Downtown Davis Specific Plan Dana Point, CA Existing Conditions Presentation Daniel Parolek Principal, Opticos Design, Inc. Mitali Ganguly Associate, Opticos Design, Inc. January 25, 2018 1
All Places Evolve: Need a Framework to Guide Evolution
The 1961 Core Area Plan
Two Thirds of Your Downtown was Demolished to Implement the 1961 Plan E Street 2 nd Street
1 Project Area 5
Existing Core Area
Project Website for Frequent Updates www.cityofdavis.org/downtownplan
DPAC Homework 2 Assignment Findings: Strengths, Challenges and Aspirations for Downtown Davis AIM Consulting Gladys Cornell
Downtown Davis Strengths Local Business Outdoor Common Spaces Local Art Mixed-Use Buildings Entertainment and Events Local Food
Downtown Davis Challenges Vacant Community Space Homeless Challenges Vacant Retail Space Deteriorating Buildings Parking Minimums
Downtown Davis Aspirations Economic Development & Sustainability Create a diverse and economically resilient downtown Encourage local entrepreneurship Encourage independent, local business Environmental Sustainability Landscape with trees Integrate rooftop gardens and urban farming locations Enforce no waste regulations for restaurants Create solar parking Integrate bike-share Grocery Store Independent shops Bike share Rooftop Garden
Downtown Davis Aspirations Social Sustainability Encourage walkability Create more outdoor seating, eating, and drinking places Celebrate local food, art, music, ecology, energy, history Housing Offer denser, more diverse housing in varied price ranges Keep historically important buildings Bring more permanent residents to the Downtown area Walking malls Outdoor courtyard Mixed-use housing Permanent Resident Options
Downtown Davis Aspirations Transportation & Parking Shift car parking further out and/or incorporate it into new structures. Create a place that is accessible to pedestrians, bikes, buses and is adaptable to changing transportation modes Create more pedestrian and bicycle only streets Community Design Create a social, cultural and entertainment center of the city Create a place of varied architectural styles, old and new Create pedestrian connections through activated alleyways Shifted car parking Walking/biking-only street Varied architectural styles Social, cultural and entertainment center
3 Community Profile Source: State of the City Report (2017) 14
Who lives in Downtown Davis? Total Population: 1,100 in Downtown Age* 16% Under 18* 10% Over 65* Average Age 24* Employment 343 Workers live in Downtown 14 work and live in Downtown 2 work at UC Davis Median Income: $58,000* Household size: 2.7* 51% Family* 49% Non-Family* *City wide Statistic
3 Jobs Inflow/Outflow
Jobs Inflow/ Outflow: Davis (2015) Source: US Census, OnTheMap
Jobs Inflow/ Outflow: Downtown Davis Core (2015) There are 323 workers residing in the core area Here s where some commute: 14 2,450 309 Davis Core Sacramento Davis (outside core) San Francisco Palo Alto 14 people 52 people 46 people 4 people 3 people UC Davis 2 people
4 Urban Form Opticos Design Dan Parolek Mitali Ganguly 19
3 Assets and Opportunities
Small Walkable Block Framework Train Station
Tree Lined Streets/Tree Canopy
Eclectic and Unique Character
Streetscape and Intersection Pedestrian Improvements
Historic Buildings
Opportunity to Evolve 1-story [56%] 2-story [33%] 3-story [6%] 4-story [<1%]
3 Challenges/Issues
The Culprit: The Core Area Plan 1961
Fragmented Frontage Conditions Constraint/Gap Opportunity Asset
Lack of Hierarchy
Irregular Pattern of Lots 5-39ft [9%] 40-49ft [15%] 50-59ft [29%] 60-79ft [17%] 80-99ft [10%] 100ft [20%]
Lack of Civic Presence Current City Hall Train Station Farmer s Market Historic City Hall
Lack of Public Spaces
Planning and Regulatory 5 Framework Opticos Design Dan Parolek Mitali Ganguly 34
Zoning is from the 1961 Plan! Projected development for 1985 Strip mall approach to Parking Pedestrian only Parades on E, C One way streets
Complex Layers of Regulation: Attempting to Fix Ineffective Zoning Problem: Standards within guidelines. Advisory or regulatory status? Sometimes conflicting. Problem: Didn t Eliminate Ineffective Foundation. Zones are silent about intended physical character.
Issues Identified by City Staff 1. Cumbersome 2. Policies, Standards and Guidelines 3. Uncertainty. 1. historic preservation. 2. potential building heights. 3. residential densities floor area ratios. 4. parking in-lieu fees. 4. Inconsistency with densification policies 5. Unclear expectations for public engagement. 6. Specific conflicts or errors
6 Transportation Fehr & Peers Bob Grandy Greg Behrens
Downtown Travel Patterns Distribution of total trips Into Downtown Davis
Downtown Gateways Vehicle Transit Bicycle & Pedestrian
Pedestrian Facilities
Bicycle Facilities
Transit Service & Facilities
Parking & 7 TDM Strategies Nelson/Nygaard Patrick Siegman
Comprehensive Parking Assessment/Documentation Parking is the single largest land use in Downtown
Before 10 AM City-operated parking has ample vacancies Friday 9 to 10 a.m., Spring 2016 Study Area Occupancy (City Operated Parking Only)
Peak hour (lunchtime): City-operated parking is near capacity Friday 12 to 1 p.m., Spring 2016 Study Area Occupancy (City Operated Parking Only)
3-4 PM: Curb parking full on many blocks, City lots have room to spare Friday 3 to 4 p.m., Spring 2016 Study Area Occupancy (City Operated Parking Only)
City policies support Transportation Demand Management, but TDM Programs are Limited Policies: Implement solutions for managing parking demand before building more parking Alternatives to consider: Improve transit access & other TDM strategies Implement parking pricing (in progress) Improve parking enforcement Room for improvement: existing TDM programs are limited. Sacramento TMA
New Transportation Technologies will Reduce Parking Demand
8 Historical Resources Preservation Architecture Mark Hulbert
How many historical resources exist in the Davis downtown and surrounding neighborhoods? Designated historical resources: Landmarks = 11 Merit Resources = 21 Historic Districts = Ø Conservation overlay district: Contributors = 180
Assessing and Refining Historical Resources and Tools Landmark Merit Resource Historic District Conservation Districts Contributor Better Zoning: Form-Based Codes Ensuring Protection for targeted resources, but not providing barriers for the right development to implement the plan
Step 1: Identifying historic patterns and contexts in Davis Historic Contexts/Eras Are: 1848-1904 Pioneer/railroad era 1905-1939 Early 20th century and depression era 1940-1958 World War II and post-war era 1959-1971 Explosive growth era 1973-present Recent properties/resources (less than 45 years of age). The Historic Eras/Context Maps B ST. D ST. FIRST ST. THIRD ST. F ST. FIFTH ST. Identification of H
Step 1: Identifying historic patterns and contexts in Davis Photo Documentation Completed. Categorized by Type Few yet relevant public buildings: 520 Fifth Street (Central Fire Station, 1964) A group of branch bank buildings: 340 F Street (Wells Fargo Bank, 1964) The lack of architecturally substantial commercial buildings: 208-212 F Street (1957) Numerous and relatively large-scale apartment buildings and complexes: 411 First Street (1966)
Economic & 9 Market Analysis Urban 3 Cate Ryba
In Progress: to be presented at a later date Market Analysis of Retail, Office, Housing (existing & 3 trends; local & regional) Sales Tax Analysis
3 Value per Acre Analysis
How do you compare cars?
How do you compare cars?
How do you compare cars?
How do you compare cars?
Value Per Acre: Davis Why This Approach?
Land Cover Analysis: Downtown Davis (Core Area)
Prop 13 Effect
Prop 13 Effect Davis, CA Santa Rosa, CA
10 Sustainability Farr & Associates Doug Farr
DAVIS: A SUSTAINABILITY LEADER The Downtown Plan is an opportunity to consolidate and make visible previous sustainability efforts.
DEMONSTRATING DOWNTOWN There is a possibility for Downtown to become demonstration area for emerging best practices in sustainability.
11 Next Steps
Important Milestones February 15th: DPAC Meeting to Review Charrette Process and What to Expect from the Process March 8 th : DPAC Meeting to Follow up on Various Topics March 20 th -24 th : Charrette 1-Developing and Testing Alternatives April 19 th : Tentative DPAC Meeting (As Necessary) May 8 th -12 th : Charrette 2: Refining a Preferred Alternative, Looking at Transition Areas More Closely
More Information www.cityofdavis.org/downtownplan