ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: February 12, 2025 AGENDA CATEGORY: Reports TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Jennifer M. Byers, Economic & Community Development Director DATE: January 29, 2025
SUBJECT: Update on the Making Downtown Bakersfield Vision Plan (Wards 2 and 3)
A status update on the policy and physical implementation strategies in the Making Downtown Bakersfield Vision Plan.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends receive and file.
BACKGROUND:
In May 2018, the “Making Downtown Bakersfield” vision plan was completed after a series of public workshops, community meetings, and studies including an existing conditions report, market analysis and case studies to explore best practices. Community outreach meetings were held to determine what values should drive the planning process and the vision for Downtown: livability, connectivity and prosperity.
After learning more about the place and potential growth, the community got to work on the development blueprint and visioning what downtown could be in 30 years. Key takeaways included:
Improvements to the public realm, with concept ideas such as:
o Wall Street Pedestrian Paseo
o Multi-Use Trail under the High Speed Rail (HSR) viaduct o Garces Circle Pedestrian Plaza for direct pedestrian access to the HSR station Enhanced transit and improvements to support bike and pedestrian connectivity Consolidated and shared parking opportunities
HSR Station integration and access from all transportation modes A reinvestment framework broke up into three 10-year phased development strategies
The purpose of the Vision Plan is to inspire future decisions and offer up best practices that will lay the groundwork for future development in Downtown Bakersfield through the next 10, 20, and 30 years. The first 10 years (2015-2025) focus on strengthening the historic core of Downtown and connecting it to the Mill Creek Entertainment District; The second 10 years (2025-2035) focuses on preparing Downtown to connect to and develop a new node of activity around the future HSR station; and, The third 10 years (2035-2045) focuses on responding to continued growth around the HSR station and spreading its benefits equitably across Downtown and its adjacent neighborhoods.
Staff will provide a presentation on the implementation and identified actions of the Making Downtown Bakersfield vision plan with progress updates on related projects inspired by the vision plan including the Downtown Element as part of the General Plan update, special studies and infrastructure projects.
Additionally, ECD is working with Kimley-Horn to develop a Vision Plan for Old Town Kern (OTK) that will identify strategies for catalyzing growth in the OTK neighborhood. This plan will build off the synergy and growth envisioned in the Making Downtown Bakersfield plan and is set to be completed by April 2025.
For more details the vision plan is attached to this report or can be downloaded online:
www.makingdowntownbakersfield.us
FISCAL IMPACT: None
COUNCIL GOAL:
Community Character & Quality of Life
ATTACHMENTS:
Making Downtown Bakersfield Vision Plan