The Forest Ave Promenade IV

 

Illustration courtesy Ailustrar.com

The LB Independent Newspaper disapproval rating for the downtown Promenade Project is 90.3%. Here's what Laguna Beach City should have done in 2021 to prepare for a project of this magnitude. YAWN! 

OK, but without knowing where a project is going and WHY, you'll end-up somewhere else.   

After three redesigns LB Public Works still does not know WHY they build promenades.  "Having lost sight of our goals, we redoubled our efforts" -Mark Twain  Let's give them a hand-up here.

PROMENADE PROJECT REQUIREMENTS
Requirements answer what function the project performs, what are the objectives achieved and WHY;

- who are the project stakeholders
- what problems or issues does a Promenade solve
- who benefits, who looses
- what does it cost
- who pays for it.

Promenade Functional Requirements, the Project shall:

1. increase foot traffic and reduce car traffic
2. remain consistent with Vision 2030 Promenade
3. MO4 Downtown Pedestrian Enhancement Mobility page-29
4. AC2 Arts and Culture page-49
5. remain consistent with Feb 9, 2021 RFP for a Design Consultant
6. "promenade" "pedestrian zone" is not addressed in LB General Plan
7. plan consistent with General Plan (update the LB GP)
8. provide community space where once was parking space
9. provide shared space for public gatherings
10. design-in alternative to car transport with walking, biking, transit
11. revitalize local retail business, make economic sense
12. open to both LB Residents and Visitors
13. remain accessible to LBFD and LBPD
14. satisfy Cal Coastal Commission Replacement Parking Exemption
15. financial: business receipts before and after Promenade interventions
16. financial: reinvest business profits into local infrastructure
17. financial: pool business profits into local business district
18. identify funding sources; grants, taxes, parking fund, GoFundMe - metrics: measure traffic counts before and after interventions
19. identify cost estimates, construction, maintenance, Enforcement, city services
20. retail business compensation during construction
21. Hydrology engineering assessment of promenade in a flood-plain with no new drainage requirements
    

The Promenade Design Requirements, the Project shall:

1. preserve look and feel downtown village, preserve trees
2. enhance visitor experience by sharing community space
3. develop a multi-modal access plan
4. provide access to cyclists, provide bike parking throughout
5. provide amenities to walkers with wash station
6. provide amenities for walkers with pets
7. take traffic counts for multi-modal use: walkers, cyclists, transit
8. ensure Coastal Commission exemption is met
9. reroute transit stops
10. place benches for seniors at entrance and middle of Promenade
11. provide audible  music
12. provide a performance stage
13. provide entertainment for children
14. enhance public bathrooms, add bathrooms
15. provide furniture for outdoor dining and public meeting (tables)
16. address replacement parking in the project RFP (Feb 9, 2021)
17. ensure Coastal Commission Replacement Parking Exemption is met
18. develop connectivity between downtown, transit stops, Forest alley
19. address flood control drainage
20. provide permeable surfacing with storm drainage
21. provide utility power and lighting for events
22. allow a hybrid design for seasonal variation in traffic
23. allow a hybrid design for emergency vehicle access
24. provide new storm drainage per Hydrology reqmts.
    

 

-LS