Watsonville City Council
October 10, 2023

City of Watsonville
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan Project
22 excavation, or his or her authorized representative, notifies the coroner of the discovery or recognition of the human remains.
(c) If the coroner determines that the remains are not subject to his or her authority and if the coroner recognizes the human remains to be those of a Native American, or has reason to believe that they are those of a Native American, he or she shall contact, by telephone within 24 hours, the Native American Heritage Commission.” Mandatory adherence to state regulations would ensure impacts to human remains, if any, would be less than significant.

LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
Exhibit B
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Environmental Checklist
Initial Study 23
6 Energy
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less than
Significant
Impact No Impact
Would the project:
a. Result in a potentially significant
environmental impact due to wasteful,
inefficient, or unnecessary consumption
of energy resources, during project
construction or operation? □ □ ■ □
b. Conflict with or obstruct a state or local
plan for renewable energy or energy
efficiency? □ □ ■ □
Impact Analysis
a. Would the project result in a potentially significant environmental impact due to wasteful, inefficient, or unnecessary consumption of energy resources, during project construction or operation?
Development facilitated by the DWSP would require energy in the form of petroleum-based fuels used to power off-road construction vehicles and equipment to plan area, construction worker travel to and from plan areas, and vehicles used to deliver materials to the site. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas to residents and businesses in the City of Watsonville, including the plan area. Watsonville is also served by Central Coast Community Energy (3CE), a community choice energy agency established by local communities which transmits a greater percentage of renewable energy via PG&E transmission lines. Residents and businesses may opt out and continue to receive electricity from PG&E. PG&E’s 2018 power mix included 39 percent from renewable sources, 34 percent from nuclear, 15 percent from natural gas and other fuels, and 13 percent from large hydropower plants (PG&E 2020).

Existing energy consumption within the plan area includes consumption of fossil fuels associated with the operation of residences and businesses, and fuel use associated with vehicles traveling to and from the downtown area.

Energy use during construction would be temporary in nature, and construction equipment used would be typical of similar-sized construction projects in the region. In addition, development within Downtown Watsonville would utilize construction contractors who demonstrate compliance with applicable California Air Resources Board regulations that restrict idling of heavy-duty diesel motor vehicles and govern accelerated retrofitting, repowering, or replacement of heavy-duty diesel onand off-road equipment. Electrical power consumed during construction activities would be supplied from existing electrical infrastructure in the area. Overall, construction activities would require minimal electricity consumption and would not be expected to have any adverse impact on available electricity supplies or infrastructure. Construction activities would utilize fuel-efficient equipment consistent with state and federal regulations and would comply with state measures to Exhibit B
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City of Watsonville
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan Project
24 reduce the inefficient, wasteful, or unnecessary consumption of energy. In addition, per applicable regulatory requirements, development under the DWSP would comply with construction waste management practices to divert construction and demolition debris. These practices would result in efficient use of energy necessary to construct the project. Furthermore, in the interest of cost efficiency, construction contractors would not utilize fuel in a manner that is wasteful or unnecessary. Therefore, future construction under the DWSP would not result in potentially significant environmental effects due to the wasteful, inefficient, or unnecessary consumption of energy. Project construction impacts would be less than significant.

Operation of the future uses in the DWSP area would require energy use in the form of electricity, natural gas, and gasoline consumption. Natural gas and electricity would be used for heating and cooling systems, lighting, appliances, water use, and the overall operation of the residential and commercial uses in downtown. Gasoline consumption would be attributed to vehicular travel to and from the plan area.

Development facilitated by the DWSP would be required to comply with standards set forth in California Building Code (CBC) Title 24, which would minimize the wasteful, inefficient, or unnecessary consumption of energy resources during operation. CALGreen (as codified in CCR Title 24, Part 11) requires implementation of energy-efficient light fixtures and building materials into the design of new construction projects. Furthermore, the 2019 Building Energy Efficiency Standards (CBC Title 24, Part 6) requires newly constructed buildings to meet energy performance standards set by the CEC. These standards are specifically crafted for new buildings to achieve energy efficient performance. The standards are updated every three years, and each iteration increases energy efficiency standards. Furthermore, the project would continue to reduce its use of nonrenewable energy resources as the percentage of electricity generated by renewable resources provided by PG&E continues to increase to comply with state requirements through Senate Bill 100, which requires electricity providers to increase procurement from eligible renewable energy resources to 60 percent by 2030 and 100 percent by 2045.

Buildout of the DWSP would increase energy use in the plan area compared to existing conditions.

However, energy use would be in conformance with the latest version of CALGreen and the Building Energy Efficiency Standards. Additionally, the electricity and natural gas use would not result in a significant increase for PG&E. Therefore, the project would not result in wasteful or unnecessary energy consumption, and impacts would be less than significant.

LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
b. Would the project conflict with or obstruct a state or local plan for renewable energy or energy efficiency?
The City of Watsonville’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan and City of Watsonville General Plan contain several programs or policies that are designed to reduce energy consumption and implement more energy-efficient practices. Each of these planning documents incorporate State plans for renewable energy or energy efficiency by nature. Project consistency with applicable policies and strategies with these two documents is evaluated in Table 2 and Table 3.

Exhibit B
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Environmental Checklist
Initial Study 25
Table 2 Project Consistency with the Watsonville 2030 Climate Action & Adaptation Plan
Measure Consistency
Measure T2-A. New pedestrian improvements. Require
new development projects, residential and
nonresidential, to provide pedestrian improvements
along street frontages; and strongly encourage
connection to the nearest existing pedestrian facilities, such as sidewalks or trails. Developments shall also
include internal pedestrian connections between all
uses.

Consistent. Development facilitated by the DWSP would
include internal pedestrian walkways that would connect to existing pedestrian facilities within Downtown Watsonville.

Measure E1-A. Natural gas reduction in new
development. Require a 50 percent reduction in natural
gas consumption compared to BAU in all new
development through electric-only development and
installation of electric or more efficient natural gas home heating and cooling systems, appliances, or water
heaters. Explore implementation of an all-electric
ordinance to achieve all electric new development by
2030.

Consistent. The DWSP would facilitate development that
would include sustainable design required by Title 24 and CalGreen standards. Future development would be
required to be solar-ready or include the installation of photovoltaic systems on all low-rise residential buildings, equal to the expected electricity usage, in accordance with Section 150.1(b)14 of the 2019 Building Energy Efficiency Standards.

Source: City of Watsonville Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (2021) Table 3 Project Consistency with the City of Watsonville General Plan Policy/Measure Consistency
Measure 9.J.1. Alternative transportation. As outlined in the Transportation and Circulation chapter, the City shall promote the use and development of alternative
transportation modes intended to reduce the
consumption of fossil fuels and other non-renewable
energy resources.

Consistent. Development facilitated by the DWSP would
be served by existing pedestrian facilities, bike lanes, and Santa Cruz METRO transit stops within Downtown
Watsonville, which would promote multi-modal
transportation options to and from the plan area.

Moreover, the DWSP would facilitate denser development
within the downtown area which often results in
increased transit ridership and alternative transportation uses.

Measure 9.J.2. Development. The City shall encourage
energy efficient design and design which utilizes solar opportunities in residential, commercial, and industrial development.

Consistent. The DWSP would facilitate development that
would include sustainable design required by Title 24 and CalGreen standards. As discussed above within Table 2,
future development would be required to comply with
Section 150.1(b)14 of the 2019 Building Energy Efficiency Standards,
Measure 9.J.3. Land use and transportation. Development shall be encouraged to occur in locations and at intensities that facilitate the use of alternative transportation modes to the extent compatible with the community.

Consistent. The DWSP would facilitate denser
development within the downtown area which is served
by existing pedestrian facilities, bike lanes, and Santa Cruz METRO transit stops. Denser development and infill often results in increased transit ridership and alternative
transportation uses.

Source: City of Watsonville 2005 General Plan (1994)
As shown in Table 2 and Table 3, the DWSP would not conflict with the energy-related policies of the City’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan or City’s General Plan. The proposed project would also be required to comply with the energy standards in the California Building Energy Efficiency Standards. Compliance with these regulations would avoid potential conflicts with adopted energy Exhibit B
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City of Watsonville
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan Project
26 conservation plans. Therefore, the project would not conflict with or obstruct a state or local plan for renewable energy or energy efficiency, and impacts would be less than significant.

LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
Exhibit B
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Environmental Checklist
Initial Study 27
7 Geology and Soils
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less than
Significant
Impact No Impact
Would the project:
a. Directly or indirectly cause potential
substantial adverse effects, including the
risk of loss, injury, or death involving:

1. Rupture of a known earthquake
fault, as delineated on the most
recent Alquist-Priolo Earthquake
Fault Zoning Map issued by the
State Geologist for the area or
based on other substantial evidence
of a known fault? □ □ ■ □

2. Strong seismic ground shaking? □ □ ■ □

3. Seismic-related ground failure,
including liquefaction? □ □ ■ □

4. Landslides? □ □ ■ □
b. Result in substantial soil erosion or the
loss of topsoil? □ □ ■ □
c. Be located on a geologic unit or soil that
is unstable, or that would become
unstable as a result of the project, and
potentially result in on- or off-site
landslide, lateral spreading, subsidence,
liquefaction, or collapse? □ □ ■ □
d. Be located on expansive soil, as defined
in Table 1-B of the Uniform Building Code
(1994), creating substantial direct or
indirect risks to life or property? □ □ ■ □
e. Have soils incapable of adequately
supporting the use of septic tanks or
alternative wastewater disposal systems
where sewers are not available for the
disposal of wastewater? □ □ □ ■
f. Directly or indirectly destroy a unique
paleontological resource or site or unique
geologic feature? □ ■ □ □
Exhibit B
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City of Watsonville
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan Project
28 a.1. Would the project directly or indirectly cause potential substantial adverse effects, including the risk of loss, injury, or death involving rupture of a known earthquake fault, as delineated on the most recent Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Map issued by the State Geologist for the area or based on other substantial evidence of a known fault? a.2. Would the project directly or indirectly cause potential substantial adverse effects, including the risk of loss, injury, or death involving strong seismic ground shaking? a.3. Would the project directly or indirectly cause potential substantial adverse effects, including the risk of loss, injury, or death involving seismic-related ground failure, including liquefaction? a.4. Would the project directly or indirectly cause potential substantial adverse effects, including the risk of loss, injury, or death involving landslides?
c. Would the project be located on a geologic unit or soil that is unstable, or that would become unstable as a result of the project, and potentially result in on- or off-site landslide, lateral spreading, subsidence, liquefaction, or collapse?
The nearest earthquake fault zones to the plan area are the Zayante-Vergeles fault zone and San Andreas fault zone, located approximately 1.7 miles and 5 miles east of the plan area boundary, respectively (USGS 2022). Further, according to maps prepared by the DOC, the plan area is not located within a known liquefaction zone (DOC 2022), or an area known to be susceptible to landslides (DOC 2020). While no faults, liquefaction zones, or landslide areas have been mapped within the city itself, the city and surrounding areas could still experience damage from earthquakes due to the high seismic shaking within the Coast Ranges geomorphic province. Development facilitated by the DWSP would therefore not exacerbate the risk of damage or injury during earthquake events.

A geotechnical investigation would be prepared for development facilitated by the project pursuant to the City of Watsonville Municipal Code (WMC), which would identify site-specific geologic and soil conditions. The geotechnical investigation would make recommendations to avoid and minimize risks related to potential existing geologic and soil hazards within the plan area. The City adopted the CBC and incorporated into the WMC in January 2020 as Chapter 2, Sections 8-2.01 through 8-

2.05. Furthermore, future development within the plan area would not exacerbate the risk of loss, injury, or death as a result of existing geological and soils hazards within the downtown area. The City would ensure that the project would be designed and constructed consistent with the current CBC, thereby ensuring that appropriate investigations and design measures have been employed to effectively minimize or avoid potential hazards associated with redevelopment and/or new building construction. Therefore, pursuant to the WMC and the CBC, the measures of the geotechnical investigation would be incorporated into the design of the development facilitated under the proposed plan. Future development under the DWSP would not directly or indirectly result in potential substantial impacts associated with ground shaking, liquefaction, lateral spreading, or collapse, nor would it be located on an unstable geologic unit or known fault. Accordingly, impacts would be less than significant.

LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
b. Would the project result in substantial soil erosion or the loss of topsoil? Grading and site preparation associated with project construction would remove vegetation cover and impervious surfaces, such as parking areas. Project grading would also loosen soils. The removal of soil cover and loosening of the soils would increase the potential for erosion and loss of topsoil. If Exhibit B
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Environmental Checklist
Initial Study 29
future development facilitated by the DWSP would disturb more than one acre of land, the applicant would be required to obtain coverage under the statewide National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for Discharges of Storm Water Associated with Construction Activity Construction General Permit Order 2009-0009-DWQ (Construction General Permit), administered by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB). The City of Watsonville Municipal Code Section 7.6.404 provides direction concerning erosion control, including keeping debris and dirt out of storm drain systems during construction, requiring submittal of a SWPPP, and requiring low impact development strategies or structural treatment control BMPs. Compliance with the NPDES permit and identified BMPs and with appropriate sections of the Watsonville Municipal Code would ensure that future development pursuant to the DWSP would not result in substantial soil erosion or the loss of topsoil. Impacts would be less than significant.

LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
d. Would the project be located on expansive soil, as defined in Table 1-B of the Uniform Building Code (1994), creating substantial direct or indirect risks to life or property? Expansive soils have the potential to cause damage to structures through soil movement as the soil changes volume in response to changes in the water content. The plan area is underlain by primarily by Conejo loam, which is a well-drained soil with moderate shrink-swell potential (United States Department of Agriculture 2022). The City of Watsonville Municipal Code requires preparation of a geotechnical investigation that identifies and provides recommendations for expansive soils.

Development facilitated by the project would also comply with the CBC as applicable, which would ensure construction on potentially expansive soils is designed to withstand potential soil movement.

Therefore, potential impacts from expansive soils would be less than significant.

LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
e. Would the project have soils incapable of adequately supporting the use of septic tanks or alternative wastewater disposal systems where sewers are not available for the disposal of wastewater?
Development facilitated by the DWSP would connect to the municipal wastewater system. The project would not require septic tanks or alternative wastewater disposal systems. Therefore, no impacts would occur.

NO IMPACT
f. Would the project directly or indirectly destroy a unique paleontological resource or site or unique geologic feature?
Paleontological resources include the fossilized remains, traces, or imprints of organisms preserved in or on the earth’s crust. Paleontological sensitivity is defined based on the underlying geologic formation. Areas with the highest sensitivity are those where geologic formations known to contain fossils are found close to the ground surface. According to the Environmental Resource Management Element of the Watsonville General Plan, the Pajaro Valley and City’s Planning Area has historically yielded an array of paleontological resources and will likely yield future discoveries (City of Watsonville 1994). Accordingly, there always exists a possibility of encountering paleontological resources when conducting subsurface earthwork activities for development facilitated by the project, such as excavation for installation of utilities. Therefore, impacts could be potentially significant, and mitigation is required. Mitigation Measure GEO-1 would apply to all Exhibit B
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City of Watsonville
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan Project
30 stages of construction facilitated by the project and would provide for the recovery, identification, and curation of previously unrecovered fossils, thereby reducing impacts to paleontological resources to a less than significant level.

Mitigation Measures
GEO-1Unanticipated Discovery of Paleontological Resources In the event an unanticipated fossil discovery is made during project development, work in the immediate vicinity of the find shall be stopped, and a qualified professional paleontologist shall be retained to evaluate the discovery, determine its significance, and identify if mitigation or treatment is warranted. Significant paleontological resources found during construction monitoring shall be prepared, identified, analyzed, and permanently curated in an approved regional museum repository. Work around the discovery shall only resume once the find is properly documented and authorization is given to resume construction work.

LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT WITH MITIGATION INCORPORATED
Exhibit B
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Environmental Checklist
Initial Study 31
8 Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less than
Significant
Impact No Impact
Would the project:
a. Generate greenhouse gas emissions,
either directly or indirectly, that may
have a significant impact on the
environment? □ □ ■ □
b. Conflict with an applicable plan, policy, or
regulation adopted for the purpose of
reducing the emissions of greenhouse
gases? □ □ ■ □
Impact Analysis
a. Would the project generate GHG emissions, either directly or indirectly, that may have a significant impact on the environment?
b. Would the project conflict with an applicable plan, policy, or regulation adopted for the purpose of reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases?
In California, GHG emissions are regulated primarily through AB 32 and SB 375. AB 32, also known as the Global Warming Solutions Act, established a goal to reduce GHG emissions in the State to 1990 levels by 2020. SB 375 builds on AB 32 by requiring the California Air Resources Board to develop regional GHG reduction targets to be achieved from the automobile and light truck sectors for 2020 and 2035 in comparison to 2005 emissions.

The State of California also has stated longer term GHG reduction targets. Under Executive Order S3-05 issued by Governor Schwarzenegger in June 2005, the State plans to reduce GHG emissions to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. On May 29, 2015, Governor Brown issued Executive Order B30-15, which furthers the goal of Executive Order S-3-05 by setting a mid-term target to reduce GHG emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. The Order also directs the California Air Resources Board to update the Climate Change Scoping Plan to include the 2030 target.

The Watsonville Climate Action and Adaptation Plan was developed in 2021 to reduce the community’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions below certain targets consistent with state regulations, such as AB 32 and SB 375. As the transportation sector contributes the greatest amount of GHG emissions, the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan calls for implementing a range of strategies to reduce the number and length of vehicle trips, including facilitating smart growth, increasing multimodal transportation facilities, managing better available parking, and supporting passenger rail service. As shown in Table 4Table 2 below, the DWSP would support these strategies through fostering high-density, infill development near transit, identifying pedestrian and bicycle enhancements, and revising parking and other development standards to reduce the transportation sector’s GHG contribution by reducing single-occupant vehicle driving and encouraging alternative Exhibit B
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City of Watsonville
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan Project
32 modes of transportation. Because the DWSP would be consistent with the Watsonville Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, the DWSP would not generate GHG emissions, either directly or indirectly, that may have a significant impact on the environment. Similarly, the DWSP would not conflict with an applicable plan, policy, or regulation adopted for the purpose of reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases. Therefore, impacts would be less than significant.

Table 4 Project Consistency with the Watsonville 2030 Climate Action & Adaptation Plan
Measure Consistency
Measure E1-A. Natural gas reduction in new
development. Require a 50 percent reduction in natural
gas consumption compared to BAU in all new
development through electric-only development and
installation of electric or more efficient natural gas home heating and cooling systems, appliances, or water
heaters. Explore implementation of an all-electric
ordinance to achieve all electric new development by
2030.

Consistent. The DWSP would facilitate development that
would include sustainable design required by Title 24 and CalGreen standards. Future development would be
required to be solar-ready or include the installation of photovoltaic systems on all low-rise residential buildings, equal to the expected electricity usage, in accordance with Section 150.1(b)14 of the 2019 Building Energy Efficiency Standards. Development envisioned in the DWSP would
occur before and after 2030, as the DWSP guides
development within the plan area into the future.

Development constructed within the plan area would be
subject to City ordinances applicable at the time of
construction, potentially including a future ordinance
prohibiting natural gas by means of an all-electric
requirement.

Measure T1-A. Smart Growth Principles. Based on
AMBAG growth projections, the City is projected to
experience an approximately 10 percent increase in jobs and housing by 2030 compared to existing conditions,
which would necessarily lead to an increase in jobs and housing density in Watsonville. Increased density would reduce VMT by locating people in closer proximity to
workplaces and other destinations. The support
measures below outline how this future growth would
be accommodated in line with smart growth principles:
 Include and advance transit-oriented
development, active transportation
connections, and smart growth concepts in the
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan.
 Continue and expand smart growth strategies,
such as high-density development centered on
transit and commerce at nodes throughout
Watsonville.
 Amend the Watsonville General Plan to create
a new jobs-housing policy and sync with the
next update to the Housing Element to provide
more employment opportunities and an
expanded range of housing options for all
income levels.
 Address overcrowding and cost-burdened
households in the next update to the Housing
Element in accordance with state law.

Consistent. Development facilitated by the DWSP would
include active transportation facilities, such as internal pedestrian walkways that would connect to existing
pedestrian facilities within Downtown Watsonville. The
DWSP also envisions new bicycle facilities and routes in the plan area, such as a new signed bicycle route on Marchant Street between East Beach Street and the existing Levee Trail. Providing a bicycle route connection to the Levee Trail would allow active transportation modes of travel to other areas of Watsonville outside of the plan area. The DWSP would create new housing and employment in the
downtown area of Watsonville, where transit is accessible and available. As shown in Table 1, the DWSP would add up to 3,886 residential units to downtown and hundreds of
thousands of square feet of commercial and industrial
spaces, which would serve commerce purposes. The
housing envisioned in the DWSP would provide more
variations and options for all income levels.

Measure T2-A. New pedestrian improvements. Require
new development projects, residential and
Consistent. Development facilitated by the DWSP would
include internal pedestrian walkways that would connect to Exhibit B
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Environmental Checklist
Initial Study 33
Measure Consistency
nonresidential, to provide pedestrian improvements
along street frontages; and strongly encourage
connection to the nearest existing pedestrian facilities, such as sidewalks or trails. Developments shall also
include internal pedestrian connections between all
uses.
existing pedestrian facilities within Downtown Watsonville.

The DWSP envisions more pedestrian spaces on key
corridors or roadways, such as Main Street.

Measure T2-B. Pedestrian and Cyclist Multimodal
Enhancements. Improve roadway segments,
intersections, and bikeways to implement multimodal
enhancements for pedestrian and cyclist comfort and
safety along City-maintained public roads by improving
five centerline miles of roadway segments and 100
intersections by 2030. Projects may include but not be
limited to the following projects identified for
Watsonville in the AMBAG 2040 Metropolitan
Transportation Plan (MTP)/SCS.
 Traffic calming and greenway features on 2nd
Street/Maple Avenue and 5th Street from Lincoln
Street to Walker Street
 Bike lane improvements to Rodriguez Street (Main
Street to Riverside Drive)
 Addition of sharrows to Union/Brennan (Freedom
Boulevard to Riverside Drive)
 Improvement to the crosswalks on Union
Street/Brennan Street
 Pedestrian and bicycle enhancements on Main
Street (Freedom Boulevard to Riverside Drive) and
Freedom Boulevard (Green Valley Road to Davis
Avenue)
 Exploration of implementing universal streets in the
Downtown Area
 Complete streets improvements to Main Street
(East Beach Street to Freedom Boulevard)
 Construction of pedestrian/bicycle bridge over
Highway 1
 Installation of a roundabout to replace the currently signalized intersection at Main Street (Highway
152)/Freedom Boulevard with safety considerations
for bike/pedestrian improvements
 Freedom Boulevard reconstruction (Alta Vista
Avenue to Green Valley Road) for pedestrian
improvements
Consistent. The DWSP would improve numerous roadway
segments, intersections, and bikeways in the plan area, including projects described or listed in the AMBAG 2040 MTP/SCS. For example, the AMBAG 2040 MTP/SCS project
list includes bike lane improvements to Rodriguez Street, which is located in the plan area. The DWSP envisions
Improved wider bicycle lanes, with an enhanced buffer
between adjacent vehicular travel lanes and the bicycle lane, on Rodriguez Street between West Lake Avenue and
West Beach Street. Another example is the complete
streets improvements envisioned to Main Street in the
DWSP, which is also listed in the AMBAG 2040 MTP/SCS.

Chapter 4 of the DWSP contains a complete list of
pedestrian and bicycle improvements, many of which are
also included in the AMBAG 2040 MTP/SCS.

Measure T3-A. Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan
Parking Strategies. Implement a parking program in the
Downtown Area to encourage alternative modes of
transportation when visiting Downtown. Expand the
Downtown Parking District and incorporate parking
management strategies in the Downtown Watsonville
Specific Plan to eliminate free parking.

Consistent. The DWSP includes numerous pedestrian and
bicycle improvements that would encourage active
transportation modes of travel as alternatives to driving and parking. Additionally, the DWSP would add more
commercial space downtown, which is accessible by transit for people visiting retailers and restaurants, for example.

The DWSP includes expanding the existing Downtown
Parking District to coincide with the larger boundary of the plan area. The DWSP includes guidelines to price on-street parking depending on utilization or proximity to
opportunity sites.

Exhibit B
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City of Watsonville
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan Project
34 Measure Consistency
Measure T5-A. Commute Trip Reduction Programs.

Update the City’s Green Business Program to include
commute trip reduction programs. Provide incentives
and education to existing and future employers to
participate in the program, particularly to implement
commute trip reduction programs. The City shall track
participating businesses to achieve a 20 percent
participation City-wide. Commute trip reduction
programs may include but not be limited to ride-sharing programs, subsidized transit, vanpool/shuttles, and
alternative work schedules.

Consistent. Chapter 4 of the DWSP includes a
Transportation Demand Management (TDM) component.

The TDM component of the DWSP would result in commute
trip reductions. For example, the TDM component envisions discounted transit passes for employees and residents as mitigation for development proposals within the plan area.

Discounted transit passes would encourage the use of
public transportation as an alternative to personal vehicles, reducing commute trips. The DWSP also includes guidelines, such as encouraging telecommuting or alternative work
schedules to reduce commute trips.

Measure T5-B. End-of-Trip Facilities. Update Watsonville Municipal Code, Section 14-17.113, to require new nonresidential development to provide end-of-trip facilities for employee use in addition to bicycle parking. End-oftrip facilities will include bike parking, bike lockers, showers, and personal lockers to the extent feasible.

Consistent. The DWSP includes standards and guidelines for end-of-trip facilities, including the those listed in Measure T5-B of the CAAP. For example, the DWSP envisions longterm bicycle parking facilities, such as bike lockers.

Measure T6-G. Local Shopping. Provide a variety of
opportunities and incentives to encourage local
shopping, with the goal of reducing average household
grocery trip length by 1 mile. Programs will include
identifying and removing barriers to urban agriculture to encourage residents to grow food and/or raise chickens
and to expand and diversify alternative food access
points (e.g., community-supported agriculture,
community gardens, farmers markets). The City will
identify vacant City-owned land suitable for growing
food, establish community gardens where suitable, and
make City-owned parking lots and public gathering
spaces available for farmers markets and communitysupported agriculture pick-up locations.

Consistent. The DWSP would add both residential units and commercial space to the plan area. This would place people in proximity to shopping within the local downtown area.

The DWSP envisions retaining the existing weekly Farmers Market downtown at the Watsonville City Plaza. The DWSP envisions additional agricultural or farming events, such as community gardening opportunities.

Source: City of Watsonville 2021
BAU = Business as Usual
Note: The City’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan includes other measures that would reduce GHG emissions that are not included in this table. However, those measures are more specific to individual projects, such as retrofitting specific buildings or installing certain types of appliances. Therefore, those measures are not addressed in this table because this is a programmatic analysis of the DWSP.

LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
Exhibit B
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Environmental Checklist
Initial Study 35
9 Hazards and Hazardous Materials
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less than
Significant
Impact No Impact
Would the project:
a. Create a significant hazard to the public
or the environment through the routine
transport, use, or disposal of hazardous
materials? □ □ ■ □
b. Create a significant hazard to the public
or the environment through reasonably
foreseeable upset and accident
conditions involving the release of
hazardous materials into the
environment? □ □ ■ □
c. Emit hazardous emissions or handle
hazardous or acutely hazardous
materials, substances, or waste within

0.25 mile of an existing or proposed
school? □ □ ■ □
d. Be located on a site that is included on a
list of hazardous material sites compiled
pursuant to Government Code Section
65962.5 and, as a result, would it create a
significant hazard to the public or the
environment? ■ □ □ □
e. For a project located in an airport land
use plan or, where such a plan has not
been adopted, within two miles of a
public airport or public use airport, would
the project result in a safety hazard or
excessive noise for people residing or
working in the project area? □ □ □ ■
f. Impair implementation of or physically
interfere with an adopted emergency
response plan or emergency evacuation
plan? □ □ ■ □
g. Expose people or structures, either
directly or indirectly, to a significant risk
of loss, injury, or death involving wildland
fires? □ □ □ ■
Exhibit B
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City of Watsonville
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan Project
36 a. Would the project create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through the routine transport, use, or disposal of hazardous materials? b. Would the project create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through reasonably foreseeable upset and accident conditions involving the release of hazardous materials into the environment?
Construction
Project construction would include the temporary transport, storage, use, or disposal of potentially hazardous materials including fuels, lubricating fluids, cleaners, or solvents. If spilled, these substances could pose a risk to the environment and to human health. However, the transport, storage, use, or disposal of hazardous materials is subject to various federal, state, and local regulations designed to reduce risks associated with hazardous materials, including potential risks associated with upset or accident conditions. Hazardous materials must be transported under U.S.

DOT regulations (U.S. DOT Hazardous Materials Transport Act, 49 Code of Federal Regulations), which stipulate the types of containers, labeling, and other restrictions to be used in the movement of such material on interstate highways. In addition, the use, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials are regulated through the Resources Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) is responsible for implementing the RCRA program, as well as California’s own hazardous waste laws. DTSC regulates hazardous waste, cleans up existing contamination, and looks for ways to control and reduce the hazardous waste produced in California. DTSC does this primarily under the authority of RCRA and in accordance with the California Hazardous Waste Control Law (California H&SC Division 20, Chapter 6.5) and the Hazardous Waste Control Regulations (Title 22, California Code of Regulations, Divisions 4 and 4.5).

DTSC also oversees permitting, inspection, compliance, and corrective action programs to ensure that hazardous waste managers follow federal and state requirements and other laws that affect hazardous waste specific to handling, storage, transportation, disposal, treatment, reduction, cleanup, and emergency planning. Compliance with existing regulations would reduce the risk of potential release of hazardous materials from spills and transport during construction.

If future development facilitated by the DWSP would disturb more than one acre of land, the applicant would be required to obtain coverage under the General Permit for Discharges of Storm Water Associated with Construction Activity (Construction General Permit Order 2009-0009-DWQ) to comply with Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) requirements. Compliance with these requirements would include preparation of a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), which would specify BMPs for rapid containment and cleanup of accidental hazardous materials spills or leaks, such as minor spills when refueling equipment on-site.

Compliance with NPDES requirements, where applicable, and other relevant hazardous materials regulations would ensure that construction impacts are less than significant.

Operation
Development facilitated by the DWSP may involve the use, storage, transport, and disposal of potentially hazardous materials and wastes. Land uses within the DWSP do not generally involve the use, storage, disposal, or transportation of significant quantities of hazardous materials. They may involve use and storage of some materials considered hazardous, though these materials would be primarily limited to solvents, paints, chemicals used for cleaning and building maintenance, and landscaping supplies. These materials would not be different from household chemicals and solvents already in wide use throughout the plan area. Residents and workers are anticipated to use Exhibit B
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Environmental Checklist
Initial Study 37
limited quantities of products routinely for periodic cleaning, repair, and maintenance or for landscape maintenance/pest control that could contain hazardous materials. Those using such products would be required to comply with all applicable regulations regarding the disposal of household waste.

During project operation, potential industrial uses would be determined by those allowed by the Zoning Ordinance for General Industrial zoning district. The transport, use, and storage of hazardous materials during operation of the project would be conducted pursuant to all applicable local, State, and federal laws, including but not limited to Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations implemented by Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations, which describes strict regulations for the safe transportation of hazardous materials, and in cooperation with the County’s Department of Environmental Health. As required by California Health and Safety Code Section 25507, any potential industrial businesses shall establish and implement a Hazardous Materials Business Emergency Plan for emergency response to a release or threatened release of a hazardous material.

As required, the hazardous materials would be stored in locations according to compatibility and in storage enclosures (i.e., flammable material storage cabinets and biological safety cabinets) or in areas or rooms specially designed, protected, and contained for such storage, in accordance with applicable regulations.

Furthermore, under the California Hazard Communication Regulation, chemical manufacturers, distributors, or importers must provide Safety Data Sheets (formerly Material Safety Data Sheets) for each hazardous chemical to downstream users1 to communicate information on these hazards.

Future industrial uses of more than ten employees would be required to comply when employees may be exposed to hazardous substances found in the workplace under normal conditions of use as well as in reasonably foreseeable emergency conditions (i.e., a spill or release of a flammable chemical). Accordingly, a Safety Data Sheet would be stored on-site, either within the proposed buildings operating within the plan area for chemical and chemical products used or stored on the project site, such as cleaning products for ongoing maintenance of the proposed building interior. In the event a future applicant proposes to use or store hazardous materials on-site due to a unique or specific industrial process, the applicant would be required to obtain a Conditional Use Permit from the City, which would be subject to additional environmental review and mitigation, as applicable.

However, based on the programmatic nature of the DWSP, the proposed project would not routinely use, store, or dispose of hazardous materials. Therefore, project operation would not involve the routine use, storage, transportation, or disposal of substantial quantities of hazardous materials and would not result in the release of such materials into the environment. Impacts from project operation would be less than significant.

LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
d. Would the project be located on a site that is included on a list of hazardous material sites compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5 and, as a result, would it create a significant hazard to the public or the environment?
The plan area contains multiple sites included on a list of hazardous material sites compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5. Some construction facilitated by the DWSP, especially excavation for new building foundations and buried utility connections could disturb 1 Downstream users are companies or individuals that use chemicals.

Exhibit B
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City of Watsonville
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan Project
38 contaminated soils and groundwater, potentially exposing construction works to hazardous materials. Impacts could be potentially significant and will evaluated further in the EIR.

POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
c. Would the project emit hazardous emissions or handle hazardous or acutely hazardous materials, substances, or waste within 0.25 mile of an existing or proposed school? There are multiple schools within or within 0.25 mile of the plan area including: Radcliff Elementary School, La Manzana School, Watsonville Prep School, Linscott Charter School, Watsonville High School, Central Christian School, and Moreland Notre Dame High School. However, as described above under Operation in Threshold Question a, project operation would not involve the use or storage of hazardous materials other than minor household chemicals. Though potentially hazardous materials such as fuels, lubricants, solvents, and oils could be used during project construction, the transport, use and storage of hazardous materials would be conducted in accordance with applicable State and federal laws, such as the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the California Hazardous Material Management Act, and the CCR, Title 22. Compliance with applicable laws and regulations would ensure that impacts would be less than significant.

LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
e. For a project located within an airport land use plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a public airport or public use airport, would the project result in a safety hazard or excessive noise for people residing or working in the project area? The Watsonville Municipal Airport is approximately two miles northwest of the plan area, and as such the northern portion of the plan area is the Watsonville Municipal Airport Influence Area (Watsonville Municipal Airport 2015). However, the project is not included within an airport safety zone as defined in the California Airport Land Use Planning Handbook (Caltrans Division of Aeronautics 2011) or within airport noise contours as determined by the Watsonville Municipal Airport Master Plan (Watsonville Municipal Airport 2020). Therefore, the project would not result in a safety hazard or excessive noise for people residing or working in the plan area. There would be no impacts in this regard.

NO IMPACT
f. Would the project impair implementation of or physically interfere with an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan?
The proposed project would not interfere with an adopted emergency response plan or evacuation plan. It is not anticipated that future construction pursuant to the DWSP would require lane closures of SR 152, Freedom Boulevard, or SR 126; however, should a lane closure become necessary during construction, the closure would be intermittent and temporary. Further, a lane or partial road closure during construction would require a road closure plan in accordance with City requirements, which would indicate how traffic would navigate the area while the roadway is closed. The City and Watsonville Fire Department would be aware of the road closure and have ample arrangements planned in the event of an emergency evacuation or response during project construction because the City must approve closure of City roads.

To prioritize a pedestrian-friendly environment, the DWSP envisions a road diet on Main Street within the Plan Area. The road diet would convert Main Street from a multi-lane roadway to a Exhibit B
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Environmental Checklist
Initial Study 39
roadway with a single travel lane in each direction. The existing other travel lanes would be converted to parallel parking for vehicles and for expanded or new pedestrian and bicycle facilities.

The road diet would also provide a center, two-way left-turn lane near busier intersections on Main Street. According to the US Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, road diets do not result in inadequate emergency access or reduced emergency vehicle response times.

Although a road diet results in fewer travel lanes on the roadway, the center, two-way left turn lane allows emergency vehicles to bypass traffic while other vehicles remain within travel lanes (Federal Highway Administration 2020). Additionally, the road diet envisioned in the DWSP would include parallel parking spaces next to the travel lanes, which would provide room for vehicles to pull aside and allow emergency vehicles to pass. In addition to parallel parking spaces, Main Street also has parallel streets, such as Rodriguez Street, that could be used for emergency vehicle travel and access. The DWSP also envisions converting the existing couplet2 portion of SR 152 from a one-way street into a two-way street, which could improve emergency access and reduce response times via East Lake Avenue and East Beach Street. Therefore, the road diet that would be implemented under the DWSP would not result in inadequate emergency access. Accordingly, impacts of the DWSP would be less than significant.

LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
g. Would the project expose people or structures, either directly or indirectly, to a significant risk of loss, injury, or death involving wildland fires?
Downtown Watsonville is not within or near state responsibility areas or lands classified as very high fire hazard severity zones. The nearest state responsibility area or land classified as very high fire hazard severity zone is on the southern side of the Pajaro River, approximately two miles south of the plan area boundary (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection 2007). The plan area is bound by primarily existing development to the north, east, and west, and bordered SR 129 and the Pajaro River to the south. Therefore, the project would not expose people or structures to a significant risk of wildland fire. There would be no impacts.

NO IMPACT
2 A roadway couplet is a pair of one-way streets which carry opposing directions of traffic.

Exhibit B
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City of Watsonville
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan Project
40 This page intentionally left blank.

Exhibit B
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Environmental Checklist
Initial Study 41
10 Hydrology and Water Quality
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less than
Significant
Impact No Impact
Would the project:
a. Violate any water quality standards or
waste discharge requirements or
otherwise substantially degrade surface
or ground water quality? □ □ ■ □
b. Substantially decrease groundwater
supplies or interfere substantially with
groundwater recharge such that the
project may impede sustainable
groundwater management of the basin? □ □ ■ □
c. Substantially alter the existing drainage
pattern of the site or area, including
through the alteration of the course of a
stream or river or through the addition of
impervious surfaces, in a manner which
would:
(i) Result in substantial erosion or
siltation on- or off-site; □ □ ■ □
(ii) Substantially increase the rate or
amount of surface runoff in a
manner which would result in
flooding on- or off-site; □ □ ■ □
(iii) Create or contribute runoff water
which would exceed the capacity of
existing or planned stormwater
drainage systems or provide
substantial additional sources of
polluted runoff; or □ □ ■ □
(iv) Impede or redirect flood flows? □ □ ■ □
d. In flood hazard, tsunami, or seiche zones,
risk release of pollutants due to project
inundation? □ □ ■ □
e. Conflict with or obstruct implementation
of a water quality control plan or
sustainable groundwater management
plan? □ □ ■ □
Exhibit B
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City of Watsonville
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan Project
42 a. Would the project violate any water quality standards or waste discharge requirements or otherwise substantially degrade surface or ground water quality? Excavation, grading, and other activities associated with construction facilitated by the project would result in soil disturbance that could cause water quality violations through potential erosion and subsequent sedimentation of receiving water bodies. Construction activities could also cause water quality violations in the event of an accidental fuel or hazardous materials leak or spill. If precautions are not taken to contain contaminants, construction activities could result in contaminated stormwater runoff that could enter nearby water bodies, which would degrade water quality. Construction activities resulting in ground disturbance of one acre or more are subject to the permitting requirements of the NPDES General Permit for Stormwater Discharges associated with Construction and Land Disturbance Activities (Construction General Permit Order No. 2009- 0009-DWQ). The Construction General Permit requires the preparation and implementation of a SWPPP, which must be prepared before construction begins. The SWPPP includes specifications for BMPs implemented during project construction to minimize or prevent sediment or pollutants in stormwater runoff. Furthermore, individual projects would be required to comply with Chapter 6, Excavations, Grading, Filling, and Erosion Control, of Watsonville Municipal Code. Chapter 6 outlines permit requirements for excavation and grading activities and describes required erosion control activities for construction and operation. Compliance with the Municipal Code would ensure proper erosion control activities are implemented for projects of less than one acre in size.

The plan area is currently developed with retail, commercial, civic, religious, industrial, and residential uses and is dominated by impervious surfaces. The project would facilitate primarily infill development or redevelopment and would not substantially increase the amount of impervious surfaces in the plan area. However, development facilitated by the project such as new buildings and parking areas, would prevent precipitation from infiltrating the ground surface. Instead of infiltrating the ground surface, this precipitation could become stormwater runoff. Paved surfaces, such as the new travel lanes or parking areas would add contaminants to stormwater runoff, including oils and heavy metals from streets, debris from roof tops, detergents from vehicle and equipment cleaning, and bacteria from pet waste such as in residential areas where pets are more common. Even at low concentrations, oil, grease, and heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and copper can be toxic to aquatic organisms. Bacteria from pet waste can have negative impacts to organisms in the receiving waters. Nutrients from fertilizers have been found to accelerate growth of nuisance vegetation and algae, resulting in a decrease in dissolved oxygen levels which effect the survival of fish, invertebrates, bacteria, and underwater plants. Dissolved oxygen is also critical for the decomposition of organic matter, a natural process in aquatic ecosystems. The pollutants of concern in Santa Cruz County and particularly in the Pajaro River watershed include sediment, nutrients, and bacteria.

As mentioned in the previous paragraph, individual projects would be required to comply with Chapter 6, Excavations, Grading, Filling, and Erosion Control, of Watsonville Municipal Code.

Chapter 6 of Watsonville Municipal Code requires stormwater from new development to be captured on the site of the development, such as in bioretention areas, where runoff could infiltrate the ground surface or undergo filtration and treatment prior to discharge into surface waters. The requirements for on-site retention established by Chapter 6 are mandatory and would require onsite treatment of stormwater or otherwise prevent increases in untreated runoff from entering surface waters or discharging via the City’s storm drain system. This would prevent runoff from project development from substantially degrading water quality or violating waste discharge Exhibit B
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Environmental Checklist
Initial Study 43
requirements. Therefore, compliance with existing regulations would reduce impacts to a less than significant level.

LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
b. Would the project substantially decrease groundwater supplies or interfere substantially with groundwater recharge such that the project may impede sustainable groundwater management of the basin?
The County of Santa Cruz has mapped primary groundwater recharge areas across the County, including within incorporated Watsonville. According to the County of Santa Cruz mapping, groundwater recharge areas do not occur within the downtown area of Watsonville, including within the plan area (County of Santa Cruz 2022). The absence of mapped groundwater recharge areas within the plan area is consistent with existing conditions within the plan area. The plan area is currently developed with retail, commercial, civic, religious, industrial, and residential uses and is dominated by impervious surfaces. Therefore, the plan area is not ideal for substantial groundwater recharge due to relatively large area of impervious surface comprising the downtown area.

However, development facilitated by the project such as new buildings and parking areas could be constructed within small areas of pervious surface that do exist in the plan area, such as existing landscaping. Development in these pervious areas would prevent precipitation from infiltrating the ground surface. Development envisioned in the DWSP would be subject to requirements of the City of Watsonville Municipal Code, including Chapter 6 of the Municipal Code. Chapter 6 of Watsonville Municipal Code requires stormwater to be captured on-site, such as in bioretention areas, where runoff could infiltrate the ground surface and contribute to recharge of underlying aquifers. Further, the plan area is underlain by the Pajaro Valley Groundwater Subbasin (subbasin). Groundwater recharges in the subbasin occurs through direct percolation of rainfall and streamflow seepage from the Pajaro River and its tributaries (Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency 2014). While a small portion of the plan area is adjacent to the Pajaro River, development facilitated by the project would be subject to stormwater control measures required by Watsonville Municipal Code and would not interfere with groundwater recharge of the Pajaro River.

The project would increase the number of residents and businesses in plan area, which could result in increased water demand and consumption. As described in Section 19, Utilities and Services Systems, water supplies within the plan area primarily originate from groundwater from the Pajaro Valley Groundwater Basin. In terms of groundwater supplies, a Water Supply Assessment was prepared for the project in October 2022. The assessment is included in this Initial Study as Appendix A. As described therein, the plan area is already served by the Watsonville water supply system, and development facilitated by the project would not result in a projected water demand exceeding water supply (Appendix A). Therefore, the project would not result in substantial depletion of the Pajaro Valley Groundwater Basin. Projected water demand and supply is discussed in detail in Section 19, Utilities and Service Systems. Therefore, the project’s impacts on groundwater supplies and recharge would be less than significant, and the project would not impede implementation of a groundwater sustainability plan.

LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
c.(i) Would the project substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river or through the addition of Exhibit B
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City of Watsonville
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan Project
44 impervious surfaces, in a manner which would result in substantial erosion or siltation on- or off-site?
c.(ii) Would the project substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river or through the addition of impervious surfaces, in a manner which would substantially increase the rate or amount of surface runoff in a manner which would result in flooding on- or off-site? c.(iii) Would the project substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river or through the addition of impervious surfaces, in a manner that would create or contribute runoff water which would exceed the capacity of existing or planned stormwater drainage systems or provide substantial additional sources of polluted runoff?
c.(iv) Would the project substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river or through the addition of impervious surfaces, in a manner which would impede or redirect flood flows? Drainage in the plan area generally follows the gently sloping topography of each parcel within the plan area. Existing stormwater drainage systems include curbs and gutters along existing roadways and within parcels of the plan area. Development facilitated by the project would involve grading and possible alterations to the existing topography of the sites. However, construction would primarily consist of infill development and redevelopment and would replace existing impervious surfaces. Precipitation within the plan area would run off the replaced impervious surfaces and be incorporated into existing surface runoff. Therefore, the project would not result in increased surface runoff that could result in flooding or exceed the capacity of existing stormwater drainage systems. Additionally, the project would not result in additional sources of polluted runoff.

As stated previously, construction facilitated by the project would be conducted in compliance with the State’s Construction General Permit (Order No. 2009-0009-DWQ). Preparation of the SWPPP in accordance with the Construction General Permit would require erosion-control BMPs at the construction areas. BMPs that are typically specified within the SWPPP may include, but would not be limited to, temporary measures during construction, revegetation, and structural BMPs.

Therefore, the project would not result in substantial erosion or siltation during construction.

Construction and operational permitting requirements, including the NPDES Construction General Permit would require erosion-control measures and the construction of on-site retention basins or bioretention facilities. These features would capture and treat stormwater runoff during construction and operation, ensuring no increase in erosion, siltation, surface runoff, or polluted runoff within the plan area.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Flood Hazard Layer Viewer, portions of the plan area are within or adjacent to known flood hazard areas, including areas with a 0.2 to 1 percent annual chance of a flood hazard near the Pajaro River and regulatory floodways along Watsonville Slough. However, the project would facilitate infill development or redevelopment in already developed areas of Watsonville; therefore, development facilitated by the project would not substantially change existing development patterns within mapped flood zones, and as such would not impede or redirect flood flows. Impacts would be less than significant.

LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
Exhibit B
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Environmental Checklist
Initial Study 45
d. In flood hazard, tsunami, or seiche zones, would the project risk release of pollutants due to project inundation?
As discussed above under threshold c.(i) – c.(iv), portions of the plan area are within or adjacent to known flood hazard areas along the Pajaro River and Watsonville Slough. These bodies of water would also be subject to seiche. The plan area is not within a mapped tsunami hazard zone (DOC 2022).

Development facilitated by the project located within flood hazard zones and alongside water bodies subject to seiche would increase the risk of pollutant release due to project inundation.

Industrial and commercial development facilitated by the project would be primarily located in the southern portion of the plan area, which is mapped by FEMA as having a 0.2 to 1 percent annual chance of a flood hazard. The project would primarily facilitate infill development and redevelopment, and would therefore not substantially increase the risk of the release of pollutants.

Further, as described in Section 9, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, hazardous materials in commercial or industrial uses would be transported, stored, used, and disposed of in accordance with applicable regulations. For example, development facilitated by the DWSP would be subject to the City of Watsonville Municipal Code. Section 9-2.502 of the Municipal Code prohibits the storage of materials which in the time of a flood are buoyant, flammable, explosive, or could otherwise be injurious to human, animal, or plant life. The project would also facilitate development of residential uses; however, residential uses do not typically store large quantities of potential pollutants, and typically contain household cleaning supplies and landscaping materials. Therefore, the project would not increase the risk of pollutant release due to project inundation, and impacts would be less than significant.

LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
e. Would the project conflict with or obstruct implementation of a water quality control plan or sustainable groundwater management plan?
Development facilitated by the project would include site-specific connections to existing water supply infrastructure, in order to provide water supply service to individual developments. These facilities would consist of underground pipes connecting individual parcels in the plan area to existing water mains (larger underground water distribution pipes) that already exist throughout the plan area, primarily within paved roadways. These connections would be installed during the projects’ construction periods, within the project-specific construction footprints. As such, any potential environmental effects associated with project-specific water supply connections are included construction-related impacts of future developments, as evaluated throughout this Initial Study. The project would not involve the relocation or construction of new or expanded water supply infrastructure, as water supply for the project would be provided by the City of Watsonville.

As described in the WSA (Appendix A) and discussed in detail in Section 19, Utilities and Service Systems, the City of Watsonville does not anticipate a shortfall in water supply in future normal, single dry, and multiple dry years. Because the project would not substantially decrease groundwater supplies or interfere substantially with groundwater recharge such that the project may impede sustainable groundwater management of the basin, the proposed project would not conflict with or obstruct a water quality control plan or sustainable groundwater management plan.

Therefore, impacts would be less than significant.

LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
Exhibit B
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City of Watsonville
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan Project
46 This page intentionally left blank.

Exhibit B
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Environmental Checklist
Initial Study 47
11 Land Use and Planning
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less than
Significant
Impact No Impact
Would the project:
a. Physically divide an established
community? □ □ □ ■
b. Cause a significant environmental impact
due to a conflict with any land use plan,
policy, or regulation adopted for the
purpose of avoiding or mitigating an
environmental effect? □ □ ■ □
a. Would the project physically divide an established community? The plan area is located within an urbanized area and surrounded by other urban land uses. The project would involve development of up to 3,886 residential units; 231,151 square feet of commercial use; 376,827 square feet of industrial use; and 114,569 square feet of civic use within the plan area. The plan area is currently developed with existing residential and commercial uses.

Therefore, the addition of buildout of the DWSP would not generate additional barriers to community connectivity compared to existing conditions on the site. The Specific Plan does not include the construction of barriers such as roadways or other dividing features that would physically divide an established community. Therefore, the DWSP would have no impact.

NO IMPACT
b. Would the project cause a significant environmental impact due to a conflict with any land use plan, policy, or regulation adopted for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating an environmental effect?
The proposed DWSP provides a land use and mobility plan along with development and design regulations to guide future public and private development projects in the plan area. The land use components of the DWSP would help the City achieve its objective of incorporating higher density commercial and housing opportunities by accommodating additional residential uses in a compact and active mixed-use environment through both new construction and adaptive reuse of historic or existing buildings. Because the plan area is mostly developed with commercial buildings and established residential neighborhoods, the DWSP directs future potential growth toward a limited number of vacant or under-utilized sites that could be redeveloped in the downtown area. This would prevent conflicts with land use plans, policies, and regulations adopted for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating environmental effects. For example, locating new development on underutilized infill sites in downtown would avoid conflicts with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which is a regulation intended to prevent or avoid impacts to waters of the United States, such as rivers and jurisdictional wetlands.

The mobility components of the DWSP focus on the provision of multi-modal transportation options in the downtown area, such as vehicle, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian mode options. It includes Exhibit B
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City of Watsonville
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan Project
48 design concepts for downtown streets, as well as bicycle and pedestrian network improvements. In addition, the mobility component identifies mobility goals, such as the provision of complete streets, effective and sufficient parking, curb management, and travel demand management strategies. The mobility components and goals of the DWSP would encourage pedestrian and bicycle travel instead of vehicle travel, which would be consistent with regulations adopted to prevent environmental impacts, such as SB 743 pertaining to vehicle miles traveled. The mobility components of the DWSP would also further the goals of the City’s Trails & Bicycle Master Plan, which was not necessarily adopted for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating an environmental effect but would do so by providing more pedestrian and bicycle travel opportunities in lieu of vehicle travel, reducing air pollution.

Because the plan area is urbanized and the DWSP envisions development within urbanized area with fewer sensitive environmental resources, would reduce environmental impacts associated with vehicle use, and was developed in coordination with other applicable land use plans and policies, impacts would be less than significant.

LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
Exhibit B
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Environmental Checklist
Initial Study 49
12 Mineral Resources
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less than
Significant
Impact No Impact
Would the project:
a. Result in the loss of availability of a
known mineral resource that would be of
value to the region and the residents of
the state? □ □ □ ■
b. Result in the loss of availability of a
locally important mineral resource
recovery site delineated on a local
general plan, specific plan, or other land
use plan? □ □ □ ■
a. Would the project result in the loss of availability of a known mineral resource that would be of value to the region and the residents of the state?
b. Would the project result in the loss of availability of a locally important mineral resource recovery site delineated on a local general plan, specific plan, or other land use plan? The City’s General Plan states that Watsonville is classified as MRZ-2 land by the State Board of Mining and Geology, which indicates the area has significant stone, sand, and/or gravel deposits (City of Watsonville 1994). However, the plan area contains no active mineral extraction operations.

Additionally, the DWSP would facilitate development within the previously-developed downtown of Watsonville and would not result in a loss of available minerals. Thus, the project would have no impact to mineral resources.

NO IMPACT
Exhibit B
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City of Watsonville
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan Project
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Exhibit B
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Environmental Checklist
Initial Study 51
13 Noise
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less than
Significant
Impact No Impact
Would the project result in:
a. Generation of a substantial temporary or
permanent increase in ambient noise
levels in the vicinity of the project in
excess of standards established in the
local general plan or noise ordinance, or
applicable standards of other agencies? ■ □ □ □
b. Generation of excessive groundborne
vibration or groundborne noise levels? ■ □ □ □
c. For a project located within the vicinity of
a private airstrip or an airport land use
plan or, where such a plan has not been
adopted, within two miles of a public
airport or public use airport, would the
project expose people residing or
working in the project area to excessive
noise levels? □ □ □ ■
Impact Assessment
a. Would the project result in generation of a substantial temporary or permanent increase in ambient noise levels in the vicinity of the project in excess of standards established in the local general plan or noise ordinance, or applicable standards of other agencies? b. Would the project result in generation of excessive groundborne vibration or groundborne noise levels?
The DWSP could generate temporary noise and vibration increases during construction through the use of heavy construction equipment, excavation, and vehicle trips associated with construction activities. In addition, the project could result long-term operational noise increases associated with residential and industrial uses, increased vehicle trips, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.

Impacts could be potentially significant and will evaluated further in the Environmental Impact Report.

POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
c. For a project located within the vicinity of a private airstrip or an airport land use plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a public airport or public use airport, would the project expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive noise levels? Exhibit B
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City of Watsonville
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan Project
52 The nearest airport to the plan area is the Watsonville Municipal Airport, located approximately two miles northwest of Downtown Watsonville. As discussed within Section 9, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, the plan area is not within the Watsonville Municipal Airport noise contours as determined by the Watsonville Municipal Airport Master Plan (Watsonville Municipal Airport 2020).

Therefore, the project would not expose people residing or working in the plan area to excessive noise. There would be no impacts in this regard.

NO IMPACT
Exhibit B
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Environmental Checklist
Initial Study 53
14 Population and Housing
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less than
Significant
Impact No Impact
Would the project:
a. Induce substantial unplanned population
growth in an area, either directly (e.g., by
proposing new homes and businesses) or
indirectly (e.g., through extension of
roads or other infrastructure)? ■ □ □ □
b. Displace substantial numbers of existing
people or housing, necessitating the
construction of replacement housing
elsewhere? □ □ □ ■
a. Would the project induce substantial unplanned population growth in an area, either directly (for example, by proposing new homes and businesses) or indirectly (for example, through extension of roads or other infrastructure)?
The plan area is mostly developed with commercial buildings and established residential neighborhoods. The proposed Specific Plan would facilitate the future development of new business and housing in the downtown and future potential growth is likely to be directed to a limited number of vacant or under-utilized sites that could be redeveloped. The DWSP projects up to 3,886 residential units would be added to the plan area through the next 25 years (City of Watsonville 2022). According to the California Department of Finance E-5 Housing Estimates, the average persons per household for the city of Watsonville is 3.52 persons. Based on the estimation, the 3,886 residential units added under the Specific Plan would introduce approximately 13,679 people to the plan area through the next 25 years and could be considered substantial unplanned population growth. Impacts could be potentially significant and will evaluated further in the EIR.

POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
b. Would the project displace substantial numbers of existing people or housing, necessitating the construction of replacement housing elsewhere?
The plan area currently contains a mix of housing. As of 2019, there were 711 households in the downtown area, a net increase of 54 since 2010, representing approximately 8 percent growth (City of Watsonville 2020). The Specific Plan is anticipated to facilitate the construction of up to 3,886 residential units over the next 25 years. However, the proposed DWSP includes strategies to prevent displacement, such as Policy 7.1 and Policy 7.2, which look to reinvest in existing affordable housing and stabilize existing neighborhoods. Furthermore, the intent of the DWSP is to create more housing units within Downtown Watsonville over the next 25 years, while maintaining existing neighborhoods through policies such as Policy 7.1 and Policy 7.2. Therefore, the proposed project would not displace substantial numbers of existing people or housing. There would be no impact.

NO IMPACT
Exhibit B
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City of Watsonville
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan Project
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Exhibit B
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Environmental Checklist
Initial Study 55
15 Public Services
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less than
Significant
Impact No Impact
a. Would the project result in substantial
adverse physical impacts associated with
the provision of new or physically altered
governmental facilities, or the need for
new or physically altered governmental
facilities, the construction of which could
cause significant environmental impacts,
in order to maintain acceptable service
ratios, response times or other
performance objectives for any of the
public services:
1 Fire protection? □ □ ■ □
2 Police protection? □ □ ■ □
3 Schools? □ □ ■ □
4 Parks? □ □ ■ □
5 Other public facilities? □ □ ■ □
a.1. Would the project result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered fire protection facilities, or the need for new or physically altered fire protection facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives?
The plan area is served by the Watsonville Fire Department, which is located within the plan area at 115 2nd Street, at the intersection of 2nd Street and Rodriguez Street. The DWSP would not expand the service area of the Watsonville Fire Department. However, implementation of the DWSP would increase the number of buildings and people residing within the plan area, which could result in more calls or request of services provided by the Watsonville Fire Department. The potential additional calls or requests for fire services resulting from implementation of the DWSP would be responded to by the existing fire station on 2nd Street. The development envisioned in the DWSP would change building massing in the plan area, but it does not envision high-rise structures that could require larger fire trucks with extended ladder ability. Because the DWSP would not expand the service area or create the need for larger fire equipment, no expansion of the fire station on 2nd Street would be required or is proposed.

The DWSP Chapter 3 of the DWSP, Design Framework, identifies the existing fire station site at 115 2nd Street as an opportunity site for redevelopment and reinvestment in the downtown area, and calls for the consolidation of fire and police services at the existing fire station site. If consolidated Exhibit B
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City of Watsonville
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan Project
56 the police would be located on a new building at the fire station site. The new building for the police would be constructed in an area that is currently used for parking and for conducting fire department exercises. Therefore, this modification the fire station site would not result in significant environmental impacts because the fire station site does not contain sensitive environmental resources but is instead characterized by parking areas and fire department training equipment.

Impacts would be less than significant.

LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
a.2. Would the project result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered police protection facilities, or the need for new or physically altered police protection facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives?
The plan area is served by the Watsonville Police Department located at 215 Union Street in Watsonville, which is in the plan area. The DWSP would not expand the service area of the Watsonville Police Department. However, implementation of the DWSP would increase the number of people residing, working, or otherwise visiting the plan area, which could result in more calls or request for police services. The DWSP does not envision expanding the size of the police force.

Therefore, the existing police force would provide police services and potentially respond to more calls for service within the plan area.

Although the DWSP does not envision expanding the Watsonville Police Department, it does envision relocating the police department. As described above under item a.1, Chapter 3 of the DWSP calls for the consolidation of fire and police services at the existing fire station site at 115 2nd Street. Specifically, a new police station would be constructed at the fire station site. The new police station would be adjacent to Rodriguez Street in an area that is currently used for parking and for conducting fire department exercises. Because the new police station would be constructed at the existing fire station site in areas characterized by parking areas and fire department equipment, sensitive environmental resources such as wetlands would not be impacted from the new police station. The existing police station at 215 Union Street would be an opportunity site for development, as envisioned in the DWSP and analyzed throughout this Initial Study. Therefore, the DWSP would result in less than significant environmental impacts associated with expanded or new police facilities.

LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
a.3. Would the project result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered schools, or the need for new or physically altered schools, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios or other performance objectives? The proposed plan would facilitate the development of up to 3,886 residential units and roughly 13,679 people to Downtown Watsonville over the next 25 years. The school-aged residents within the plan area would likely attend the nearest Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) schools, which are Radcliff Elementary School, E.A. Hall Middle School, and Watsonville High School. Schoolaged residents may also attend nearby private and charter schools, including Central Christian School, Moreland Notre Dame School, Linscott Charter School, and Ceiba College Preparatory Academy. According to the California Department of Finance population estimates, the population of Watsonville was approximately 50,669 as of January 2022 (California Department of Finance Exhibit B
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Environmental Checklist
Initial Study 57
2022). According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 population estimates, approximately 30.6 percent of Watsonville’s population comprised of school-aged children (18 years old or younger) (US Census Bureau 2021). Applying this ratio of 30.6 percent school-aged children to the projected population increase due to the proposed project, the project would generate approximately 4,186 school-aged children.3 For this analysis, it is assumed that all school-aged children within the plan area would attend PVUSD schools. This additional student population would increase the service population and demand for PVUSD school services.

In accordance with Senate Bill 50, future projects under the DWSP would be required to pay development impact fees to PVUSD at the time of the building permit issuance. PVUSD would use collected funds towards new facilities to offset any impacts associated with new the development.

Pursuant to California Government Code Section 65996, payment of these fees is deemed to fully mitigate cumulative CEQA impacts of new development on school facilities. Therefore, payment of state-mandated impact fees would reduce the project’s potential impacts on school facilities, and expansion or construction of schools would result in impacts that are less than significant.

LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
a.4. Would the project result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered parks, or the need for new or physically altered parks, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios or other performance objectives? The Watsonville Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan (City of Watsonville 2009) establishes a goal of maintaining five acres of parkland per 1,000 residents. With 143 acres of parkland and a population of approximately 50,669, the City currently maintains approximately 2.82 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents, under the established goal. The DWSP would facilitate construction of up to 3,886 residential units and would result in the addition of approximately 13,679 new residents. The increase in the City’s population would result in a ratio of approximately 2.2 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents. However, the project would not result in substantial adverse physical effects or require the construction of new park facilities. Given the proximity of the Watsonville City Plaza, Marinovich Park and Community Center, Callaghan Park, Ramsay Park, and the Pajaro River Park, as well as the YMCA adjacent to the plan area, most residents would likely walk to existing parks, and given the nature of the downtown land uses, there would not be demand for new parks.

Therefore, the DWSP would not result in substantial physical impacts resulting from new parks, and impacts would be less than significant.

LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
a.5. Would the project result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of other new or physically altered public facilities, or the need for other new or physically altered public facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives?
The plan area is served by the existing Watsonville Public Library located at 275 Main Street. The DWSP does not designate new land for a new library, nor does it propose updates to existing library facilities (City of Watsonville 2022).
3 30.6 percent multiplied by 13,679 potential residents is approximately 4,186 residents under 18 years of age.

Exhibit B
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City of Watsonville
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan Project
58 The DWSP would facilitate up to 3,886 residential units within the plan area through the next 25 years (City of Watsonville 2022). According to the California Department of Finance E-5 Housing Estimates, the average persons per household for the City of Watsonville is 3.52 persons. Based on the Department of Finance’s estimation, the 3,886 residential units added under the DWSP would introduce approximately 13,679 people to the plan area through the next 25 years. Residents of the proposed project would utilize City library services. As described above, an estimated 570 people would be generated from the proposed project. The General Plan states that library services are adequate when there is 0.6 square feet of library facilities per resident of the City and one library staff person per 2,000 residents.

The existing City library is approximately 42,000 square feet with a staff of approximately 50 people (Nunez 2020). The library currently provides approximately 0.8 square feet of facilities per City resident and 2 library staff persons per 2,000 residents, based on the California Department of Finance’s estimated 2022 population of 50,669 people (California Department of Finance 2022).

Thus, the population of the City could increase by more than 20,000 people before adequate library services established by the General Plan are exceeded. Therefore, the library facility has excess capacity to serve the 13,679 residents that would be generated from the proposed project, and construction of new facilities would not be required. As the City Library has adequate capacity to serve the proposed project and the proposed project would not require construction of replacement facilities elsewhere, this would be considered a less than significant impact.

LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
Exhibit B
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Environmental Checklist
Initial Study 59
16 Recreation
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less than
Significant
Impact No Impact
a. Would the project increase the use of
existing neighborhood and regional parks
or other recreational facilities such that
substantial physical deterioration of the
facility would occur or be accelerated? □ □ ■ □
b. Does the project include recreational
facilities or require the construction or
expansion of recreational facilities which
might have an adverse physical effect on
the environment? □ □ ■ □
a. Would the project increase the use of existing neighborhood and regional parks or other recreational facilities such that substantial physical deterioration of the facility would occur or be accelerated?
As discussed in Section 15, Public Services, the General Plan establishes a goal of maintaining five acres of parkland per 1,000 residents and currently maintains approximately 2.82 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents. Future population growth under the DWSP would result in a ratio of approximately 2.2 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents. However, the project would not result in substantial adverse physical effects or require the construction of new park facilities. Given the proximity of the Watsonville City Plaza, Marinovich Park and Community Center, Callaghan Park, Ramsay Park, and the Pajaro River Park, most residents would likely walk to existing parks, and given the nature of the downtown land uses, there would not be demand for new parks. The existing YMCA provides recreational facilities as well, and it is adjacent to the plan area boundary.

Therefore, the DWSP would not result in substantial or accelerated physical deterioration of existing parks facilities, and impacts would be less than significant.

LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
b. Does the project include recreational facilities or require the construction or expansion of recreational facilities which might have an adverse physical effect on the environment? As discussed above in Section 15, Public Services, the plan area includes or is in close proximity to the Watsonville City Plaza, Marinovich Park and Community Center, Callaghan Park, Ramsay Park, and the Pajaro River Park. The DWSP does not envision new or expanded recreational facilities that would have an adverse physical effect on the environment. Impacts would be less than significant.

LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
Exhibit B
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City of Watsonville
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan Project
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Exhibit B
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Environmental Checklist
Initial Study 61
17 Transportation
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less than
Significant
Impact No Impact
Would the project:
a. Conflict with a program, plan, ordinance
or policy addressing the circulation
system, including transit, roadway,
bicycle and pedestrian facilities? ■ □ □ □
b. Conflict or be inconsistent with CEQA
Guidelines section 15064.3, subdivision
(b)? ■ □ □ □
c. Substantially increase hazards due to a
geometric design feature (e.g., sharp
curves or dangerous intersections) or
incompatible use (e.g., farm equipment)? □ □ ■ □
d. Result in inadequate emergency access? □ □ ■ □
a. Would the project conflict with a program, plan, ordinance or policy addressing the circulation system, including transit, roadway, bicycle and pedestrian facilities? b. Would the project conflict or be inconsistent with CEQA Guidelines section 15064.3, subdivision (b)?
CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.3(b) indicates that land use projects would have a significant impact if the project resulted in vehicle miles traveled exceeding an applicable threshold of significance.

Future development pursuant to the DWSP would create new land uses and vehicular trips in Downtown Watsonville, which could be inconsistent with existing programs, plans, ordinances, or policies addressing the circulation system. Impacts could be potentially significant and will be evaluated further in the EIR.

POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
c. Would the project substantially increase hazards due to a geometric design feature (e.g., sharp curves or dangerous intersections) or incompatible use (e.g., farm equipment)? Development facilitated by the DWSP would consist primarily of infill development or redevelopment, which would utilize existing driveways providing access to parcels in the downtown area. Development facilitated by the DWSP would also include construction of new driveways proposed under individual development projects. The DWSP would not significantly alter roadways or traffic patterns within the downtown area.

Development and circulation plans for individual projects would be subject to review by the Watsonville Fire Department prior to issuance of building permits, which would ensure that Exhibit B
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City of Watsonville
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan Project
62 individual projects facilitated by the DWSP would not introduce sharp curves or dangerous intersections. Further, the DWSP would facilitate residential, commercial, and industrial development, uses that already exist within the downtown area; therefore, the DWSP would not introduce new types of vehicle traffic or incompatible uses. Impacts related to hazards or incompatible uses would be less than significant.

LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
d. Would the project result in inadequate emergency access? Development facilitated by the DWSP would be required to comply with the City’s standards for emergency vehicle access (including providing adequate points of access, vertical clearance, and turning radius). Should development facilitated by the project require a lane closure of adjacent roadways, clear signage (e.g., closure and detour signs) would be provided to ensure vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists are able to adequately reach their intended destinations safely. In operation, future development applicants would be required to provide the City with a detailed plan demonstrating that each floor of the proposed buildings would be accessible by a fire aerial apparatus, fire hoses, and other emergency vehicles from surrounding roadways. Project plans for development facilitated by the DWSP would also be subject to review by the Watsonville Fire Department to ensure that adequate emergency access would be available prior to issuance of building permits.

The DWSP envisions a road diet on Main Street within the Plan Area to prioritize a pedestrianfriendly environment. The road diet would convert Main Street from a multi-lane roadway to a roadway with a single travel lane in each direction. The existing other travel lanes would be converted to parallel parking for vehicles and for expanded or new pedestrian and bicycle facilities.

The road diet would also provide a center, two-way left-turn lane near busier intersections on Main Street. According to the US Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, road diets do not result in inadequate emergency access or reduced emergency vehicle response times.

Although a road diet results in fewer travel lanes on the roadway, the center, two-way left turn lane allows emergency vehicles to bypass traffic while other vehicles remain within travel lanes (Federal Highway Administration 2020). Additionally, the road diet envisioned in the DWSP would include parallel parking spaces next to the travel lanes, which would provide room for vehicles to pull aside and allow emergency vehicles to pass. In addition to parallel parking spaces, Main Street also has parallel streets, such as Rodriguez Street, that could be used for emergency vehicle travel and access. The DWSP also envisions converting the existing couplet portion of SR 152 from a one-way street into a two-way street, which could improve emergency access and reduce response times via East Lake Avenue and East Beach Street. Therefore, the road diet that would be implemented under the DWSP would not result in inadequate emergency access. Impacts of the DWSP would be less than significant.

LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
Exhibit B
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Environmental Checklist
Initial Study 63
18 Tribal Cultural Resources
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less than
Significant
Impact No Impact
Would the project cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a tribal cultural resource, defined in a Public Resources Code Section 21074 as either a site, feature, place, or cultural landscape that is geographically defined in terms of the size and scope of the landscape, sacred place, or object with cultural value to a California Native American tribe, and that is:
a. Listed or eligible for listing in the
California Register of Historical
Resources, or in a local register of
historical resources as defined in Public
Resources Code Section 5020.1(k), or ■ □ □ □
b. A resource determined by the lead
agency, in its discretion and supported by
substantial evidence, to be significant
pursuant to criteria set forth in
subdivision (c) of Public Resources Code
Section 5024.1. In applying the criteria
set forth in subdivision (c) of Public
Resources Code Section 5024.1, the lead
agency shall consider the significance of
the resource to a California Native
American tribe. ■ □ □ □
a. Would the project cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a tribal cultural resource as defined in Public Resources Code Section 21074 that is listed or eligible for listing in the California Register of Historical Resources, or in a local register of historical resources as defined in Public Resources Code Section 5020.1(k)?
b. Would the project cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a tribal cultural resource as defined in Public Resources Code 21074 that is a resource determined by the lead agency, in its discretion and supported by substantial evidence, to be significant pursuant to criteria set forth in subdivision (c) of Public Resources Code Section 5024.1? While no tribal cultural resources are known by the City to occur on the plan area, tribal consultation would be required to identify potential known resources in the area. AB 52 was conducted on October 4, 2022 and no responses from tribes have been received to date. However, given there could be unknown subsurface resources that could be encountered and damaged during construction of development facilitated by the DWSP, impacts could be potentially significant and will be evaluated further in the EIR.

POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
Exhibit B
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City of Watsonville
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan Project
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Exhibit B
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Environmental Checklist
Initial Study 65
19 Utilities and Service Systems
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less than
Significant
Impact No Impact
Would the project:
a. Require or result in the relocation or
construction of new or expanded water,
wastewater treatment or storm water
drainage, electric power, natural gas, or
telecommunications facilities, the
construction or relocation of which could
cause significant environmental effects? □ □ ■ □
b. Have sufficient water supplies available
to serve the project and reasonably
foreseeable future development during
normal, dry and multiple dry years? □ □ ■ □
c. Result in a determination by the
wastewater treatment provider which
serves or may serve the project that it
has adequate capacity to serve the
project’s projected demand in addition to
the provider’s existing commitments? □ □ ■ □
d. Generate solid waste in excess of State or
local standards, or in excess of the
capacity of local infrastructure, or
otherwise impair the attainment of solid
waste reduction goals? □ □ ■ □
e. Comply with federal, state, and local
management and reduction statutes and
regulations related to solid waste? □ □ ■ □
a. Would the project require or result in the relocation or construction of new or expanded water, wastewater treatment or storm water drainage, electric power, natural gas, or telecommunications facilities, the construction or relocation of which could cause significant environmental effects?
The proposed project would not require the relocation of water, wastewater treatment, stormwater drainage, electric power, natural gas, or telecommunication facilities. These utilities exist within the already developed downtown. Future development facilitated by the Specific Plan would connect to these existing utilities widely available and provided throughout the plan area. Therefore, the relocation or construction of new or expanded water, wastewater treatment or storm water drainage, electric power, natural gas, or telecommunications facilities would not be required. As Exhibit B
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City of Watsonville
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan Project
66 discussed in items ‘b,’ ‘c,’ and ‘d,’ below, there is sufficient water supply, wastewater treatment capacity, and solid waste disposal capacity for the development envisioned in the DWSP. Impacts would be less than significant.

LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
b. Would the project have sufficient water supplies available to serve the project and reasonably foreseeable future development during normal, dry and multiple dry years? As discussed in Section 10, Hydrology and Water Quality, a Water Supply Assessment was prepared for the project in October 2022. The assessment is included as Appendix A. The Water Supply Assessment utilized several sources, including the DWSP, the City’s existing 2020 Urban Water Management Plan, and the City’s Water System Master Plan, to determine if the City would have sufficient water supplies available to serve the project and development facilitated by the project.

The City of Watsonville Public Works Department provides water to the city, the downtown area, and unincorporated communities outside of Watsonville. The City currently has water supply rights of 21,900 acre-feet per year (AFY) of water; most of this water supply (21,000 AFY) consists of groundwater from the Pajaro Valley Groundwater Basin, with remaining supply (900 AFY) sourced from surface water sources. Historically, the City’s water demand falls below its allowable supply. In 2021, the City had a water demand of 6,750 acre-feet. Table 5 summarizes historic water demand by use in Watsonville from 2017 to 2021.

Table 5 Historic Water Demand by Use in Watsonville
Land Use Water Demand (AFY)
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Single family residential 3,300 3,172 3,045 3,329 3,075 Multi family residential 833 794 855 839 809
Commercial 974 1,309 1,045 1,136 1,092
Industrial 429 407 633 535 614
Landscaping 387 422 429 471 419
Agricultural irrigation 771 798 857 729 699
Other 40 46 44 43 42
Total Demand1 6,734 6,948 6,908 7,082 6,750
1 water demand is rounded to the nearest whole number. Numbers may not add due to rounding.

Source: Appendix A
As shown above in Table 5, the City’s water demand is generally one-third of the City’s water supply.

The Water Supply Assessment utilized the project buildout that would be facilitated by the DWSP and water duty factors from the City’s Urban Water Management Plan to estimate the increase in water demand as a result of the project. Estimated water demand by land use is shown in Table 6.

Exhibit B
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Environmental Checklist
Initial Study 67
Table 6 Estimated Water Demand of Specific Plan Uses
Land Use
Amount Proposed
by DWSP
Units
Duty Factor
(gallons/unit/day)
Annual Water
Usage
(AFY)
Commercial 231,151 sf 134
Dining 150,248 sf 0.740 125
Retail 57,788 sf 0.096 6
Office 23,115 sf 0.100 3
Industrial 376,827 sf 62
Dining 7,537 sf 0.740 6
Research and
Development 56,523
sf

0.140 9
Office 37,683 sf 0.100 4
Other Industrial 275,084 sf 0.140 43
Public/Irrigation 114,572 0.062 8
Residential1 1,517 Dwelling units 114 194
Total 397
1 The DWSP would facilitate the addition of 3,886 residential units; however, the City’s Urban Water Management Plan projects that 2,345 dwelling units would be added to the City through 2040; therefore, the DWSP would facilitate the development of 1,517 net new dwelling units.
sf = square feet
Source: Appendix A.

As shown above, total additional water demand associated with implementation of the DWSP would be approximately 397 AFY. This represents total water demand at full buildout of the DWSP, which would occur over the planning horizon of 25 years or more. Table 7 shows the water demand associated with the DWSP in addition to baseline projected water demand from the City’s 2020 Urban Water Management Plan.

Table 7 Projected Water Demand of the DWSP and the Urban Water Management Plan Water Demand (AFY)
2025 2030 2035 2040 2045
Total Urban Water Management Plan Projected Demand (normal year) 7,827 8,023 8,224 8,375 8,504
Additional DWSP Projected Demand (not included in Urban Water Management Plan) 397 397 397 397 397
Total Projected Water Demand 8,224 8,420 8,621 8,772 8,901 As shown above, total water demand in Watsonville with implementation of the DWSP would be less than half of the City’s permitted supply during normal years. Table 8 below demonstrates that the City’s supply would continue to exceed demand during single dry and multiple dry years.

Exhibit B
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City of Watsonville
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan Project
68 Table 8 Water Supply and Demand in Normal, Single, and Multiple Dry Years Supply and
Demand
Without
DWSP 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045
Normal Year Supply totals 21,900 21,900 21,900 21,900 21,900 Demand totals 8,224 8,420 8,621 8,772 8,901
Difference +13,676 +13,480 +13,279 +13,128 +12,999
Single Dry Year Supply totals 21,900 21,900 21,900 21,900 21,900 Demand totals 8,553 8,757 8,966 9,123 9,257
Difference +13,347 +13,143 +12,934 +12,777 +12,643
Second Dry
Year
Supply totals 21,900 21,900 21,900 21,900 21,900
Demand totals 9,129 9,346 9,569 9,737 9,880
Difference +12,771 +12,554 +12,331 +12,163 +12,020
Third Dry Year Supply totals 21,900 21,900 21,900 21,900 21,900 Demand totals 8,224 8,420 8,621 8,772 8,901
Difference +13,676 +13,480 +13,279 +13,128 +12,999
Fourth Dry Year Supply totals 21,900 21,900 21,900 21,900 21,900 Demand totals 7,566 7,746 7,931 8,070 8,189
Difference +14,334 +14,154 +13,969 +13,830 +13,711
Source: Appendix A
As demonstrated in Table 5 through Table 8, the City of Watsonville’s water supply typically exceeds its water demand, and the DWSP would not result in demand that exceeds the City’s permitted supply. Therefore, the project would have sufficient water supplies available during normal, dry and multiple dry years, and impacts would be less than significant.

LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
c. Would the project result in a determination by the wastewater treatment provider which serves or may serve the project that it has adequate capacity to serve the project’s projected demand in addition to the provider’s existing commitments?
The plan area is located within the service area of the Watsonville Public Works and Utilities Department. The Department currently provides water to about 15,980 connections that serve approximately 66,000 customers within a service area that extends beyond the Watsonville City limits into Santa Cruz County. Although the City relies primarily on groundwater sources, during years of normal rainfall, the City utilizes a combination of surface water and groundwater supply sources. In addition, the City maintains more than 170 miles of collection pipelines and numerous pump stations to ensure that wastewater flows without interruption to the Watsonville Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF). The WWTF currently has the capacity to treat 12.1 million gallons per day (mgd), this facility currently treats an average of 6.7 million gallons of wastewater daily from residential, commercial, and industrial sources. As described above under item b, the project would generate an additional water demand of approximately 397 AFY, which converts to approximately

0.36 mgd. Not all water would become wastewater that is conveyed to the WWTF. For example, some water demand generated by the DWSP would be used for residential cooking, which is often Exhibit B
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Environmental Checklist
Initial Study 69
consumed rather than being conveyed to the WWTF. Nonetheless, even if the entire 0.35 mgd of water demand generated by the DWSP were to be conveyed to the WWTF for treatment, it would account for less than 1 percent of the WWTF’s remaining total daily capacity.

Therefore, the WWTF has adequate capacity to serve the projected demand. Impacts to wastewater demand would be less than significant.

LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
d. Would the project generate solid waste in excess of State or local standards, or in excess of the capacity of local infrastructure, or otherwise impair the attainment of solid waste reduction goals?
e. Would the project comply with federal, state, and local management and reduction statutes and regulations related to solid waste?
The City’s Public Works and Utilities Department, Solid Waste Division, handles solid waste management, including waste disposal and curbside recycling. Solid waste is currently taken to the City landfill, a Class III landfill located four miles outside of the City Limits on San Andreas Road. The City of Watsonville Landfill has a permitted capacity of 2,437,203 cubic yards, and currently has a remaining capacity of 1,417,561 cubic yards. The maximum daily throughput of the City’s landfill is 275 tons per day (California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery [CalRecycle] 2019a).

Although solid waste is currently taken to the City landfill, the City is working on closure of the landfill. Upon its closure, residential and household solid waste will be taken to the Monterey Peninsula Landfill, located at 14201 Del Monte Boulevard, in the City of Marina, Monterey County.

The maximum permitted capacity of the Monterey Peninsula Landfill is 49.7 million cubic yards, and a remaining capacity of approximately 48.6 million cubic yards. The maximum daily throughput of the Monterey Peninsula Landfill is 3,500 tons per day (CalRecycle 2019b). CalRecycle maintains solid waste generation rates for various land uses which were used to estimate solid waste generation for the DWSP as shown in Table 9.

Exhibit B
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City of Watsonville
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan Project
70 Table 9 Estimated Project Solid Waste Generation
Land Use
CalRecycle Estimated
Generation Rate (in lbs)*
Total Proposed
Project
Estimated Solid Waste
Generated per Day
Commercial 13 lbs per 1,000 square feet
per day 231,151 square feet 3,005 lbs3
Multi-Family Residential 8.6 lbs per day 3,886 residential units 33,420 lbs4
Industrial 8.93 lbs per 1000 square
feet per day 376,827 square feet 3,365 lbs5
Public/Institutional 0.007 lbs of solid waste per
day 114,569 square feet 802 lbs6
Total 40,592 lbs
*lbs = pounds
1 The average density of solid waste is approximately 527 pounds per cubic yard (Palanivel and Sulaiman 2014). 2 The annual percent of remaining capacity assuming full buildout of the DWSP 3 13 pounds of solid waste per day multiplied by 231 hundred square feet is approximately 3,005 pounds per day. 4 8.6 pounds of solid waste per day multiplied by 3,886 residential units is approximately 33,420 pounds per day. 5 8.93 pounds of solid waste per 1000 square feet per day multiplied by 376 hundred square feet is approximately 3,365 pounds per day.
6 0.007 pounds of solid waste per day multiplied by 114,569 square feet is approximately 802 pounds per day.

Source: CalRecycle 2019a, 2019b
As shown in Table 9, development facilitated by the project would generate approximately 40,592 pounds of solid waste per day, or 20.3 tons per day. This is a conservative estimate that does not account for solid waste generated on-site currently, which would be eliminated and replaced by the proposed project. Future development facilitated by the DWSP would be required to comply with County and State plans and policies to reduce solid waste generation, including a requirement to divert at least 50 percent of solid waste and recyclables, as required by Assembly Bill 939.

As described above, solid waste in Watsonville is disposed of at the City of Watsonville Landfill and will eventually be disposed of at the Monterey Peninsula Landfill. Table 10 below compares the solid waste estimated to be generated by development facilitated by full buildout of the plan and the capacities of the solid waste facilities that would serve the project.

Table 10 Project Generated Solid Waste and Facility Capacity Landfill Facility
Facility Daily Permitted
Throughput (tons per
day)
Project Percent
of Daily
Throughput
Permitted Capacity of
Facility (cubic yards)1
Project Annual
Percent of
Remaining
Capacity2
City of Watsonville Landfill 275 7.4% 2,437,203 1.15%
Monterey Peninsula
Landfill 3,500 0.6% 49,700,000 <0.1%
1 The average density of solid waste is approximately 527 pounds per cubic yard (Palanivel and Sulaiman 2014). 2 The annual percent of remaining capacity assuming full buildout of the DWSP Source: CalRecycle 2019a, 2019b
Exhibit B
334 of 343

Environmental Checklist
Initial Study 71
As shown in Table 10, the project would generate a negligible percentage of the landfills’ permitted capacities, remaining capacity, and daily throughputs. Therefore, the project would have a less than significant impact on landfill capacity. The plan’s incremental increase in solid waste would not adversely affect solid waste facilities. Impacts would be less than significant.

LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
Exhibit B
335 of 343

City of Watsonville
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan Project
72 This page intentionally left blank.

Exhibit B
336 of 343

Environmental Checklist
Initial Study 73
20 Wildfire
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less than
Significant
Impact No Impact
If located in or near state responsibility areas or lands classified as very high fire hazard severity zones, would the project:
a. Substantially impair an adopted
emergency response plan or emergency
evacuation plan? □ □ □ ■
b. Due to slope, prevailing winds, and other
factors, exacerbate wildfire risks and
thereby expose project occupants to
pollutant concentrations from a wildfire
or the uncontrolled spread of a wildfire? □ □ □ ■
c. Require the installation or maintenance
of associated infrastructure (such as
roads, fuel breaks, emergency water
sources, power lines or other utilities)
that may exacerbate fire risk or that may
result in temporary or ongoing impacts to
the environment? □ □ □ ■
d. Expose people or structures to significant
risks, including downslopes or
downstream flooding or landslides, as a
result of runoff, post-fire slope instability,
or drainage changes? □ □ □ ■
a. If located in or near state responsibility areas or lands classified as very high fire hazard severity zones, would the project substantially impair an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan?
b. If located in or near state responsibility areas or lands classified as very high fire hazard severity zones, would the project, due to slope, prevailing winds, and other factors, exacerbate wildfire risks and thereby expose project occupants to pollutant concentrations from a wildfire or the uncontrolled spread of a wildfire?
c. If located in or near state responsibility areas or lands classified as very high fire hazard severity zones, would the project require the installation or maintenance of associated infrastructure (such as roads, fuel breaks, emergency water sources, power lines or other utilities) that may exacerbate fire risk or that may result in temporary or ongoing impacts to the environment? Exhibit B
337 of 343

City of Watsonville
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan Project
74 d. If located in or near state responsibility areas or lands classified as very high fire hazard severity zones, would the project expose people or structures to significant risks, including downslopes or downstream flooding or landslides, as a result of runoff, post-fire slope instability, or drainage changes?
Downtown Watsonville is not within or near state responsibility areas or lands classified as very high fire hazard severity zones. The nearest state responsibility area or land classified as very high fire hazard severity zone is on the southern side of the Pajaro River, approximately two miles south of the plan area (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection 2020). The plan area is bound by primarily existing development to the north, east, and west, and bordered State Route 129 to the south. Therefore, the risk of wildfire on the plan area is low. There would be no impact.

NO IMPACT
Exhibit B
338 of 343

Environmental Checklist
Initial Study 75
21 Mandatory Findings of Significance
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less than
Significant
Impact No Impact
Does the project:
a. Have the potential to substantially
degrade the quality of the environment,
substantially reduce the habitat of a fish
or wildlife species, cause a fish or wildlife
population to drop below self-sustaining
levels, threaten to eliminate a plant or
animal community, substantially reduce
the number or restrict the range of a rare
or endangered plant or animal or
eliminate important examples of the
major periods of California history or
prehistory? ■ □ □ □
b. Have impacts that are individually
limited, but cumulatively considerable?
(“Cumulatively considerable” means that
the incremental effects of a project are
considerable when viewed in connection
with the effects of past projects, the
effects of other current projects, and the
effects of probable future projects)? ■ □ □ □
c. Have environmental effects which will
cause substantial adverse effects on
human beings, either directly or
indirectly? ■ □ □ □
a. Does the project have the potential to substantially degrade the quality of the environment, substantially reduce the habitat of a fish or wildlife species, cause a fish or wildlife population to drop below self-sustaining levels, threaten to eliminate a plant or animal community, substantially reduce the number or restrict the range of a rare or endangered plant or animal or eliminate important examples of the major periods of California history or prehistory? As described in Section 4, Biological Resources, the DWSP would have potentially significant impacts on special-status wildlife species. Additionally, as described in Section 5, Cultural Resources, the DWSP could involve the demolition of potentially historic structures. Impacts could be potentially significant and will be further evaluated in the EIR.

POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
Exhibit B
339 of 343

City of Watsonville
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan Project
76 b. Does the project have impacts that are individually limited, but cumulatively considerable? (“Cumulatively considerable” means that the incremental effects of a project are considerable when viewed in connection with the effects of past projects, the effects of other current projects, and the effects of probable future projects)? Cumulative impacts could occur if the construction of other projects occurs at the same time as the proposed project and in the same geographic scope, such that the effects of similar impacts of multiple projects combine to create greater levels of impact than would occur at the project-level.

For example, if the construction of other projects in the area occurs at the same time as project activities, combined air quality and noise impacts may be greater than at the project-level. The other major project planned in vicinity of the proposed project is the Freedom Boulevard Campus Master Plan, which envisions redevelopment of six County-owned buildings at 1430 Freedom Boulevard to be demolished and replaced with modernized facilities. The Freedom Boulevard Campus Master Plan is a multi-stage plan that would be implemented in phases over the course of many years. Therefore, construction of the development envisioned in the Freedom Boulevard Campus Master Plan could coincide with construction of the DWSP. Another project in the area is the Hillcrest Estates Residential Development Project off Ohlone Parkway, adjacent to the Watsonville Slough. Construction of the Hillcrest Estates Residential Development Project could also occur concurrent with construction of projects facilitated by the DWSP.

As discussed within Section 6, Energy, the DWSP would not result in a significant increase in energy demand and cumulative impacts would be less than significant. Additionally, as described in Section 20, Wildfire, the project is located in an urbanized area of Watsonville and would not exacerbate wildfire risks for surrounding areas. Cumulative impacts related to wildfire would be less than significant. Some of the other resource areas were determined to have no impact in comparison to existing conditions and therefore would not considerably contribute to cumulative impacts, such as Mineral Resources and Agriculture and Forestry Resources. As such, cumulative impacts in these issue areas would also be less than significant and not cumulatively considerable.

As described above, there is potential for the plan to result in impacts to the following resource sections: Aesthetics, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Geology and Soils, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, Land Use and Planning, Noise, Population and Housing, Transportation, and Tribal Cultural Resources. Cumulative impacts of the DWSP in combination with other cumulative project will be further evaluated in the EIR.

POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
c. Does the project have environmental effects which will cause substantial adverse effects on human beings, either directly or indirectly?
Effects to human beings are generally associated with Air Quality, Noise, Traffic Safety, Geology/Soils and Hazards/Hazardous Materials. As discussed in this Initial Study, implementation of the proposed project would result in potentially significant environmental impacts with respect to these issue areas, with the exception of geology and soils. Impacts related to air quality, noise, traffic, and hazardous waste sites would be potentially significant and will be further evaluated in the Environmental Impact Report.

POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
Exhibit B
340 of 343

References
Initial Study 77
References
Bibliography
California Department of Conservation (DOC). 2018. Farmland Monitoring and Mapping Program – California Important Farmland Finder. https://maps.conservation.ca.gov/dlrp/ciff/app/. (accessed August 2022).
_____. 2020. Landslide Inventory (Beta). https://maps.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/lsi/ (accessed July 2022).
_____. California Tsunami Maps and Data. https://www.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/tsunami/maps. (accessed August 2022).
_____. 2022. CGS Seismic Hazards Program: Liquefaction Zones. https://maps-cnracadoc.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/cadoc::cgs-seismic-hazards-program-liquefactionzones/explore?location=36.918525%2C-121.727121%2C13.97 (accessed August 2022).

California Department of Finance. 2022. E-5 City/County Population and Housing Estimates, 1/1/2022. https://dof.ca.gov/forecasting/demographics/estimates/e-5-population-andhousing-estimates-for-cities-counties-and-the-state-2020-2022/ (accessed August 2022).

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). 2007. Fire Hazard Severity Zone Viewer. https://egis.fire.ca.gov/FHSZ/ (accessed August 2022).

California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle). 2019. SWIS Facility/site Activity Details – City of Watsonville Landfill.
https://www2.calrecycle.ca.gov/SolidWaste/SiteActivity/Details/1395?siteID=3418 (accessed August 2022).
_____. 2019b. SWIS Facility/site Activity Details – Monterey Peninsula Landfill. https://www2.calrecycle.ca.gov/SolidWaste/SiteActivity/Details/2642?siteID=1976 (accessed August 2022).

California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). 2019. California State Scenic Highway System Map [map database].
https://caltrans.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=465dfd3d807c46cc8e 8057116f1aacaa (accessed October 2022)
National Park Service. 1983. Archaeology and Historic Preservation: Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines. Electronic document,
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/historicpreservation/upload/standards-guidelinesarcheology-historic-preservation.pdf (accessed October 2022) Nunez, Tony. 2020. Watsonville’s library director closing the book on 48-year career. The Pajaronian, July 1, 2020.

Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). 2020. Exploring clean energy solutions. https://www.pge.com/en_US/about-pge/environment/what-we-are-doing/clean-energysolutions/clean-energy-solutions.page?WT.mc_id=Vanity_cleanenergy (accessed September 2022).

Exhibit B
341 of 343

City of Watsonville
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan Project
78 Palanivel, Thenmozhi Murugaian, and Sulaiman, Hameed. Generation and Composition of Municipal Solid Waste. df.sciencedirectassets.com/282166/1-s2.0-S2212670814X00047 (accessed August 2022).

Santa Cruz, County of. 2022. GISWeb [map database of geospatial data]. https://gis.santacruzcounty.us/gisweb/ (accessed for map of groundwater recharge areas in October 2022).

Watsonville, City of. 1994. City of Watsonville 2005 General Plan. https://www.cityofwatsonville.org/160/2005-General-Plan (accessed August 2022). _____. 2009. City of Watsonville Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan. Adopted September 2009.
https://www.cityofwatsonville.org/DocumentCenter/View/4258/park_master_plan_web?bi dId= (accessed August 2022).
_____. 2019. 2005 General Plan Land Use Diagram.
https://www.cityofwatsonville.org/DocumentCenter/View/106/2005-General-Plan-LandUse-Diagram-. (accessed August 2022). _____. 2020. Watsonville Downtown Specific Plan & EIR, Market Assessment and Demand Analysis. https://www.cityofwatsonville.org/DocumentCenter/View/14027/DWSP-Market-- Assessment-and-Demand-Analysis-July-2020. (accessed August 2022). _____. 2021. City of Watsonville Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. https://www.cityofwatsonville.org/DocumentCenter/View/17163/City-of-WatsonvilleClimate-Action-and-Adaptation-Plan?bidId=. (accessed August 2022). _____. 2022. Draft Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan, Table 3-1. https://www.cityofwatsonville.org/DocumentCenter/View/19285/Draft-DWSP-06-24-22. (accessed August 2022).

Watsonville Municipal Airport. 2015. Airport Influence Area Map. https://www.cityofwatsonville.org/DocumentCenter/View/14404/Airport-Influence-Areaaerial-view. (accessed August 2022). _____. 2020. Watsonville Municipal Airport Master Plan. https://www.cityofwatsonville.org/DocumentCenter/View/987/CM-Resolution-179-03- Airport-Master-Plan-PDF. (accessed August 2022).

United States Census Bureau. 2021. Population Estimates QuickFacts, Watsonville California. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/watsonvillecitycalifornia (accessed August 2022).

United States Department of Agriculture. 2022. Natural Resources Conservation Service Web Soil Survey. https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/WebSoilSurvey.aspx (accessed August 2022).

United States Federal Highway Administration. 2020. Road Diet: Mythbusters. https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/road_diets/resources/pdf/fhwasa17020.pdf (Accessed October 2022).

United States Geological Survey (USGS). 2022. U.S. Quaternary Faults Map. https://usgs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=5a6038b3a1684561a9b0 aadf88412fcf. (accessed August 2022).

Exhibit B
342 of 343

References
Initial Study 79
List of Preparers
Rincon Consultants, Inc. prepared this Initial Study under contract to the City of Hayward. Persons involved in data gathering analysis, project management, and quality control are listed below.

RINCON CONSULTANTS, INC.

Megan Jones, MPP, Principal-in-Charge
George Dix, Project Manager
Gianna Meschi, Assistant Project Manager
Kayleigh Limbach, Environmental Planner
Nikole Vannest, GIS Analyst
Exhibit B
343 of 343

Reso No. ______ (CM) 1
Meeting Date: 101023 SWZ ______ RM ______ CDD ______

RESOLUTION NO.__________ (CM)

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
WATSONVILLE APPROVING THE TWENTY-NINTH (29TH)
AMENDMENT TO THE WATSONVILLE 2005 GENERAL PLAN TO (1)

ADD TWO NEW MIXED USE LAND USE DESIGNATIONS TO CHAPTER
4 (LAND USE), (2) AMEND THE LAND USE DIAGRAM TO INCLUDE THESE TWO NEW LAND USE DESIGNATIONS, (3) AMEND
IMPLEMENTATION MEASURES 4.A.3, 4.C.6, AND 10.C.2, AND (4) ADD A NEW IMPLEMENTATION MEASURE 4.A.7
WHEREAS, the Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan (DWSP) has been prepared as a planning tool to implement the General Plan and to guide development in a specific area; and
WHEREAS, the DWSP is intended to be a tool for developers, property owners, City staff and decision makers by providing strong and clear policies, development standards, and a vision that guides land use decisions, infrastructure improvements, design, and economic development activities in the project area; and WHEREAS, the overarching goals of the DWSP are to facilitate housing production and preservation; increase retail-entertainment activity; encourage higherdensity mixed-use residential projects; add visitor-oriented uses; support a greater range of civic and cultural activities; improve the safety and comfort of pedestrians; enhance bicycle infrastructure and connections; and target uses and activities that appeal to a wide range of Watsonville’s residents and employees; and WHEREAS, the DWSP establishes new zones and overlays, which are intended to concentrate urban activity and intensity in the center of downtown and allows development to transition to existing lower-intensity neighborhood settings at the periphery of the DWSP plan area and to industrial activity to the south; and

Reso No. (CM)
Meeting Date: 101023
2 WHEREAS, the new zones and overlays consist of the Downtown Core and Downtown Neighborhood Zones; and
WHEREAS, the Downtown Core Zone is an active, walkable environment, characterized by buildings up to six stories. This is the heart of Downtown—generally flanking Main Street—where the most active and intense development patterns and uses are anticipated. Upper floors contain residential units or office space. Buildings are close to the sidewalk and have little-to-no side setbacks; and WHEREAS, the Downtown Neighborhood Zone is characterized by smaller scale buildings than those of the Downtown Core Zone and generally includes a similar mix of active and residential uses; and
WHEREAS, as part of implementing the DWSP, it is anticipated that the City would amend the Zoning Map to reflect the boundaries of the DWSP plan area; and WHEREAS, as part of implementing the DWSP, it is anticipated that the City would amend the Zoning Code (Title 14 of the Watsonville Municipal Code) to create a new DWSP district and reference the permitted uses and development standards in Chapter 6 of the adopted DWSP document; and
WHEREAS, as the DWSP’s zoning is inconsistent with the Watsonville General Plan, the General Plan is being updated concurrent with the Specific Plan to ensure consistency between the two documents; and
WHEREAS, the proposed General Plan Amendment would add two new mixedused land use designations and align the General Plan land use diagram by changing the existing land use designations of the DWSP plan area to correspond with the zones shown on the Regulating Plan, Figure 6-1, of the DWSP; and WHEREAS, the proposed General Plan Amendment also includes amending implementation measures 4.A.3, 4.C.6 and 10.C.2; and

Reso No. (CM)
Meeting Date: 101023
3 WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 14-12.700 of the Watsonville Municipal Code, the General Plan text and land use diagram may be amended whenever the public necessity, the general community welfare, and good zoning practice permit such an amendment to the General Plan; and
WHEREAS, the proposed General Plan Amendment would satisfy the requirement of State law applicable to General Law cities for zoning and General Plan consistency; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 65358(b) of the Government Code, the General Plan may only be amended four (4) times during any calendar year; and WHEREAS, the proposed General Plan Amendment, if adopted, will be the twentyninth (29th) amendment, since its original adoption, to the Watsonville 2005 General Plan and the second (2nd) amendment of the 2023 calendar year; and WHEREAS, an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was prepared for the DWSP (SCH #2022100602) in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); and
WHEREAS, on September 5, 2023, the Planning Commission of the City of Watsonville adopted Resolution No. 12-23 (PC), recommending to the City Council to adopt the proposed General Plan Amendment; and
WHEREAS, before considering making a recommendation on the proposed General Plan Amendment, the Planning Commission of the City of Watsonville reviewed and considered the potential environmental impacts of the project and adopted Resolution No. 11-23 (PC), recommending that the City Council adopt and certify the EIR for the DWSP, as well as a set of CEQA Findings and a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program; and

Reso No. (CM)
Meeting Date: 101023
4 WHEREAS, notice of time and place of the hearing to consider approval of the General Plan Amendment was given at the time and in the manner where appropriate public noticing procedures have been followed and a public hearing was held according to Section 14-10.900 of the Watsonville Municipal Code; and WHEREAS, the City Council has considered all evidence received, both oral and documentary, and the matter was submitted for decision.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Watsonville, California, as follows:

1. Good cause appearing, and upon the Findings, attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit “A”, the City Council of the City of Watsonville does hereby adopt the proposed General Plan Amendment to the Watsonville 2005 General Plan.

2. That the text amendment to Chapter 4 (Land Use) of the Watsonville 2005 General Plan involves adding two new mixed-use land use designations as follows:

DOWNTOWN MIXED USE
Mixed use development includes residential and commercial uses on a single parcel. Residential development density is described in units per new acre (Net acre is defined in the glossary). The total and commercial development is described as floor area ratio (FAR). The total FAR governs and includes both residential and commercial development on the parcel.

Downtown Central Core (Total FAR 3.0, Minimum Commercial FAR 0.15, Maximum Residential Density up to 125 du/acre)
This land use category provides an active and intense development pattern generally flanking Main Street in Downtown Watsonville. Active ground floor uses are required. Upper floors may contain residential units or office space.

Reso No. (CM)
Meeting Date: 101023
5 Downtown Mixed Use (Total FAR 2.0, Maximum Residential Density up to 85 du/acre)
This land use category provides a similar mix of active and residential uses as the Downtown Central Core designation. The intensity of development is lower than the Downtown Central Core designation with residential uses permitted on the ground floor.

3. That the two new land use designations will replace the Central Commercial designation which generally is applicable in the area in and around downtown Watsonville. Hence the following land use designation is deleted from Chapter 4 (Land Use) of the Watsonville 2005 General Plan:

Central Commercial
General categories of allowed uses include: retail sales; personal, professional, financial and medical services; lodging; entertainment; and restaurants serving the needs of the community. Intensities in this area may not exceed a Floor Area Ratio of 2.75 inside of the Central Downtown Parking District and a Floor Area Ratio of 0.45 outside of the Parking District.

4. That the text amendment to Chapter 4 (Land Use) of the Watsonville 2005 General Plan involves revising Implementation Measure 4.A.3 as follows (bold italic text represent new text and strike through text represents deleted text):

Downtown Intensification – The City shall allow FARs up to 3.0 and residential densities up to 125 dwelling units per net acre permit an increase in residential density for R-HD lands (up to 36.99 dwelling units per net acre, or

42.99 if development is SRO housing) within the Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan area central business district if adequate off-street parking can be

Reso No. (CM)
Meeting Date: 101023
6 provided and a Level of Service D (see Transportation and Circulation chapter (10) for description) can be maintained on adjacent collector streets.

5. That the text amendment to Chapter 4 (Land Use) of the Watsonville 2005 General Plan involves adding a new Implementation Measure 4.A.7 as follows:

Specific Plan for Downtown Watsonville – The City shall prepare a specific plan for downtown Watsonville to facilitate housing production and preservation; increase retail-entertainment activity; encourage higher-density mixed-use residential projects; add visitor-oriented uses; support a greater range of civic and cultural activities; improve the safety and comfort of pedestrians; enhance bicycle infrastructure and connections; and target uses and activities that appeal to a wide range of Watsonville’s residents and employees.

6. That the text amendment to Chapter 4 (Land Use) of the Watsonville 2005 General Plan involves revising Implementation Measure 4.C.6 as follows (bold italic text represent new text and strike through text represents deleted text):

Downtown Design Specific Plan – The City shall prepare, consider, and implement a specific plan for downtown Watsonville downtown design plan for the central business district. This plan shall contain elements for building appearance, zoning regulations, street landscaping, circulation, sign control and parking.

7. That the text amendment to Chapter 10 (Transportation and Circulation) of the Watsonville 2005 General Plan involves revising Implementation Measure 10.C.2 as follows (bold italic text represent new text and strike through text represents deleted text):

Project Funding – Except for projects in the Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan area, the The City shall require as a condition of approval that all

Reso No. (CM)
Meeting Date: 101023
7 development or rezoning which would contribute to a deterioration of existing service levels below LOS D, provide the necessary improvements, contribute to their provision through the payment of impact fees, or otherwise mitigate impacts to maintain at least an LOS D. Where existing conditions are already below LOS D, any new development must mitigate traffic conditions to the extent of preventing further deterioration in level of service or, if possible, improving level of service.

8. That the General Plan Land Use Diagram (Exhibit “B”) be revised to include the two new land use designations of Downtown Central Core and Downtown Mixed Use and correspond with the zones shown on the Regulating Plan, Figure 6-1, of the DWSP, which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference. ******************************************

CITY OF WATSONVILLE EXHIBIT A

CITY COUNCIL
GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT FINDINGS (WMC § 14-12.708)
a. The proposed amendment is consistent with the policies embodied in the General Plan.

Supportive Evidence
Per State law, specific plans must be internally consistent with the jurisdiction’s general plan. Where a specific plan is inconsistent with the general plan, a General Plan Amendment would need to be adopted concurrently with the specific plan to ensure consistency between the two documents.

The proposed General Plan Amendment involves the creation of new mixed-use land use designations for downtown Watsonville which replace the former land use designation of Central Commercial and revising the General Plan Land Use Diagram to include the new land use designations and correspond with the zones shown on the Regulating Plan, Figure 6-1, of the DWSP.

As envisioned in the DWSP, the proposed General Plan Amendment would therefore facilitate housing production and preservation; increase retailentertainment activity; encourage higher-density mixed-use residential projects; add visitor-oriented uses; support a greater range of civic and cultural activities; improve the safety and comfort of pedestrians; enhance bicycle infrastructure and connections; and target uses and activities that appeal to a wide range of Watsonville’s residents and employees.

These changes would ensure consistency and are in harmony with the overall intent of the Watsonville 2005 General Plan, including the following goals and policies regarding land use, urban design, environmental resources, transportation and circulation, public facilities, and public safety:
 Goal 4.2 Neighborhoods – Conserve and improve the living environment of existing neighborhood commercial Services.
 Goal 4.3 Commercial Land Use – Revitalize the central business district and provide adequate neighborhood commercial services.
 Goal 4.4 Industrial Land Use – Achieve economic diversification, living wage employment, the preservation of agricultural economic base of the Pajaro Valley, and maintain a balance among jobs, housing, and other urban land uses.
 Goal 4.5 Public Land Use – Provide public and institutional land uses and service in proportion to population growth.

 Goal 4.6 Local Employment – Promote a variety of employment opportunities within the city providing living wage jobs to Watsonville residents. Stimulate creation of 7,500 additional jobs by 2005. Pursue opportunities for jobs skill training.
 Goal 4.7 Land Use Sustainability – Ensure that the orderly development of land for the needs of the existing and projected population within the City limit and Sphere of Influence is vase on the land’s overall sustainability, including: the accessibility of existing and proposed public facilities, services, and utilities; physical and financial constraints; and/or growth inducing impacts.
 Policy 4.A Residential Land Use – The City shall plan for housing production on a five-year cycle consistent with the policies of the adopted Housing Element (See chapter 6, Housing: Goals, policies, and Programs).

The overall housing objectives for the General Plan time frame shall also be considered in long-range planning for housing.
 Policy 4.B Neighborhood Preservation – The City shall plan for the protection of existing neighborhood qualities and the provision of adequate neighborhood facilities in developing areas.
 Policy 4.C Commercial Land Use – The City shall plan for revitalization of the central business district along with the distribution of convenient neighborhood commercial centers.
 Policy 4.D Industrial Land Use – The city shall promote modernization of existing industrial plants and the location of new industrial facilities on land planned for industry in Watsonville 2005.
 Policy 4.F Economic Development – The city shall plan for economic development.
 Policy 4.G Land Use Suitability – The City shall encourage the development of urban uses on those land best suited for urban uses and discourage it on land unsuited for urban uses.
 Goal 5.1 Visual Resources – Preserve and enhance the built and natural visual resources within Watsonville.
 Goal 5.2 Community Appearance – Blend new development with recognized values of community appearance and scenic qualities, and ensure that new development enhances, rather than detracts from, its surroundings.
 Goal 5.4 Downtown – Preserve and enhance the visual appearance of Main Street from the Pajaro River Bridge to Freedom Boulevard.

 Goal 5.6 Urban Design – Achieve high standards of street, site and building design that are both efficient, and aesthetically pleasing.  Goal 5.7 Heritage Preservation – Enhance and protect structures, sites, and other landmarks that give residents of the Planning Area a link with their cultural heritage.
 Goal 5.8 Urban Beautification – Support public and private urban beatification activities and promote pride in community appearance.  Policy 5.A Project Design Review – The preservation of visual resources shall be accomplished through the design review process.  Policy 5.B Design Consistency – The City shall review new development proposals to encourage high standards of urban design and to ensure that elements of architectural design and site orientation do not degrade or conflict with the appearance of existing structures.
 Policy 5.D Downtown Design Plan – The City shall prepare, adopt, and implement a design plan for the urban design, circulation, parking, and commercial sign location within the central business district.  Policy 5.E Viewscape Protection – The City shall use the General Plan Land Use chapter and the design review process to ensure that major new development projects do not impact scenic vistas now enjoyed throughout the city.
 Policy 5.F Design Factors – The design review process shall combine elements of aesthetics with considerations for project efficiency.  Policy 5.G Historic Preservation – The City shall evaluate and make recommendations for the preservation of historic structures, landmarks, and buildings of particular architectural interest.
 Policy 5.H Streetscape Beautification – The City shall promote streetscape beautification activities and civic pride in community appearance.
 Goal 9.1 Open Space Network – Provide a comprehensive network of open space land uses for outdoor recreation and environmental protection.  Goal 9.2 Open Space Preservation – Preserve the open space and agricultural land uses surrounding the urban limit line which contribute to the economic base, provide scenic vistas, and offer opportunities for scientific exploration.
 Goal 9.3 Natural Resources – Identify and protect the natural resources of the Watsonville Planning Area.

 Goal 9.4 Air Quality – Maintain or improve the present air quality level within the Pajaro Valley.
 Goal 9.5 Water Quality – Ensure that surface and groundwater resources are protected.
 Goal 9.6 Soil Conservation – Preserve and protect the soil resources throughout the community and minimize the environmental degradation caused by soil erosion, construction impact on soils, and deterioration of water quality caused by suspended solids.
 Goal 9.11 Hazardous Materials – Protect the air, water, soil, and biotic resources from damage by exposure to hazardous materials through aggressive management of hazardous materials.
 Goal 9.12 Energy – Promote the conservation of energy and the use of alternative energy resources in transportation and residential, commercial, and industrial development.
 Policy 9.B Natural Resource Protection – The City shall designate land necessary for the preservation of natural resources and to avoid conflicts with urban land uses.
 Policy 9.C Air Quality – The City shall cooperate with the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District (MBUAPCD) to maintain and improve regional air quality. In addition to the measures listed below, measures

4.A.4 and 4.G.1 promote improved air quality by providing for a balance of jobs and housing, and by increasing the density of residential development which makes use of transit feasible.
 Policy 9.D Water Quality – The City shall provide for the protection of water quality to meet all beneficial uses, including domestic, agricultural, industrial, recreational, and ecological uses.
 Policy 9.E Soil Conservation – The City shall prevent degradation of local soil resources through erosion control improvement and grading guidelines.  Policy 9.H Archaeological Resources – The City shall foster and provide for the preservation of cultural resources and artifacts of historic and prehistoric human occupation within the Pajaro Valley.
 Policy 9.I Hazardous Materials – The City shall protect the natural environment through aggressive enforcement and compliance with hazardous materials plans.
 Policy 9.I Energy – The City shall strive to reduce non-renewable energy resource consumption and promote the use of alternative energy resources.

 Goal 10.1. Street and Highway Facilities – Plan and provide for a safe, efficient, and environmentally sensitive network of streets and highways for movement of people and goods.
 Goal 10.4. Bicycle Circulation – Plan for and provide a safe, convenient network of bicycle facilities.
 Goal 10.5. Pedestrian Circulation – Recognize the importance of pedestrian travel, alone, or in combination with other travel modes, and to encourage walking.
 Goal 10.7. Aesthetic Considerations – Plan and provide for a circulation network that preserves and enhances scenic amenities.
 Goal 10.8. Truck Transportation – Recognize the importance of a truck transportation to the Watsonville area and to plan for the safe, unobtrusive movement of trucks.
 Goal 10.9. Utility Routing – Ensure the adequate provision of necessary public utilities in a way which minimizes their visual impacts and potential hazards to the safety of residents.
 Goal 10.10. Emergency Access – Ensure sufficient provision of emergency or secondary access and maintain acceptable response times for all parts of the service area.
 Policy 10.A Street and Highway Improvements – The City shall pursue a program of regularly scheduled maintenance and street improvements, accompanies by the planned extension of roadways to serve new development.
 Policy 10.B State Highway Improvements – The City shall encourage improvements to state highways within the Planning Area in order to increase their efficiency in the regional and local circulation network.  Policy 10.D Project Priority – The City shall maintain liaison with county, regional, and state transportation planning agencies to ensure the highest priority for completion is given to transportation system improvements that serve to implement the long-range land use policies of Watsonville 2005.  Policy 10.F Planning for Transit – The City shall use its land use planning authority to enhance the use of transit.
 Policy 10.G Transit Promotion – In order to encourage use of transit by all age groups and for all purposes, the City shall ensure that transit centers and stops are safe, attractive and do not deter transit use.

 Policy 10.K Bicycle Facilities Development – The City shall plan for and implement a comprehensive network of bicycle facilities in order to promote the bicycle as an alternative to the private automobile.  Policy 10. M Bicycle Support Facilities – The City shall encourage bicycle facilities in new developments, as a commute alternative.  Policy 10.N Pedestrian Travel – The city shall plan for and implement a comprehensive network of safe pedestrian facilities in order to promote pedestrian travel.
 Policy 10.O Walkway Aesthetic and Safety – Pedestrian walkways should be designed to promote walking by providing a safe and aesthetically pleasing path of travel.
 Policy 10.P Pedestrian Access – Access for pedestrian travel shall be maintained where it already exists and provided where it does not, in order to prevent or eliminate barriers to pedestrian travel.
 Policy 10.S Aesthetics – The City shall seek to preserve and enhance scenic vistas to and from the transportation corridors.  Policy 10.T Landscaping – The city shall encourage the use of vegetation to create or enhance scenic vistas and to serve as buffers for transportation facilities.
 Policy 10.P Truck Facilities and Routing – Commodity movement utilizing trucks shall be encouraged and facilitated while related impacts on City streets are minimized to the extent possible.
 Policy 10.Y Emergency Access – The city shall ensure that emergency or secondary access is provided for all new development in the city’s service area.
 Goal 11.1 Service Availability – Maintain or increase the current availability of public services and facilities consistent with projected population growth in the City limits and Sphere of Influence and according to the fiscal resources of the City.
 Goal 11.2 Public Services – Assure new development can be served by adequate public services and facilities.
 Goal 11.3 Water Supply – Construct and maintain a water system and institute water management policy that will provide a sufficient quantity of appropriate-quality water to meet the needs of the existing and planned community.
 Goal 11.4 Wastewater Management – Continue the safe and efficient collection, treatment, and disposal of domestic and industrial wastewater to

meet the needs of the service population, protect the environment, and comply with all applicable regulations.
 Goal 11.5 Solid Water Management – Operate an efficient waste management program that protects the health of area residents, prolongs the useful life of the landfill site, and encourages recycling of any and all materials found to be feasible for recovery and reuse.
 Goal 11.8 Public Services – Maintain public protection service levels consistent with City standards for acceptable risk levels.  Policy 11.B Infrastructure – The City shall identify public infrastructure needs and use the Capital Improvements Program to schedule improvements necessary for achieving long-term land use and community development objectives.
 Policy 11.C Water System Design – The Water system shall be designed, constructed, and managed to provide a sufficient quantity of appropriatequality water for the existing and planned community.  Policy 11.F Wastewater Management Design – The City shall continue to provide adequate wase-water treatment levels to meet the needs of the City and the service area users. Compliance with applicable state and federal standards will be pursued to the extent possible.  Policy 11.G Solid Waste Management – The City shall continue to operate an environmentally sensitive solid waste management program and encourage the recycling of paper, glass, plastics, and metals. The City shall encourage waste minimization and source reduction of all wastes, with special emphasis on hazardous materials.
 Policy 11.J Public Protection – The City shall continue to provide sufficient funding, trained personnel, and all necessary equipment and facilities to maintain city standards for public safety and response time.  Goal 12.1 Land Use Safety – Plan for and regulate the uses of land in order to provide a pattern of urban development that will minimize exposure to hazards from either natural or human-related causes.
 Goal 12.6 Personal Safety – Ensure that community standards for personal safety are enforced.
 Goal 12.7 Emergency Preparedness – Anticipate the potential for disasters; maintain continuity of life-support functions during an emergency; and maximize efforts for post-emergency recovery.
 Policy 12.A Environmental and Public Safety – The City shall plan for and maintain development standards that minimize risks to human lives and property resulting from environmental and man-caused hazards. The City

shall protect neighboring residential development from the immediate threats of potentially hazardous industrial or agricultural materials and airport hazards through careful land use planning.
 Policy 12.B Seismic Hazards – The City shall use the development review process to ensure that potential geologic hazards are evaluated and mitigated prior to construction.
 Policy 12.C Soil Constraints – The City shall take all appropriate actions to ensure that current land use activities and new developments are mitigated to prevent soil failure and other soil-related dangers.  Policy 12.D Flood Hazard Reduction – The City shall pursue the protection of new and existing development from the impacts of flooding up to the 100-year event.
 Policy 12.E Hazardous Materials Control – The City shall strictly enforce ordinances and regulations for the use, storage, transport, and disposal of hazardous materials.
 Policy 12.F Fire Safety Standards – The City shall use development approval authority, code enforcement, and periodic inspections to ensure that fire prevention standards are maintained.
 Policy 12.H Fire Suppression Planning – The City shall maintain a level of fire protection for the community that emphasizes an aggressive initial attack to stop fires in early stages as well as to have adequate staff and equipment (including mutual aid) to prevent a conflagration.  Policy 12.I Crime Prevention – The City shall provide sufficient funding, adequate personnel levels, and necessary equipment to maintain civil order and prevent crime.
 Policy 12.M Noise – The City shall utilize land use regulations and enforcement to ensure that noise levels in developed areas are kept at acceptable levels, and that future noise-sensitive land uses are protected from noise that is harmful.
b. That the proposed amendment is compatible to the extent possible with the actual and general planned use of the adjacent properties.

Supportive Evidence
Development in downtown started before the City was incorporated in 1868. The area contains a mix of contemporary and historic buildings, urban plazas, higherdensity residential buildings, government offices, community-serving retail uses, and is home to numerous community events that attract both visitors and residents.

Once a thriving and bustling downtown, the Main Street has struggled to compete regionally with other commercial areas and has experienced high retail and

commercial vacancy rates for the past several decades. The City has taken many steps to revitalize the downtown since the destructive 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, including several downtown plans and downtown design guidelines, as well as the development of a new Civic Plaza that is home to the South County Courthouse, City library, City administrative offices, City Council Chambers, and public meeting space.

The proposed General Plan Amendment would allow consistency between the Watsonville 2005 General Plan and DWSP, and the DWSP would help revitalize downtown. The goals and policies of the DWSP strive to facilitate housing production and preservation; increase retail-entertainment activity; encourage higher-density mixed-use residential projects; add visitor-oriented uses; support a greater range of civic and cultural activities; improve the safety and comfort of pedestrians; enhance bicycle infrastructure and connections; and target uses and activities that appeal to a wide range of Watsonville’s residents and employees.

EXHIBIT B

Reso No. ______ (CM) 1
Meeting Date: 101023 SWZ ______ RM ______ CDD ______
ORDINANCE NO. Introduction (CM)

AN UNCODIFIED ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY

OF WATSONVILLE ADOPTING THE DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE

SPECIFIC PLAN, A SPECIFIC PLAN PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT
CODE SECTION 65460 ET SEQ.

WHEREAS, the Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan (DWSP) has been prepared as a planning tool to implement the General Plan and to guide development in a specific area. While the General Plan is the overall guide for growth and development in a community, the goal of a Specific Plan is to focus on the unique characteristics of a special area by customizing the planning process and land use regulations to that area. The authority for preparation and adoption of specific plans is set forth in the California Government Code, Sections 65450 through 65457. The California Government Code authorizes jurisdictions to adopt specific plans by ordinance as regulatory documents; and
WHEREAS, the DWSP is intended to be a tool for developers, property owners, City staff and decision makers by providing strong and clear policies, development standards, and a vision that guides land use decisions, infrastructure improvements, design, and economic development activities in the project area; and WHEREAS, the overarching goals of the DWSP are to facilitate housing production and preservation; increase retail-entertainment activity; encourage higherdensity mixed-use residential projects; add visitor-oriented uses; support a greater range of civic and cultural activities; improve the safety and comfort of pedestrians; enhance bicycle infrastructure and connections; and target uses and activities that appeal to a wide range of Watsonville’s residents and employees; and

Reso No. (CM)
Meeting Date; 101023
2 WHEREAS, the DWSP establishes new zones and overlays, which are intended to concentrate urban activity and intensity in the center of downtown and allows development to transition to existing lower-intensity neighborhood settings at the periphery of the DWSP plan area and to industrial activity to the south; and WHEREAS, the new zones consist of the Downtown Core and Downtown Neighborhood Zones; and
WHEREAS, the Downtown Core Zone is an active, walkable environment, characterized by buildings up to six stories. This is the heart of Downtown—generally flanking Main Street—where the most active and intense development patterns and uses are anticipated. Upper floors contain residential units or office space. Buildings are close to the sidewalk and have little-to-no side setbacks; and WHEREAS, the Downtown Neighborhood Zone is characterized by smaller scale buildings than those of the Downtown Core Zone and generally includes a similar mix of active and residential uses; and
WHEREAS, the land use and development standards in the DWSP supersede the land use and development standards in the Zoning Ordinance (Title 14 of the Watsonville Municipal Code) for properties within the DWSP plan area; and WHEREAS, as part of implementing the DWSP, the City intends to amend the Zoning Map to reflect the boundaries of the DWSP plan area; and WHEREAS, as part of implementing the DWSP, the City intends to amend the Zoning Code to create a new DWSP district and reference the permitted uses and development standards in Chapter 6 of the adopted DWSP document; and

Reso No. (CM)
Meeting Date; 101023
3 WHEREAS, as the DWSP’s zoning is inconsistent with the Watsonville 2005 General Plan, the General Plan is being updated concurrent with the Specific Plan to ensure consistency between the two documents; and
WHEREAS, an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was prepared for the DWSP (SCH #2022100602) in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); and
WHEREAS, on September 5, 2023, the Planning Commission of the City of Watsonville adopted Resolution No. 13-23 (PC), recommending to the City Council to adopt the DWSP, a specific plan pursuant to Government Code section 65460 et seq.; and
WHEREAS, before considering making a recommendation on the proposed DWSP, the Planning Commission of the City of Watsonville reviewed and considered the potential environmental impacts of the project and adopted Resolution No. 11-23 (PC), recommending that the City Council adopt and certify the EIR for the DWSP, as well as a set of CEQA Findings and a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program; and WHEREAS, notice of time and place of the hearing to consider adoption of the DWSP, adoption and certification of an EIR for the DWSP, adoption of the proposed amendments to the Watsonville 2005 General Plan, and adoption of the proposed amendments to the Zoning Code and Map was given at the time and in the manner where appropriate public noticing procedures have been followed and a public hearing was held according to Section 14-10.900 of the Watsonville Municipal Code; and WHEREAS, the City Council has considered all evidence received, both oral and documentary, and the matter was submitted for decision.

Reso No. (CM)
Meeting Date; 101023
4 NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WATSONVILLE DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. RECITALS.

The foregoing recitals are adopted herein as true and correct and as the basis for this Ordinance.

SECTION 2. CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT.

Before considering the adoption of the DWSP, the City Council of the City of Watsonville reviewed and considered the potential environmental impacts of the project and adopted Resolution No. ___-23 (CM), adopting and certifying the EIR for the DWSP, as well as a set of CEQA Findings and Statement of Overriding Considerations and a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program.

SECTION 3. ENACTMENT.

The City Council hereby adopts the Findings, attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit “A” upon which, the City Council of the City of Watsonville does hereby adopt the DWSP, which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference.

This Ordinance shall not be codified in the City of Watsonville Municipal Code.

SECTION 3. SEVERABILITY.

If any section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance, or its application to any person or circumstance, is for any reason held to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining sections, subsections, subdivisions, paragraphs, sentences, clauses or phrases of this Ordinance, or its application to any other person or circumstance. The City Council declares that it would have adopted each section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase hereof, irrespective of the

Reso No. (CM)
Meeting Date; 101023
5 fact that any one or more other sections, subsections, subdivisions, paragraphs, sentences, clauses or phrases hereof be declared invalid or unenforceable.

SECTION 4. PUBLICATION.

This ordinance shall be published in the Watsonville Register-Pajaronian and/or Santa Cruz Sentinel in compliance with the provisions of the Charter of the City of Watsonville.

SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.

This ordinance shall be in force and take effect thirty (30) days after its final adoption.
*************************************

CITY OF WATSONVILLE EXHIBIT A

CITY COUNCIL
SPECIFIC PLAN FINDINGS (WMC § 14-12.904)
a. That the proposed location of the development and proposed conditions under which it will be operated or maintained is consistent with the goals and policies embodied in the General Plan.

Supportive Evidence
The DWSP would facilitate housing production and preservation; increase retailentertainment activity; encourage higher-density mixed-use residential projects; add visitor-oriented uses; support a greater range of civic and cultural activities; improve the safety and comfort of pedestrians; enhance bicycle infrastructure and connections; and target uses and activities that appeal to a wide range of Watsonville’s residents and employees.

These conditions for downtown Watsonville are in harmony with the overall intent of the Watsonville 2005 General Plan, including the following goals and policies regarding land use, urban design, environmental resources, transportation and circulation, public facilities, and public safety:
 Goal 4.2 Neighborhoods – Conserve and improve the living environment of existing neighborhood commercial Services.
 Goal 4.3 Commercial Land Use – Revitalize the central business district and provide adequate neighborhood commercial services.
 Goal 4.4 Industrial Land Use – Achieve economic diversification, living wage employment, the preservation of agricultural economic base of the Pajaro Valley, and maintain a balance among jobs, housing, and other urban land uses.
 Goal 4.5 Public Land Use – Provide public and institutional land uses and service in proportion to population growth.
 Goal 4.6 Local Employment – Promote a variety of employment opportunities within the city providing living wage jobs to Watsonville residents. Stimulate creation of 7,500 additional jobs by 2005. Pursue opportunities for jobs skill training.
 Goal 4.7 Land Use Sustainability – Ensure that the orderly development of land for the needs of the existing and projected population within the City limit and Sphere of Influence is vase on the land’s overall sustainability, including: the accessibility of existing and proposed public facilities, services, and utilities; physical and financial constraints; and/or growth inducing impacts.

 Policy 4.A Residential Land Use – The City shall plan for housing production on a five-year cycle consistent with the policies of the adopted Housing Element (See chapter 6, Housing: Goals, policies, and Programs).

The overall housing objectives for the General Plan time frame shall also be considered in long-range planning for housing.
 Policy 4.B Neighborhood Preservation – The City shall plan for the protection of existing neighborhood qualities and the provision of adequate neighborhood facilities in developing areas.
 Policy 4.C Commercial Land Use – The City shall plan for revitalization of the central business district along with the distribution of convenient neighborhood commercial centers.
 Policy 4.D Industrial Land Use – The city shall promote modernization of existing industrial plants and the location of new industrial facilities on land planned for industry in Watsonville 2005.
 Policy 4.F Economic Development – The city shall plan for economic development.
 Policy 4.G Land Use Suitability – The City shall encourage the development of urban uses on those land best suited for urban uses and discourage it on land unsuited for urban uses.
 Goal 5.1 Visual Resources – Preserve and enhance the built and natural visual resources within Watsonville.
 Goal 5.2 Community Appearance – Blend new development with recognized values of community appearance and scenic qualities, and ensure that new development enhances, rather than detracts from, its surroundings.
 Goal 5.4 Downtown – Preserve and enhance the visual appearance of Main Street from the Pajaro River Bridge to Freedom Boulevard.  Goal 5.6 Urban Design – Achieve high standards of street, site and building design that are both efficient, and aesthetically pleasing.  Goal 5.7 Heritage Preservation – Enhance and protect structures, sites, and other landmarks that give residents of the Planning Area a link with their cultural heritage.
 Goal 5.8 Urban Beautification – Support public and private urban beatification activities and promote pride in community appearance.

 Policy 5.A Project Design Review – The preservation of visual resources shall be accomplished through the design review process.  Policy 5.B Design Consistency – The City shall review new development proposals to encourage high standards of urban design and to ensure that elements of architectural design and site orientation do not degrade or conflict with the appearance of existing structures.
 Policy 5.D Downtown Design Plan – The City shall prepare, adopt, and implement a design plan for the urban design, circulation, parking, and commercial sign location within the central business district.  Policy 5.E Viewscape Protection – The City shall use the General Plan Land Use chapter and the design review process to ensure that major new development projects do not impact scenic vistas now enjoyed throughout the city.
 Policy 5.F Design Factors – The design review process shall combine elements of aesthetics with considerations for project efficiency.  Policy 5.G Historic Preservation – The City shall evaluate and make recommendations for the preservation of historic structures, landmarks, and buildings of particular architectural interest.
 Policy 5.H Streetscape Beautification – The City shall promote streetscape beautification activities and civic pride in community appearance.
 Goal 9.1 Open Space Network – Provide a comprehensive network of open space land uses for outdoor recreation and environmental protection.  Goal 9.2 Open Space Preservation – Preserve the open space and agricultural land uses surrounding the urban limit line which contribute to the economic base, provide scenic vistas, and offer opportunities for scientific exploration.
 Goal 9.3 Natural Resources – Identify and protect the natural resources of the Watsonville Planning Area.
 Goal 9.4 Air Quality – Maintain or improve the present air quality level within the Pajaro Valley.
 Goal 9.5 Water Quality – Ensure that surface and groundwater resources are protected.
 Goal 9.6 Soil Conservation – Preserve and protect the soil resources throughout the community and minimize the environmental degradation

caused by soil erosion, construction impact on soils, and deterioration of water quality caused by suspended solids.
 Goal 9.11 Hazardous Materials – Protect the air, water, soil, and biotic resources from damage by exposure to hazardous materials through aggressive management of hazardous materials.
 Goal 9.12 Energy – Promote the conservation of energy and the use of alternative energy resources in transportation and residential, commercial, and industrial development.
 Policy 9.B Natural Resource Protection – The City shall designate land necessary for the preservation of natural resources and to avoid conflicts with urban land uses.
 Policy 9.C Air Quality – The City shall cooperate with the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District (MBUAPCD) to maintain and improve regional air quality. In addition to the measures listed below, measures

4.A.4 and 4.G.1 promote improved air quality by providing for a balance of jobs and housing, and by increasing the density of residential development which makes use of transit feasible.
 Policy 9.D Water Quality – The City shall provide for the protection of water quality to meet all beneficial uses, including domestic, agricultural, industrial, recreational, and ecological uses.
 Policy 9.E Soil Conservation – The City shall prevent degradation of local soil resources through erosion control improvement and grading guidelines.  Policy 9.H Archaeological Resources – The City shall foster and provide for the preservation of cultural resources and artifacts of historic and prehistoric human occupation within the Pajaro Valley.
 Policy 9.I Hazardous Materials – The City shall protect the natural environment through aggressive enforcement and compliance with hazardous materials plans.
 Policy 9.I Energy – The City shall strive to reduce non-renewable energy resource consumption and promote the use of alternative energy resources.  Goal 10.1. Street and Highway Facilities – Plan and provide for a safe, efficient, and environmentally sensitive network of streets and highways for movement of people and goods.
 Goal 10.4. Bicycle Circulation – Plan for and provide a safe, convenient network of bicycle facilities.

 Goal 10.5. Pedestrian Circulation – Recognize the importance of pedestrian travel, alone, or in combination with other travel modes, and to encourage walking.
 Goal 10.7. Aesthetic Considerations – Plan and provide for a circulation network that preserves and enhances scenic amenities.
 Goal 10.8. Truck Transportation – Recognize the importance of a truck transportation to the Watsonville area and to plan for the safe, unobtrusive movement of trucks.
 Goal 10.9. Utility Routing – Ensure the adequate provision of necessary public utilities in a way which minimizes their visual impacts and potential hazards to the safety of residents.
 Goal 10.10. Emergency Access – Ensure sufficient provision of emergency or secondary access and maintain acceptable response times for all parts of the service area.
 Policy 10.A Street and Highway Improvements – The City shall pursue a program of regularly scheduled maintenance and street improvements, accompanies by the planned extension of roadways to serve new development.
 Policy 10.B State Highway Improvements – The City shall encourage improvements to state highways within the Planning Area in order to increase their efficiency in the regional and local circulation network.  Policy 10.D Project Priority – The City shall maintain liaison with county, regional, and state transportation planning agencies to ensure the highest priority for completion is given to transportation system improvements that serve to implement the long-range land use policies of Watsonville 2005.  Policy 10.F Planning for Transit – The City shall use its land use planning authority to enhance the use of transit.
 Policy 10.G Transit Promotion – In order to encourage use of transit by all age groups and for all purposes, the City shall ensure that transit centers and stops are safe, attractive and do not deter transit use.  Policy 10.K Bicycle Facilities Development – The City shall plan for and implement a comprehensive network of bicycle facilities in order to promote the bicycle as an alternative to the private automobile.  Policy 10. M Bicycle Support Facilities – The City shall encourage bicycle facilities in new developments, as a commute alternative.

 Policy 10.N Pedestrian Travel – The city shall plan for and implement a comprehensive network of safe pedestrian facilities in order to promote pedestrian travel.
 Policy 10.O Walkway Aesthetic and Safety – Pedestrian walkways should be designed to promote walking by providing a safe and aesthetically pleasing path of travel.
 Policy 10.P Pedestrian Access – Access for pedestrian travel shall be maintained where it already exists and provided where it does not, in order to prevent or eliminate barriers to pedestrian travel.
 Policy 10.S Aesthetics – The City shall seek to preserve and enhance scenic vistas to and from the transportation corridors.  Policy 10.T Landscaping – The city shall encourage the use of vegetation to create or enhance scenic vistas and to serve as buffers for transportation facilities.
 Policy 10.P Truck Facilities and Routing – Commodity movement utilizing trucks shall be encouraged and facilitated while related impacts on City streets are minimized to the extent possible.
 Policy 10.Y Emergency Access – The city shall ensure that emergency or secondary access is provided for all new development in the city’s service area.
 Goal 11.1 Service Availability – Maintain or increase the current availability of public services and facilities consistent with projected population growth in the City limits and Sphere of Influence and according to the fiscal resources of the City.
 Goal 11.2 Public Services – Assure new development can be served by adequate public services and facilities.
 Goal 11.3 Water Supply – Construct and maintain a water system and institute water management policy that will provide a sufficient quantity of appropriate-quality water to meet the needs of the existing and planned community.
 Goal 11.4 Wastewater Management – Continue the safe and efficient collection, treatment, and disposal of domestic and industrial wastewater to meet the needs of the service population, protect the environment, and comply with all applicable regulations.
 Goal 11.5 Solid Water Management – Operate an efficient waste management program that protects the health of area residents, prolongs

the useful life of the landfill site, and encourages recycling of any and all materials found to be feasible for recovery and reuse.
 Goal 11.8 Public Services – Maintain public protection service levels consistent with City standards for acceptable risk levels.  Policy 11.B Infrastructure – The City shall identify public infrastructure needs and use the Capital Improvements Program to schedule improvements necessary for achieving long-term land use and community development objectives.
 Policy 11.C Water System Design – The Water system shall be designed, constructed, and managed to provide a sufficient quantity of appropriatequality water for the existing and planned community.  Policy 11.F Wastewater Management Design – The City shall continue to provide adequate wase-water treatment levels to meet the needs of the City and the service area users. Compliance with applicable state and federal standards will be pursued to the extent possible.  Policy 11.G Solid Waste Management – The City shall continue to operate an environmentally sensitive solid waste management program and encourage the recycling of paper, glass, plastics, and metals. The City shall encourage waste minimization and source reduction of all wastes, with special emphasis on hazardous materials.
 Policy 11.J Public Protection – The City shall continue to provide sufficient funding, trained personnel, and all necessary equipment and facilities to maintain city standards for public safety and response time.  Goal 12.1 Land Use Safety – Plan for and regulate the uses of land in order to provide a pattern of urban development that will minimize exposure to hazards from either natural or human-related causes.
 Goal 12.6 Personal Safety – Ensure that community standards for personal safety are enforced.
 Goal 12.7 Emergency Preparedness – Anticipate the potential for disasters; maintain continuity of life-support functions during an emergency; and maximize efforts for post-emergency recovery.
 Policy 12.A Environmental and Public Safety – The City shall plan for and maintain development standards that minimize risks to human lives and property resulting from environmental and man-caused hazards. The City shall protect neighboring residential development from the immediate threats of potentially hazardous industrial or agricultural materials and airport hazards through careful land use planning.

 Policy 12.B Seismic Hazards – The City shall use the development review process to ensure that potential geologic hazards are evaluated and mitigated prior to construction.
 Policy 12.C Soil Constraints – The City shall take all appropriate actions to ensure that current land use activities and new developments are mitigated to prevent soil failure and other soil-related dangers.  Policy 12.D Flood Hazard Reduction – The City shall pursue the protection of new and existing development from the impacts of flooding up to the 100-year event.
 Policy 12.E Hazardous Materials Control – The City shall strictly enforce ordinances and regulations for the use, storage, transport, and disposal of hazardous materials.
 Policy 12.F Fire Safety Standards – The City shall use development approval authority, code enforcement, and periodic inspections to ensure that fire prevention standards are maintained.
 Policy 12.H Fire Suppression Planning – The City shall maintain a level of fire protection for the community that emphasizes an aggressive initial attack to stop fires in early stages as well as to have adequate staff and equipment (including mutual aid) to prevent a conflagration.  Policy 12.I Crime Prevention – The City shall provide sufficient funding, adequate personnel levels, and necessary equipment to maintain civil order and prevent crime.
 Policy 12.M Noise – The City shall utilize land use regulations and enforcement to ensure that noise levels in developed areas are kept at acceptable levels, and that future noise-sensitive land uses are protected from noise that is harmful.
b. That the proposed development is in accordance with the purposes and objectives of this title and, in particular, will further the purposes stated for each zoning district.

Supportive Evidence
The purpose of Title 14 (Zoning) is, in general, to protect the public health, safety, peace, morals, comfort, convenience, and general welfare and, among other purposes, to assist in providing a definite plan of development for the City and to guide, control, and regulate the future growth of the City in accordance with such plan.

The purpose of the provisions in the Zoning Code concerning specific plans are to establish requirements and procedures for the development, adoption and amendments of specific plans and ensure that the City’s Zoning Code is consistent with law regulating Specific Plans and in particular, Article 8 of Chapter 3, of

Division of Title 7 of the California Government Code, commencing with Section 65450. In accordance with Gov’t Code Section 65450, the City may prepare specific plans for the systematic implementation of its general plan for all or part of the area covered by the general plan.

The DWSP would serve as a regulatory tool to implement the Watsonville 2005 General Plan and guide development in downtown Watsonville. The DWSP includes all required contents, as set forth in WMC Section 14-12.902(b) and Gov’t Code Section 65451.
c. That the development will not be detrimental to the public health, safety or welfare of persons residing or working in or adjacent to such a development and properties or improvements in the vicinity or to the general welfare of the City.

Supportive Evidence
Development in downtown started before the City was incorporated in 1868. The area contains a mix of contemporary and historic buildings, urban plazas, higherdensity residential buildings, government offices, community-serving retail uses, and is home to numerous community events that attract both visitors and residents.

Once a thriving and bustling downtown, the Main Street has struggled to compete regionally with other commercial areas and has experienced high retail and commercial vacancy rates for the past several decades. The City has taken many steps to revitalize the downtown since the destructive 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, including several downtown plans and downtown design guidelines, as well as the development of a new Civic Plaza that is home to the South County Courthouse, City library, City administrative offices, City Council Chambers, and public meeting space.

The DWSP would help revitalize downtown by facilitating housing production and preservation; increase retail-entertainment activity; encouraging higher-density mixed-use residential projects; adding visitor-oriented uses; supporting a greater range of civic and cultural activities; improving the safety and comfort of pedestrians; enhancing bicycle infrastructure and connections; and targeting uses and activities that appeal to a wide range of Watsonville’s residents and employees. Adoptions of the DWSP will not be detrimental to the public health, safety or welfare of persons residing or working in or adjacent to the DWSP area because it will implement the General Plan and guide development in the DWSP area.
d. That the Specific Plan and resulting development will be consistent with the provisions of Article 8 of Chapter 3 of Division I of Title 7 of the California Government Code, commencing with Section 65450.

Supportive Evidence
In accordance with Gov’t Code Section 65450, the City may prepare specific plans for the systematic implementation of its general plan for all or part of the area covered by the general plan. The DWSP would serve as a regulatory tool to

implement the Watsonville 2005 General Plan and guide development in downtown Watsonville.

D downto
watson
speci f

DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE

SPECIFIC PLAN
CITY OF WATSONVILLE, CALIFORNIA—Final Draft, October 2022

CITY OF WATSONVILLE, CALIFORNIA

DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN
Final Draft, October 2022
D downtown
watsonville
speci f ic plan
© 2022 California Department of Transportation and City of Watsonville. All Rights Reserved.

Prepared By:

Raimi & Associates
Land Use & Urban Design, and
Community Engagement
Simran Malhotra AICP, AAIA, Principal
Jasmine Williams AICP, Senior Planner
Christian Ledezma, Graphic Designer
with
Sargent Town Planning
Urban Design
and Development Code
Peter VanderWal, Principal
Andrew Krizman, Senior Associate
EPS
Economics and Implementation
Ben Sigman, Principal
Nelson Nygaard
Mobility and Parking
Meghan Weir, Principal
Zach Zabel, Senior Associate
Monique Ho, Associate
Kimley-Horn
Traffic Modeling
Frederik Ventner, Vice President
Mehul Champaneri, Senior Project
Engineer
BKF Engineering
Infrastructure Engineering
Jacob Nguyen, Principal
Doug Peterson, PE, Project Manager
Sabrina Shuman, Senior Project Engineer
Rincon
Environmental Impact Report
& Historic Report
Megan Jones, Principal
George Dix, Project Manager
Stephen Treffers, Program Manager

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
City Council
Eduardo Montesino,
Mayor Pro Tempore, District 1
Vanessa Quiroz-Carter, District 2
Lowell Hurst, District 3
Francisco Estrada, District 4
Rebecca J. Garcia, District 5
Jimmy Dutra, District 6
Ari Parker, Mayor, District 7
Planning Commission
Daniel Dodge, District 1
Brando Sencion, District 2
Jenni Veitch-Olson, District 3
Veronica Dorantes-Pulido (Chair),
District 4
Anna Kammer, District 5
Lucy Rojas (Vice-Chair), District 6
Ed Acosta, District 7
Advisory Committee Members
Jane Barr
Eduardo Cervantes
Gina Cole
Maria Elena De la Garza
Francisco Estrada, Councilmember
Aurelio Gonzalez
Neva Hansen
Felipe Hernandez
Sylvia Luna
Carmen Herrera Mansur
Sal Orozco
Ben Ow
William Ow
Manuel Rodriguez
Shaz Roth
Tony Scurich
Brian Spector
Jenni Veitch-Olson, Planning
Commissioner
City of Watsonville Staff
City Manager
Tamara Vides, Interim City Manager
Matt Huffaker, Former City Manager
Community Development
Department—Planning
Suzi Merriam, Director
Justin Meek, AICP, Principal Planner
Ivan Carmona, Associate Planner
Sarah Wikle, Associate Planner
Deborah Muniz, Executive Assistant
Celia Castro, Permit Technician
Community Development
Department—Housing
Carlos Landaverry, Housing Manager
Elena Ortiz, Administrative Assistant I
Public Works & Utilities
Maria Esther Rodriguez, P.E., City
Engineer / Assistant Director
Murray Fontes, P.E., Principal
Engineer
Daniel Green, P.E., Principal Engineer
Police
Angelica Jauregui, Administrative
Analyst
Caltrans Staff
Gus Alfaro
Marissa Nishikawa
Douglas Hessing
Audrey Ogden
John Olejnik
Pedro Miguel
In collaboration with:

Watsonville Residents
Community Groups
Business and Property Owners
Non-Profit Organizations
DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN Page 1054 of 1385

CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1
Introduction 2
CHAPTER 2
Downtown Vision, Goals & Policy Direction 22
CHAPTER 3
Design Framework 48
CHAPTER 4
Mobility and Transportation 82
CHAPTER 5
Public Realm Improvements 124
CHAPTER 6
Land Use & Zoning 146
CHAPTER 7
Historic Preservation 204
CHAPTER 8
Infrastructure 222
CHAPTER 9
Implementation 238
Appendices
Community Engagement Summary (Appendix A) A.1
Applicable General Plan Goals & Policies (Appendix B) B.1 Historic Report (Appendix C) C.1
Funded By:

The work upon which this publication is based was funded in whole or in part through a grant awarded by State of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), FHWA and FTA. The City of Watsonville was a recipient of a Sustainable Transportation Grant administered by Caltrans.

The statements and conclusions of this report are those of the City of Watsonville and the consultant team and not necessarily those of Caltrans, or its employees. Caltrans make no warranties, express or implied, and assume no liability for the information contained in the succeeding text.

2 DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN
Chapter 1:

INTRODUCTION

1.1—What is a Specific Plan

1.2—Plan Context and Purpose

1.3—Existing Conditions

1.4—Plan Objectives

1.5—Relationship to Other Plans

1.6—Plan Structure

3 Page 1057 of 1385
4 DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN
IN SUMMER 2019, THE CITY

OF WATSONVILLE (CITY)

INITIATED A SPECIFIC

PLAN FOR DOWNTOWN

WATSONVILLE WITH THE

PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING

A CLEAR DIRECTION FOR
ITS FUTURE.

The Downtown Watsonville Specific
Plan (Specific Plan) articulates a
community vision and planning
framework that will serve as a guide
for the city and other public agency
decision-makers, community members
and stakeholders over the next 20-
30 years. The Specific Plan has been
developed in accordance with the
California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA), California planning law,
City planning policies, and input from
community members, property owners,
decision-makers, and City staff.

The Specific Plan provides a
comprehensive land use and mobility
plan along with development and
design regulations that support the
Specific Plan’s goals and policies and
guides future public and private
development. In addition, the Specific
Plan includes an implementation
strategy and mechanisms to ensure that
development will be coordinated and
will meet the intent of the Specific Plan.

5 CHAPTER 1—INTRODUCTION
The Specific Plan and accompanying EIR is funded through a Sustainable Communities Grant from Caltrans, and SB 2. The intent of the SCS grant is to provide financial support to cities to encourage local and regional planning that furthers state goals, including the provision of a safe, sustainable, integrated, and efficient transportation system to enhance California’s economy and livability.

Additional funding is provided by a SB 2 grant from the State of California to complete the Program EIR.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT—The Terrace at 445 Main Street was built in 2018 and offers 54 Market Rate apartment rentals in Downtown Watsonville ; Main Street offers a charming scale and a mix of uses necessary to enhance the downtown.

6 DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN
Section 1.1
WHAT IS A SPECIFIC PLAN?
PHOTO CAPTION— Watsonville Civic Plaza provides municipal services for residents of Watsonville. The building houses government offices, including the Watsonville legislative body, and provides public records, government services, and information about Watsonville services.

A Specific Plan is a regulatory tool that local governments use to implement their General Plan and to guide development in a localized area. While the General Plan is the overall guide for growth and development in a community, the goal of a Specific Plan is to focus on the unique characteristics of a special area by customizing the planning process and land use regulations to that area. The authority for preparation and adoption of specific plans is set forth in the California Government Code, Sections 65450 through 65457. The California Government Code authorizes jurisdictions to adopt specific plans by ordinance as regulatory documents. The law allows adoption of Specific Plans as may be required for the implementation of the General Plan.

A Specific Plan is intended to be a tool for developers, property owners, City staff and decision makers by providing strong and clear policies, development standards, and a vision that guides land use decisions, infrastructure improvements, design, and economic development activities in the project area.

7 CHAPTER 1—INTRODUCTION
A Specific Plan includes:

Distribution, location, intensity, and
extent of the uses of land.

Development and design regulations
for buildings and the public realm.

Major components of transportation
and infrastructure.

This Plan also provides opportunities for
streamlined CEQA review. The Program
Environmental Impact Report (PEIR)
prepared for the Plan may simplify
environmental review for projects that
are consistent with the Plan.

The Plan does not replace or augment
building safety codes or other nonplanning related codes. All applications for new construction, substantial
modifications to existing buildings, and
changes in land use shall be reviewed
for conformance with this Specific
Plan. This Plan is adopted by ordinance
under the authority of the City’s
Municipal Code, which establishes
Specific Plans as a tool to regulate land
use and development.

8 DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN
Section 1.2

PLAN CONTEXT AND PURPOSE
The City has and continues to be the
economic, educational, and cultural
center of the Pajaro Valley, one of the
most productive agricultural areas
in the world. The City’s jurisdictional
boundaries are restricted by an urban
growth boundary and airport land
use restrictions. Because of these
limitations on growth, the City has put
efforts toward incorporating additional
housing and economic opportunities
through higher density infill along
the City’s major corridors, including
the downtown. The Specific Plan
will help achieve these objectives by
accommodating additional residential
uses in a compact and active mixeduse environment through both new construction and adaptive reuse of
historic buildings.

The Plan area constitutes about
195.5 acres with about 55.5 acres
dedicated to streets and rights-ofway. Downtown is centered on Main Street and extends west to the edge
of existing neighborhoods and the
industrial district, south to Pajaro,
and several blocks east to the existing
neighborhoods. The Downtown
Specific Plan area is shown in Figure
1–1 and Figure 1–2.

PHOTO CAPTION—California yarrow and California poppies bloom among native grasses on Watsonville Slough Farm.

The City of Watsonville is in the Pajaro Valley of Santa Cruz County and is approximately six square miles in size. The city is bounded by the Pajaro River to the south and unincorporated Santa Cruz County to the east, north and west. Regionally, the City is located near the epicenter of a rail transit network currently in the planning phases. The Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail envisions passenger transit along the rail line and the 2018 California State Rail Plan proposes rail service along the same line. A bicycle and pedestrian path is proposed next to the tracks. This provides Watsonville with a unique opportunity to establish critical connections and plan the appropriate location for a future transit stop along the Scenic Trail on Walker Street and determine appropriate land uses in the vicinity of the future rail transit station.

Pacific Ocean

MONTEREY COUNTY

SANTA CLARA COUNTY

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
Watsonville
Gilroy
Las
Lomas
Aptos
La Selva
Beach
Amesti Aptos
Hills-Larkin
Valley
Aromas
Day Valley
Corralitos
Freedom Interlaken
Pajaro
Dunes
Pajaro
Rio del Mar
Seacliff
Gilroy
Las
Lomas
Aptos
La Selva
Beach
Amesti Aptos
Hills-Larkin
Valley
Aromas
Day Valley
Corralitos
Freedom Interlaken
Pajaro
Dunes
Pajaro
Rio del Mar
Seacliff
1 1
152
129
downtown
watsonville
specific plan
D Specific Plan Area
Highway
Arterial Road
Collector Road
City of Watsonville Boundary
County Boundary
City Boundaries
Railway
N
0 0.5 1
Mile
2 9
Figure 1–1

DOWNTOWN

WATSONVILLE SPECIFIC

PLAN CONTEXT AREA
Zones
County Boundary
City of Watsonville Boundary
Census-Designated Place/Unincorporated County Boundaries Specific Plan Area Page 1063 of 1385
10 DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN
Organized in a traditional urban street
grid with walkable neighborhoods
and shopping corridors, downtown
Watsonville is the heart of the
community. Development in
downtown started before the City
was incorporated in 1868. The area
contains a mix of contemporary and
historic buildings, urban plazas,
higher-density residential buildings,
government offices, communityserving retail uses, and is home to numerous community events that
attract both visitors and residents.

Once a thriving and bustling
downtown, the Main Street has
struggled to compete regionally
with other commercial areas and
has experienced high retail and
commercial vacancy rates for the
past several decades. The City has
taken many steps to revitalize the
downtown since the destructive
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake,
including several downtown plans
and downtown design guidelines,
as well as the development of a new
Civic Plaza that is home to the South
County Courthouse, City library, City
administrative offices, City Council
Chambers, and public meeting space.

State Highway 152 (SR-152), a Caltrans facility, operates along portions of Main Street and as a one-way couplet along E Lake Avenue and E Beach Street.

Riverside Drive on the south end of the Plan area is a part of State Highway 129 (SR-129). Caltrans has been an integral part of the planning process and for developing recommendations for right-of-way improvements such as sidewalks and streets within their facilities. The City has also worked on improvements to the downtown parking district and completed a downtown parking study to modernize the on- and off-street parking provided in the downtown to attract shoppers and assist in retail business investment and opportunity.

Downtown is also beginning to see interest from private developers for new mixed-use and residential development. With growing interest and attention to downtown Watsonville, the City has established this Plan as the visionary guide for development in downtown Watsonville.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, TOP TO BOTTOM—A mixed-use development with ground floor commercial and parking garage; Martinelli’s has significantly contributed to Watsonville’s heritage; Corner business; Main Street intersection at Maple Street.

Figure 1–2

DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN AREA
Main St (SR 152)
Main St
Main St (SR 152)
Freedom Blvd
Walker St
Locust St
W Lake Ave E Lake Ave (SR 152)
2nd St
1st St
Maple Ave
Grant St
Elm St
W Riverside Dr (SR 129)
E Riverside Dr (SR 129)
E 5th St
E Beach St (SR 152)
Center St
E Front St
W Front St
Union St
Grove St
Rodriguez St
W Beach St
Rodriguez St
Brennan St
Sudden St
Hyde St
Western Dr
Jefferson St
Marchant St
Carr St
Walker St
W 5th St
6th St
Ford St
Kearney St
Watsonville
Plaza
Pa aj ro River
Watsonvil el S ol ugh
Radcliff
Elementary School
Transit
Center
Watsonville
Senior
Center YMCA
Cabrillo
College
Watsonville
High School
Watsonville
Public Library Post
Office
Santa Cruz
County
Superior Court
Fire
Department
Police
Station Youth
Center
Community
Dev
Dept
0 100’
200’
400’
downtown N 500’
watsonville
specific plan
D Specific Plan Boundary
Building Footprint
Parcel
Rail Line
Park/Open Space
Main St (SR 152)
Main St
Main St (SR 152)
Freedom Blvd
Walker St
Locust St
W Lake Ave E Lake Ave (SR 152)
2nd St
1st St
Maple Ave
Grant St
Elm St
W Riverside Dr (SR 129)
E Riverside Dr (SR 129
E 5th St
E Beach St (SR 152)
Center S
E Front St
W Front St
Union St
Grove St
Rodriguez St
W Beach St
Rodriguez St
Brennan St
Sudden St
Hyde St
Western Dr
Marchant St
Carr St
Walker St
W 5th St
6th St
Ford St
Kearney St
Watsonville
Plaza
Pa aj ro River
Watsonvil el S ol ugh
Radcliff
Elementary School
Transit
Center
Watsonville
Senior
Center YMCA
Cabrillo
College
Watsonville
High School
Watsonville
Public Library Post
Office
Santa Cruz
County
Superior Court
Fire
Department
Police
Station Youth
Center
Community
Dev
Dept
0 100’
200’
400’
downtown N 500’
watsonville
specific plan
D Specific Plan Boundary
Building Footprint
Parcel
Rail Line
Park/Open Space
Specific Plan Boundary
Building Footprint
Parks/ Open Space
Waterway 11 Page 1065 of 1385
12 DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN
Section 1.3

EXISTING
CONDITIONS The Specific Plan area is served by a mix of uses which include retail, commercial, civic, religious, industrial, and residential. City Hall and the Police Station, Civic Plaza with Council Chambers, Library and County Courthouse, U.S. Post Office, and Cabrillo College are the major civic and institutional anchors in the downtown. The historic City Plaza is the significant downtown public open space that supports civic and community activities. At the center of downtown is Main Street, along which many of the historic and large mixed-use buildings are located with ground-floors consisting of local retail and services while the upper levels accommodate office and residential uses. Along Walker Street, single-story industrial buildings provide employment.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, TOP TO BOTTOM—Downtown Watsonville has a wonderful foundation to build upon. From a charming Main Street, to historic buildings, to a strong civic plaza that includes City Hall, Police Station, and Fire Department.

Existing Land Use

13 CHAPTER 1—INTRODUCTION
Whereas citywide residential stock is overwhelmingly single-family (approximately two-thirds), housing stock downtown is the opposite. Roughly 60 percent of the downtown residential stock is in multifamily structures. From 2000 to 2022, the City-wide multifamily inventory has increased by 14 percent however, multifamily rents per square foot per month have increased by 42 percent making the housing stock less affordable.1 Watsonville’s downtown has seen the successful delivery of new mid-rise housing, a clear sign that denser housing may be viable at other sites in the downtown area.

There has been no office development in
downtown Watsonville since 2008, but
continued employment growth and fully
occupied existing stock hints at future
potential to incorporate more office
and employment type uses.1 The retail
industry is going through a complex
evolution and “brick and mortar” retail is
increasingly challenging, but downtown
retail is well occupied and additional
convenience retail and restaurants likely
will be market supportable as local
resident and worker populations increase.

Industry trends favor experiential retail
and featuring local food & beverage may
be a strategy for balancing uses in the
downtown while also attracting more
residents and visitors.

1. US Census Bureau, ESRI Business Analyst, California
Department of Finance, Economic & Planning
Systems, Inc
PHOTO CAPTION—The Downtown housing stock has architecturally unique singlefamily homes with heights ranging from one to three stories.

14 DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN
Demographics Trends
The Specific Plan area and the City of Watsonville have social and demographic characteristics that define a unique part of Santa Cruz County. However, the 2010-2020 population trends of the city (2.71%) show a lower rate of population change than the state (6.13%) and county (3.23%).2 By comparison to Santa Cruz County and the State of California, the city and downtown are notably younger and culturally and ethnically diverse. The younger ages of downtown and city residents also likely contribute to other socio-economic discrepancies, such as household income discussed in the next section. The city-wide population is nearly 50 percent “other race” while countywide, roughly seven in ten residents are “white alone.” The relatively high reporting of the “other race” category in Watsonville likely is attributable to Spanish-speaking residents who do not selfidentify as white alone, and thus report “other race.”3

2. California Department of Finance E-5

3. US Census Bureau, ESRI Business Analyst, Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.

Population change between 2010–2020
City of
Watsonville 2.71%

3.23%
Countywide, roughly
seven in ten residents
are “white alone.”
Citywide, 50%
of population
identify as
“other race.”

6.13%
Santa Cruz
County
State of
California

15 CHAPTER 1—INTRODUCTION
Economic Trends
The city and downtown are distinctly economically disadvantaged, with relatively low educational attainment and income levels. The median household income in downtown, at roughly $36,500, is over $24,000 lower than that citywide. And at about $61,496, citywide median household income is over $28,000 below the countywide median.4 Household income is closely related to educational attainment. Data reveals a high concentration of downtown residents (40 percent) have less than a 9th grade education. By comparison, approximately 28 percent of city residents and about 11 percent of county residents have less than a 9th grade education.5
Watsonville has enjoyed growth in non-agricultural economic sectors and remains a county-wide leader in agricultural and logistics industries. Recent job growth in Watsonville has occurred at a healthy rate, significantly outpacing population growth in recent years. The annual employment growth rate in the city over the past decade (2008-2018) was 1.2 percent, which is slightly above the statewide growth rate (1.14 percent).6 Examining the city’s employment sectors more closely, the five largest industries are fairly evenly divided. These five sectors represent approximately 13,500 positions, or 62 percent of all jobs.

Because of the rural and agricultural nature of region, the largest industry in Watsonville comprises roughly 3,200 agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting jobs. This is followed by nearly 2,900 public administration jobs and the demographically driven sectors of healthcare and retail, which, combined, account for nearly 5,300 jobs. The fifth largest sector, manufacturing, accounts for about 2,100 positions.7

4. US Census Bureau, ESRI Business Analyst

5. US Census Bureau, ESRI Business Analyst, Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.

6. California EDD, Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.

7. California Employment Development Department; Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.

Median Household Income
Percentage of Population with Less
than a 9th Grade Education
Downtown
Watsonville
Downtown
Watsonville
City of
Watsonville
City of
Watsonville
Santa Cruz
County
Citywide:
$61,496
Countywide:
$89,496
$36,500
40%
28%
11%
$61,496

16 DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN
Section 1.4

PLAN OBJECTIVES
PHOTO CAPTION—The city lights up the beloved City Plaza for the winter holidays. The annual tree lighting ceremony usually takes place the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

Downtown Watsonville is the heart of the community and the Specific Plan channels existing momentum and establishes a vision and framework that supports a high-quality of life. The goals, policies, and strategies in this Plan are grounded in the reality that no single plan for a limited geographic area can comprehensively address all the issues faced by a community. At the same time, a planning document like a Specific Plan is one of the best tools the city has available to state a vision directly and explicitly for the community and enact mechanisms to achieve it. Long-term success of the Plan will rely not only on the City and other public agencies (e.g., Caltrans) that fund and maintain public improvements and services, but also on the people who live, work, and visit downtown Watsonville. This is a plan to support a community-driven vision.

17 CHAPTER 1—INTRODUCTION
PHOTO CAPTION—The Holiday Lights
in the Plaza also activates the downtown
streets with entertainment for kids.

The Specific Plan strives to foster
higher-intensity and encourage mixeduse neighborhoods by building on the historic origins of the downtown
area, celebrating its historic buildings,
community events, and open spaces,
all while harnessing new ideas,
investment, and innovation. The
Specific Plan will knit together the
historic downtown with adjacent
industrial and residential areas
to create walkable and complete
neighborhoods with a mix of retail,
services, amenities, employment,
and residential uses that will help to
activate downtown; all day and into
the evening, seven days a week.

The Specific Plan aims to establish
a community vision, guiding
principles, policies, standards, and
a planning framework to guide how
the downtown should evolve into the
future. The Specific Plan is intended
to inform future public and private
actions relating to the Plan area’s
development to realize the
community vision.

It also provides the foundation for
the city to continue pursuing other
partners, strategies, and funding
sources for the improvements and
programs identified in the Plan.

Reinvestment, reuse and infill
development, redevelopment of
properties in the downtown area, and
strategic corridors shall be preceded
and guided by this plan.

The Specific Plan will also encourage
compact development near transit
to decrease automobile dependency,
reduce both local and regional traffic
congestion and related greenhouse
gas emissions, and provide additional
guidance and plans to increase
multimodal access to and from the
historic Downtown area.

18 DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN
Section 1.5

RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER PLANS
The Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan takes into consideration numerous interrelated existing adopted plans, policies, and regulations, at the City, regional, State, and federal levels. This Plan balances the desires and aspirations of diverse group of community members and stakeholders, as well as local and regional initiatives with competing objectives. 2005 General Plan
Per California State law, specific
plans must be internally consistent
with the jurisdiction’s general plan.

The Watsonville 2005 General Plan
(adopted 1991) regulates the land
uses in the Specific Plan area. Where
Specific Plan zoning is inconsistent
with the 2005 General Plan, the
General Plan is being updated
concurrent with this Specific Plan
to ensure consistency between the
two documents.
2030 Draft General Plan
The Draft 2030 General Plan contains
policies and guidance for downtown
Watsonville including a vision that
contains the highest densities, the
most pedestrian friendly design,
and the greatest variety of uses in
downtown in attractive infill projects.

The Draft 2030 General Plan focuses
on most intensive redevelopment on
underutilized sites while protecting
and enhancing historic properties.

The Draft 2030 General Plan also calls
for strengthening retail and cultural
destinations, broadening available
housing options, and creating a
“sense of place.” The Plan focuses on
the importance of the design of the
interface between the public and
private realms and the goal to make
pedestrian-friendly streets and urban
environments.

Zoning Ordinance
The land use and development standards
in this document supersede the land
use and development standards in the
Zoning Ordinance (Title 14 of the City’s
Municipal Code) for properties within
the Specific Plan area. Regulations
not addressed in this Plan, such as
standards for specific land uses, will still
be regulated by the Zoning Ordinance.
(See Chapter 6: Land Use & Zoning for
additional information.)
Housing Element
The current Housing Element (5th
Cycle 2015-23) is a required element
of the City’s General Plan and includes
city-wide strategies to address housing.

The 6th Cycle Element is expected to
be updated in the coming months.

The City’s Regional Housing Needs
Allocation (RHNA) for the 6th Cycle
is approximately 2,053 units, many
of which may be built in downtown
Watsonville.

19 CHAPTER 1—INTRODUCTION
Complete Streets Plan
The Downtown Complete Streets Plan
provides a vision of a multi-modal,
revitalized Downtown that is safer
and more accessible for all users and
modes of transportation, including
pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders
and motorists. The Complete Streets
Plan describes improvements that
would improve safety, provide greater
access, and add amenities for those
traveling in the Downtown. The
recommendations in the Complete
Streets Plan are superseded by the
Specific Plan provisions.

Watsonville Urban Greening Plan
The Watsonville Urban Greening Plan
was developed in 2012 to identify
and design projects that address
greenhouse gas emissions or help
residents adapt to challenges posed
climate change. The Urban Greening
Plan is composed of six key elements,
three of which are referenced in this
plan: Citywide Street Tree Program,
Landscape Guidelines and Policy, and
Green Roof Design Report & Criteria.

Watsonville Climate Action and
Adaptation Plan
The Watsonville Climate Action and
Adaptation Plan was developed in 2021
to reduce the community’s greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions below certain
targets. As the transportation sector
contributes the greatest amount of
GHG emissions, the Climate Action and
Adaptation Plan calls for implementing
a range of strategies to reduce the
number and length of vehicle trips,
including facilitating smart growth,
increasing multimodal transportation
facilities, managing better available
parking, and supporting passenger
rail service. The Specific Plan supports
these strategies through fostering
high-density, infill development near
transit, identifying pedestrian and
bicycle enhancements, and revising
parking and other development
standards to reduce the transportation
sector’s GHG contribution by reducing
single-occupant vehicle driving and
encouraging alternative modes of
transportation.

Citywide Signage and Wayfinding
Master Plan
The City of Watsonville is working to
complete and adopt a Citywide Signage
and Wayfinding Master Plan that will
define the types and design of signs,
where they should be used, located,
and what information they include.

The program will consider all modes
of transportation and will outline
a phased implementation strategy.

The plan will also provide sufficient
detail to support the manufacturing,
fabrication and installation of signage
and wayfinding in the city.

20 DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN
Section 1.6

PLAN STRUCTURE
The Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan (Specific Plan) is organized into the following chapters:

Chapter 1: Introduction sets the
stage for the rest of the document by
discussing the local context, relationship
to other planning documents, purpose of
the plan, and objectives.

Chapter 2: Downtown Vision, Goals &
Policy Direction describes the existing
context, issues and opportunities,
engagement efforts and the vision and
guiding principles to direct future
development in downtown Watsonville.

This included the physical design and
policy strategies to collectively shape the
future of the Plan area.

Chapter 3: Design Framework
provides recommendations for public
realm improvements in addition to
providing a description of the intent
and purpose for each downtown
Character Area.

Chapter 5: Public Realm
Improvements focuses on a series of
publicly accessible rights-of-ways, parks,
squares, plazas, courtyards, alleys,
paseos, and parklets and the connections
between those spaces.

Chapter 4: Mobility and
Transportation explores multimodality, the street network, street cross-sections and streetscape standards,
bicycle and pedestrian networks, and
parking and curb management.

21 CHAPTER 1—INTRODUCTION
Chapter 6: Land Use and Zoning
sets standards and guidelines to
regulate future development on
privately-owned properties in
downtown Watsonville. It establishes
standards related to allowed land use,
development intensity, height, building
frontage design, building placement,
open area, and block size. The chapter
also includes detailed guidance on
the design of ground floors, building
facades, building architecture,
landscaping character, and other
building and site design elements.

Chapter 7: Historic Preservation
explores the historic context of
downtown Watsonville and identifies
potential historic districts and
recommendations.

Chapter 8: Infrastructure frames
the infrastructure context of
downtown by identifying utility
networks and demand analysis. The
chapter includes a list of priority
infrastructure projects (including
water, sewer, and recycled water).

Chapter 9: Implementation provides
implementation actions necessary
to realize the Specific Plan vision, as
well as financing and funding tools to
implement the Specific Plan.

Appendices provides a thorough
Community Engagement Summary
(Appendix A), applicable General Plan
goals and policies(Appendix B), and
detailed information about Downtown
Historic Resources (Appendix C).

22 DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN
Chapter 2:

DOWNTOWN

VISION, GOALS &

POLICY DIRECTION

2.1—Strengths, Issues & Opportunities

2.2—Community Engagement

2.3—Downtown Vision Themes & Guiding Principles

2.4—Specific Plan Goals and Policies

23 Page 1077 of 1385
24 DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN

THE SPECIFIC PLAN WAS

PREPARED THROUGH A

PARTICIPATORY

PROCESS THAT ENGAGED

THE COMMUNITY, AND

INFORMED AND INVOLVED

THE DECISION MAKERS

THROUGHOUT THE
PLANNING PROCESS.

In keeping with the goals of the SCS
grant, the Specific Plan process also
educated the community about the
benefits of infill and improved livability
through enhanced mobility strategies.

25 CHAPTER 2—DOWNTOWN VISION, GOALS & POLICY DIRECTION
Section 2.1

STRENGTHS, ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES
PHOTO CAPTION—View of Downtown Watsonville from Civic Plaza The project was initiated through a thorough data gathering process, which included reviewing and evaluating relevant planning documents, performing an existing physical
conditions analysis of the downtown, and identifying issues and opportunities. The existing conditions analysis focused on mobility, noise, utility systems, water supply, and market trends. This phase of the project provided an initial level of understanding of the Specific Plan area and framed the direction and recommendations of the Specific Plan.

Downtown Watsonville has a great foundation to build upon, and the Specific Plan is focused on highlighting the opportunities that will lead to a more sustainable, active, healthy, and successful downtown environment. The key strengths, issues and opportunities are described in the following pages.

26 DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN
City and Downtown Identity
Watsonville is a unique community
with agriculture, wine, art, education,
and nature themes. The downtown has
charming historic and architectural
character that compliments its
vibrant potential. With gems like
the downtown plaza, murals, art,
and events (e.g., the weekly farmer’s
market), there is a distinct character
that draws people to downtown.

Watsonville is steeped in agricultural
history and heritage, with significant
ongoing economic activity and
culturally deep appreciation for
California-grown products. The
community also shares civic pride,
believes in the City’s future, and feels
a loyalty to the City and community.

The pride in Watsonville is driving
the vision for downtown through this
Plan, it aligns City and stakeholder
goals and establishes a common
understanding of the desired future
for the city center.

Downtown is, however, challenged
by the lack of cohesive identity and
functionality, density, and synergy
between residents and businesses
there is also a lack of activity necessary
to feel like a 24/7 bustling downtown.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, TOP TO
BOTTOM—Aerial view of Main Street
facing south; Agricultural fields in front
of the Santa Cruz mountains; Folklórico
dance performance at the Watsonville
Strawberry Festival

27 CHAPTER 2—DOWNTOWN VISION, GOALS & POLICY DIRECTION
Downtown Land Uses and Street Grid
Similarly, there is significant
economic promise for new businesses,
especially those that can provide
essential missing services and needs.

Downtown is endowed with civic,
educational, and institutional anchors
that generate vibrancy and provide
essential public services to the City and
region. Leveraging the downtown’s
proximity to Cabrillo College will
attract a young and educated
demographic, and recent changes to
the alcohol ordinance will introduce
new uses within the downtown,
including new cafes and restaurants.

The presence of non-profits and the
agricultural industry create unique
opportunities for community services
and creative business types (e.g.,
kitchen and retail incubators). With
its historic urban fabric and walkable
street grid, the downtown is well
positioned to evolve into a unique
regional destination that invites
visitors in and captures their interest.

The limited residential development
makes it challenging to have the
activity needed to create a 24/7
downtown environment. As the
need for housing grows across the
state, and city demands increase,
code adjustments and incentives are
needed to promote new residential
development that increases the local
resident base and supports renewed
vibrancy. Traditional retail has
struggled in downtown, and fitness
studios and personal services, or other
unique customer-oriented businesses
may be the appropriate uses for
ground-floor spaces now and moving
forward to bring more vitality to
downtown.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, TOP TO BOTTOM—Fox Theater; Mansion House; The Terrace at 445 Main Street
Downtown’s pedestrian scale, and recent beautification and streetscape improvements, have helped to make downtown more walkable. The downtown is also surrounded by neighborhoods that help to provide diverse housing options in addition to the synergy needed to keep downtown active 24/7. The downtown particularly lends itself to denser development that is suitable for a diverse mix of housing types and income levels (e.g., market rate and affordable) in addition to mixed uses and activities. The existing downtown affords a historic charm with several opportunities for adaptive reuse (e.g., Fox Theater and Mansion House).

28 DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN
Mobility and Parking
With Main Street as the commercial
spine of downtown, there is also an
opportunity to widen sidewalks, add
bike lanes, and introduce parklets
that support a walkable community.

The Main Street presents a key
opportunity to become a strengthened
commercial backbone of downtown
with streetscape enhancements,
ground floor activations, facade
enhancements, and travel lane
reductions. Additionally, converting E
Lake Avenue and E Beach Street, which
currently operate as one-way couplets,
into two-way streets could enhance
safety in the area and encourage multimodal commuting. Last, squaring off the connection between Union Street
& Alexander Street could enhance
connectivity while the vacated portion
of Union Street could provide an
expanded opportunity site for
private development.

The existing roadway network in
Downtown is not developed in a
uniform grid but features a multitude
of varying block lengths, several
curvilinear streets, and some oneway streets. The downtown roadway network accommodates local access
through State Route 152 and State
Route 129 while they also serve as
conduits of regional travel which
includes heavy truck use. Main
Street (which is partially owned by
Caltrans as State Route 152 and the
City of Watsonville) serves as a spine
of the network, distributing traffic
beyond the Plan area throughout the
city and connecting to State Route 1.

The shared ownership of Main Street
makes enhancements challenging
and requires a heightened level of
coordination to achieve improvements.

Navigating the downtown is difficult
due to its auto-centric Main Street
environment, minimal wayfinding
signage, and unresolved traffic and
congestion. Downtown retailers
also deal with constrained parking
as it remains an issue despite the
presence of public parking facilities
in the vicinity of the city center.

Similarly, pedestrian and cyclist
safety are a concern due to limited and
unconnected bike facilities, narrow
sidewalks, and the lack of streetscape
amenities needed to create an
appealing and enjoyable public realm.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, TOP TO
BOTTOM—Streetscape on Main Street
in Downtown Watsonville; Mosaic art
created through “Watsonville Brillante”
project”; Mid-block crossing connects
with a paseo to parking behind the
frontage buildings

29 CHAPTER 2—DOWNTOWN VISION, GOALS & POLICY DIRECTION
Business and Economic Environment
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT—Ortiz Store &
Deli; El Primo Produce
While downtown Watsonville is busy
during weekday business hours, it tends
to quiet significantly in the evening and
on weekends. The downtown possesses
great economic potential and is a great
place to start and grow a business,
and to make investments in new and
renovated real estate. The economic
potential is also supported by the city’s
general affordability by comparison
to the high-cost coastal California;
Watsonville offers lower cost housing
and commercial spaces. By attracting
new businesses to the downtown, the
additional daytime workers offer an
opportunity to support the evolution
of downtown and the new business
activity downtown will help enhance
the vitality of the city core.

Downtowns have suffered by the
ongoing trend in retailing toward
large-format stores and online
shopping. This will continue to be an
economic challenge for small-scale
retail businesses, and the growth of
downtown as the center of commercial
activity. Because of this, downtown
Watsonville has faced retail contraction
with the COVID pandemic accelerating
this trend. However, downtowns that
offer unique experiences, dining
choices and experiential retail are still
great places that people will want to
visit and experience.

30 DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN
Social Issues Governmental Support
The limited number of high-skill
employees living in Watsonville
has the potential to impact the city’s
desirability as it relates to existing and
potential new business. There is an
opportunity to increase Watsonville’s
labor force skillset by prioritizing
programs and services focused on the
education and training of Watsonville
employees, making the city more
desirable for business. Growth of the
downtown will also require added
efforts to enhance community safety
for residents, workers, and visitors.

There are expressed safety concerns
that stem from a lack of perceived
cleanliness and various social issues,
such as ADA compliance, homelessness,
and mental health. The increasing
societal burden of homelessness, the
presence of transient hotels, and the
perception of crime has increased
and may be affecting downtown’s
economic development potential.

Downtown also struggles with
demographic imbalances, households
are concentrated in lower income
brackets and the area lacks critical
mass of middle-class consumers to
support new retail and entertainment
uses. While economic diversity is
important, demographic, and economic
shifts are also cause for fears and
concerns related to gentrification,
displacement, and small and local
business preservation. Similarly,
polarizing politics with vocal
opposition to growth and privatesector investment may slow or deter the evolution of the downtown.

City services in Watsonville have been at the forefront of effective governance.

The Community Development Department is credited for its accessible, creative, and nimble performance processing of development applications which streamlines and facilitates the development process. This planning effort will also provide clear articulation of the City’s intentions for Downtown, establishing better clarity for investors and less subjectivity in permitting and entitlement processes.

PHOTO CAPTION—The Civic Plaza houses City Council chambers, County Courthouse and City Library

31 CHAPTER 2—DOWNTOWN VISION, GOALS & POLICY DIRECTION
Drop in to share your ideas for the vision of Downtown!

Attendees will be entered into a raffle to have a pizza from Slice delivered during the meeting!
Spanish translation will be provided.

For more information about the project visit the project website:
www.cityofwatsonville.org/1626/Downtown-Specific-Plan
Meeting link info
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan
Virtual Community Workshop
September 30, 2020
5:30 - 8:30 PM
Share your voice
Help shape Downtown Watsonville!
Section 2.2

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
PHOTO CAPTION—Opportunities for engagement were widely advertised.

Below is a flyer for the first virtual community workshop.

In 2019, the City of Watsonville started a community planning process to develop a Specific Plan for Downtown. The Specific Plan process presented a unique and important opportunity for community members to participate and share their ideas to guide Downtown’s future. A primary objective of the Plan was to accurately reflect community aspirations. The city highly prioritized having a community engagement process that was structured to provide multiple opportunities and avenues for engagement, to increase inclusion and participation in sharing input about potential Plan recommendations. This Plan has been developed with extensive input from a broad range of stakeholders which included residents, business owners, workers, property owners, Caltrans, and representatives of community organizations/associations. The Specific Plan’s cumulative engagement was a 3-year process and has led to valuable community input, which in turn, grew the visionary outcomes documented in this Plan.

32 DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN
Engagement Objectives Engagement Plan
The project team listened, informed,
and translated the community’s and
stakeholders’ viewpoints and vision by
using easily understood informational
materials that were linguistically
and culturally inclusive. The project
team regularly reported back to the
public regarding how the information
gathered would be used in the
development of the Specific Plan. The
engagement effort was an open and
transparent process, centered on key
objectives that included:
• Consistent, two-way communication
between stakeholders and the City,
• Representation from diverse
stakeholders including community
members who may not usually
participate in civic projects and
government meetings,
• Education and communication to the
public about the planning process,
• Gathering meaningful input and
feedback from the stakeholders and
the community at large to inform the
planning process,
• Alignment of the plan with
stakeholder and community needs,
• Solicitation and integration of
feedback on key issues for downtown
Watsonville, and
• Community ownership of the process
and final plan.

Project overview, Existing
conditions, Identify issues
and opportunities,
Visioning
Develop guiding
principles, Establish
plan framework (streets,
public spaces, land use)
Create land use and
mobility alternatives, Refine
plan framework and
opportunity sites
Craft design
character/development
code, housing, mobility,
parking and economic
development
Public and decision makers
to review and adopt the
Specific Plan (2)
Fall 2019
- Summer 2020

EXISTING

CONDITIONS

REVIEW &

ADOPTION
PLAN
DEVELOPMENT +

VISIONING ALTERNATIVES EIR PREPARATION
2 AC Meetings 1 AC Meetings 1 AC Meetings 4 AC Meetings 2 AC Meetings Fall 2020
- Winter 2021
Spring -
Summer 2021
Summer - Fall
2022
Fall 2021 -
Spring 2022
At the beginning of the planning process, the project team developed a Public Participation Plan that presented a “roadmap” or synopsis of the activities to be undertaken to develop the Specific Plan. The Public Participation Plan outlined the engagement strategies used to support the technical planning and environmental efforts needed to help define a clear vision for downtown Watsonville. Engagement activities occurred throughout the planning process during key phases, and included the preparation and review of:
• Identification of Key Issues, Opportunities, and Visioning, • Land Use and Multi-modal Transportation Alternatives, • Design and development direction for the Specific Plan, and • Preparation of the Specific Plan and associated Environmental Impact Report.

33 CHAPTER 2—DOWNTOWN VISION, GOALS & POLICY DIRECTION
Engagement Activities
The City of Watsonville was committed to providing meaningful community engagement opportunities throughout the process. Detailed descriptions of each meeting can be found in Appendix A, where information about meeting format, location, content, and purpose are provided. In summary, the engagement process included the following activities and events:

Project Information Webpage
The City created a dedicated project
webpage on the City of Watsonville
website. It included information about
the project, documents produced for
the project, meeting summaries, and
meeting announcements, among other
materials.

Stakeholder Meetings
Meetings were held with
representatives of a range of
community groups, business
leaders, advocacy organizations,
and community leaders early in the
engagement process to help identify
key assets and opportunities.

Advisory Committee Meetings (9)
The City formed an Advisory
Committee (AC), comprised of
approximately eighteen (18)
individuals, which were strictly
advisory and non-voting and met nine
(9) times during the planning process.

One-on-one interviews with the AC
members were also held during the
process. The AC provided input on
plan concepts, guided the engagement
process, and provided advice on
plan direction. These meetings
were publicly noticed, and Spanish
translation was provided at every
meeting. All but one of these meetings
were held virtually on the City’s Zoom
platform, making it more convenient
for the public to attend.

Community Workshops (3)
Interactive community meetings were
held three (3) times during the project.

These evening meetings were held
virtually on the City’s Zoom platform
due to public health restrictions during
the COVID-19 pandemic. Spanish
translations were provided at every
meeting. The following meetings
were held:
• Workshop #1: The first workshop
contained an overview of the
Specific Plan objectives, existing
conditions, and a visioning exercise.
• Workshop #2: This workshop
covered an overview of the final
Vision Themes and Guiding
Principles. The presentation also
covered land use recommendations,
opportunity site concepts, as well
as the proposed street and bicycle
network concepts.
• Workshop #3: The final workshop
presented the Public Draft Specific
Plan for review and feedback.

Para más información sobre el proyecto,
visite el sitio web: www.rb.gy/jcyrb4
Enlace para la reunión virtual por Zoom:
https://cityofwatsonville-org
.zoomgov.com/j/1617235499
Está cordialmente invitado a revisar con nosotros los temas finales de visión, principios y áreas de carácter, así como, los conceptos propuestos para una red de calles y bicicletas y sitios de oportunidad en el centro de la Ciudad.

También puede participar por teléfono
marcando al 1-669-254-5252 código de
acceso 161 723 5499.

Plan Específico para el Centro de Watsonville
Taller comunitario virtual
Mayo 6, 2021, 5:30 - 8:00 PM
¡Comparta su opinión!
La reunión es en inglés con
traducción al español. Puede escanear este código QR
para entrar a la reunión por teléfono.

Habrá varios sorteos durante la reunión.

Lo esperamos en la reunión para que tenga la oportunidad de ganar una tarjeta de regalo de los negocios locales del centro de la Ciudad.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, TOP TO
BOTTOM—Project webpage; Advisory
Committee Meeting on August 5, 2020;
Community Workshop on September
30, 2020; Meeting announcements
and materials were made available in
both English and Spanish to support an
equitable planning process.

34 DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN
Online Engagement + CommunityWide Surveys (3)
As a parallel process to the workshops,
the City used online surveys to engage
with and receive input from the public.

Surveys were also translated into
Spanish to ensure that all voices in
the community were heard. The topics
covered included:
• Strengths, Issues, and Opportunities
Survey (666 respondents),
• Draft Vision Themes and Guiding
Principles Feedback (100 comments
received), and
• Public Space, Character Areas,
Streetscape & Bike Network (257
respondents).

Pop up Events
In conjunction with the two online
surveys, the project team conducted
nine pop-up events at the weekly
Farmers Market at Watsonville City
Plaza to enable a broader diversity
of community members to provide
their input. The project team hosted
informational booths at each pop-up
event to answer questions, hand out
project flyers and collect paper survey
responses in English and Spanish.

Additionally, the project team spoke
with a group of Watsonville High
School students on October 28th, 2020,
about the specific plan and to receive
the students’ input on Community
Survey #1.

Additional Engagement
The project team identified additional
engagement efforts to bring attention
to the Specific Plan project, while also
soliciting feedback from a wide range
of constituents. Meetings with the
following organizations/groups were
held in addition to the foundational
engagement efforts detailed above:
• Watsonville Citizens Academy
• Empower Watsonville (PVPSA Youth
Group)
• Interagency Technical Advisory
Committee (ITAC)
• Watsonville Vision Zero Task Force
(WVZTF)
• WVZTF Working Group on Bike
Friendly Communities
• Santa Cruz County Workforce
Development Board
• Watsonville High School
• Monterey Bay Economic Partnership
(MBEP)
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT—Strengths,
issues, and opportunities survey; Popup booth at the Farmer’s Market in the Plaza; Community survey flyer
For more information about the project,
visit the project website: www.rb.gy/jcyrb4
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan
Community Survey #2
Share your voice
Share your ideas for the vision of Downtown!
Community Survey #2 is an opportunity to share
your thoughts about the future of Downtown
Watsonville. Your input and feedback will help the
City create a shared vision for the Downtown
Specific Plan.

Survey Link:

www.surveymonkey.com/r/DWSPSurvey2English
or scan this QR code with your smartphone!
Help shape Downtown Watsonville!

Vision Themes
Vitality Equity
Safety
Dignity
Preservation Innovation
35 CHAPTER 2—DOWNTOWN VISION, GOALS & POLICY DIRECTION
Section 2.3

DOWNTOWN

VISION THEMES
& GUIDING

PRINCIPLES
PHOTO CAPTION—The six vision themes for the Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan were informed by extensive community input.

As the heart of the town, and the center of life and culture, Watsonville’s downtown plays an important role in defining the city. Downtown’s vibrancy provides important amenities— attracting people to a common area, a place for festivals and celebrations, a great place to start a small business, and a lively place that is attractive to young and old alike. The success of the downtown requires focusing the most intensive redevelopment on underutilized sites while at the same time protecting and enhancing historic properties. This area can afford the highest densities, the most pedestrian friendly design, and the greatest variety of uses. It is not only a business district, but also a neighborhood. Watsonville’s downtown is envisioned to grow over time, and as such, the form and development of the downtown will be based on anticipated realities.

Downtowns are complex with
numerous physical, economic, social,
and programmatic layers – the needs
of each of which must be carefully
balanced to allow the whole place to
succeed. Developed with extensive
community input, the Vision Themes
and Guiding Principles are intended to
provide a high-level framework for the
Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan.

The Vision Themes and Guiding
Principles for the Specific Plan were
informed and created utilizing
community and stakeholder input
(See Appendix A). This input came in
the form of individual stakeholder
meetings, a community workshop,
several Advisory Committee meetings,
and a community wide survey.

The vision and guiding principles
seek to foster a cohesive downtown
as a destination, promote residential
development, afford land use flexibility,
attract business, and enhance the sense
of community safety.

36 DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN
Guiding Principles and Implementation Strategies
Preserve key elements that make
downtown unique
• Celebrate the Plaza as an authentic
gathering place and central node for
the community and foster its energy
to elevate community connections.
• Foster a sense of place through
community driven murals and
public art installations.
• Continue and build off successful
community event momentum – such
as the Farmers Market, Film Festival,
Wine Walk and Music in the Plaza.
• Promote the uniqueness and smalltown charm of the downtown as a vibrant and safe place to live, work,
and play.
• Revitalize and showcase the
beautiful historic architecture and
urban fabric in downtown.

Establish a varied choice of uses
and experiences for our diverse
community
• Identify and recruit key missing uses
that would help diversify the options
of experiences in downtown.
• Ensure downtown offers a variety
of uses and experiences that are
accessible to a range of ages, income
levels, and other socioeconomic
status.
• Build on existing uses that provide
services and support to the
community.
• Activate downtown throughout the
day and into the evening through
strategically planned uses, programs
and events that serve diverse
community needs and interests.
• Improve surrounding
neighborhoods’ connection
physically and socially to the
downtown.

Create housing opportunities for all
• Encourage housing (market rate,
affordable, and low-income) that
supports the varied socioeconomic
interests and needs of the
community.
• Increase supply and diversity of
housing to support different types of
households including young adults,
families, seniors, empty nesters,
individuals or families with special
needs, and people experiencing
homelessness.
• Revitalize vacant historic structures
into vibrant mixed-use buildings
that incorporate housing.
• Promote higher density mixeduse residential near public transportation, along Main Street,
and other main corridors.

Promote local economic prosperity
• Maintain and strengthen
downtown’s diverse business
presence supporting economic
prosperity for all.
• Attract new commercial uses – retail,
restaurants, entertainment uses,
office uses – to downtown to expand
its economic base.
• Incentivize uses that help create an
18-hour downtown and encourage
social and commercial vitality in
downtown.
• Embrace local entrepreneurship,
talent, and creativity through public/
private partnerships (Cabrillo
College, Digital Nest, etc.) and use of
available vacant space.
• Support the non-profit presence in
the downtown, leveraging positive
community connections and
attracting residents to downtown.

37 CHAPTER 2—DOWNTOWN VISION, GOALS & POLICY DIRECTION
Create a vibrant, safe, and active
downtown
• Encourage mixed use with ground
floor commercial uses and housing
above.
• Reclaim and adaptively reuse
vacant historic buildings for new,
contemporary uses that contribute to
the desired character.
• Establish architectural aesthetic
and signage guidance for downtown
businesses to adhere to - creating
a distinct and unified look in the
downtown
• Incentivize more housing to bring
more people to downtown.
• Allow outdoor dining and seating
to encourage activity and provide
additional opportunities for
community gathering.
• Establish continuous active street
frontages to encourage a successful
pedestrian environment.
• Create a complete and safe
downtown for all users with
pedestrian, bicycle, and mobility-aid
friendly focused design.
• Improve pedestrian safety and
comfort throughout the downtown
through streetscape improvements
including additional lighting, shaded
sidewalks, plantings, and other
infrastructure.

Foster a healthy, inclusive, and
culturally connected community
where all can thrive
• Promote livability regardless of age,
ethnicity, income by focusing on
community connection, needs, and
sense of belonging.
• Ensure cleanliness downtown
through the investment in cleanup programs promoting a sense of community ownership and pride.
• Foster cultural pride through
community planned programs
and events that respect and honor
Watsonville’s history.
• Embrace Watsonville’s rich cultural
history by uplifting the past through
design, art, and event programming.
• Work cooperatively with community
members to help build a sense of
belonging and ownership.

Re-imagine and innovate mobility
options and connections
• Design safe pedestrian, bicyclist, and
mobility aid facilities that invite all
users regardless of age and ability to
use and enjoy.
• Connect downtown to the future rail
trail and commuter rail improving
regional mobility.
• Focus development momentum
around downtown transit facilities
creating a complete and connected
neighborhood.

Incorporate sustainable
design elements to improve
community health
• Leverage connections to the adjacent
natural environment (Pajaro River,
sloughs, etc.) with bicycle and
walking trails.
• Bring awareness to Watsonville’s
natural environment with
educational displays.
• Consider establishing targets for
urban greening and low-impact
development (street trees, native
plantings, and increase in plant
materials, pervious paving, etc.)

38 DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN
Section 2.4

SPECIFIC PLAN GOALS AND POLICIES
PHOTO CAPTION—The historic Fox Theater, located on the corner of Main Street and Maple Avenue, is one of Santa Cruz County’s oldest movie theaters.

The goals and policies outlined in this
section set forth the framework for
realizing the vision for downtown
Watsonville, serve as guidelines for
decision making and provide direction
for the future. The goals and policies
demonstrate the intentions for the
physical development, redevelopment,
conservation, and growth of the
downtown. These policies strive
to facilitate housing production
and preservation; increase retailentertainment activity; encourage higher-density mixed-use residential
projects; add visitor-oriented uses;
support a greater range of civic
and cultural activities; improve the
safety and comfort of pedestrians;
enhance bicycle infrastructure and
connections; and target uses and
activities that appeal to a wide range of
Watsonville’s residents and employees.

These are organized in the
following topics:

1. Land Use

2. Urban Design

3. Affordable Housing and
Housing Production

4. Anti-displacement Strategies

5. Historic Preservation

6. Economic Development

7. Mobility and Parking

8. Transit

9. Infrastructure
The City’s General Plan also contains
goals and policies for the downtown.

The relevant goals and policies are
included in Appendix B.

Downtowns represent the heart of great cities. Great downtowns are commercial, cultural, and symbolic centers. They serve all residents and attract many visitors. They offer vibrant and inviting places to shop, work, live, and attend civic events. They also reveal the unique history of a place and the pride that the community has invested in it.

39 CHAPTER 2—DOWNTOWN VISION, GOALS & POLICY DIRECTION
Land Use
Goal 1
Diversify the mix of land uses
in Downtown Watsonville to
maximize its function as the
city’s vibrant and cohesive center,
while also maintaining its overall
historic scale and character.
• Policy 1.1: Mixed Use
Development. Encourage a broad
range of mixed-use development
(e.g., commercial on the ground floor,
mixed with dwelling units and/or
office on the upper floors).
• Policy 1.2: Range of Densities.

Encourage multifamily housing at
appropriate densities, both in mixed
use and stand-alone formats to bring
in more residents to Downtown
Watsonville and create an 18-hour
downtown.
• Policy 1.3: 18-hour Downtown.

Encourage new uses that bring
evening and weekend activity, such
as retail shopping and services;
food stores; restaurants and cafes;
entertainment venues; community
facilities; outdoor public spaces; and
other similar uses.
• Policy 1.4: Active Uses. Encourage
and reinforce areas of existing and
new street-activating retail and
other ground floor uses (see Chapter
6: Land Use & Zoning for details).
• Policy 1.5: Robust Retail. Attract
neighborhood and visitor serving
uses, including experiential
retail and restaurants, to increase
patronage from Watsonville
residents and the surrounding
region.
• Policy 1.6: Employment. Attract
office uses to bring additional
daytime population that further
supports restaurants and retail
and diversifies Watsonville’s
employment base.
• Policy 1.7: Opportunity Sites.

Prioritize development on the
identified opportunity sites to
catalyze revitalization in downtown.
• Policy 1.8: Priority CBD
Processing. Provide priority
development review processing for
mixed-use (residential/commercial)
projects.

PHOTO CAPTION—The City-owned right-of-way on Main Street has a landscaped median that contributes to the street environment.

40 DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN
Urban Design
Goal 2
Identify and celebrate the various
parts of Downtown in creating a
mixed-use vibrant environment.

Goal 3
Incorporate placemaking
concepts to make Downtown a
pedestrian friendly, active, and
vibrant mixed-use environment.
• Policy 2.1: Character Areas.

Recognize that different parts
of the Specific Plan area have
distinct character and should be
designed to enhance those unique
characteristics. Promote, encourage,
and increase higher levels of
infill, reuse, reinvestment, and
revitalization within each of the
Character Areas.
• Policy 2.2: Historic Core. Prioritize
new active uses, adaptive reuse, and
pedestrian improvements in the
Historic Core along Main Street and
around the Plaza.
• Policy 2.3: Varied Intensity. Allow
the highest densities and heights in
the Historic Core and Civic Core with
moderate-intensity developments
in areas adjacent to single family
neighborhoods.
• Policy 3.1: Active and Attractive
Street Wall. Create an active
continuous street wall with
buildings at the back of walk
along Main Street and other
major corridors to create a
seamless pedestrian experience.

The downtown should offer an
attractive urban environment, with
pedestrian-friendly streets and
a high level of special enclosures
created by taller buildings built close
to the street.
• Policy 3.2: Built Form. Orient the
function, shape (height and mass)
and configuration of buildings to the
street to create an urban experience.
• Policy 3.3: Gathering Spaces.

Encourage entertainment, dining,
cultural uses, and other social
gathering spaces to activate the area,
draw visitors, and serve residents
throughout the day.
• Policy 3.4: Walkable
Environment. Improve the
pedestrian experience, public space,
aesthetics, and design quality to
attract visitors, serve residents and
workers, and promote walking.

41 CHAPTER 2—DOWNTOWN VISION, GOALS & POLICY DIRECTION
Goal 4
Celebrate Watsonville’s unique
setting and resources to make
Downtown a regional attraction.
• Policy 4.1: Sense of Place. Leverage
and strengthen Watsonville’s
cultural and historic identities to
create a sense of place.
• Policy 4.2: Tourism & Cultural
Destinations. Attract more visitors
by adding cultural activities and
facilities, such as regular concerts
and museums.
• Policy 4.3: Unique Elements.

Allow and encourage public and
private buildings and development
projects that promote Watsonville’s
history, arts, and culture through
the addition of signs, distinctive
landscaping, monuments, and/
or other features that identify the
downtown as a distinct place.
• Policy 4.4: Connections to Nature.

Connect to the Watsonville Slough
and Pajaro River with bicycle
and walking trails and provide
interpretive graphics to celebrate
these unique resources.

PHOTO CAPTION—The Watsonville City Plaza is a gathering place for the community.

42 DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN
Affordable Housing and Housing Production
Goal 5
Increase the production of new
below market rate (BMR) and
market rate housing units in
downtown.

Goal 6
Leverage City resources and
funding for production of more
affordable housing in Downtown.
• Policy 5.1: Mix of Unit Types.

Encourage a range of housing
types and sizes – including small,
medium, and large residential
units, intergenerational housing,
co-housing, live-work, or other
innovative housing formats for a
variety of different household sizes,
income levels and stages of life
throughout the Plan area.
• Policy 5.2: Inclusionary Housing.

Pursue plan-wide affordable
housing production through existing
inclusionary policy and development
of all-affordable projects.
• Policy 5.3: Housing Needs.

Broaden available housing options
by identifying housing affordability
and typology gaps and providing to
developers.
• Policy 6.1: Incentives for Housing
Production. Develop new and
apply existing incentives for
affordable housing. Apply existing
city incentives (e.g., providing City
affordable housing funding such
as CDBG, Affordable Housing Fund,
etc.) to promote the development of
affordable housing in the Plan area.
• Policy 6.2: City Funding and
Expediting Processing. Encourage
100% below-market-rate housing
with City funding and collaborative,
streamlined project processing.
• Policy 6.3: Funding. Consider
innovative funding sources, tax
credit programs, and public-private
partnerships to make affordable
housing more viable in the Plan area.
• Policy 6.4: Publicly owned Sites.

Consider offering or developing
100% below-market-rate housing on
publicly owned opportunity sites.
• Policy 6.5: Fee deferrals. Provide
deferred low interest loans for
selected development impact
fees for 100% below-market-rate
housing projects.

43 CHAPTER 2—DOWNTOWN VISION, GOALS & POLICY DIRECTION
Anti-displacement Strategies
Goal 7
Pursue reinvestment in existing
affordable housing in the
downtown to stabilize existing
neighborhoods.
• Policy 7.1: Existing affordable
housing stock. Protect existing
affordable housing downtown
(older housing stock) by restricting
condominium conversions,
preserving existing SROs, instituting
replacement requirements, and
by expanding the City’s existing
Owner-Occupied and Rental Housing
Rehabilitation programs.
• Policy 7.2: Reinvestment. Partner
with non-profits and affordable
housing developers to support
acquisition of and reinvestment
in existing affordable housing
downtown.
• Policy 7.3: Education and
Outreach. Promote existing
programs among downtown
residents through outreach efforts
and educational opportunities.
• Policy 7.4: Existing City
Programs. Continue implementing
existing citywide housing programs
such as the inclusionary housing
ordinance, incentives such as
priority processing for 100%
affordable housing projects.
• Policy 7.5: Assistance Programs.

Continue to look for grant
opportunities to expand funding for
the First Time Home Buyer Program
and Down-payment Assistance
Program.

PHOTO CAPTION—Informational booth for the 2020 Census

44 DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN
Historic Preservation
Goal 8
Maintain and enhance the
historic character of the
Downtown through coordinated
planning that builds upon its key
assets and reinforces its historic
development patterns.
• Policy 8.1: Historic Identity.

Identify and protect the integrity of
the historic core around the Plaza.
• Policy 8.2: Historic Preservation.

Continue to identify, designate, and
maintain significant buildings,
homes, and landmark features.
• Policy 8.3: Street Grid. Protect and
enhance the existing fine-grained
street grid pattern in Downtown.
• Policy 8.4: Adaptive Reuse. Protect
historic structures by strongly
encouraging their adaptive reuse.
• Policy 8.5: Sensitive Infill. Use
development and design regulations
to develop sensitively designed infill
projects.
• Policy 8.6: Historic Districts.

Evaluate and designate groupings
of historic structures as historic
districts.
• Policy 8.7: Historic Ordinance.

Update the City’s historic ordinance
to reflect best practices for the
preservation and modification of
historic structures.

PHOTO CAPTION—Historical view of Main Street in Downtown Watsonville

45 CHAPTER 2—DOWNTOWN VISION, GOALS & POLICY DIRECTION
Economic Development
Goal 9
Enhance commercial activity as a
driver for downtown’s economic
vitality and growth.
• Policy 9.1: Existing Businesses.

Retain existing retail and service
businesses that serve the needs
of the community and provide
employment opportunities for
residents.
• Policy 9.2: Mix of Uses. Ensure
the continued presence of a diverse
range of retail and service uses in
the Specific Plan area, even as the
character and use mix of downtown
Watsonville change over time.
• Policy 9.3: Regional Attraction.

Encourage location of new retail,
professional, and residential uses as
well as personal services within the
downtown to serve the entire Pajaro
Valley region.
• Policy 9.4: Opportunity Sites.

Prioritize infill development
on vacant and underutilized
sites to jumpstart Downtown’s
revitalization.

PHOTO CAPTION—Produce mural at East Beach Plaza

46 DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN
Mobility and Parking
Goal 10
Provide convenient access
and circulation for all modes
of transportation, enhance
walkability and bikeability in
Downtown Watsonville.
• Policy 10.1: Complete Streets.

Design streets to provide safe and
comfortable facilities for all people
walking, biking, rolling, riding
transit, or operating motor vehicles.
• Policy 10.2: Main Street. Re-design
Main Street as a traffic calmed street
with an emphasis on active uses
and the highest levels of pedestrian
activity.
• Policy 10.3: Caltrans Facilities.

Work with Caltrans to re-imagine SR
152 to function as a Downtown Street
with priority given to pedestrians and
destination traffic.
• Policy 10.4: Truck Route. Consider
removing the truck route designation
from SR-152 within Downtown.
• Policy 10.5: Bicycle Network.

Provide a connected network of bike
facilities within the Specific Plan area
and connect to existing and planned
regional bike trails including the
Pajaro River Levee Path, Watsonville
Slough Trail, and the Monterey Bay
Scenic Sanctuary Trail.
• Policy 10.6: Bicycle Facilities.

Require bike repair stations at key
public locations and bicycle parking to
make bicycle usage more convenient.
• Policy 10.7: Pedestrian
Improvements. Improve pedestrian
facilities to improve safe and efficient
pedestrian circulation in Downtown
including upgraded crosswalks,
curb extensions, midblock crossings,
paseos, and ADA accessible facilities.
• Policy 10.8: Travel Demand
Management. Increase the
availability of mobility options to
access and travel within the Specific
Plan area without driving alone and
reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT)
associated with new development.

Goal 11
Provide an efficient parking
strategy to manage parking
demand and supply in
Downtown.
• Policy 11.1: Parking Management.

Effectively manage parking to
accommodate demand through
increased utilization of existing
supply.
• Policy 11.2: Shared Parking.

Eliminate barriers to development
by reducing requirements for onsite parking through use of shared parking.
• Policy 11.3: Parking Minimums.

Reduce parking requirements to
increase housing affordability and
reduce construction costs.
• Policy 11.4: Parking District
Expansion. Expand the boundaries
of the existing Downtown Parking
District to match the Specific Plan
boundary.
• Policy 11.5: Curb Management.

Effectively manage competing
priorities for curb space to safely
accommodate active travelers,
passenger pick-up/drop-offs, and
deliveries.

47 CHAPTER 2—DOWNTOWN VISION, GOALS & POLICY DIRECTION
Transit Infrastructure
Goal 12
Leverage and support existing transit services to realize Downtown’s potential to become a multi-modal mixed-use district.

Goal 13
Ensure that the infrastructure in place is adequate to meet the needs of residents and businesses in Downtown Watsonville.
• Policy 12.1: Transit Center.

Capitalize on the presence and
function of the Transit Center at
Rodriguez Street by improving
pedestrian connectivity to the rest of
downtown.
• Policy 12.2: Historic Transit
Station. Work with the appropriate
agencies to establish a transit station
at the historic Watsonville Railroad
Depot and improve connections to the
rest of Downtown.
• Policy 13.1: Water Demand.

Evaluate demand for water use
and estimate needed upgrades to
ensure adequate water supply for the
anticipated amount of development.
• Policy 13.2: Sanitary Sewer.

Identify any needed upgrades
to ensure adequate wastewater
removal.
• Policy 13.3: Stormwater Quality.

Minimize impacts to stormwater
quality in a manner that improves
water quality by following City
of Watsonville’s Stormwater Post
Construction requirements.
• Policy 13.4: Urban Sustainability
Area. Consider pursuing approval
of an Urban Sustainability Area
designation from the Central Coast
Regional Water Quality Control Board.
• Policy 13.5: View Corridors.

Minimize the impact of utilities on
view corridors by undergrounding
utilities as infill projects are
developed.

PHOTO CAPTION—Santa Cruz METRO Bus

48 DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN
Chapter 3:

DESIGN

FRAMEWORK

3.1—Introduction

3.2—Design Framework

3.3—Character Areas

3.4—Growth Projections for the Specific Plan Area

49 Page 1103 of 1385
50 DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN

DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE

ALREADY HAS THE FOUNDATION
FOR A GREAT CITY CENTER.

ITS HISTORIC BUILDINGS, SMALL

SHOPS, URBAN STREETS,

AND PLAZA MAKE IT A

MEMORABLE AND
PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY PLACE.

51 CHAPTER 3—DESIGN FRAMEWORK
Section 3.1

INTRODUCTION
PHOTO CAPTION—Watsonville Civic Plaza At the same time, there are many promising opportunities to build upon downtown’s attractive features. The downtown also has vacant lots and nondescript low-rise buildings that, over time, might be replaced with urban uses that can contribute to the area’s vitality. The Specific Plan presents an extraordinary urban design opportunity to create a unique sense of place by building on these existing elements, as well as highlighting the historic character and architectural features of the area.

The goal of the Design Framework is
to develop the Plan area holistically,
as a system of spaces, structures,
and environments integrated into its
surroundings rather than as linear
strips of unrelated buildings and
undefined streetscapes.

A clear framework with a strong
sense of place provides visitors and
residents with an understanding of
how to find their way around easily
and safely and to efficiently identify
uses and activities. Arrangement
of land uses into identifiable nodes,
improved streetscapes, connected
courtyards and open spaces, and
enhanced landmarks and features will
help make Downtown Watsonville an
accessible, distinctive, and cohesive
identity.

52 DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN
Section 3.2

DESIGN FRAMEWORK
The Design Framework, as illustrated in Figure 3–1, sets PHOTO CAPTION—Aerial view of Watsonville City Plaza forth the overall urban design approach that will achieve the Specific Plan’s goal of transforming the area into an active, vibrant downtown. The urban design approach is based on the major strategies, or “big ideas,” identified by the community during the development of the Specific Plan. Each of these strategies is intended to support the implementation of the Downtown vision with the creation of new housing, jobs, and improvements to transportation and public spaces for residents and businesses in the downtown.

These big ideas or strategies are:
• Retain downtown’s charming
historic architecture and
character
• Build on and extend downtown’s
walkable scale
• Activate downtown with
new uses, special events and
programming
• Provide improvements to the
public realm–streetscape, public
art, murals
• Re-imagine Main Street right-ofway to address traffic calming and walkability goals
• Provide more housing choices and
maintain affordability
• Improve bicycle and pedestrian
connectivity and safety
• Address traffic speed and
congestion concerns
The Design Framework recognizes that
the Plaza is the focus of the Downtown
and the area immediately surrounding
it should have the most prominence
in terms of activity, building intensity
and priority. This area (see Historic
Downtown Core character area in
the next section) will be the focus
of changes to the street network
with traffic calming and “road diet”
on Main Street, as well as several
placemaking elements to improve the
pedestrian experience. Adaptive reuse
of historic buildings and new mixeduse infill with new ground floor active storefronts will create an active street
frontage. Parklets, sidewalk extensions
and street amenities including highquality furniture and street lighting will contribute to the desired sense of
place. A palette of carefully selected
street trees will unify the variety of
existing and future land uses in the
Plan area.

The Design Framework also considers
the desired land use vision for other
parts of downtown. This vision is
described in the next section that
describes the identified character
areas. Along with the vision for the
character areas, the design concepts
for opportunity sites, and the bicycle
network recommendations together
also inform the design framework.

Design Framework
Opportunity Site
Gateway
Streetscape Improvements Active Frontages
Historic Core
Pedestrian Environment (Priority)
Activity Node
Paseos
Main St
Main St
Main St
Freedom Blvd
Walker St
Locust St
W Lake Ave E Lake Ave
2nd St Maple Ave
Grant St
Elm St
W Riverside Dr
E Riverside Dr
E 5th St
E Beach St
Center St
E Front St
W Front St
Union St
Grove St
Rodriguez St
W Beach St
Rodriguez St
Brennan St
Sudden St
Hyde St
Western Dr
Jefferson St
Marchant St
Carr St
Walker St
W
Riverside
Dr
W 5th St
6th St
Ford St
Kearney St
Watsonville
Plaza
Pa aj ro River
Watsonvil el S ol ugh
0 100’
200’
400’
downtown N 500’
watsonville
specific plan
D
Design Framework
Opportunity Site
Gateway
Streetscape Improvements Active Frontages
Historic Core
Pedestrian Environment (Priority)
Activity Node
Paseos
Main St
Main St
Main St
Freedom Blvd
Walker St
Locust St
W Lake Ave E Lake Ave
2nd St Maple Ave
Grant St
Elm St
W Riverside Dr
E Riverside
E 5th St
E Beach St
Cen
E Front St
W Front St
Union St
Grove St
Rodriguez St
W Beach St
Rodriguez St
Brennan St
Sudden St
Hyde St
Western Dr
Marchant St
Carr St
Walker St
W
Riverside
Dr
W 5th St
6th St
Ford St
Kearney St
Watsonville
Plaza
Pa aj ro River
Watsonvil el S ol ugh
0 100’
200’
400’
downtown N 500’
watsonville
specific plan
D Design Framework
Opportunity Site
Gateway
Streetscape Improvements Active Frontages
Historic Core
Pedestrian Environment (Priority)
Activity Node
Paseos
Main St
Main St
Main St
Freedom Blvd
Walker St
Locust St
W Lake Ave E Lake Ave
2nd St Maple Ave
Grant St
Elm St
W Riverside Dr
E Riverside Dr
E 5th St
E Beach St
Center St
E Front St
W Front St
Union St
Grove St Rodriguez St
W Beach St
Rodriguez St
Brennan St
Sudden St
Hyde St
Western Dr
Jefferson St Marchant St
Carr St
Walker St
W Riverside Dr
W 5th St
6th St
Ford St
Kearney St
Watsonville Plaza
Pa aj ro River
Watsonvil el S ol ugh
0 100’
200’
400’
downtown N 500’
watsonville
specific plan
D
Celebrate the
historic Watsonville
Plaza as a major
activity node
Provide streetscape
improvements on
Downtown streets
Use gateways and
wayfinding signage
to mark arrival in
Downtown
Recognize the Historic Core as the
heart of Downtown Watsonville; focus
revitalization efforts here and expand to
other areas over time
Prioritize a pedestrian environment
with a road diet on Main Street and
restoration of two-way traffic on E.

Lake Avenue and E. Beach Street
Catalyze downtown revitalization
with development on the
identified opportunity sites
Continue active ground-floor uses and
building design along Main Street and other
identified frontages to reinforce an active
pedestrian environment
53 Figure 3–1
DESIGN

FRAMEWORK
Specific Plan Boundary
Parks/ Open Space
Building Footprint
Rail Line
Paseos
Activity Node
Gateway
5 Active Frontages
7 7
6 5
4 3
2 1
Opportunity Site
Historic Core
Pedestrian Environment (Priority)
2 6 Streetscape Improvements
4 3
1 3
2

54 DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN
Section 3.3

CHARACTER AREAS
TOP TO BOTTOM—Main Street streetscape; Fox Theater in Downtown Watsonville
Different parts of the Plan area have varied and distinct use and form characteristics which should be recognized and enhanced as the Plan area redevelops. Each of these subareas or “character areas” define the identity and “look and feel” of each area within downtown, the attributes that make each of these places distinct and unique, fostering a sense of place with consistent urban design.

Character Areas establish a framework that each one is developed with an appropriate mix of land uses, activities, public open spaces, and amenities, as these are the building blocks for a complete neighborhood.

There are eight-character areas within
the Specific Plan: Historic Downtown
Core, Civic Core, Gateway, East
Neighborhood, West Neighborhood,
Workplace/Industrial, Commercial
Flex, and Residential Flex. Figure
3–2: Character Areas illustrates the
boundaries of the character areas
within downtown.

For each of the character areas, this
section provides a more focused
vision, defines the desired urban
design characteristics, and provides
guidance for the land use mix. Each
character area contains strategies
and priorities to implement the vision
for downtown Watsonville, and to
create a unified sense of place and
address land use compatibility. This
section provides high-level guidance
on vision, use, placemaking strategies,
and opportunity sites within each
area. Chapter 6: Land Use & Zoning
prescribes development and design
regulations for all construction within
the Plan area.

E 5th St
Brennan St
Carr St
W Beach St
East
Neighborhood
Historic
Downtown Core
Civic
Core
Commercial
Flex
Residential Flex
Workplace/Industrial
Gateway
Commercial
Flex
West
Neighborhood
Character Areas
Specific Plan Boundary
Building Footprint
Parcel
Rail Line
Historic Downtown Core
Civic Core
Gateway
East Neighborhood
West Neighborhood
Workplace/Industrial
Commercial Flex
Residential Flex
Park/Open Space
Waterway
Main St
Main St
Main St
Freedom Blvd
Walker St
Locust St
W Lake Ave E Lake Ave
2nd St Maple Ave
Grant St
Elm St
W Riverside Dr
E Riverside
E Beach St
Cent
E Front St
W Front St
Union St
Grove St
Rodriguez St
Rodriguez St
Sudden St
Hyde St
Western Dr
Marchant St
Walker St
W
Riverside
Dr
W 5th St
6th St
Ford St
Kearney St
Watsonville
Plaza
Pa aj ro River
Watsonvil el S ol ugh
0 100’
200’
400’
downtown N 500’
watsonville
specific plan
D Historic Downtown Core East Neighborhood
Civic Core West Neighborhood
Gateway Commercial Flex
Workplace/ Industrial Residential Flex
E 5th St
Brennan St
Carr St
W Beach St
East
Neighborhood
Historic
Downtown Core
Civic
Core
Commercial
Flex
Residential Flex
Workplace/Industrial
Gateway
Commercial
Flex
West
Neighborhood
Character Areas
Specific Plan Boundary
Building Footprint
Parcel
Rail Line
Historic Downtown Core
Civic Core
Gateway
East Neighborhood
West Neighborhood
Workplace/Industrial
Commercial Flex
Residential Flex
Park/Open Space
Waterway
Main St
Main St
Main St
Freedom Blvd
Walker St
Locust St
W Lake Ave E Lake Ave
2nd St Maple Ave
Grant St
Elm St
W Riverside Dr
E Riverside Dr
E Beach St
Center St
E Front St
W Front St
Union St
Grove St
Rodriguez St
Rodriguez St
Sudden St
Hyde St
Western Dr
Jefferson St
Marchant St
Walker St
W
Riverside
Dr
W 5th St
6th St
Ford St
Kearney St
Watsonville
Plaza
Pa aj ro River
Watsonvil el S ol ugh
0 100’
200’
400’
downtown N 500’
watsonville
specific plan
D Specific Plan Boundary
Waterway
55 Figure 3–2

CHARACTER AREAS