Mid April - Fullerton Observer

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Page 10 FULLERTON OBSERVER MEETING REPORTS MID APRIL 2013 Downtown Core & Corridor Report First Community Meeting Kicks off Planning Effort for Downtown Core and Corridors Specific Plan (DCCSP) by Jane Rands More than two years after Fullerton won a $1 million grant from the state’s Strategic Growth Council to fund a specific plan for downtown Fullerton and connecting arterials, the first community meeting was held at the First Christian Church next to the Museum Center Plaza on April 11. The meeting was facilitated by Erik Justesen, a landscape architect and president and CEO of RRM Design Group. RRM was selected from among 20 applicant design consulting firms by a 17 member evaluation committee in April of 2011. Since that time, the city had been awaiting approval from the state to use an additional $600,000 of former Redevelopment Agency funds to begin the planning process. Twenty-five people participated in the meeting including a contingent representing the Woodcrest neighborhood which lies within a portion of the plan area along Orangethorpe between Euclid and Harbor. Habitat for Humanity of OC manager, Alex Obsborne, had organized and identified community leaders within the Woodcrest neighborhood to participate in the DCCSP process. To ensure their full participation at the meeting, he provided Spanish language translation. The Request for Qualifications document to which the planning consultants responded in 2011 states, “The current zoning standards for properties within the area will likely need to be updated to allow and encourage compact, urban development patterns that are contextually appropriate to Fullerton.” Whether and how much this initial vision will be implemented will be decided by the community. Mr. Justesen explained that the DCCSP is intended to be the community's vision of what the area should look like or function like in the future. The grant includes an outreach component to residents and business owners. He said that the plan “represents the primary areas of commerce, non-residential commercial and office.” The plan area includes Commonwealth, Chapman, Harbor, and Euclid corridors and all the major intersections along Orangethorpe from Magnolia to Harbor. (map on page 11) Fullerton Planning Manager The second phase will be "visioning" to imagine "our ideal vision of the future." Heather Allen described the plan as an “opportunity for change.” She said that they want to work with the community to find different uses for “under-utilized areas” and ways to better connect neighborhoods to commercial areas, parks, and schools by all modes of transportation. Mr. Justesen presented the three phase planning effort, beginning with brainstorming and issue identification. The second phase will be "visioning" to imagine "our ideal vision of the future." He explained that this would be an interative process in which input gathered at one meeting would be brought back to the next to show how input is being incorporated into the resulting plan. The third phase will complete the process with an implementation program that includes zoning, design standards, sustainability programs, and creation of a Specific Plan, according to the grant proposal documents submitted by the city. For the Phase one exercise, participants were handed colored pens and invited to identify geographic areas and give suggestions to the planners. Super-sized note sheets titled, “essence, identity, circulation, public spaces, change, and miscellaneous” were posted on the walls. Giant maps of the plan area were taped to tables. In addition to the in-person meetings, Fullertonians may express their ideas via the MindMixer website, www.FullertonPlanningForum.com. After creating a account using any email address, Facebook, LinkedIn or a Google account, participants can communicate ideas through polls, questionnaires, posting ideas, or comment on other people's ideas. Next Meeting & Committee Applications The next meeting will be a Downtown Planning Advisory Committee (DPAC) meeting on May 9 at the Community Center. Applications for the DPAC are due April 22. Contact Heather Allen, Fullerton Planning Manager at 714- 738-6884, or via email at HeatherA@ci.fullerton.ca.us to receive an application. (also see frontpage story) Parks & Rec Commission Orders Study of Muckenthaler Expansion Plan by Carolyn Druiff On April 8, the Parks and Recreation Commission met for a second time to review and give its recommendation regarding the proposed Muckenthaler Master Plan. At the Commission's earlier meeting, held March 11, Muckenthaler director, Zoot Velasco, gave a detailed presentation of the plan and a timeline for construction (see page 2 of Mid-February Observer at www.fullertonobserver.com). Chairman Van Gorden stated the Commission needed time to study the plan and scheduled the followup April 8 meeting. At the meeting on April 8, the Commission called for a feasibility study with public input. Chairman Van Gorden said more information about "the wants and needs of the community" regarding the Muckenthaler should be gathered before sending this Plan before the City Council. City staff and Muckenthaler, he said, should work together to meet with surrounding residents to discuss "the pros and cons" of the Plan. Residents of the area bordered by Euclid and Stephens, east to west; and Fern to Chapman, north to south, will be notified by postcard of meeting times and dates. Typically, two or three large meetings are held during such studies. Though the Commission had already stated the need for further study and was ready 1-Day Local Trash Workers Strike On Tuesday, April 9, over 400 workers at Republic’s Anaheim facility refused to cross picket lines in support of a strike that began at Republic’s landfill in Ohio on March 27 and spread across the US. As a result there was no residential trash pick up services on Tuesday in the cities of Fullerton, Anaheim, Brea, Chino Hills, Garden Grove, Placentia, Yorba Linda and Villa Park. Republic Services is the parent of MG Disposal. According to the union, although Republic/Allied earned profits of more than $572 million in 2012, it is squeezing workers out of pay, ignoring health and safety protections, raising their health care costs, and cutting retirement benefits. "Sanitation work is the 4th most dangerous job in the country," said Robert Morales, director of the Teamsters Solid Waste, Recycling and Related Industries division. "These workers are twice as likely to be killed on the job than police officers, and seven times more likely to be to move to the next item on the agenda, people attending the meeting were given three minutes to express their support or displeasure with the Plan. In support were those who praised Muckenthaler's programs in art, music and dance and Zoot's outreach into the Fullerton community. Those against the project expressed concern about potential problems with Grasscrete and added traffic and noise, and existing problems with excessive noise from weddings held on Muckenthaler grounds. Muckenthaler staff responded that the Plan's new construction would reduce noise by moving weddings indoors, and that revenue from the weddings provided funds needed to run its programs. Without revenue and more space, said staff, the Muckenthaler could not continue its mission of providing programs and events and art gallery shows. Muckenthaler director Zoot Velasco said there had already been meetings with residents to get their input. He said the timeline for the project is very important and the study being requested would delay it even further. Nevertheless, the Commission voted unanimously to begin the feasibility study as soon as possible. A date for the next meeting will be set when the study is completed. killed on the job than firefighters. Yet for more than a year now, Republic has been trying to squeeze every last cent out of its workers." Demonstrating the depth of the divide, Ron Krall, Republic Services region president, said in a prepared statement, “For unknown reasons, the local union elected to picket.” MG Disposal stated that the company would be picking accumulated trash on Saturday before the next regular Tuesday collection for anyone with bins out by 7am. For those who did not get the message in time, the company will pick up all trash from bins and any trash in plastic bags set next to bins on the regular Tuesday, April 16th pick up day also. Updates on the strike issue from each side are available by going to www.facebook.com/RepublicServicesTeamst ers for the union’s view or DisposalServices.net for Republic Services view. Airport Tower Emergency Item continued from page 4 nent. City Manager Felz said that the city had worked directly with Senator Ed Royce who said that the cuts may be partially restored in the future. Mayor Protem Chaffee and Councilmember Flory were concerned about the liability to the city during the extension period. Felz said that it was his understanding that liability would remain with the FAA but that would need to be confirmed. Councilmember Flory said she was for the extension if approval could be contingent on the liability remaining with the FAA. “One accident would be a disaster if the city were liable.” She said that Royce’s letter to the FAA beautifully laid out the reasons that the tower should not be included in the cuts. Mayor Bruce Whitaker agreed and said that the city needed to include the cost in a budget item. Mayor Protem Chaffee added that if we don’t go for the extension it will create a gap which may keep a renewal of funding by FAA from happening. The council voted unanimously to fund the extension.
MID APRIL 2013 Fullerton Downtown Core & Corridors Specific Plan Study Areas guide how new uses and construction may be compatible with valued historic character. Concerns related to street improvements and conditions, pedestrian access and parking have been voiced in the past, and the specific plan process will be an opportunity for residents, businesses and property owners to set priorities and communicate needs, concerns and improvements they would like to see. The entry corridors to the city reflect unique and independent elements of the community. Representation is being sought from folks within the study area and the surrounding neighborhoods to ensure that the plan is reflective of the desires of the specific neighborhoods as well as determining how to tie neighborhoods together and create continuity throughout the city. Public engagement is an important foundation for this planning effort and the community is encouraged to participate in a variety of ways. Residents and business owners should participate in this process if interested in: Better landscaping, lighting, sidewalks. Thriving stores, restaurants, businesses. Connections to neighborhoods. Enhanced city gateways Improved public spaces. What re-investment will look like. Helping shape the vision An advisory panel for this effort is being formed to shape the vision and content of the plan, and applications are currently available. The Downtown Core and DEVELOPMENT PLANNING NEWS COMMONWEALTH AVE ORANGETHORPE AVE Fullerton Downtown Core & Corridors Specific Plan Study Area: This map shows the plan study areas. All residents in and around the study area are invited and encouraged to participate in the planning process. What Do You Want Your Town to Be Like? FullertonPlanningForum.com continued from frontpage Corridors Specific Plan Advisory Committee (DPAC for short) will consist of approximately 20 community members representing a range of interests and neighborhoods. Approximately ten DPAC meetings are planned throughout the project process, with additional opportunities for the community to participate including over five community workshops. Everyone is invited to participate including Fullerton’s growing and changing population of Latino community members, Korean community members, seniors and students. This work effort is aimed at involving all facets of Fullerton so the resulting plan is reflective of the needs and vision of the community as a whole. Attending meetings is one way to participate, going online to provide comments and keep abreast of project progress is also encouraged at FullertonPlanningForum.com. This online forum provides the opportunity to submit ideas, comment on recommendations, and keep abreast of project progress. The interactive website serves not only the Downtown Core and Corridors project, but also related concurrent planning efforts including the College Town Specific Plan and College Connector Study. For more information, please visit this website or contact Heather Allen, AICP, City of Fullerton Planning Manager, at HeatherA@ci.fullerton.ca.us. CHAPMAN AVE HARBOR BLVD. FULLERTON OBSERVER Page 11 BOOK REVIEW by David Spargur Ever been to another city with a vibrant downtown? One full of pedestrians, inviting restaurants, with a people-scaled, comfortable vibe? A place that made you want to hang out and watch the scene - perhaps in a sidewalk cafe, or on a bench in a park or plaza? Fullerton has wonderful spaces, but I have found myself occasionally thinking that, compared to some downtowns, we have so much unfulfilled potential in achieving a more comfortable community aura. But that is easier said than done - how does one even begin to create an environment like this? Well, after first offering the disclaimer that I have zero background in city planning, I can say that I discovered a book that at least made me feel I could design a city like this. Frankly, it is so full of insights and how-tos that I wish everyone involved in Fullerton community planning had this book. It is titled “A Pattern Language - Towns * Buildings * Construction”, by Christopher Alexander, Sara Ishikawa, and Murray Silverstein. (Oxford University Press) It is written as a series of short vignettes (that the authors call “patterns”), each describing a concept that, like elements of a language, build on each other. There are over 250 “patterns”, and they are presented ordered in descending scale - applying first to towns, buildings, and finally, homes. A pattern might link to a larger one and in turn be referenced by a more specific one: for example, “Accessible Green” links up to “Identifiable Neighborhoods” and “Work Community” and also links down to smaller patterns: “Outdoor Space,” “Tree Places,” and “Garden Wall.” Some of my favorite patterns include “Small Public Squares,” “Dancing in the Streets,” “Children’s Home,” “Four Story Limit,” “Teenage Society,” and “Old People Everywhere.” “A PATTERN LANGUAGE”: Designing a City, Neighborhood or Home ...I have zero background in city planning, but... I discovered a book that makes me feel I could design a city. STATE COLLEGE BLVD. The book isn’t just a series of essays - it presents a formula for solving your particular project - selecting patterns from toplevel down to specifics, and then implementing them. But the book is also fascinating just browsing the ideas - it is amus- ingly and informally written, and will give you a continuous stream of insights and inspirations. Here is an excerpt from “Pedestrian Density” on the “liveliness” of a plaza: “. . . factors such as the nature of the land around the edge, the grouping of people, what the people are doing - obviously contributes greatly . . . A small group attracted to a couple of folk singers in a plaza give much more life to a place than the same number of sunning on the grass” Here is another from “Stair Seats”: “Whenever there is action in a place, the spots that are most inviting are those high enough to give people a vantage point, and low enough to put them in the action . . . In any public place where people loiter, add a few steps at the edge where stairs come down or where there is a change in level. Make these raised areas immediately accessible from below, so that people may congregate and watch the goings-on.” Being more of a home planner than a city planner, the book has been inspiring to me and my wife with patterns like “Sitting Wall,” “Raised Flowers,” “Pools of Light,” and “Front Door Bench.” At well over a thousand pages, the book is comprehensive in its scope, and the price is reasonable. Although first published in 1977, the concepts are as timeless as Rome’s Spanish Steps, and the book is a #1 best seller in Amazon’s Architectural Criticism category. So I encourage you to check out this book, and start designing your own better living environment. And I especially encourage everyone interested in or tasked with molding Fullerton’s environment to read it as well.
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