Workshop Purpose
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MEMO To: Scot Graham, City of Morro Bay From: Amy Sinsheimer and Jeff Henderson, Michael Baker International Date: March 30, 2017 Re: Community Workshop 3 and Outreach Survey – Summary Report This memorandum outlines the results of the Plan Morro Bay Land Use Alternatives Outreach Survey and third community-wide workshop, which was held on February 2, 2017, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the Morro Bay Community Center in Morro Bay. This meeting was a collaborative effort between the City of Morro Bay and consultants from Michael Baker International and PlaceWorks. WORKSHOP PURPOSE Purpose Update the public on the status of Plan Morro Bay and the Downtown Waterfront Strategic Plan (DWSP). Present key components of the draft DWSP (vision, catalyst projects, design guidelines) and confirm that they reflect the community’s vision, values, and preferences. Provide background information, context, and options for Plan Morro Bay land use alternatives. Gather detailed input to continue development of land use alternatives for the General Plan and Local Coastal Program (LCP). Desired Outcomes All participants will feel welcome and encouraged to participate. Participants will understand the projects and how they are related. The project team will have a better understanding of the community’s land use preferences and desired future uses at key opportunity sites in Morro Bay. The project team will have input needed to finalize the DWSP. Participants will feel energized and positive about their participation experience and look forward to future engagement opportunities related to the projects. OVERVIEW Below is a summary of the evening’s activities. Attendance Total Attendance: ~40 The third community-wide Plan Morro Bay workshop was hosted on February 2, 2017, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the Morro Bay Community Center. At least 23 participants were present,* along with 5 City staff members, 2 elected officials (Mayor Jamie Irons and Council Member Marlys McPherson), 6 General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) members, and 4 consultants, for a total of at least 40 individuals. * This number reflects the number of individuals who signed the optional sign-in sheet at the door; there were other attendees who did not sign in. Agenda 5:30 p.m. Welcome + Open House [DWSP Exhibits] Participants were welcomed at the door, asked to sign in, and invited to circulate between stations at their leisure to review the DWSP exhibits and provide high-level input. 6:20 p.m. Presentation and Q+A Session The project team gave a brief presentation (~20 minutes) explaining the project, providing background information, and setting the stage for the small group activity. This information included a discussion of the General Plan/LCP opportunity sites and land use alternatives. The project team answered questions at the end of the presentation. 6:40 p.m. Land Use Alternatives [Small Group Activity] Participants were seated in groups of 6 to 12. A facilitator at each table guided participants through the process of reviewing the opportunity sites and land use alternatives, and discussing if and how these sites could be transformed in the future to benefit the community. 7:30 p.m. Report Back The lead facilitator invited each table to share what was discussed, including the key takeaways from the group discussion. Time was allowed for brief feedback or questions between each site. 8:25 p.m. Wrap-Up and Next Steps [Presentation] The team reviewed the project next steps, including how public feedback will be incorporated and upcoming opportunities for participation. SUMMARY OF RESULTS Activity #1: DWSP Open House Overview Staff invited participants to review four posters summarizing key components of the DWSP before taking their seats: an overview poster, an opportunity sites and catalyst projects poster, a design guidelines poster, and an implementation poster. The opportunity sites and catalyst projects and design guidelines posters offered participants the opportunity to write comments in response to the prompt: “Is there anything very important that you feel is not reflected here?” Results Opportunity Sites and Catalyst Projects In general, comments were minimal and suggested support for the catalyst projects outlined in the DWSP. Participants reiterated their support of expanded and improved infrastructure, including installing more public restrooms and trash cans, extending bike paths, and creating pedestrian-friendly connections between downtown and the Embarcadero. Participants were also supportive of a boatyard. Participants had mixed opinions on a high-end hotel/conference center and a seafood market, with some expressing support for these projects and others concerned about their viability. Design Guidelines Again, comments provided on this poster did not indicate anything missing, or any major disagreements with the design guidelines and themes outlined in the plan. Participants expressed support for existing public art, consistent signage, and bike racks. Some participants also wrote about the need to keep the Embarcadero clean. Multiple participants wanted to see less concrete and glass in the community, and more use of wood and other nautical-related design features. Activity #2: Land Use Alternatives Group Activity Overview Each small group facilitator led a group of 6 to 12 people in a discussion of one to two different opportunity sites/study areas. Participants at each table reviewed the various alternatives presented by staff and discussed four key questions for the opportunity site/study area: Are the current uses appropriate for this site? What are your thoughts on the proposed alternatives at the site? Does the site have any potential to be used in a different way? Do you have other ideas for how to use this site? Following the discussion, facilitators presented a summary of their table’s discussion to the room. At this time, facilitators mentioned if each group had a strong preference for one of the alternatives. Results This section summarizes the key points that emerged from each table’s discussion. Table 1 and others1: Study Area 1 There were mixed feelings on including this area in the City’s sphere of influence (SOI): o Many community members saw merit in maintaining the area as County land, rather than evaluating it for inclusion in the City’s SOI or annexing the 1 Multiple tables and groups discussed Study Area 1. land. Participants were supportive of preserving the land as is, and felt that keeping County control would be the best way to accomplish this. o Others felt that there were clear benefits to including it in the City’s SOI, such as to: . Ensure that no development would occur in landslide-prone areas within Parcels 38 and 40. Limit density to one house and one barn per parcel. Encourage development of recreational uses, such as trails for biking, hiking, and horseback riding. Participants felt that more time would be needed to effectively offer feedback on this site. Participants wanted to preserve the dog beach in the area. Some community members noted that the City would have to provide infrastructure for any development in the area, and were concerned about potentially high costs for infrastructure construction. Community members were supportive of the City purchasing land or securing a right-of-way for a bicycle path between Morro Bay and Cayucos. Some community members were hesitant to designate the study area as open space, feeling that the cost would be too high and that such a designation might eliminate the fire protection benefits afforded by the grazing activities that currently occur in the area. However, others wanted to see the area used for passive recreation, such as hiking and horseback riding. Participants were not necessarily opposed to some development in the area, but would like it to not have a substantial visual impact. In particular, they felt that any development on Parcels 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, and 14 should be located so that it is not visible from Highway 1 and visitor-serving uses should not be visible from residential neighborhoods in north Morro Bay. Table 2: Dynegy Power Plant (Opportunity Site A) Mixed-use, institutional, and maritime supporting (perhaps light industrial) uses were well supported by community members, particularly if the mixed-use development includes multifamily residential and affordable housing. Community members had mixed feelings about the proposed placement of visitor-serving commercial uses on part of the site. There was more interest in institutional (museums, wildlife rescue/rehab center, nature-based education), housing, and art/cultural (studios, live/work) uses than visitor-serving commercial. Participants were in favor of using a Planned Development overlay or Specific Plan process for this site. There was widespread support for preserving the existing power plant building, including the smokestacks, as much as possible. Participants favored repurposing the existing structures for any new uses rather than demolishing and replacing them. Participants wanted to see the existing Maritime Museum attractions across the Embarcadero retained, and if possible, expanded. Other suggestions included a “Museum Row” integrating outdoor entertainment, recreation, educational, and fishing activities, an electricity museum, and/or a facility for the Pacific Wildlife Rehab Center. Community members wanted to preserve the natural areas of the creek by designating the land around it as open space. Table 3: North Main Street (Opportunity Site E) Participants preferred using the area for low-density and medium-density residential uses, with some limited commercial activities (particularly on Main Street). The favored commercial uses were small office spaces, medical offices, and working spaces as part of a live/work unit. There was support for using the 10-acre site currently designated as high-density residential for assisted/senior living, affordable housing, and live-work spaces. Participants felt that high-density residential on this site would create traffic problems (particularly at the intersections of Main Street with San Jacinto Street and Yerba Buena Street).