City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Culver City City Council (“Council”) conduct a public workshop for the
Washington National Specific Plan Area.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
On January 17, 2006, the City Council and Culver City Redevelopment Agency
authorized the preparation of a Specific Plan and supporting California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) assessment for the Washington/National area.
The goal of this specific plan is to adopt development standards in order to facilitate
and coordinate development of the target areas. An adopted Specific Plan would
facilitate the development entitlement process and attract investment into a
redevelopment project area. The Specific Plan would also provide integrated,
complementary development of adjacent parcels within the Plan area, which is a
critical consideration at the major intersection of Washington and National
Boulevards. Some aspects of the Specific Plan would include bike paths,
landscaping, massing, and circulation and retail components.
On March 25, a public workshop was held to introduce the Specific Plan process.
More than 100 people attended the workshop which included a general session as
well as six breakout groups. Each group reviewed a “game board” and was required
to develop a “plan” for the area. Initial ideas and recommendations for this plan
were then shared with the entire session. Notes from each break-out group have
been attached. (Exhibit A)
Meeting Date: April 29, 2006 Item Number: A-1
AGENDA ITEM: Public Workshop for the Specific Plan for Washington National
Area.
Contact Person/Dept.: Susan Yun Phone Number: 310.253.5755
Fiscal Impact: Yes [ ] No [X ] General Fund: Yes [ ] No [X]
Public Hearing: [ ] Consent Item: [ ] Action Item: [X ] Attachments: [ ]
Public Notification: Postcard Notification to 3,500 residents, developers, property
owners and business owners within or adjacent to the Specific Plan Area (04/17/06);
Master Notification List (04/26/06); Advertisement in Culver City News (04/27/06)
Department Approval:
Susan Evans (04/27/04)
CAO Approval: Martin R. Cole for Jerry
B. Fulwood (04/27/06)
City Controller Approval: City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
The workshop on April 29
th
will follow a similar format and will address the concepts
already presented and continue the discussion of all elements of the Specific Plan to
include circulation, land use, open space and design.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
No Fiscal Impact at this time.
MOTION:
That the Culver City City Council receive and file comments and feedback generated
at the public Workshop.
MEETING DATE: April 29, 2006
AGENDA ITEM: Public Workshop for the Specific Plan for Washington
National Area
ATTACHMENTS
Pages
Notes from March 25, 2006 Public Workshop
1-9JOHNSON FAIN
NOTES: GROUP I
3/25/06
The happiest people in Culver are those who can walk their neighborhood
Sufficient-convenient parking is key
More walkable cafes-restaurants
Local walkable businesses a plus
Great resources:
Connection opportunity along Ballona Creek
Private schools
Syd Kronenthal Park
Le Dijonnaise/Beacon great
4 Corners is an asset
3-4 private schools-no public
A 40,000 SF whole foods or a farmers market (as in Fairfax-3 rd) would be great but may cause
traffic problems
Solve parking issue before development
Place parking near the freeway or triangle site
40,000SF neighborhood style retail along Southside of Washington
Wild Card: 40,000SF retail on triangle
Incorporating retail-open space on triangle site
What will happen to existing businesses?
Bookstore!
New development possible along East Washington of specific plan area
OS and connection:
Greenspace connections with Kenneth Hahn Park
Want Pedestrian friendly
There should be pedestrian access from east Culver City neighborhood to other side of
National
Should be pedestrian —bike along National and retail at east end of National
Should be pedestrian —bike along Washington along length of specific plan
Bikeway connection to downtown
Improve landscaping-friendliness of Landmark
More greening from Landmark to Helms
Culver Junction, Culver City Gateway
Washington/National Transit Area Specific Plan
Workshop I: A Great NeighborhoodJOHNSON FAIN
Assets:
• Private schools in neighborhood
• Small businesses, locally-owned businesses
• Restaurants and walkable nature of East Washington and Helms
Concerns:
• Parking issues
• Increased traffic at Washington and National intersection
• Expo line will be a barrier along National
• Warehouses portray a dead facade and need improvement
Suggestions/Ideas:
• Traffic generating uses such as parking and large stores (i.e. supermarket) should be
located north of the Washington-National intersection
• New development should have locally-owned business
• Farmers' Market like Grand Central Market and 3' 8( Fairfax, or a supermarket like
Whole Foods
• Bring a local bookstore
• More restaurants, café's, and coffee shops
• New development should incorporate retail and open space together
• Public school
• Improved landscape and pedestrian connectivity of Landmark
• Dog park on Landmark
• Pedestrian connection between Landmark and the Hayden Tract
• Open space connection to the new state park in Baldwin Hills
• Pedestrian and bike connection across National and the Expo Line east of the interim
rail station
• Pedestrian and bike connections from Washington-National to downtown along
Washington
New Name:
• Culver junction
• Culver City Gateway
Washington/National Transit Area Specific Plan
Workshop I: A Great NeighborhoodJOHNSON FAIN
NOTES: GROUP 2
3/25/06
Traffic:
Venice is a freeway
Not a lot of commercial on Washington or National —need retail
People just drive thru National-it's a wasteland
Too much traffic to deal with thru Helms street
Retail:
Grocery store in the specific plan
Retail near the station —otherwise people will go to the station-leave town and not experience
Culver City
No strip malls
More greenspace and trees
Residential???
Pedestrian connections from-to residential neighborhoods
Assets:
• Streetscape along East Washington
Concerns:
• Increased traffic, vehicle and pedestrian
• Pedestrian crossing at Washington National intersection
• Too much light industry existing in area
Suggestions/Ideas:
• Strip retail on both sides of Washington in linear scheme
• Big retail areas located away from the station to anchor the district at periphery
• Hotel as a possible wild card use
• Larger open space and/or swimming pool as wild card uses
• Continue enhanced streetscape along Washington from East
• Small parks/open spaces incorporated into the strip retail along Washington
• New pedestrian links from residential neighborhoods
• Pedestrian bridges at congested intersections
• Alternative ways to get around neighborhood to avoid bad traffic
• Parking egress located in places that affect traffic the least
• Address Venice Boulevard
Washington/National Transit Area Specific Plan
Workshop I: A Great NeighborhoodJOHNSON FAIN
NOTES: GROUP 3
3/25/06
Assets: "the pioneers "Helms, restaurants, jazz-bakery, Surfas (store and restaurant)
City upgrading EWO —drift MO, success, hard to impose
Walkway to downtown, combo walking bike path
6/10 of a mile, 15 min walk — Movie Theater
Stores: bookstore, food market like whole foods, excellent spot at Spartan
Produce-food market near Surfos
No chain retail
Reason to walk-active
Late night cafes, outdoor cafes and dinning experiences
Galleries
Filling the gap between WaNa and Downtown
Visual gaps —wastelands
Blend together
Parking issue
La Cienega downtown connection-lost at Howard
Open Space:
Corner Park at urban partners' site, Waterfall feature
Oty Park needs to be connected to other activities and zones
Bikeway and greenspace along Expo-line
Stronger pedestrian connection along Expo
Bigger parkette that has something
Pocket parks near retail space
Recreation-businesses
Park at south end of triangle
Problem Areas:
Liquor stores
Howard Industries-dead use
Industry near Landmark
Landmark —pedestrian district and back street
SoWa: semi-blighted, vacancy frontage along Venice
Screenland junction
Washington junction
Culver junction
Culver Crossing
Memory Lane Crossing
Washington/National Transit Area Specific Plan
Workshop I: A Great NeighborhoodJOHNSON FAIN
Assets:
• Landmark Street
Concerns:
• Parkette doesn't work
Suggestions/Ideas:
• Bookstore — can act as community meeting place
• Supermarket (i.e. Whole Foods) or food market like Grand Central Market
• More restaurants and small outdoor eating areas
• More centralized open space (larger, more usable than Parkette)
• Pedestrian and bike connections from Helms to Downtown
• Improve area between Downtown and Specific Plan area
• Improve Venice Blvd. street frontages
• Make Landmark a destination
Names:
• Culver Crossing
• Screen land Junction
• Washington Junction
Washington/National Transit Area Specific Plan
Workshop I: A Great NeighborhoodJOHNSON FAIN
NOTES: GROUP 4
3/25/06
Issues:
Noise from the rail and traffic accidents
Wild Card:
Pedestrian only promenade
"Surface" from alleys-streets for better connections
Break up corridor for better connections from residential neighborhoods
Wide sidewalks w canopy structure
Trees on street or sidewalks not median
Encourage walk ability, nurture pedestrian experience only (right now it informal) no cars
Trolley cars
Mix retail uses in the area
How do we get to Point A from Point B?
Concentrate retail
OS: playground for children-plaza like (courtyard at City Hall)
Open Space-a park on top of a parking structure of MTA
Want an "organic "solution to open space as in a cooperative farm
Safety, Family oriented, neighborhood services
Multi-cultural and mixed use
Connected to the creek- beach via Bike path
Careful development
Encouraging diversity —age, ethnicity
Draws from studio, downtown
Watershed mentality —grow food, being modern and progressive
Possibility of more transit
Creating a beautiful and rich gathering place
Washington/National Transit Area Specific Plan
Workshop I: A Great NeighborhoodJOHNSON FAIN
Concerns:
• Increased traffic and pedestrian issues
SuggestionsAdeas:
• As much mixed-use as possible
• Destination that will draw people to area
• More friendly retail along Washington
• Park space over parking structures
• Pedestrian promenades along major boulevards
• Widen pedestrian walkways through use of private easements traded for denser
development entitlement
• Trolley line in the parkway on Washington Boulevard
Washington/National Transit Area Specific Plan
Workshop I: A Great NeighborhoodJOHNSON FAIN
NOTES: GROUP 5
3/25/06
Parking issue
No big parking lots
Don't want current residential being incorporate into commercial
No 3rd street Santa Monica
Not just national chains try to keep mom & pop feel
Area like Paris -No big box
Neighborhood serving
Galleries aren't open to the public
Support current businesses grassroots
Art school
Fill current vacancies
Keep the jungle
Utilize transit-walk ability
Importance of Venice blvd
Make National more walk able —pedestrian bridges
Congestion on National
People mover
Building arts connections think Douglas-lvy substation
(Tim Robbins) New arts-science museum
Concerns:
• Eminent domain not appropriate — no property taken for development
Suggestions/Ideas:
• Unique retail, like on neighborhood retail streets, not like 3 Street Promenade (Santa
Monica)
• Provisions that support existing businesses and preserve smaller retailers — these
businesses are desired instead of national chain stores
• Wider sidewalks
• Street cafes, like in Paris
• Music school or similar unique use that will give identity to area
• More pedestrian-friendly and environmental friendly setting
• Public lockers and showers for bicycle riders
• Improve Venice Boulevard
• Address Robertson/Freeway area in planning process
Name:
• Champs Elysees - Culver Elysees?
Washington/National Transit Area Specific Plan
Workshop I: A Great NeighborhoodJOHNSON FAIN
NOTES: GROUP 6
3/25/06
Green space/plaza
Fountains/greens
Softscape
Museum
Kids' playground (for younger children)
Street Connections
Should have a unifying theme (cobblestone details etc)
Live music
Positive history
Neighborhood protection
Expo project-negative impacts
Auto mechanics
Want more mixed-use, more retail uses
Bike lanes-connect from home to downtown
Plaza-square surrounded by shops
Trees remain at existing park
Assets:
• The landmark tree at the parkette
Concerns:
• Transit and changes that will accompany it
Suggestions/Ideas:
• Mixed-use with retail and restaurants at a central area
• "Mom and pop" character retail shops
• Central plaza with retail and meeting area for activities such as live music
• Museum as a unique use
• Water features for noise-calming
• Unified streetscape and environmental character to tie the neighborhood together
• Various child-friendly areas catering to young families such as children's parks and
"Jamboree"
• Bikeway along Washington Boulevard
• Neighborhood shuttle like "DASH" connecting residential and commercial areas
• Cul-de-sacs at residential streets that currently connect to National east of proposed
interim station
Names:
• Culver Crossroads
Washington/National Transit Area Specific Plan
Workshop I: A Great Neighborhood