Citywide Policy Recommendations
Issue Issue Summary Desired Outcome Strategy Recommendations Compact and
Cohesive
Development
Pattern
Bakersfield’s current urban form is
characterized by a predominantly
low-density, automobile-oriented
development pattern. Many
neighborhoods lack a diverse
range of housing types which
restricts opportunities for
different household sizes and
income levels. Close access to
services such as businesses,
restaurants, and public amenities
remains limited, reinforcing
dependence on personal vehicles.
While some pedestrian-friendly
areas exist, they are often
fragmented and do not support a
cohesive, walkable community.
Many neighborhoods have
numerous vacant and
underutilized residential and
commercial parcels further
contributing to a lack of vibrancy
and automobile dependency.
Increased residential
density concentrated
in vibrant mixed-use
centers and
corridors,
comfortably
accessible via public
and active
transportation
providing jobs,
services, and
amenities close to a
variety of housing
types.
1. Complete Neighborhoods:
Bakersfield faces challenges in
providing public services due to
incomplete neighborhoods
characterized by low density,
inequitable access to amenities, and
a lack of community and public
services. Many areas lack the
necessary residential density to
support walkable communities,
resulting in insufficient access to
essential services like grocery stores,
healthcare, and recreational
facilities. This disparity
disproportionately affects lower-
income and minority populations.
The absence of nearby amenities
and public services limits
opportunities for healthy living and
diminishes quality of life.
1.A. Encourage employment opportunities within residentially focused neighborhoods and housing opportunities within commercial districts with the goal of fostering a balanced jobs-to-housing ratio in each of the city’s neighborhoods.
1.B. Encourage the colocation of neighborhood serving commercial uses and residential in a manner that increases residents’ access to essential goods and services without the use of a personal vehicle.
1.C. Develop community benefit standards and incentive structure for new development that require the inclusion of publicly accessible open space based on the type, location, and scale of the project.
1.D. Provide for and encourage the development of a broad range of uses in the commercial areas to provide for the needs of residents within their neighborhoods and reduce the number and length of trips made in personal vehicles.
1.E. When prioritizing capital improvement projects, including parks development, public amenity enhancements, and infrastructure improvements, prioritize currently disinvested areas and disadvantaged neighborhoods.
1.F. Develop a City land banking program to acquire and hold land for the purpose of community- focused development, prioritizing affordable housing development, equity focused community benefit projects, stimulation of economic growth, and targeted investment in revitalization.
1.G. Allow and encourage mixed-use developments along designated commercial corridors and neighborhood cores including:
• Along Chester Avenue and F Street and in the vicinity of the planned California High Speed Rail station in the Downtown Core
• Along Baker, Niles, and Kentucky Street in Old Town Kern • Along the Brundage Lane and Oak Street corridors.
• Surrounding the CSU Bakersfield campus
• Along the MLK Boulevard Corridor
• In the vicinity of the Morning Drive / Highway 178 interchange • In the vicinity of the Kern Canyon Road / Highway 178 intersection See neighborhood specific recommendations below.
1.H. Strengthen partnerships with community and faith-based organizations to develop coordinated efforts for providing shelter, food, outreach, and homeless prevention services.
Land Use
2. High Density Residential and Mixed-
Use Development: Allow and
encourage the development of high-
density residential and transit-
oriented development (TOD) in key
focus areas. Flexible zoning
regulations should allow for the
integration of residential,
commercial, and recreational
spaces, providing convenient access
to amenities such as grocery stores,
entertainment, healthcare facilities,
and public transportation. These
policies can help enable
development of underutilized land
and promote equitable,
multifunctional neighborhoods that
better meet diverse community
needs.
2.A. Encourage high-density residential developments and employee-intensive commercial and industrial uses to locate within walking distance of high-frequency transit stops. Collaborate with GET to provide or increase coordinated services to areas with high concentrations of residents, workers, or visitors.
2.B. Promote the reuse of vacant, underutilized and inefficient commercial uses for economically productive purposes, including higher intensity businesses, housing, and mixed-use development.
2.C. Encourage the consolidation of small parcels, joint public-private partnerships and land clearance and resale, to facilitate revitalization of underused and obsolete commercial properties.
2.D. Provide density bonuses and expedited permitting processes for mixed-use projects that include both residential and commercial components especially when in a vertical mixed-use configuration.
2.E. Conduct a feasibility study to identify key opportunities for infill development and capital improvements to roads throughout the City in order to direct funding to areas where new development and capital improvements could be made in tandem.
2.F. Consider providing financial incentives to attract infill development on vacant and underutilized properties including the following:
• Prioritization of capital investment strategies for infrastructure, services, and amenities to support development
• Financial incentives such as fee reductions, regulatory exemptions, enhanced infrastructure financing districts (EFIDs), opportunity zones and Enterprise Zones. • Ministerial approval of infill housing and mixed-use projects consistent with objective development and design standards
Work with owners of large, vacant properties to proactively seek out development opportunities.
2.G. Utilize a Specific Plan or Area Plan to establish an economic development zone to encourage the development of research, technology, and educational uses in combination with high-density residential surrounding the planned California High-Speed Rail station and the CSU Bakersfield campus.
3. Place Based Strategies and
Revitalization: Create a cohesive
and quality sense of place through
revitalization of underinvested
neighborhoods and quality of life
improvements that promote a sense
of community and belonging.
3.A. Promote revitalization of neighborhoods in need by installing and maintaining public improvements, encouraging infill development compatible with the scale and character of existing development, and supporting public and private efforts to upgrade and maintain neighborhood appearance and the existing housing stock.
3.B. Identify place-based strategies to direct targeted investments and revitalization efforts in urban neighborhoods, focusing on the unique character, needs, and opportunities of each area. Strategically allocate resources to enhance economic vitality, improve infrastructure, and foster community identity. See neighborhood specific recommendations below.
3.C. Promote the maintenance of existing residential units and improvements through code enforcement and the Housing Rehabilitation Program to ensure a quality living environment for residents and consistency with their neighborhood setting.
3.D. Maintain sidewalks, parkways, street trees and landscaping throughout the residential neighborhoods to create a pleasant environment for walking and outdoor activities.
Placemaking
and community
Character
Concerns about public safety and
the deteriorating condition of
storefronts are prevalent
throughout the city, affecting both
the attractiveness of commercial
areas and the ability to draw in
new businesses. Many storefronts
and parcels are in disrepair, and
streets often lack sufficient
lighting, aesthetic features, and
inviting public spaces, creating an
environment that feels less secure
and welcoming. There is strong
interest in attracting a diverse mix
of businesses, especially by
modifying zoning to allow more
commercial uses in areas like Casa
Loma and Dr. Martin Luther King
Junior Boulevard. Improving
transit connections between Old
Town Kern and the Downtown
Core is also seen as essential for
better access and mobility.
Enhancements in lighting,
pedestrian safety, and multi-
modal options are critical to
creating a more accessible and
appealing environment
throughout Bakersfield.
4. Streetscape and Walkability:
Improve the experiences of
pedestrians and cyclists, focusing on
safety, connectivity, and enjoyable
environments.
4.A. Support public and private efforts to reinvest in and renovate existing commercial development to increase economic vitality, improve aesthetic appearance, expand pedestrian orientation and enhance street frontages.
4.B. Implement a Placemaking Grant Program for community-led projects that enhance public spaces and attract businesses.
4.C. Conduct a parking study to identify opportunities to reduce minimum off-street parking requirements for commercial developments.
4.D. Establish a façade improvement grant and loan program to offer grants and low interest loans to small businesses and commercial property owners along corridors in need of investment.
4.E. Pair newly designated mixed-use districts with capital improvements to roads to reduce travel lanes and calm traffic to create a more inviting streetscape.
4.F. Implement development and design standards which require buildings in higher intensity mixed- use and residential districts to address and enhance the streetscape including:
• Require a percentage of building frontage be built to the front property line. • Require developers to provide pedestrian amenities such as benches, waste receptacles, street trees, publicly accessible open spaces
4.G. Revise the zoning code to require neighborhood-scale commercial developments that fit the local context and character. Incorporate design guidelines that promote walkability, mixed-use spaces, and pedestrian-friendly streetscapes.
4.H. Encourage the creation of business improvement districts to pool the resources of the local business community to make targeted improvements to commercial and mixed-use corridors.
4.I. Develop public art initiatives to beautify commercial areas and draw visitors.
4.J. Offer tax credits and grants for the preservation and adaptive reuse of historic buildings within identified historic districts.
4.K. Designate specific areas for entertainment districts and simplify the approval process for businesses in these sectors.
4.L. Develop community gardens, parks, and recreational/cultural areas on vacant lots to improve urban livability and attract further development.
Thriving
Industrial
Centers
Bakersfield faces challenges in
maintaining thriving industrial
employment centers while
addressing the environmental and
community impacts of industrial
activities. Industrial uses are
critical to the local economy,
providing jobs and supporting
economic growth; however, they
can contribute to air and noise
pollution, negatively affecting the
quality of life for nearby residents.
This issue is further complicated
by the need for truck accessible
transportation routes and
infrastructure. There is growing
concern over how to balance the
economic benefits of industrial
growth with the need to protect
public health, preserve
environmental quality, and
maintain livable neighborhoods.
Improved industrial
landscape and job
opportunities for
Bakersfield residents
and improved
compatibility with
surrounding uses
5. Siting of Industrial Uses: Identify
and designate appropriate areas for
industrial land uses that minimize
conflicts with residential and
recreational spaces, while ensuring
accessibility to major transportation
routes. Consider environmental
impacts, noise, and air quality when
siting industrial developments to
protect community health and
maintain quality of life.
5.A. Promote the transition from heavy to light industrial uses in areas surrounded by residential neighborhoods by restricting new heavy industrial uses through updates to the Zoning Code, and ensuring that new light industrial projects proposed near residential areas utilize design features that minimize impacts to the surrounding neighborhoods.
5.B. Transition industrial areas in Downtown to commercial and resident serving uses and mitigate the negative impacts of industrial uses in Old Town Kern, Gosford Southwest, Brundage Land, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard corridor.
5.C. Prevent land use compatibility conflicts between heavy industrial uses and residential neighborhoods through zoning, project design approvals, and land use decisions.
5.D. Support the continuation and infill development of industrial uses in the Gosford southwest.
5.E. Site warehousing and distribution uses along identified truck routes away from concentrations of residential uses.
6. Industrial Development and
Performance Standards: Implement
development and design standards
for industrial land uses that prioritize
buffering, landscaping, and noise
reduction to minimize their impact
on surrounding areas. Require site
design that addresses environmental
concerns, such as air and water
quality, and promotes sustainable
practices to enhance compatibility
with adjacent land uses.
6.A. Adopt design and development standards for industrial land uses with special consideration given to industrially zoned properties abutting residential uses and other sensitive receptors.
6.B. Offer tax breaks, grants, and low-interest loans to attract new light industrial and manufacturing businesses and support existing ones.
6.C. Upgrade transportation networks, utilities, and communication systems in industrial zones to enhance operational efficiency and attractiveness.
Focus Area Neighborhood Specific Recommendations
Downtown Core
*See Downtown Framework
Old Town Kern Preferred Land Uses Light industrial, Medium and High Density Residential, Neighborhood Mixed Use, Neighborhood Commercial • Encourage the development of neighborhood serving grocery stores, medical facilities, and community spaces to increase access to essential goods and services.
Streets • Identify opportunities to reduce street widths throughout OTK’s residential streets to lower traffic speeds, discourage through traffic, add on street parking, and street trees.
• Pair newly designated mixed-use districts with capital improvements to roads to reduce travel lanes and calm traffic to create a more inviting streetscape.
Building Massing and
Orientation
• Allow and encourage neighborhood-scale 3-4 story residential mixed-use development along Baker Street, Kentucky Street, and Niles Street corridors.
• Maintain the fine grained (small lot) medium density residential character encouraging variety of 1-3 story housing types including single-family houses, duplexes, triplexes, townhomes, and small apartment buildings. • Encourage the development of neighborhood scale retail that activates the streetscape of each mixed-use corridor. • Encourage the vertical mixing of uses with resident serving retail and lifestyle service uses on the ground floor with residences above.
• Introduce form-based development standards to ensure neighborhood scale development and alignment with historic nature. • Facilitate the conversion of aging industrial buildings to flex space including live-work housing, small scale manufacturing and production.
• Facilitate lot consolidation to enable larger scale redevelopment of aging and abandoned industrial and commercial uses.
Open Space Acquire land for the creation of a new community serving park near the Baker Street and Monterey Street intersection and pocket parks throughout Old Town Kern.
Parking and Access Require new development to utilize existing alleyways for parking and loading to maintain on street parking and minimize the number of driveways crossing the pedestrian sidewalk.
Placemaking and
Revitalization
Opportunities
• Implement historic district/cultural district overlay in Old Town Kern to preserve historic character • Develop public art initiatives to beautify commercial and industrial areas and draw visitors. • Prioritize public investment in streetscape improvements, litter and graffiti removal, and façade improvement. • Encourage the creation of business improvement districts to pool the resources of the local business community to make targeted improvements to commercial and mixed-use corridors.
• Require developers to provide pedestrian amenities such as benches, waste receptacles, street trees, and publicly accessible open spaces.
• Mitigate noise and aesthetic impacts of industrial uses on residential with transition zones to lower intensity commercial uses, building design, and landscaping.
• Improve conditions along BNSF railway right-of-way with code enforcement, litter removal, landscaping, soundwalls and dust control measures.
• Improve aesthetic and public health conditions along the East Side Canal between Williams Street and Sacramento Street through code enforcement, litter removal, landscaping, screening, or a structural cap.
City in the Hills Preferred Uses Low-, Medium-, and High Density Residential, City Center Mixed-Use, Regional Commercial, Neighborhood Commercial Mixed-use centers should emphasize the creation of a self-contained urban center with high density residential, vertically mixed-use retail, entertainment, residential, and office space, as well as full-service grocery
Streets Establish transit oriented mixed-use centers in the vicinity of the Morning Drive / Highway 178 interchange and the vicinity of the Kern Canyon Road / Highway 178 intersection.
Building Massing and
Orientation
• Activate Mesa Marin Sports Complex as both a regional and neighborhood park through a combination of high-density mixed-use development adjacent to the park and regional and highway serving restaurants and retail with access from Highway 178.
Open Space • Identify opportunities for preservation of large scale, natural open spaces to improve access to recreation, views of southern Sierra foothills, and California grassland habitat.
• Provide for recreational trails and viewpoints in preserved open spaces.
Connections and
Transitions
• Require that new neighborhood commercial centers maximize pedestrian and bike connections to adjacent residential neighborhoods to reduce car dependency and create recreation opportunities and community gathering spaces. • Incorporate pedestrian and bike paths throughout large scale subdivisions emphasizing connections to community parks, retail spaces, and employment centers.
Placemaking and
Revitalization
Opportunities
Reinforce City in the Hills as an important gateway to greater Bakersfield with gateway and wayfinding signage.
CSU Bakersfield Preferred Uses • Medium- and High Density Residential, City Center Mixed-Use, Professional Office, Neighborhood Commercial, Public Institution. • Encourage Research, Technology, and education uses surrounding CSUB through the development of a University District Area Plan or overlay that includes specific land use, development, and design standards intended to maximize incubator and innovation industry and attract regional and state business partners. • Encourage the development of high-density residential and vertically mixed-use projects with neighborhood serving retail on vacant land west of the CSUB campus to allow students and employees to live within a high-quality job center. • Allow the transition of large-scale office campuses in this area towards a mixed-use residential and innovation district as market trends shift.
Connections and
Transitions
Proactively plan for pedestrian and bike connectivity, as well as connections to the campus, as large footprint properties develop and redevelop to ensure future subdivisions allow for active transportation between residential and commercial uses.
Enhance streetscapes, active transportation infrastructure, and connectivity along the major transportation corridors near and into CSUB, including Stockdale Highway, Camino Media, Old River Road, Don Hart Drive, and Kroll Way.
Brundage Lane Preferred Uses • Low-, Medium-, and High Density Residential, Neighborhood Mixed-Use, Neighborhood Commercial • Encourage the development of neighborhood serving grocery stores and community spaces to increase access to essential goods and services. • Discourage the development of new drive-through restaurants.
Streets • Reduce travel lanes along Brundage Lane to calm traffic to create a more inviting streetscape. • Install high-visibility crosswalks and HAWK signals where appropriate to increase safety for pedestrians crossing Brundage Lane and Oak Street. Look to reduce linear distance between crosswalks to under 1000 feet. • Identify opportunities to reduce street widths throughout nearby residential streets to lower traffic speeds, discourage through traffic, add on street parking, and street trees.
Building Massing and
Orientation
• Allow and encourage neighborhood-scale 3-4 story residential mixed-use development along both sides of Brundage Lane between Oak Street and Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard and on Oak Street between Brundage Lane and California Avenue. • Encourage the development of neighborhood scale retail that activates the streetscape of each mixed use corridor. • Encourage the vertical mixing of uses with resident serving retail and lifestyle service uses on the ground floor with residences above.
• Introduce form-based development standards to ensure neighborhood scale development. • Facilitate lot consolidation to enable larger scale redevelopment of aging and abandoned industrial and commercial uses.
Open Space Acquire land for the creation of a new community serving parks and pocket parks throughout neighborhoods immediately north of Brundage Lane.
Connections and
Transitions
• Maintain gridded street network to maintain connectivity between Brundage Corridor and surrounding neighborhoods. • Encourage transitional commercial and high density residential north of the Brundage Corridor.
Parking and Access • Require parking areas are located to the rear or side of new buildings to maintain an active streetscape and support the development of a contiguous street wall.
• Require new development along Brundage Lane and Oak Street to utilize existing alleyways and side streets for parking and loading to minimize the number of driveways crossing the pedestrian sidewalk and maintain traffic flow on the primary streets. • Implement a tree-planting program along the Brundage Lane and Oak Street Corridors and surrounding neighborhoods, both within the public right-of-way and in front setbacks in collaboration with property owners.
Placemaking and
Revitalization
Opportunities
• Develop public art initiatives to beautify commercial and industrial areas. • Prioritize public investment in sidewalk repair and litter and graffiti removal. • Encourage the creation of business improvement districts to pool the resources of the local business community to make targeted improvements to commercial and mixed-use corridors.
• Require developers to provide pedestrian amenities such as benches, waste receptacles, street trees, and publicly accessible open spaces.
Gosford Southwest Preferred Uses • Light Industrial, Heavy Industrial, Low- and Medium-Density Residential, City Center Mixed-Use, Regional Commercial, Neighborhood Commercial • Support the continuation and expansion of industrial uses in the Gosford southwest to maintain the area as the industrial heart of Southwest Bakersfield and major employment center.
• Continue to support the concentration of auto-mall uses on the east side of Wible Road. • Offer tax breaks, grants, and low-interest loans to attract new light industrial and manufacturing businesses and support existing ones.
Streets Support the creation of a business improvement and maintenance district for the Gosford Southwest industrial area to ensure adequate funding for increased road maintenance due to trucking and distribution uses.
Building Massing and
Orientation
Continue to require landscaped front setbacks to reduce urban heat and improve aesthetics of industrial park areas.
Open Space • Explore partnerships or the acquisition of land for a community or regional scale park near the intersection of Akers Road and Pacheco Road.
• Require development of newly designated mixed-use land along Akers Road to provide publicly accessible park space.
Connections and
Transitions
• Continue to encourage the buffering of heavier industrial uses from surrounding residential by allowing less impactful commercial and light industrial uses along the South side of White Lane and East side of Gosford Road. • Adopt design and development standards for industrial land uses with special consideration given to industrially zoned properties abutting residential uses and other sensitive receptors. • Promote the transition from heavy to light industrial uses in areas surrounded by residential neighborhoods.
Parking and Access Require new development along White Lane to utilize side streets for vehicular access to minimize the number of driveways onto White Lane to maintain traffic flow.
Placemaking and
Revitalization
Opportunities
Upgrade transportation networks, utilities, and communication systems in industrial zones to enhance operational efficiency and attractiveness.
Rosedale Corridor Preferred Uses City Center Mixed-Use, Regional Commercial, Neighborhood Commercial, Light Industrial, Professional Office Support the development of light-industrial, office, and regional commercial on the east side of Coffee Road between Brimhall Road and Rosedale Highway.
Streets Enhance and maintain parkway environment along Rosedale Highway with wider landscaped setbacks for new development.
Building Massing and
Orientation
Encourage consolidation of smaller commercial parcels for new horizontal mixed-use development with commercial uses fronting Rosedale Highway and medium to high density residential to the rear of the site.
Open Space Utilize utility ROWs adjacent to the Northwest Promenade retail center and between Langley and Brimhall Road as linear parks to add needed park space and buffer regional commercial uses from residential neighborhoods.
Create a new linear park space buffering the PGE substation from residential neighborhoods to the west.
Connections and
Transitions
Buffer regional commercial scale uses from lower density residential neighborhoods with open space or resident commercial uses, while allowing for pedestrian connections between residences and businesses.
Parking and Access Require new development along Rosedale Highway to utilize side streets for vehicular access to minimize the number of driveways onto Rosedale Highway to maintain traffic flow.
MLK Corridor Preferred Uses • Medium-, High-, and Very High-Density Residential, Neighborhood Mixed-Use, Neighborhood Commercial • Develop a Martin Luther King Junior Corridor area or master plan to better guide the redevelopment of the MLK corridor north of Highway 58. o Encourage the development of neighborhood serving commercial uses on the east side of MLK Boulevard at its intersection with Brundage Lane to buffer heavier industrial and warehousing related uses to the east. o Encourage the development of neighborhood serving grocery stores and community spaces to increase access to essential goods and services. o Surrounding this mixed-use center, encourage the development of medium density residential neighborhoods. o Encourage the development of neighborhood scale retail that activates the streetscape of the mixed use corridor. • Establish a transit oriented mixed-use center in the vicinity of the intersection of White Lane and Cottonwood Road. Emphasize the creation of a self-contained urban center with high density residential, vertically mixed-use retail, entertainment, residential, and office space, as well as full-service grocery.
Streets Calm traffic along MLK Boulevard north of 58 to create a more inviting streetscape.
Building Massing and
Orientation
• Allow and encourage neighborhood-scale 2-4 story residential and mixed-use development along both sides of MLK Jr. Boulevard between 10th Street and Highway 58.
• Encourage the vertical mixing of uses with resident serving retail and lifestyle service uses on the ground floor with residences above.
• Introduce form-based development standards to ensure neighborhood scale development. • Facilitate lot consolidation to enable larger scale redevelopment of aging and abandoned commercial properties.
Open Space • Require incorporation of publicly accessible community parks and open spaces for new subdivisions. • Acquire land for the creation of a new community serving park and pocket parks throughout neighborhoods immediately east and west of MLK Boulevard.
Connections and
Transitions
• Buffer new and existing industrial uses through the incorporation of adequate landscape buffers, sound walls, and lower impact commercial uses.
• Proactively plan for pedestrian and bike connectivity as large footprint properties develop and redevelop to ensure future subdivisions allow for active transportation.
• Incorporate pedestrian and bike paths throughout large scale subdivisions emphasizing connections to community parks, retail spaces, and employment centers.
• Require that new neighborhood commercial centers maximize pedestrian and bike connections to adjacent residential neighborhoods to reduce car dependency and create community gathering spaces.
Parking and Access • North of 58, require parking areas to be located to the rear or side of buildings to maintain an active streetscape on MLK Jr.
Boulevard and support the development of a contiguous street wall. • North of 58, require new development along MLK Boulevard to utilize existing alleyways and side streets for parking and loading to minimize the number of driveways crossing the pedestrian sidewalk and maintain traffic flow on the primary streets.
Placemaking and
Revitalization
Opportunities
• Require developers to provide pedestrian amenities such as benches, waste receptacles, street trees, and publicly accessible open spaces.
• Implement a tree-planting and landscaping program along the MLK Corridor and surrounding neighborhoods, both within the public right-of-way and in front setbacks in collaboration with property owners. • North of 58, encourage the creation of business improvement districts to pool the resources of the local business community to make targeted improvements to commercial and mixed-use corridors. • Prioritize public investment in sidewalk repair and litter and graffiti removal.