Avenue connection.
Opportunities • Two parallel streets north (Devonshire Ave) and south (Acacia Ave) of Florida Avenue can accommodate potential diverted traffic from Florida Avenue. This provides opportunities to calm traffic on Florida Avenue while diverting traffic onto Devonshire and Acacia. • Florida Avenue is already designated as a Divided Secondary with Bike Lanes which provides opportunities to build Florida Avenue a multimodal divided roadway with amenities. Constraints • Florida Avenue acts as a barrier between Harvard Street to the north and south. • Sidewalk improvements are needed in many places on both sides of Florida Avenue.
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