CITY OF PACIFICA
COUNCIL AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
6/25/2022
1 SUBJECT:
Discussion of the Sharp Park Specific Plan and its Development Process RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Receive staff presentation.
STAFF CONTACT:
Christian Murdock, AICP, Acting Planning Director
(650) 738-7341
[email protected]
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
The City initiated the creation of a Sharp Park Specific Plan (SPSP) as a City Council priority project in 2019. The process started with a community engagement process including five community meetings across the City attended by more than 250 community members in summer 2019. These community meetings and other community engagement on the SPSP were combined with those for the General Plan update and Local Coastal Land Use Plan (LCLUP) update under the umbrella effort branded as Plan Pacifica. Community engagement unique to the SPSP included:
• Stakeholder interviews with 17 representatives of residents, community organizations, business owners, and developers in fall 2019 • Online community survey with over 100 responses in fall 2019 • Planning Commission presentation of SPSP Existing Conditions Report in November 2019
• Formation of a City Council ad hoc subcommittee on SPSP outreach in November 2019
• SPSP community meeting at Little Brown Church in January 2020 • Online community survey with over 350 responses in spring 2020 • SPSP virtual “walk” along Palmetto Avenue in November 2020 • SPSP policy direction at City Council in September and November 2020 Following the extensive community outreach for Plan Pacifica generally and the SPSP itself, staff focused on drafting the complete SPSP document (Attachment A) and performing environmental review throughout 2021. Environmental review of the SPSP was combined in a single environmental impact report (EIR) with the General Plan update. The draft EIR and draft SPSP were released for public review and comment in January 2022.
Since the conclusion of the public review and comment period in March 2022, staff has prepared a final EIR including responses to comments. The Planning Commission public hearing process to consider certification of the EIR, adoption of the General Plan update, and adoption of the SPSP started on June 6, 2022, and resulted in a recommendation for City Council certification of the EIR and adoption of the General Plan update on June 11, 2022. The Planning Commission continued the public hearing for consideration of the SPSP to June 20, 2022. As of publication of this agenda report, the Planning Commission had not yet made a recommendation to City Council on the SPSP.
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A. Purpose and Contents of Sharp Park Specific Plan
The City Council identified preparation of the SPSP as a priority to encourage revitalization of the West Sharp Park neighborhood. The desire for revitalization recognized the existing assets of the neighborhood, including but not limited to the Pacifica Pier, Beach Boulevard Promenade, coastal trail linkage to Mori Point, proximity to the historic Sharp Park Golf Course, a core a dedicated small businesses, civic amenities such as the Sharp Park Library, Civic Center, and Council Chambers, walkability based on gentle topography and grid street pattern, existing transit service in the area, and convenient vehicular access from Highway 1. Yet, the City lacked a plan to cohesively organize and emphasize these existing neighborhood strengths.
To support City Council vision for revitalization, the SPSP contains the following chapters with core content which are titled to express the key objectives of each:
• Vibrant Sharp Park: Land Use
• Accessible Sharp Park: Mobility and Parking
• Attractive Sharp Park: Urban Design and Public Realm
• Livable Sharp Park: Public Facilities and Infrastructure The SPSP also includes chapters on the past, present, and future to recognize the important history of the West Sharp Park neighborhood.
The purpose of this agenda item is to provide the City Council with an overview of the final draft SPSP and the process undertaken with staff and the community to develop the plan. The City Council will conduct a public hearing at a date to be determined to consider adoption of the SPSP once the Planning Commission has concluded its work to review the SPSP and provide a recommendation to City Council.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION:
This is a discussion item only – no alternative action has been identified.
RELATION TO CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND WORK PLAN:
Adoption of the SPSP would be consistent with the following Fiscal year 2021-2022 Council goals and Work Plan initiatives:
• Goal: “Fiscal Sustainability” includes investing in economic development to increase revenues, funding a reserve/emergency fund, and being well prepared for grant opportunities.
• Goal: “An Engaged Community” includes taking actions to restore trust in city government, expanding communication, and building community. • Goal: “Stewardship of City Infrastructure” includes repairing/replacing outdated city facilities such as city hall, the libraries, fire stations, etc., improving streets, and responding to impacts of sea level rise.
• Goal: “A Healthy and Compassionate Community” includes addressing affordable housing and mental health services, investigating strategies related to homelessness, and supporting youth services.
• Goal: “Environmental Sustainability” includes mapping out parks and open space, preserving hillsides and beaches, paying attention to flora and fauna needs, environmental health, and climate adaptation.
• Goal: “Maintaining a Safe Community” includes supporting our first responders (police, fire, public works), responding to storm emergencies, protecting people, property, businesses, and our infrastructure (streets, sidewalks, storm and waste water), and engaging in emergency preparedness activities
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• Priority No. 10: Complete a Sharp Park Specific Plan.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No direct fiscal impact.
ORIGINATED BY:
Planning Department
ATTACHMENT LIST:
Attachment A - Draft Sharp Park Specific Plan (May 2022 Version)(PDF)