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City of City Council ~\Gpo, 0.
Santa Monica
City Council Meeting: September 28, 2010
Agenda Item: ~ "' I
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Eileen Fogarty, Director, Planning and Community Development
Subject: Resolution Approving The Application For Grant Funds For The
Sustainable Communities Planning Grant And Incentives Program-Under
The Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality And Supply, Flood- Control, River
And Coastal Protection
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that City Council adopt the attached resolution to approve an
application for Sustainable Communities Planning Grant (Proposition 84) to fund the
Memorial Park Master Plan effort.
Executive Summary
The proposed Memorial Park Master Plan (MPMP) is a critical component of the
recently-adopted, award-winning General Plan Land Use and Circulation Element
(LUCE) vision to integrate land use and transportation for achieving reduced
greenhouse gas emissions, reducing per capita vehicle miles traveled, and creating a
healthy and sustainable local community. The Memorial Park Master Plan will feature
affordable, workforce and market-rate housing, small business opportunities, bicycle
and pedestrian connections, and strong linkages to light rail and bus transit.
In order for the City to apply fora $550,000 Sustainable Communities Planning Grant,
the City Council must adopt a resolution approving the application. The grant
application is to fund a master planning process to transform nearly 40 acres of
underutilized industrial land into atransit-oriented, mixed-use urban neighborhood. This
grant money will be matched with in-kind staff contributions of approximately $178,000
for a total project amount of $728,000.
Discussion
The LUCE responds directly to the State's Planning Priorities and regional guidance by
directing new housing and employment to transit-rich boulevards, districts and
designated "Activity Centers" near transit. The Memorial Park Master Plan (MPMP) will
establish specific implementation tools to nurture the development of a unique,
accessible urban place and will seek to revitalize an existing industrial area, increase
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access to open space and transit, and bring local-serving goods and services closer to
new and existing populations. Increasing affordable and workforce housing near the
station will address a local and regional shortage of housing, particularly for lower-
income households. Most critically, the plan contributes to a regional reduction in
greenhouse gases by setting the framework to reduce vehicle trips, increase walking
and bicycling, encouraging ridership of the Expo Light Rail, and providing key non-
motorized linkages from Expo to Santa Monica College and the City's two major
hospitals. The plan will use the performance measurement strategies identified in the
adopted LUCE to monitor successful implementation of the plan.
The Prop. 84 grant-funded master plan process will involve specific strategies to
address the following LUCE components:
• Promoting Transit Oriented Development (including Mixed-Use Infill)
• Shared Parking
• Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities
Affordable and Workforce Housing
Incentives for Small and/or Daily Goods/Services Businesses
• Transit Access, Linkages and Facilities (Expo and Bus integration)
• Increased Open Space
• Neighborhood Access to Recreational Facilities, including linkages across the
I-10 Freeway
• Vehicle Trip Reduction
• Identification of specific public/private partnership opportunities
The master planning process will include outreach to community partners, property
owners, residents, developers and members of the business community using many of
the same outreach tools utilized during the development of the LUCE.
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Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
There is no projected budget impact at this time. Expenditure and revenue account
numbers will be identified upon grant approval.
Prepared by: Peter D. James, Senior Planner
roved:
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~/'~ Eileen Fogarl
Planning and
Attachments:
A. Resolution
Forwarded to Council:
Rod Gould
City Manager
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Reference Resolution No.
10531 (CCS).