Downtown Specific Plan - Part 1 - City of Brawley

Brawley Downtown Specific Plan
3.2 specific Plan Goals
The Brawley Downtown Specific Plan has aligned its goals with the four (4)
Southern California Association of Government’s (SCAG) Compass Blueprint
principles of livability, mobility, prosperity and sustainability. All revitalization
efforts are encouraged to embrace and embody these principles.
Livability
The Downtown Overlay District (DOD) allows for mixed use and increased
residential density, two land use changes that typically spark renewed interest
in redevelopment project areas. This Specific Plan encourages property
owners to re-purpose existing vacant and underutilized properties as mixeduse
(retail and office), live/work and recreational uses, thereby eliminating
blight and facilitating the re-birth of Downtown. Encouraging the retention,
expansion and recruitment of office professional and medical uses compatible
with the existing City and County uses will also elevate the livability index
of Downtown for prospective residents. Downtown will become the
concentrated “live, work and play” lifestyle center within the City.
Mobility
With Caltrans’ relinquishment of Downtown Brawley’s Main Street,
concurrent with completion of the Brawley Bypass, positive circulation
changes will occur in Downtown and other areas in the City. Main Street
will no longer be saturated with ominous semi-trucks and unsafe pedestrian
crossings. Instead, Downtown will revert back to a walkable and bikable
community offering convenient vehicular parking areas along Main Street
and within consolidated parking lots at the rear of businesses. The alleys
that exist within Downtown’s strong street grid network will be activated by
the addition of rear business entrances, new pedestrian paseos, parking lot
lighting, climate appropriate landscaping, trash enclosure improvements, and
the undergrounding of overhead utility lines. From a regional perspective, the
new bus depot adjacent to Plaza Park will provide opportunities to access
Downtown using public transportation, and the multi-purpose trail along the
railroad will connect to neighboring areas of the City.
3-
Prosperity
The success of Downtown Brawley’s redevelopment will rely most on
the unification of residents, business merchants, local organizations, and
city representatives. Through efforts to assemble land and create new
development opportunities, rehabilitate existing Main Street storefront
facades, retrofit of un-reinforced masonry buildings, and engage crowds
at frequent community events, Downtown Brawley will emerge from this
economic downtown as “the place to be” within the Imperial Valley. Small
businesses will benefit from the enhanced presence of civic uses, increased
residential and new bus depot, while residents will benefit from the
employment opportunities, variety of vibrant destination amenities, lively
activities and general ambience. The synergy of these activities will generate
a newfound “sense of identity” and community pride, as well as prove
economically prosperous for the City of Brawley.
Sustainability
Downtown Brawley is rich in parks and historic treasures. This Specific
Plan calls for the preservation and enhancement of existing open space, as
well as the integration of public gathering plazas in all new developments.
Public space is important in bringing the community together for events
such as farmers markets, during which fresh fruits and vegetables can be
sold. The proposed multi-purpose trail connection along the railroad is yet
another opportunity to expand the recreational opportunities for Brawley
residents. From a health perspective, it can include exercise stations and
from an environmental perspective, it can boast of climate-sensitive, waterefficient
and low maintenance cost plants. Most importantly, revitalization
of Downtown encourages infill development that improves existing
infrastructure. Infill is a sustainable alternative to suburban development
that occurs at the outskirts of many cities and consumes agricultural lands or
natural habitat and open space.