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- when is it finished.

Promenade Functional Requirements, the Project shall:

1. increase foot traffic and reduce car traffic
2. remain consistent with Vision 2030 Promenade
3. Vision 2030: MO4 Pedestrian Enhancement (pg-29)
4. Vision 2030: AC2 Arts and Culture (pg-49)
5. consistency with Feb 9, 2021 RFP  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 ($2.6M @ 9-mos)
20. retail business compensation during construction
21. Hydrology engineering assessment of promenade in a flood-plain with no new drainage requirements
22. Meet CEQA after Hydrology Engineering assessment
    

The Promenade Design Requirements, the Project shall:

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

 

-LS