MEETING PURPOSE AND OVERVIEW On February 23, 2012, the City of Elk Grove hosted the first of two community workshops related to the Southeast Policy Area. The workshop was held from 6:00 8:30 p.m. in the Elk Grove Council Chambers at 8400 Laguna Palms Way. Approximately 25 participants attended the workshop, which was facilitated by members of City staff including Taro Echiburu, Planning Director, and Christopher Jordan, Planning Manager. The goal of the meeting was to introduce the project to the community and receive input on assets and opportunities and related land use, amenities, and circulation improvements. The initial overview included orienting participants to the location and size of the property, reviewing past planning efforts and the project s background analysis, and providing an overview of the scope and timeline of the land use planning effort. Participants were also reminded of the many avenues to provide input and stay involved throughout the planning process, including through an innovative project website administered through MindMixer at http://www.southeastpolicyarea.com. Desired meeting outcomes included: To develop a list of possible land uses to be further explored for the project area. To receive direction from the community regarding project area vision, community oriented facilities, circulation, and other possible improvements. Gather direction to help develop up to three land use alternatives. After a brief welcome and introduction of project staff, Mr. Echiburu gave an overview of the purpose for the meeting and outlined the evening s agenda. Participants were introduced to the planning process and given an explanation of the project goals and its schedule. The group was then provided with an overview of the small work group breakout activities designed to foster input on the opportunities for the project area through an interactive land use activity. CITY OF ELK GROVE 1
SMALL WORK GROUP BREAKOUT ACTIVITIES ASSETS AND OPPORTUNITIES & LAND USE MAPPING ACTIVITIES Meeting participants broke out into three small work groups to provide input on assets and opportunities within the project area. Each group was given a project area map, General Plan Land Use and Existing Zoning Map, and an assets and opportunities diagram or base map and one large format poster with room to write notes. Each group was facilitated by one member of City staff who recorded comments on a flip chart. Once participants shared their thoughts about the assets and opportunities for the site, they were led through a land use mapping activity. Each group was given 24 potential land uses (which were derived from the background analysis and market study, and included an Other option to provide new ideas) printed on stickers, and asked to agree on the top 10 12 land uses that would be most viable for the project area and place them in the appropriate location. The potential land uses included: Public plazas, Mixed use buildings, Small Lot Residential and Condos/Apartments, Retail/Commercial and Office, Civic/Cultural, Restaurants/Cafes, Neighborhood and Community Parks and Community Gardens, Sports complex/facilities, and Other. In addition, the group collaborated on a potential circulation system throughout the site (for pedestrians, bikes, cars, and a potential light rail line planned in the area) and to surrounding uses. At the end of the exercise, representatives from each group presented their completed maps highlighting their desired mix of land uses and key opportunities. The land use maps were left on the tables after the presentations to allow participants to view them close up after the workshop. The land use activity produced many great ideas for the type of land uses that should be pursued in the plan area. A common theme among the three groups was ensuring there were places for job generating uses and community facilities, including: Office Parks/Professional Office and Light Industry. Multiuse paths emphasizing pedestrian and bike travel. Focusing highest density and intensity of development around major intersections and potential transit stops. 2 CITY OF ELK GROVE
A unique land use type that provides a local benefit but can also draw visitors regionally to the area and the City of Elk Grove something that gives people a reason to visit and stay in Elk Grove. Each group came up with a great concept that supports this idea, described in the summaries in the next section. The following is a record of the comments received from each of the groups and the community land use concepts they came up with, which are illustrated on the corresponding land use map. Community Group A Comments and Land Use Concept Generate jobs! Consider light industry (e.g., industries in Roseville) Locate job generating uses (office parks/light industry) along Kammerer Road Consider what will draw businesses to the area? Great schools Range of housing opportunities Community amenities (parks and open space) Locally oriented shops COMMUNITY GROUP A LAND USE CONCEPT Provide job training facilities (e.g., medical/nursing) Encourage a better job housing balance with more job opportunities offering living wage jobs Capitalize on college in close proximity and provide jobs, housing and commercial opportunities to support the college Encourage start ups Consider a Theater District supported by a mix of retail and housing in the northeast corner of the site Community draw Young professionals Encourage community oriented uses in close vicinity of existing homes Promote mixed use with housing above retail uses CITY OF ELK GROVE 3
Do not allow low density residential along major roads Encourage high density residential along major corridors Consider how will potential light rail influence? The location/path could be phased, starting initially as a multiuse pedestrian/bike path and building up from there Big Horn corridor is a valuable link to college Route light rail down Big Horn all the way to Kammerer Road where planned improvements will widen roadway, and light rail can act as buffer Create a transit corridor with retail, jobs, and multifamily residential Reduce roads Community Group B Comments and Land Use Concept Keep agriculture and incorporate into site Some ag. land has been destroyed but preserve and respect cultural history where possible Promote agriculture that attracts tourists Harry & David art gallery Wineries Viticulture Dairy COMMUNITY GROUP B LAND USE CONCEPT Agriculture next to residential = conflict with noise and smell May not be complementary Encourage something like a Pike s Market Cheese instead of fish? Something that will draw people Nature conservancy, Stone Lakes Tie this in! Bird watching 4 CITY OF ELK GROVE
Environmental research Consider institutional land uses (e.g., Elk Grove Medical) Allow/encourage live/work uses Need to generate jobs Encourage more state jobs Consider what SACOG says for jobs in this area? Encourage high density housing for youth and seniors High quality affordable housing for young married couples More residential will bring need for schools Make sure land uses fit into surrounding areas Integrate soccer fields (e.g., Field of Dreams) There may be some concern over more traffic Well planned sports facility With lots of sports and fields If city doesn t put up money this could be difficult Go back to Elk Grove roots Village feel!/walkable Make sure amenities are quality Keep current location of drainage ditch Could be a potential for bike/ped trail CITY OF ELK GROVE 5
Community Group C Comments and Land Use Concept Midtown lifestyle Follow the grid keep straight streets, there are enough curving streets Pull development to the street (e.g., townhomes and walkable retail) Cater to community needs Encourage parks (e.g., Prospect Park) Save trees Organic farming nearby Consider a medical college campus Bring in office jobs. Create business parks. Have some low density residential nearby Executive housing Professional office Medical row COMMUNITY GROUP C LAND USE CONCEPT Consider a large sports complex with a regional draw Encourage travel commercial services along Highway 99 Consider changing residential needs, product changes Encourage mixed use opportunities along transit Consider mini golf 6 CITY OF ELK GROVE
SUMMARY OF WORKSHOP INPUT Common Land Uses. The small group activities provided a great foundation from which to develop three distinct community land use concepts. There were many proposed land uses that were consistent between the three groups including: Professional office both within office parks and located above retail in vertical mixed use buildings Mix of residential types and densities including affordable workforce housing Focusing medium to high density transit oriented development (housing, office, and retail) within close vicinity of potential light rail transit stops College facilities that could provide job training opportunities building off of the college campus in close proximity Medical facilities Community oriented uses including community gardens, parks and sports facilities, and multiuse paths within walking distance of the majority of housing Unique Vision. Each group also came up with a unique vision or theme. Community Group A s Vision The unique community and regional draw that was envisioned in this group was to consider a theater district in the northeastern corner of the plan area that can provide space for a range of civic and cultural activities including a live theater and supporting uses. The group agreed that this type of use is currently missing in Elk Grove. It would be important to locate a mix of residential and retail uses within close proximity of the civic/cultural uses connected with multimodal paths. Group A also decided to route the potential light rail line down Big Horn Road to Kammerer Road and line Kammerer Road with office parks, light industrial uses, and mixed use development with a mix of residential uses over retail. Community Group B s Vision This group s distinct vision for the plan area was focused around respecting the cultural and historic character of the plan area and providing space for land uses that can build off of that theme. To that end, the southwestern portion of the plan area was designated as agricultural use that could support viticulture linked with wineries and or educational/training facilities, sustainable harvesting of the land (potentially including orchards that allow customers to pick their own fruit), cheese production and sale at small retail use, and amenities that encourage activities to enjoy nature such as bird watching. In addition, Group B was interested in creating a village feel with land uses that support the community, including a sports facility that resembles the field of dreams concept with soccer fields for the youth. Community Group C s Vision Group C emphasized the need for job generating uses and educational/training facilities with a regional draw by considering land uses with large footprints including a college campus and large sports complex that could potentially house a professional soccer stadium. CITY OF ELK GROVE 7
The group also valued ample space for professional offices and research and development (R&D) facilities. A mix of residential densities and community oriented parks were also considered for the plan area. MEETING CONCLUSION At the conclusion of the meeting, staff provided information about next steps, how the workshop results would be used, and how participants could stay involved in the project. Participants were encouraged to access and sign up on the MindMixer project site (a station introducing the MindMixer site live online and the opportunity to sign up was actually available at the workshop, Attendees were welcomed to stay and ask questions of staff and also to review the work from the breakout groups. Workshop participants were then informed of the next community workshop, planned for March 29, when they can review the refined community land use concepts. At that workshop the community will work collaboratively to identify key features that ultimately will be represented in a preferred concept to be presented to the Planning Commission and City Council for approval. 8 CITY OF ELK GROVE