After residents soundly defeated the anti-growth Measure LV in November, city officials are still trying to propose a plan that addresses the traffic and livability concerns that led to the initiative being placed on the ballot.
In contrast to the city of Los Angeles, with its out-of-date plans and inertia against planning, the city of Santa Monica has recently released a draft of the city’s Downtown Community Plan. As Santa Monica continues to provide the region with a blueprint for civic leadership, their municipal leaders are seeking to ensure the city’s special quality of life continues.
In an exclusive interview with The Planning Report, Santa Monica City Manager Rick Cole and Director of Planning and Community Development David Martin sat down to discuss the recently released draft of the city’s Downtown Community Plan. The plan seeks to find compromises that allow the city to increase housing supply, while respecting the livability and traffic considerations that led citizens to place Measure LV on the November ballot.
Santa Monica has long been a city where planning has been prioritized and funded. After soundly beating the anti-growth Measure LV in November, Santa Monica advocates for more housing were excited at the potential for more density along the Expo Line corridor. However, many of these advocates were disappointed with the modest proposal of housing for the Downtown Community Plan.
The city manager, Rick Cole, responded to critics of the plan by explaining that there is no way to build enough housing in a worldwide destination like Santa Monica to bring down the high costs of living in the seaside enclave. Cole reinforces that Santa Monica is “committed to doing our share, but bringing down the price of housing to be more affordable to young people and working families will require a region-wide commitment." Right now, he notes “I don’t see the regional political will for that.”
Cole noted the benefits of planning spread far beyond individual projects and streets: they impact the fiscal health of a city. As Cole notes, “Real planning is a good investment. Our AAA bond rating, our stable government, and our measures of community wellbeing all point to the value of doing real planning with the community.” The prioritization of public and civic space were evident throughout the plan.
Martin spoke of finding solutions to incorporate elegant density along the Expo Line corridor. The popular Downtown Los Angeles to Downtown Santa Monica rail line has exceeded ridership expectations, and thus pushed Santa Monica to allow heights of 84 feet and suggest a process for consideration of additional height of up to 130’ on three established large sites near the rail line. The redevelopment of approximately 20 percent of downtown parcels, as assumed in the plan, would result in around 2,500 new residential units.
The plan will go to the Santa Monica City Council sometime in July.
FULL STORY: Santa Monica Downtown Community Plan: An Exercise in Balancing Priorities
Critiquing Santa Monica's 'Grand Bargain' of a Downtown Plan
The city of Santa Monica increased in population by 6,500 between 1960 and 2010, while the rest of Los Angeles County grew by 60 percent over the same period. A debate over a new downtown plan that includes more housing was never going to be simple.
How the 'Builder's Remedy' Is Disrupting Planning and Development in California
The state of California has long looked the other way while cities blocked growth. With the state now enforcing growth plans, more and more cities are faced with losing local control of zoning. Introducing the “Builder's Remedy."
Social Media Bots and the Community Planning Process
Recently published research examines the "Role of Artificial Intelligence in Community Planning"—that is, the role of automated bots on social media in corrupting participatory planning processes.
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
