MASTER PLANS AND POLICIES Visioning Plan NO. CD-013 V E N T U R A City of San Buenaventura Seize the Future Citizens Outreach Committee ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Bill Fulton, Chair Darlene Fuller, South CoastArea Transit Clark Owens, At-/arge Roma Armbrust, At-large Debbie Giles, At-large Michael Palusza Seaside ParklVentura County Fairgrounds John Ashkar, BuildingIndustryAuociation Jannes Gofourth, ReedLand Clearing Smallempyer Marda Rhodes, Tourism Commission Michael Carney, Ut///t/es Doug Halter, Downtown Community Council Mart), Robinson, County 0fVentum GeoffCline, Patagonia/Large emptier Gary Jacobs, Ventura Port District Betty Sherman, League I/bters Ma ofmen w Cook, At-/arge John S. Jones, At-large Chris Stephens, Ventura Coun Tmmportaion Commission Curtis Cormane, Midmwn Comm. Coundl Joe Kreutx, Bankt)g Neal IC Subic, American Imtitute ofArchiwcts John Correa, At-large Leslie Leavens-Crowe, CulmndAffairs Comm. Zoe Taylor, Greater Venture Chamber ofCommerce Jerry Dannenbergo Ventura Unified SchoolDistrict Greg Lowe, InkoLarge empkver PaulThompson, East Ventura Communi!y Coundl DaPra, Sma# Jim empyer Lanette McCaslin, Pierpont Comn Council Stephen B. Thompson, American Sodety ofCivil Engineers Mike Del Dos.so, Westside Community Council Carl Morehouse, Ameran PlanningAssoc. George Tfllquist, l.ibmy Commhsion Kenneth R. Edwardsen, At-large Glen Morris, PublicArt Commission Bob Tobias, Agr/cu/ture Key Faulconer, Ventura COmn Co tltwge Dis Paul E. New.man, Parks & Recreation Comm. Eric Werbalowsky, Environmental Organizatiom Sandy Smith, Mayor James J. Friedman, Councilmember Donna Landeros, City Manager Brian Brennan, Coundlmember James L Monahan, Coundlmember Bob Boehm, CityAuornty Donna De PaoIa, Deputy Mayor Carl Morehouse, Councilmember Susan Daluddung Director ofCommunity Development Ray Di Guilio, Councilmember CONSULTING &SSI-ANCE FOR SELZ FUTUREWAS PROVIDED BY MOORE IACOFANO GOLTSMAN INC. (MIG). Daniel Iacofano, Pn'ndpal-in-Charge; Jeff Loux, PrctManager; Ed Canaan, Jonathan London, Elizabeth Young CONTENTS 85 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY v Chapter V PcES Shoreline 90 Chapter INTRODUCTION Foothill Corridor/Hillsides 96 Chapter II Vlslorqs 7 Westside 100 Downtown 102 Chapter III PnocEss Midtown 105 Chapter 1V STRATEGIES 23 Highway 101 Corridor/Business ParkAreas 107 Our Natural Community 26 Major Commercial Corridors 109 Our Prosperous Community 32 Eastside 111 Our Well-Planned and Designed Community 41 APPENDICES 115 Our Accessible Community 46 A. Strategy Summary Tables 117 Our Sustainable Infrastructure 55 B. Seize the Future Milestones 149 Our Active Community 58 C. Master Calendar 153 Our Healthy and Se Community 64 D. Library Vision 167 Our Educated Community 72 E. Additional Views 169 Our Creative Community 77 E Glossary 181 Our Involved Community 81 G. References 183 INDEX 185 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION CHAPTER I1: VISIONS To remain successful, Ventura must periodically These vision statements represent a high level of renew itself, re-examine its goals, and create a community consensus from Seize the Future shared vision to guide the community into the about a desired future for Ventura. In the future, future. The Ventura Vision is meant to serve as Ventura is: the shared vision for the community. ENVIRONMENTAL The Seize the Future process was guided by four A community that seeks sustainability by broad principles that have informed the commu- health, nity participation processes it employed and the simultaneously promoting ecological as well as economic vitality and social well- visions and strategies it has produced. These being current and generations. principles are: for future An environmentally responsible coastal Reach broadly and deeply into the commu- community serving as a modelfor other areas. Build on existing community assets as much A community thatprotects and restores the as possible. natural character ofits beaches, ocean Use the linkages and interconnections that views, hillsides, barrancas, and rivers as a exist amongpeople, organizations, and com- scenic backdrop for its high quality urban munity goals, and encourage more such link- ages in thefuture. ECONOMIC Workproactivelyandcollaborativelyto A community that develops aflourishing implement our shared vision fbr thefuture and balanced economy by encouraging a ofour community. broad range ofhigh quality employment and entrepreneurial opportunities. Ventura Vision EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A community that encourages private eco- Acommuniythatprovidesadiverserange nomic development that can in turn sup- ofactive andpassive recreation for residents port public services and amenities associ- and visitors ofall ages and abilities. ated with a high qualiy oflife. A community dedicated o educational A community that develops a vital, prosper- excellence and an emphasis on lifelong ous, and stable economy wbile still main- learning. raining its "small town" characteristics and A that celebrates and is qualities. communi enriched by the arts and its diverse cultural A communi where theprivate andpublic opportunities. sectors cooperate to enhance economic virali PLANNING AND DESIGN A community that actively participates in regional economic development efforts. A community that retains its character as an attractive coastal town by rowing SOCIAL slowly and susrainably and by emphasizing its history, and natural environ- An inclusive, diverse, and tolerant commu- diversi ment. nit7 that welcomes and celebrates allpeople. A community that cherishes its distinctive, A communi in which allresidnts have diverse, and eclectic neighborhoods and rec- access to quali, and affordable health and ognizes that changes to the commu- social services. future nity mustpreserve their character. A community that recognizes the impor- A with safe, accessible, and bal- tance children and seniors by providing communi7 of anced that multiple exceptional cultural, educational, and tramportation promotes modes travel to local and regional desti- social supportprograms. of EXECUTIVE SUMMARY COLLABORATION four broad topic-oriented community work- shops; several surveys; a youth visioning compo- A community in which residents collaborate nent; an interactive website, the publication of with each other and with the city government an executive summary "gazette" in the Ventura in an inrmed, active, and constructive County Star and broad distribution of a public manner to assess and resolve common iues. review draft. The Ventura Vision will be imple- mented in an on-going fashion through collabo- CHAPTtR II1: THE ration between city government, other public PAIBTICIPATION PROCESS agencies, non-profit organizations, businesses, and you! Seize the Future has been a year-long partnership encompassing city government, non-profit orga- nizations, community groups, businesses, schools, CIIPTR IV:. $TIRATE61ES and individual residents to chart the community's The strategies in this chapter were developed by future through a process of visioning. the community to enable Ventura to move Initiated by the City Council in the fall of 1998, towards its Visions. They represent high priority, the process was shaped and monitored by a 7- strategic approaches to pursue consensus goals. person Steering Committee and organized The strategies are organized into ten topic areas, through a 39- member Citizens Outreach although many interrelate and depend on each Committee. The Committee worked in a coor- other. The following are some of the high-prior- dinated manner with a team of city government ity strategies for each strategy area. staff members and MIG, Inc., a consulting firm OUR NATURAL COMMUNITY. Protect and specializing in visioning. Key milestones in the Seize the Future process have included the publi- improve Ventura's natural character by the "greening" of city to follow best cation of Ventura at a Glance; two city-wide government environmental areas of the visioning events (Future Fest and Future Fest: practices; restoring shoreline, rivers, and hillsides; the the Sequel); over 30 small group workshops; restoring EXECUTIVE SUMMARY " OUR PROSPEROUS" barrancas as multi-use trail and habitat areas; " :" OUR "... enhancing wildlife habitat; and improving inter- ACCESSIBLEOUR :i:..'. COMMUNITY...... ;.; INVOLVED '.- agency environmental management. OUR PROSPEROUS COMMUNITY. Develop a stable and thriving economy by promoting a diverse business sector that generates high qual- itr jobs and a steady municipal revenue stream; enhancing vacant and under-utilized areas of the city; improving tourism amenities such as beaches and cultural attractions without impact- ing neighborhoods; promoting a vital retail sec- tor; and encouraging sound public fiscal man- agement and public-private sector interactions. OUR WELL-PLANNED AND DESIGNED NATURAL COMMUNITY. Provide a high-quality built envi- COMMUNITY ronment by developing a set of land use plan- ning, landscape architecture and community design principles that draw upon the commu- nity's natural and cultural assets and respect the eclectic and diverse neighborhoods of the city. INFRA : OUR SAFE ACT1VE -.. COMMUNITY .: OUR ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITY. Develop a balanced transportation system by encouraging COMMUNITY "'- land use modifications and "transportation sys- tems management" to reduce trafc congestion; upgrading road maintenance, improving and viii Ventura Vision EXECUTIVE SUMMARY diversifying local transit systems; promoting a OUR HEALTHY AND SAFE COMMUNITY. regional rail strategy; enhancing parking through Ensure high levels of