A Letter from our Planning Director

April 20, 2017 9:10 AM
by David Martin

After an extensive community engagement process, we are excited to present the final draft of the Downtown Community Plan! Based upon direction from the Planning Commission and listening to the many perspectives and voices that have an interest in Downtown Santa Monica, this final draft includes the following changes: 

• A predictable process to encourage housing, both market-rate and significantly more affordable housing
• New protections for historic resources and incentives for their adaptive reuse
• Sensible parking requirements 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

As planners, it is our job to be a filter for the many voices that have shaped this Plan and it is our responsibility to balance these interest and provide our best recommendation. About a year ago, we set out with a renewed goal for the Plan to bring the community together around a shared set of  expectations. We asked and you answered loudly that:

• You love Downtown – locals visit Downtown with great frequency and prefer social activities
• We need more public space – creation and enhancement of public space is the top priority
• We must maintain our sense of history – historic preservation is important
• Let’s keep it local – a preference for small-scale and local businesses
• It should be easy to get around – people mostly get around by walking, bike, or car and there should be convenient and reliable transportation choices
• There are many ideas about height – support for the general strategy of protecting the historic core and establishing density near the Expo station but divergent ideas about exceeding 84 feet

We would like to thank the thousands of community partners and residents that have given their time to attend workshops and discussions, join walking tours, take a questionnaire, and send us written comments. Your dedication has undoubtedly resulted in a better Plan.

I invite you to join us tonight for the final draft plan walk-through. As we move into the next few months, I encourage you to continue being part of the planning process by attending public hearings at the Planning Commission and City Council and sharing your thoughts at downtownsmplan.org

Authored By

David Martin
Director