COMPTON ARTESIA SPECIFIC PLAN CITY OF COMPTON, CA SEPTEMBER 14, 2019 COMPTON ARTESIA SPECIFIC PLAN 2 COMPTON ARTESIA SPECIFIC PLAN COMPTON ARTESIA SPECIFIC PLAN ADMINISTRATIVE DRAFT SEPTEMBER 14, 2019 PREPARED FOR: CITY OF COMPTON, CA. DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING PREPARED BY: SKIDMORE, OWINGS & MERRILL LLP LISA WISE CONSULTING RINCON CONSULTANTS, INC. BAE URBAN CITYFI STEER DAVIES & GLEAVE SUPERJACENT KPFF CONSULTING ENGINEERS KOA CORPORATION 3 COMPTON ARTESIA SPECIFIC PLAN 4 COMPTON ARTESIA SPECIFIC PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 THE VISION 6 3.14 Outdoor Dining & Retail 1.1 Project Introduction 3.15 Street Trees 1.2 Planning Principles 3.16 Park and Parkways 1.3 Purpose and Scope 1.4 Background and Process 4 BUILDING DESIGN GUIDELINES 78 1.5 Summary of Community Feedback 4.1 Intent and Objectives 1.6 Project Context and Location 4.2 Relationship to Standards 1.7 TOD Core Area Context 4.3 Guideline Components 1.8 Specific Plan Vision 4.4 Building Coverage and Placement 1.9 Specific Plan Goals 4.5 Building Setbacks from Property 1.10 Sub-area Plan Lines 1.11 Subdivision Plan 4.6 Building Frontage 1.12 Illustrative Plan 4.7 Building Massing and Materials 1.13 Urban Form 4.8 Retail Design 1.14 Public Amenities 4.9 Vehicular, Pedestrian and Bicycle 1.15 Beyond the TOD Core Area Circulation 1.16 Program Chart 4.10 Parking 4.11 Private Ways and Streets 2 TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT 24 4.12 Landscape and Open Space OVERLAY DISTRICT REGULATIONS 4.13 Additional Standards 4.14 Townhouse How to Use the Standards and Guidlines 4.15 Full Block Residential Courtyard 2.1 Purpose and Intent 4.16 High-density Mixed Residential 2.2 Applicability 4.17 Half-block Residential Bar 2.3 Administration and Procedures 4.18 Low-Density Apartment Bar 2.4 Allowed Land Uses 4.19 Low-Density Commercial Bar 2.5 Development Standards 4.20 Large Plate Commercial or Retail 2.6 Definitions Building 4.21 Retail Village or Cluster 3 PUBLIC REALM DESIGN GUIDELINES 62 3.1 Intent and Objectives 5 IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY 90 3.2 Key Public Realm Principles 3.3 Creative Placemaking 5.1 Implementation Program 3.4 Bicycle and Pedestrian Network 5.2 Impact Fees 3.5 Street Network 3.6 Primary Streets 6 GLOSSARY OF TERMS 96 3.7 Secondary Streets 3.8 Transit Access 3.9 Streetscape Design Elements 3.10 Paving & Planting zones 3.11 Street Furniture 3.12 Street Lights 3.13 Sidewalk Amenities 5 COMPTON ARTESIA SPECIFIC PLAN 6 COMPTON ARTESIA SPECIFIC PLAN 1. THE VISION 7 COMPTON ARTESIA SPECIFIC PLAN 1.1 PROJECT INTRODUCTION 1.3 PURPOSE AND SCOPE The Compton Artesia Specific Plan defines a unique transit village The City of Compton has developed this Specific Plan for the Metro around the Metro light rail stop in a manner that fully integrates the Blue Line Artesia Station, in collaboration with the community and surrounding community into this newest “hub” of Compton. It does other stakeholders, for a vision for future development and other public so by dramatically improving access to Artesia Station and leveraging improvements within the Artesia Station area. existing community assets like the Gateway Towne Center and This Specific Plan addresses the existing conditions that act as potential Compton Creek to create a new residential and cultural destination. impediments to redevelopment by focusing on public investments This vision for the Artesia Station area will spark catalytic TOD in the built environment, many of which are already codified in other (Transit-Oriented Development) projects that change the trajectory planning documents adopted by the City (e.g. Compton Bicycle of development in the project area, and in so doing transform the Masterplan, Compton Creek Masterplan, and the Artesia Boulevard Compton real estate market as a whole. The Compton Artesia Specific Complete Streets Masterplan), to spur private development. In creating Plan brings the culture of the City together with the opportunities of a new neighborhood within the City of Compton, this planning process the site to develop a shared vision of the future. The plan incorporates has sought to better understand the current site context, the changing community values that were confirmed throughout the engagement trends affecting the community as a whole, and the public’s desire process. to realize something uniquely of Compton. Access to opportunity and safety, or the perception of safety, have been large drivers of various urban design strategies to put more “eyes on the street”. 1.2 PLANNING PRINCIPLES Over the past couple decades, the City of Compton has transitioned from a majority African-American to a majority Hispanic community, The planning principles that have informed the design of the TOD Core and understanding this history and demographic shift is imperative Area include:: to understanding how this new place should be designed for future generations. Finally, looking to other jurisdictions for inspiration (e.g. the Los Angeles River restoration), this Specific Plan seeks to illustrate 1. A Walkable District a vision of Compton Creek as a water body whose ecological function has been restored, thereby creating a new active recreational amenity 2. A Range of Housing Types and educational opportunity. 3. New Parks and Squares This Specific Plan introduces a diversity of land uses to the project area, 4. Small Blocks and Streets reducing parking requirements, providing alternative transportation 5. Restored Compton Creek amenities, strategically leveraging smart technologies, and constructing multiple types of housing to create a more livable, affordable and 6. Local Shops and National Retailers diverse community. While the Specific Plan focuses on creating a long- 7. Jobs and Commercial Development term vision of the place, it also defines the standards of a new TOD 8. Cultural Activities and Amenities Zoning Overlay to codify the transit village concept. Downtown City of Compton City of Compton Specific Plan Area Specific Plan Area TOD Core Area/ Overlay District Greater Los Angeles Context City of Compton Context 8 COMPTON ARTESIA SPECIFIC PLAN 1.4 BACKGROUND AND PROCESS Up to the 1960s, the project area was predominantly farmland. It was community to the now majority Hispanic residents. In this process, the not until the early 1960s that this land was developed for industrial project found a diversity of experiences and desires for the project uses, leveraging Compton’s geographic location and its accessibility to area. Through a series of vision workshops both with the public and a global supply chain. The Metro Blue Line and its Artesia Station was internally at the City, the Compton Artesia Specific Plan planning opened in the 1990s adjacent to a large auto mall. This car dealership process developed and continually refined the guiding principles of was then redeveloped as the Gateway Town Center in 2008, becoming the community: Recreation, Activity, Equity, Mixed-Use, Density and an important part of the City’s tax base, and defining the built Access. environment of the project area. Using these guiding principles as the foundation of the planning The City of Compton has a rich history, culture and sense of pride in process, Compton Artesia Specific Plan then designed three their community. Considering the development history that has isolated development alternates grounded in a market analysis. These the Artesia Station from residents, the Compton Artesia Specific Plan were tested on multiple occasions at community workshops with has taken this civic identity to create a new neighborhood centered stakeholders to better understand the range of different open spaces around transit. and transportation modes that should be promoted in this Specific Plan. This process ultimately led to an urban design strategy creates a To prepare this Specific Plan, the City underwent an extensive place of, by and for the people of Compton. engagement process that unearthed various community narratives from transit riders and students, from the historic African-American Compton Artesia Specific Plan merges the culture of the City with the opportunities of the site to develop a shared vision based on the community’s values identified during the engagement process. Artesia Station Past Present Future Farmland Commercial and Transit Mixed-use and Transit 9 COMPTON ARTESIA SPECIFIC PLAN 1.5 SUMMARY OF COMMUNITY FEEDBACK Through a series of vision workshops with the public and internally at the City, the Compton Artesia Specific Plan planning process developed and continually refined the guiding principles of the community shown below, which became the foundation of the planning process itself. The photos encapsulate the themes that emerged from the vision workshop series, the identified community values synthesized from the engagement process and interviews, and activities to engage the community at one of the many outreach events. “Community is invaluable in Compton. We build the narrative for Compton and we do that when we feel empowered, when we have a voice.” Interview with Jennifer Beasley AKA JayBee: Arts, Culture, and Community Advocate (May 31st, 2019). #OPENTHATGATE #CentralPARK Themes that emerged from the vision workshop series. “Gentrification is a lack of awareness RECREATION ACTIVITY and lack of engagement with the community. Respect the knowledge and experience of the community.” Interview with George Magellenes: Political Strategist and Community Advocate (May 31st, 2019). EQUITY MIXED-USE DENSITY ACCESS Guiding Principles of the Community Public Engagement Workshop 10 COMPTON ARTESIA SPECIFIC PLAN 1.6 PROJECT CONTEXT AND LOCATION Compton’s diverse built environment is a reflection of the City’s historic Compton Creek is an untapped natural asset running through the heart growth patterns. Centrally located between Downtown LA and the of the Artesia Station area. The creek should be reconnected to the Ports of LA and Long Beach, the Compton Artesia Specific Plan project community and create a central natural feature of the project.