Palos Verdes Drive N CORRIDOR WESTERN AVENUE PLAN VISION 75% DRAFT

The preparation of this report has been financed in part through grant[s] from the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. The contents of this W Summerland Ave report do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of the U.S. Department of Transportation. May 22, 2013

This is a project for the City of Rancho Palos Verdes with funding provided by the Southern California Association of Governments’ (SCAG) Compass Blueprint Program. Compass Blueprint assists Southern Californiaa cities and other organizations in evaluating planning options and stimulating development consistent with the region’s goals. Compass Blueprint tools support visioning efforts, infill analyses, economic and policy analyses, and marketing and communication programs. The preparation of this report has been financed in part through grant(s) from the Federal Highway Administration (FHW A) and the Federal Transit Administration (FT A) through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) in accordance with the provisions under the Metropolitan Planning Program as set forth in Section 104(f) of Title 23 of the U.S. Code. The contents of this report reflect the views of the author who is responsible for the facts and accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of SCAG, DOT or the State of California. This report does not constitute a standard, specification or regulation. SCAG shall not be responsible for the City’s future use or adaptation of the report. Looking north on Western Avenue at W Park Western Drive Table of Contents

0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 PROCESS 1.1 Goals 1.2 Public Outreach 1.3 Vision Committee 2 ANALYSIS 2.1 What is the Corridor? 2.2 Economics and Demographics 2.3 Public Realm and Streetscape 2.4 Mobility (Bicycle and Transit) 2.5 Branding and Signage 2.6 Precedents of Great Streets 3 RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 Summary of Recommendations 3.2 Northern Segment 3.3 Middle Segment 3.4 Southern Segment 3.5 Mobility (Bicycle) 3.6 Mobility (Transit) 4 IMPLEMENTATION 5.1 Next Steps 5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ‘WESTERN PLAZA’ ‘THE TERRACES SHOPPING CENTER’ US Post Office Tabacco Sport Medicine 31 DESTINATIONS be considered acceptable today. Further, the study corridor lacks special Liquor Starlight Cinema Pizza Place Cleanners Tae Kwan Do Executive Summary Bakery Medi spa Carls Jr. L Star Chinese H&R Block Nails Saloon places – plazas, parks, and other hubs of community life. These are Food Market Pet Grooming Bully Fitness Japanese Eatery In 2012, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes embarked on a community-led Papa Johns Massages Fed Ex Massage Ros & Nails GNC Baskin Robins Marshalls Nancy Nails Dodson Chinese Food Dentistry Trader Joe’s Day Spa essential for a successful, if not great, boulevard. Chiropractor K Williams Realty Cleanners Middle Auto Body Shop IHop effort to improve Western Avenue for residents, businesses, and visitors Farmers Westview Escrow Muscle Market School Oil Change Medicine Center America’s Tire Co. Loan Office Remax Others Cleaners Centinela Pet Dentistry Americas Kobe Grill ‘PALOS VERDES PLAZA’ Steak House Physicians Auto Parts alike. This document summarizes and illustrates the shared vision, ideas, Best Value Inn Health Food Village Subs Rus Drapery Vac Sew & Carpet El Pollo Loco The message heard resoundingly from stakeholders and the community Fish & Chips Chevron Maui Chicken Good Night Hair Cut Domino’s Pizza Mattres Green Hills Denny’s Green Hills and process that underlie the year-long planning effort. Memorial Park Jack in the Box Asaka Grill 14 Florist was to improve storefronts, quality of the public realm, and perception of Destinations Eastview Marie Callender’s Destinations13 Townhouse 16 4 Destinations Self Storage Destinations the corridor. It was felt that the corridor also needed to create diversity Eastview Park The significance of this effort, for the City of Rancho Palos Verdes and Destinations7 13 Peck Destinations Smart & Final Park Alberstons Mc Donalds 24 Strip Mall 11-12 in its retail, access, and mobility options. If the needs of locals were Stix 17 Destinations Vendors/Retail US Bank Destinations the adjoining communities, cannot be overstated. It will shape Western Shell Destinations5 Carrows Restaurant Wells Fargo AT&T Del Taco Bank Starbucks Fantastic Sams addressed by providing amenities and improving the Avenue’s image, Christ Lutheran School Defense Support Lomita Little Blinds & Drapes Avenue for the next generation and its recommendations will impact Tarragona Plaza Point San Pedro (DFSP) League ‘PARK PLAZA’ Office Taxco Opus Bank Coco’s Bakery Restaurant Milestone Mortage Shell Gasoline Animal Hospital Chiropractor surely visitors and business activity would follow thereafter. Ross Office Farmers Mary the quality of life of residents and visitors, the potential of property CVS US Bank Star ‘HARBOR COVE’ 0 DESTINATIONS Office Depot of the Atomic Boxing Ralphs Tanning Sea HS Petco Del Taco Circus Donuts Taper holdings, the provision of additional amenities and infrastructure, and the Radio Shack Beauty Supply Acupunture Elementary The core recommendation of this vision is to update the nature of Henry’s Farmers Market Jacaranda Gourmet Framing Gallery School Subway Hussey Insurance 1hr. Photo of the Avenue. Chase Dentistry overall image Countrywide Harbor Health SP Science development along the corridor and reverse the relationship Global Gifts Harbor Lights Escrow Center School Tuesday Morning School of Music and Art Jewelry Store that buildings and surface parking have with the The study area constitutes a small segment of Western Avenue, one of 80 DESTINATIONS street. New developments should be built along the property line the longest streets in Southern California. At 27.5 miles, it could well the frontier it represented, and Western Avenue today finds itself creating a strong street wall. Surface parking should not be located host the Los Angeles Marathon with room to spare. It is also the only occupying the heart rather than the periphery of the metropolitan region. adjacent to the sidewalk and should not serve as the arrival experience corridor in the region that connects the mountains (at Griffith Park) to It has become the pre-eminent north-south boulevard of of the corridor. With buildings located at the property edge on the the sea (at White’s Point). In its long journey to the bluffs of San Pedro, the region, and the only one that matches the iconic significance of the sidewalk, active, visitor-serving uses should be located at ground level. Western Avenue traverses some of the most iconic neighborhoods and region’s celebrated east-west boulevards – Sunset, Hollywood, Wilshire, With regards to each of the three segments of the corridor, the following communities in the region, successively adopting their identities, and Venice, Pico and Olympic. recommendations apply: serving as a lasting symbol of Southern California’s diversity and vitality. The cities that host Western Avenue include Los Angeles, Westmont, Western Avenue is the primary corridor of the South Southern Segment (Summerland to Caddington) Gardena, Torrance, Lomita, and Rancho Palos Verdes, as well as the Bay, Peninsula, and San Pedro communities. This study unincorporated communities of Westmont and West Athens. focuses on a two-mile stretch from Palos Verdes Drive North on the • This is the commercial heart of the study area, and its north to Peck Park at Summerland Avenue on the south. This segment experience and image needs updating to sustain its success. Western Avenue has an anachronistic name. Early in the twentieth of Western Avenue has historically provided services, amenities, century it did indeed serve as the western boundary of the city of Los • Reverse the relationship that buildings and surface parking connectivity, and residential opportunities to the region. Angeles. The city and the region have, since, decisively blown through have with the street. New developments should be built along The study corridor, for most of its length, constitutes the municipal the property line creating a strong street wall. Parking should Rolling Hills Estates boundary between the cities of Rancho Palos Verdes (on the west) and be located at the rear of the parcel and/or consolidated in Los Angeles (on the east). It provides a diversity of uses with commercial strategically located structures.

City of Rancho Palos Verdes being concentrated on the south, a mix of commercial and residential • Active, visitor-serving uses should be located at the ground level. uses between Toscanini and John Montgomery Drives, and institutional City of Lomita uses located at the north end. Western Avenue is by no means • Sidewalks widths should be 15-feet at a minimum with WESTERN AVENUE homogenous. It provides a multitude of amenities to a multitude of users. streetscape (vegetation, furniture, lighting, and pedestrian SUMMERLAND AVE amenities) that promote a vibrant street life.

PALOS VERDES DR The corridor is, however, dated. Its patterns of development City of Los Angeles are representative of a time and approach long past. The commercial • Opportunities ot create outdoors spaces and special places cluster on the south end of the study area is auto oriented; with a notably should be a priority on all new redevelopments. poor pedestrian experience. The residential uses in the middle and north • The Terraces parcel is a key redevelopment opportunity and, if 2.3 miles/45-min walk segment turn their backs to the street and do not contribute to the programmed and designed sensitively, can serve as the catalyst street’s vitality. Neither commercial nor residential developments would

6 WESTERN AVENUE VISION PLAN - 75% DRAFT for positive transformation up and down the corridor. storage infrastructure of the Defense Fuel Support Point (DFSP) repeatedly and decisively preferred precedents that exhibited these characteristics. The reality is that undoing a generation of development Middle Segment (Caddington to John Montgomery) San Pedro. This facility, for all practical purposes, is here for perpetuity. will not happen overnight and definitely cannot be mandated. • The east side of the street (primarily commercial) will receive • The west side of the street is entirely occupied by Green Hills As a path to move forward the key next step recommended by this similar improvements as the southern segment. Memorial Park. This facility too is here for perpetuity. effort is to prepare design guidelines that will apply to new • The west side of the street (primarily residential) presents a developments as they come online and incrementally shape the corridor • Given that the east and west side of the streets will never house challenge with regards to activation. The backyards of homes in line with the vision. While this may appear to be straightforward, active, visitor-serving uses the experience of this segment of the are not going away and residents, by and large, do not support it is anything but. Western Avenue forms the municipal boundary of study area is decidedly auto-oriented. reconfiguring backyards to allow secondary pedestrian access the Cities of Rancho Palos Verdes and Los Angeles. As is typical of such directly off the street. • Monumental public art, scaled to be visible to auto users, can be frontier streets, efforts to improve them are always more challenging located on the street edges (in partnership with the Cemetery because of the jurisdictional constraints imposed on expenditure of • As a result, improvements will mainly be cosmetic and address and DFSP). city funds. A further complication arises from Caltrans’ ownership and softer treatments of the harsh cinder block wall. Several options maintenance of the right of way. have been considered, with a variety of treatment options. • This segment is also an ideal location for a gateway element announcing the arrival into the commercial heart of the study Fortunately, the cities of Rancho Palos Verdes and Los Angeles are • Due to the lack of active uses and access to homes, parking corridor. strong partners in the process and actively support the vision. Both along the street is underutilized on the west side. The sidewalk should commit to partnering on preparing joint design guidelines for here can be widened by reclaiming the asphalt occupied by • Surface parking in the northern segment rarely sees any use. the corridor where the east and west sides of the streets are looked at parking. This expansion can serve as bio-swale to assist storm Like on the west side of the middle segment, here too, the holistically; and ideally via a similar SCAG funded process. water infrastructure and also provide a soft, vegetation buffer sidewalks on both the east and west side of the street can be between auto traffic and sidewalk. widened to accommodate a bio-swale. Now is the time to begin setting the policies and crafting the incentives to improve Western Avenue so it can continue to serve as the pre-eminent Northern Segment (John Montgomery to Palos Verdes To be sure this is not a unique and innovative set of recommendations. corridor of the Peninsula and South Bay. It will take time, as positive Drive North) Celebrated boulevards all across the country and in Southern California change always does, but the vision is in place, the stakeholders are lined have used this pattern of development to great success. Stakeholders • The east side of the street is entirely occupied by the fuel up in support, and the jurisdictions are ready to get going.

CRESTWOOD STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

GREEN HILLS PALOS VERDES DR N MEMORIAL PARK

CITY OF LOMITA HOUSING

EASTVIEW PARK MATCHLINE

PONTE VISTA REDEVELOPMENT PECK PARK

DEFENSE FUEL SUPPORT POINT (DFSP) SAN PEDRO

CADDINGTON DR

W SUMMERLAND AVE Southern Segment Middle Segment JOHN MONTGOMERY DR Northern Segment

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 7 View within parking lot on Western Ave at Capitol Dr. 1.1 Goals

In 2012, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes embarked on a community-led effort to improve Western Avenue for residents, businesses, and visitors alike. This document summarizes and illustrates the shared vision, ideas, and process that underlies the yearlong planning effort.

To inform this effort, the project team established principles and aspirations as shared by the Vision Committee, stakeholders, the community, and the City of Rancho Palos Verdes:

Guiding Principles and Aspirations: Improve, improve, improve: storefronts, public realm, and perception.

Create diversity: retail, access, and mobility.

Locals first: address the needs of local residents and the rest will follow.

Partner with San Pedro and other adjoining communities to market the Western Avenue brand.

Create amenities and a destination for visitors Process and residents alike.

1 PROCESS 9 Visions are successful only when they are shared and built on bedrock 1.2 Process of transparency. To that end, stakeholder engagement has played a critical role in creating and refining the vision for Western Avenue This effort was conducted in three phases: Research and Analysis, Corridor. Outreach was proactive and conducted at two levels. First, Alternatives, and Final Plan. Community outreach was woven into each a vision committee was established at the project kickoff and was step and served as a critical component in driving the overall Vision. charged with the following tasks: Research and Analysis: Our analytical process was one of • Representing the broader community and stakeholders in the listening and discovering. We began the process with an open mind Western Avenue planning process. and established a dialogue with all of the interested stakeholders, who guided the discovery process. This first phase culminated with a clear • Helping to identify opportunities, issues, and challenges to address set of agreed-upon goals, as well as design principles which framed the in the planning process. subsequent stages of our work. • Providing feedback on research conclusions and planning concepts Alternatives: Once the design guidelines and principles were to the project team. established, the team explored alternatives, in an iterative process based on engaging the community and stakeholders at intensive workshops • Serving as advocates of the process, assist with publicizing and charrettes. A public workshop and exhibition of ideas was held to community involvement opportunities, and attending workshops. present these alternatives to the stakeholders and solicit their feedback. • Working cooperatively with other Vision Committee members, A preferred alternative was identified based on their feedback. listening and considering different perspectives. Final Plan: During this phase, a “preferred plan” was selected and both phasing and implementation strategies explored. Elements of the plan were identified for both immediate actions, or recommended for more advance study at a future date.

10 WESTERN AVENUE VISION PLAN - 75% DRAFT 1.3 Public Outreach The makeup of the committee was intended to represent the entire range of voices of the larger community. It provided equal representation to both the City of Rancho Palos Verdes (west side of the corridor) and San Pedro (on the east). Members represented residents, businesses, property owners, and agencies that will have a role in implementing the recommendations of this effort.

The second level of outreach directly engaged members of the larger community. An open house and public workshop was held in April 2013 at Peck Park. Community members were invited to review the team’s findings and preliminary ideas and provide feedback. The team sought input at two levels. First, “what are the long terms aspirations for the corridor?” And second, “what are issues and problems that need immediate fixes?” Both were invaluable in prioritizing improvements.

PROCESS 11 Looking south on Western Avenue at Palos Verdes Drive N 2.1 What is the Corridor?

Western Avenue is the primary corridor of the South Bay, Palos Verdes Peninsula, and San Pedro communities. This study focuses on a two-mile stretch from Palos Verdes Drive on the north to Peck Park on the South. This segment of Western Avenue has historically provided services, amenities, connectivity, and residential opportunities to the region.

The study area constitutes a small segment of Western Avenue, one of the longest streets in Southern California. At 27.5 miles, it could well host the Los Angeles Marathon with room to spare. It is also the only corridor in the region that connects the mountains (at Griffith Park) to the sea (at White’s Point). In its long journey to the bluffs of San Pedro, Western Avenue traverses some of the most iconic neighborhoods and communities in the region, successively adopting their identities, and serving as a lasting symbol of Southern California’s diversity and vitality. The cities that host Western Avenue include Los Angeles, Westmont, Gardena, Torrance, Lomita, and Rancho Palos Verdes, as well as the unincorporated communities of Westmont and West Athens.

Western Avenue has an anachronistic name. Early in the twentieth century it did indeed serve as the western boundary of the city of Los Angeles. The city and the region have, since, decisively blown through the frontier it represented, and Western Avenue today finds itself occupying the heart rather than the periphery of the metropolitan region. It has become the pre-eminent north-south boulevard of the region, and the only one that matches the iconic significance of the region’s celebrated east-west boulevards – Sunset, Hollywood, Wilshire, Venice, Pico and Olympic.

The study corridor constitutes the municipal boundary between the cities of Rancho Palos Verdes (on the west) and Los Angeles (on the east). It provides a diversity of uses with commercial being concentrated on the south, a mix of commercial and residential uses between Toscanini and Analysis John Montgomery Drives, and institutional uses located at the northern end. Western Avenue is by no means homogenous. It provides a multitude of amenities to a multitude of users.

The study area has not seen any significant new development for several years. Consequently, the patterns of development reveal dated building types and intents. But the corridor is also not so old that it displays any sense of historic, pre-automobile development. A further challenge 2 ANALYSIS 13 Western Avenue is the preeminent mountain-to-ocean boulevard. At 27.5 miles, it could well host the Los Angeles Marathon with room to spare. It is also the only corridor in the region that connects the mountains (at Griffith Park) to the sea (at White’s Point).

GRIFFITH PARK

DTLA

LA RIVER WESTERN AVENUE WESTERN

GATEWAY

RPV

Looking south on Western Avenue at Wilshire Boulveard PACIFIC OCEAN

14 WESTERN AVENUE VISION PLAN - 75% DRAFT in establishing a shared vision for the corridor is the complexities of jurisdictional boundaries. Caltrans owns and maintains the right of way. City of Rancho Palos Verdes is located on the west (except for one block where it jumps across to the east). The City of Los Angeles is located on the east, while the City of Lomita has jurisdiction of the key intersection with Palos Verdes Drive North. What all stakeholders – both private and public – should strive to avoid is the typical fate of such streets - the neglected frontier, shared by all but claimed by none. This SCAG-funded effort , and indeed others that will follow, provide a unique opportunity (and perhaps the only avenue) by which Western Avenue can be looked at holistically (with both sides and the right-of-way being treated as equals).

The corridor exhibits dated development patterns. The commercial cluster on the south end of the study area is auto oriented; with a notably poor pedestrian experience. The residential uses in the middle and north segment turn their backs to the street and do not contribute to the street’s vitality. Neither commercial nor residential developments would be considered best or acceptable today.

Certain significant parcels along the corridor will have uses that are never going away and will never house active, visitor-serving uses. The vision efforts need to work around them and sensitively include their constraints in the planning process.

WESTERN AVENUE

ANALYSIS 15 The study corridor, for most of its length, constitutes the municipal boundary between the cities of Rancho Palos Verdes (on the west) and the City of Los Angeles (on the Rolling Hills Estates east). It provides a diversity of uses with commercial being concentrated on the south, a mix of commercial and residential uses between Toscanini and John Montgomery Drive, and institutional uses located at the northern end.

City of Rancho Palos Verdes

City of Lomita WESTERN AVENUE SUMMERLAND AVE

PALOS VERDES DR

City of Los Angeles

2.3 miles/45-min walk N

16 WESTERN AVENUE VISION PLAN - 75% DRAFT At Palos Verdes Drive N and Western Ave

At Summerland Drive and Western Ave

ANALYSIS 17 Retail destinations typically attract the highest numbers of visitors on a regular basis. An analysis of destinations along the corridor illustrates a sharply skewed distribution. The densest cluster of retail establishments is located south of Caddington, with commercial uses located on both the sides of the Avenue. A moderate cluster is located mid-corridor where residential uses are located on one side and commercial uses on the other. The northern most segment of the corridor has no destinations that attract regular visitors (Green Hills Memorial Park Cemetery on the west and inaccessible fuel storage on the east). This distribution of destinations creates three clear natural segments of the corridor.

18 WESTERN AVENUE VISION PLAN - 75% DRAFT ‘WESTERN PLAZA’ ‘THE TERRACES SHOPPING CENTER’ US Post Office Tabacco Sport Medicine 31 DESTINATIONS Liquor Starlight Cinema Pizza Place Cleanners Tae Kwan Do Bakery Medi spa Carls Jr. L Star Chinese H&R Block Nails Saloon Food Market Pet Grooming Bully Fitness Japanese Eatery Papa Johns Massages Fed Ex Massage Ros & Nails GNC Baskin Robins Marshalls Nancy Nails Dodson Chinese Food Dentistry Trader Joe’s Day Spa Chiropractor K Williams Realty Cleanners Middle Auto Body Shop IHop Farmers Westview Escrow Muscle Market School Oil Change Medicine Center America’s Tire Co. Loan Office Remax Others Cleaners Centinela Pet Dentistry Americas Kobe Grill ‘PALOS VERDES PLAZA’ Steak House Physicians Auto Parts Best Value Inn Health Food Village Subs Rus Drapery Vac Sew & Carpet El Pollo Loco Fish & Chips Chevron Maui Chicken Good Night Hair Cut Domino’s Pizza Mattres Green Hills Denny’s Green Hills Memorial Park Jack in the Box Asaka Grill 14 Florist Destinations Eastview Marie Callender’s Destinations13 Townhouse Destinations16 Self Storage Destinations4 Eastview Park Destinations7 13 Peck Destinations Smart & Final Park Alberstons Mc Donalds 24 Strip Mall 11-12 Stix Destinations Vendors/Retail US Bank Destinations17 5 Shell Destinations Carrows Restaurant Wells Fargo AT&T Del Taco Bank Starbucks Fantastic Sams In & Christ Lutheran School Defense Support Lomita Little Blinds & Drapes Tarragona Plaza Point San Pedro (DFSP) League ‘PARK PLAZA’ Office Taxco Opus Bank Coco’s Bakery Restaurant Milestone Mortage Shell Gasoline Animal Hospital Chiropractor Ross Office Farmers Mary CVS US Bank ‘HARBOR COVE’ Star 0 DESTINATIONS Office Depot of the Atomic Boxing Ralphs Tanning Sea HS Petco Del Taco Circus Donuts Taper Radio Shack Beauty Supply Acupunture Henry’s Farmers Market Elementary Jacaranda Gourmet Framing Gallery School Subway Hussey Insurance 1hr. Photo Chase Dentistry Countrywide Harbor Health SP Science Global Gifts Harbor Lights Escrow Center School Tuesday Morning School of Music and Art Jewelry Store 80 DESTINATIONS

ANALYSIS 19 Northern Segment

Middle Segment

Southern Segment

20 WESTERN AVENUE VISION PLAN - 75% DRAFT SOUTHERN MIDDLE NORTHERN SEGMENT SEGMENT SEGMENT active, visitor serving edges one active, visitor serving edge / one inactive edge inactive edges 0.75 miles / 15 minute walk 0.9 miles / 20 minute walk 0.6 miles / 10 minute walk

John Montgomery Drive

“the heart of Western Avenue” one-sided street N Drive Verdes Palos auto-oriented experience active cluster of businesses active businesses on east inactive street edges on both sides surface parking lot at street edges backyard of homes on west Caddington Drive Caddington Summerland Drive

ANALYSIS 21 2.2 Economics and Demographics

22 WESTERN AVENUE VISION PLAN - 75% DRAFT ANALYSIS 23 24 WESTERN AVENUE VISION PLAN - 75% DRAFT ANALYSIS 25 26 WESTERN AVENUE VISION PLAN - 75% DRAFT ANALYSIS 27 2.3 Public Realm and Streetscape

Western Avenue evolved and grew in that window of urban history where the automobile was king and pedestrians were irrelevant. The legacy of its origins are clearly manifest today in the poor quality of pedestrian experience and places and an exuberant accommodation of automobiles on surface lots with prime street frontage. While the corridor is clearly attractive as a place to conduct business (there are over 110 retail destinations in the southern segment), it is being held back from even greater success due to the lack of a sense of place, identity, and pedestrian amenities.

28 WESTERN AVENUE VISION PLAN - 75% DRAFT PALOS VERDES D

R

MIDDLE SCHOOL

GREEN HILLS CEMETERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WESTERN AVE

CHRIST WILLENBERG LUTHERAN SPECIAL CHURCH

EDUCATION SUMMERLAND AVE

PECK PARK PARK WESTERN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MARY STAR OF THE SEA HIGH SCHOOL LEGEND

BANDINI STREET Designated Park ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Open Space TAPER ELEMENTARY SP SCIENCE CENTER SCHOOL SCHOOL School/Cemetery

ANALYSIS 29

30 W SUMMERLAND AVE SUMMERLAND W WESTERN AVENUE VISIONPLAN-75%DRAFT An abundanceofsurface parking. 15 PECK PARK 50 18 30 10 6 30 585 25 30 16 110 240 30 165 55 105 700 12 40 95 9 50 140 EASTVIEW PARK 175 135

MATCHLINE MATCHLINE 430 MEMORIAL PARK GREEN HILLS GREEN HILLS 115 tities represent surface lotsonlyanddo 2. 1. LEGEND NOTES

photography. Quan not includesubsurface orcovered parking. Quan

Street Parking (530total) Surface Parking (3,421total)

tities shown are estimated basedonaerial PALOS VERDES DR VERDES PALOS ANALYSIS 31 “Protect, enhance and perpetuate views available to property owners and visitors because of the unique topographical features of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. These views provide unique and irreplaceable assets to the City and its neighboring communities and provide for this and future generations examples of the unique physical surroundings which are characteristic of the City.”

-- Purpose Section I.a. from the 2004 City of Rancho Palos Verdes “Guidelines and Procedures for Preservation of Views Where Structures are Involved.”

Looking north on Western Ave at Fitness Dr

32 WESTERN AVENUE VISION PLAN - 75% DRAFT 800

PALOS VERDES DR

600

400 3.0%

3.5% WESTERN AVE 4.0% 2.0% 3.5% SUMMERLAND AVE

200 200

LEGEND

View

3.5% Grade along Western Ave.

200’ Contour Line

Storm Drain Inlet

ANALYSIS 33 An inconsistent canopy of trees along the corridor.

EASTVIEW PARK MATCHLINE

W SUMMERLAND AVE

PECK PARK

Phoenix dactylifera Washingtonia robusta Tristania conferta Lagerstroemia indica Pyrus kawakamii Pittosporum spp. Pinus spp. Ficus spp. Species Unknown Species Unknown

34 WESTERN AVENUE VISION PLAN - 75% DRAFT GREEN HILLS PALOS VERDES DR MEMORIAL PARK MATCHLINE

LEGEND

Location of street tree

NOTES

1. Quantities shown are estimated based on aerial photography.

ANALYSIS 35 Looking south on Western Avenue at Palos Verdes Dr N

Looking north on Western Avenue at Peninsula Verde Dr

36 WESTERN AVENUE VISION PLAN - 75% DRAFT Block of Western Ave Palos Verde Drive N and Peninsula Verde Dr

2

4 1 3

Fuel

(Typical)

Streetscape Opportunities 1 Low planting can be added to median while preserving views 2 Portions of seldom used sidewalk can be used for stormwater bioretention 3 Often-used street parking should remain 1

1 2

ANALYSIS 37 Looking north on Western Avenue at Fitness Dr

Looking north on Western Avenue at Westmont Dr

38 WESTERN AVENUE VISION PLAN - 75% DRAFT Block of Western Ave between Fitness Dr and Westmont Dr

2

3 4

Streetscape Opportunities 1 Take advantage of existing trees for branding & identity 1 2 Utility lines can be moved underground to relieve visual clutter 3 Seldom-used street parking on the west can be converted to other uses 4 Median planting can be refreshed to establish unity and color 6 5 Decorative street lighting can be added to increase safety and promote identity 6 Street trees can be added along west side of street 5

ANALYSIS 39 Looking south on Western Avenue at Caddington Dr

Looking north on Western Avenue at Capitol Dr

40 WESTERN AVENUE VISION PLAN - 75% DRAFT Block of Western Ave between Caddington Dr and Capitol Dr

4

2 1

Streetscape Opportunities 1 3 Median presents opportunity to establish consistent rhythm of trees/identity 2 Street parking lane can be converted into bump-outs at corners or bike lane 3 Standard cobra street lights can be replaced, enhanced, or added where none exist today to promote district identity 4 Utility lines can be moved underground to relieve visual clutter 5 Low planting can be installed to soften parking lots 6 Portion of paved parkway can be converted to buffer planting or bioretention strip

5 6

ANALYSIS 41 2.4 Mobility (Bicycle and Transit)

2010 BICYCLE PLAN, CITY OF LOS ANGELES

Proposed Linkages by Los Angeles

Source: Los Angeles Department of City Planning, 2010 Bicycle Plan, A Component of the City of Los Angeles Transportation Element, Adopted March 1, 2011.

EXISTING BICYCLE CONDITIONS 1990 BICYCLE PLAN, RANCHO PALOS VERDES Class I Bikeway Proposed Linkages by Rancho Palos Verdes Class II Bikeway Class III Bikeway Proposed linkages shown on map are those that fall within the study area only. Source: City of Source: Section 890.4 of the California Department Rancho Palos Verdes, Conceptual Bikeways Plan, of Transportation Streets and Highways Code. Adopted January 22, 1990.

42 WESTERN AVENUE VISION PLAN - 75% DRAFT Existing Conditions (all modes)

many transit options

The corridor is served by local and regional bus transit, but there is no fixed-rail transit access few transit and the corridor presently does not appear on any improvements in Metro’s 30-year plan. Also, there exists options no bus rapid transit access and there are no plans to provide such access in the future. Regional transit is provided by two service providers: Metro and MAX (Municipal Area Express). However, there is a general lack of access to regional transit in the South Bay area. There are insufficient Study Corridor transit options for the existing local customer base to access the corridor – especially from San Pedro. This has EXISTING TRANSIT CONDITIONS ingrained an over-dependence on the automobile for even the shortest of trips. Moreover, Showing rail, bus, and local shuttle. the South Bay and Peninsula are disproportionately low on benefiting from future County-wide transit projects.

Regional Transit Access (Metro Bus)

METRO BUS 205 connects San Pedro the Blue Line/Green Line station at the 105 Freeway in Willowbrook, providing access to the regional transit system. METRO BUS 205 connects San Pedro to the Blue Line/Green Line station at the 105 freeway (In Willowbrook), providing access to the regional transit system. has headways of approximately 25 minutes on weekends and hourly on the 232 METRO BUS 205 205 weekend. METRO BUS 246 provides the next closest access down Pacific Avenue in San Pedro. It’s too distant to serve the corridor provides access along PCH connecting LAX to Long Beach REGIONAL TRANSIT ACCESS Study Corridor METRO BUS 232 Showing Metro Local Service. 246 ANALYSIS 43 Regional Transit Access (MAX)

El Segundo MAX was specifically designed to “address the commuting needs of South Bay residents who work in the El Segundo employment center.” MAX offers three routes through the South Bay and operates during the morning and afternoon peak commuting hours. Torrance Transit acts as the lead agency for MAX. Route 3 3x 3 connects South San Pedro via Western Avenue to El Segundo. Route 3x connects South San Pedro via the 110 and 405 freeways to El Segundo. Both route 3 and 3x provide four ride options, each in the morning and afternoon rush hours. The likelihood of future collaboration may be uncertain as “The City of Study Corridor Rancho Palos Verdes has decided to withdraw from the MAX program effective 6/30/2011.” As a result,Line REGIONAL TRANSIT ACCESS that provided service to the interior of the peninsula, was truncated at Pacific Coast Highway. Showing Municipal Area Express 2 (MAX) Service.

Regional Transit Access (Metro Limited Express)

550 450

Metro operates two LIMITED EXPRESS bus routes in the vicinity of the Corridor. Although primarily targeting rush-hour commuters, both services operate throughout the day (not rush hour only). ROUTE 550 connects West San Pedro, south of the corridor, to the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood. ROUTE 450 connects south San Pedro to downtown Los Angeles. Neither the 450 or the 550 provide any kind of access to the heart of the corridor. Study Corridor REGIONAL TRANSIT ACCESS Showing Metro Limited Express Service. 44 WESTERN AVENUE VISION PLAN - 75% DRAFT 225 Local Transit Access (PVPTA)

Green

Green Eastview

Study Corridor

PVPTA provides weekday service to local destinations in the Palos Verdes Peninsula. 4 routes of PVPTA provide service to the corridor – Orange, Green, Green Eastview, and 225. Orange route provides Orange morning and afternoon service specifically targeting peninsula schools. Green Eastview operates on a loop in the morning and afternoon connecting Western Ave to Miraleste Plaza. Green Route operates throughout the weekday providing access to several destinations in the interior of the peninsula. Route 225 provides all-day service connecting the corridor to the north-eastern end of the peninsula and LOCAL TRANSIT ACCESS destinations along the interior. Showing Palos Verdes Transit Au- thority (PVPTA) Access.

Local Transit Access (DASH)

Study Corridor

DASH is operated by the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT). DASH San Pedro providesdaily service including holidays connecting the southern end of the corridor to south and downtown San Pedro.

San Pedro DASH LOCAL TRANSIT ACCESS Showing DASH Access (as operated by LADOT). ANALYSIS 45 2.5 Branding and Signage One stakeholder on the vision committee romantically referred to Western Avenue as the This Western Avenue has little announcement of arrival into the commercial “Boulevard of Blue Dreams.” theme can build on the larger story of Western Avenue – the only street district (southern segment). Vehicular signage and pedestrian signage are in the region that connects the mountains to the ocean – and provide the rudimentary and do not provide any answers to the typical questions that framework for a comprehensive corridor-wide identity. visitors have, “Where should I go?” and “How do I get there?” The identity of Western Avenue should reflect the diversity Public art is another opportunity that can pay quick dividends in creating and energy of its destinations and adjoining communities. Rancho Palos a themed identity for the corridor. The northern segment, which is Verdes’ adjoining communities provide a range of design references. necessarily auto-oriented, can play host to art installations that are Rolling Hills has a rustic and equestrian feel. The quiet sophistication of monumentally scaled to engage quick-moving automobiles. The southern Spanish colonial is found in high Palos Verdes. San Pedro is imbued with segment can have public art installations strategically located within a nautical ambience. From this milieu will emerge an identity for the the planned network of special places. Chapter 3 provides additional corridor that is both unique and immediately recognizable. South Lake concepts on public art, both temporary and permanent. Avenue in Pasadena has taken dramatic steps to brand an entire corridor along a theme, complete with its own website and marketing materials (www.southlakeavenue.org). The operational structure of a Business Improvement District can facilitate these programs.

46 WESTERN AVENUE VISION PLAN - 75% DRAFT Western Avenue is surrounded by areas with strong and long standing identities that are reinforced through their place-making features.

Palos Verdes Estates: Mediterranean/Spanish San Pedro: Nautical/Maritime Rolling Hills Estates: Equestrian ANALYSIS 47 A wide street width and restricted space within the pedestrian right-of-way along Western Avenue lends itself to median located features, choosing from a variety of branding elements: vertical, repeated, sculptural art, iconic markers, entry monuments, and more.

48 WESTERN AVENUE VISION PLAN - 75% DRAFT To create a memorable and lasting identity for Western Avenue, a series of placemaking features such as signage and streetscape elements needs to be introduced.

CORRIDOR BRANDING – Placemaking PrecedentsANALYSIS 49 1 Western Avenue at Summerland Avenue, view north 2 Western Avenue at Crestwood Street, view north2 3 Western Avenue at Capitol Drive, view north 4 Western Avenue at Caddington Drive, view south

1 Summerland Avenue at Western Avenue, view west 2 Crestwood Street at Western Avenue, view east 3 Capitol Drive at Western Avenue, view west 5 Western Avenue at Toscanini Drive, view south

6 Western Avenue at Westmont Drive, view south 6 Westmont Drive at Western Avenue, view west 7 Western Avenue at Avenida Aprenda, view south

50 WESTERN AVENUE VISION PLAN - 75% DRAFT