June 25, 1998
WORKSHOP SUMMARY
San Bruno's Business and Economic Development Committee (BEDC) is sponsoring a community discussion regarding downtown revitalization. Last year's economic development survey of 600 San Bruno citizens scored downtown as the top economic priority for the city. In addition, owners of property in downtown are exploring the feasibility of forming a business improvement district. In response to popular citizen and property owner interest, BEDC sponsored a June 25 workshop to examine with the community alternative futures for downtown.
The overall objectives for the workshop included:
1. Discussing revitalization opportunities and issues for the Downtown.
2. Identifying popular objectives and principles for downtown revitalization.
3. Initiating a community-based planning process.
The 81 workshop participants listened to presentations summarizing urban planning analysis and how other communities have supported downtown revitalization objectives with Property-based Business Improvement Districts (PBID's). The workshop participants formed planning teams and developed their own planning concepts for downtown. The workshop resulted in a consensus diagram of features the workshop planning teams felt were important to include in an overall revitalization plan for downtown.
OVERVIEW
Generally, participants in the workshop emphasized maintaining the small town atmosphere in downtown, but with a better managed environment. The planning teams kept San Mateo Avenue as the primary pedestrian-oriented shopping street and tried to reinforce this role with a variety of wayfinding, district management, streetscape amenity, and circulation improvements.
The overall summary of the workshop includes objectives, consensus features diagram, and team summaries.
OVERALL OBJECTIVES SUMMARY
In the summary presentations by the planning teams, three overall themes emerged for downtown objectives. These were to enhance the image of downtown; improve access and parking; and improve the marketing, promotion, and mix of downtown retail.
1. Enhance San Mateo Avenue's Image
· Cleanliness
· Streetscaping
· Brighter Street Lights
· Improved Storefronts
2. Improve Access and Parking
· Clear Open Entrances to Downtown
· Signage
· Transit Access
· Parking Lots
3. Improved Retail Mix and Marketing
· Better Mix
· Better Marketing
CONSENSUS PLANNING FEATURES
When the planning participant planning teams presented their concepts at the end of the workshop, there were several overall popular features in their plans.
1. Re-establishing the San Mateo Avenue and El Camino Real intersection as the principal civic focal point for downtown.
2. Improving the connections between San Mateo Avenue, San Bruno Avenue, and El Camino Real.
3. Creating an active and programmed civic plaza on San Mateo Avenue.
The following diagram illustrates the consensus features for planning downtown as they were presented by workshop participants.
Team #1
Team #1's overall approach was to create a streetscape and parking framework for the downtown. They wanted plenty of parking, nice landscaping, and a variety of shops on San Mateo Avenue. They recommended more housing be developed east of San Mateo Avenue. Team #1 suggested civic or community uses be located at the intersection of El Camino Real and San Mateo Avenue.
Team #1's top objectives for downtown included:
1. parking & parking restrictions on deliveries
2. image enhancement
3. cleaner streets, sidewalks, store fronts
Other Objectives:
· variety of retail stores
· more landscaping
· friendly atmosphere-social events
· parking restrictions-double parking
· advertising
Team #2
Team #2's solution emphasized east-west connections between San Mateo Avenue shopping, Mastick Street parking lots and El Camino Real. They wanted to use streetscaping, lighting and cleanliness to make the shopping experience more pedestrian friendly. Team #2 wanted gateways should be prominent with community facility and library gateway complex located at San Mateo Avenue and El Camino Real. They recommended a civic plaza be located on San Mateo Avenue.
Team #2's top objectives for downtown included:
1. cleaning it up
2. modernize storefronts
3. brighter street lights
Other Objectives:
· 2-way traffic at El Camino Real/San Mateo Avenue
· improve street gateways
· better parking lot access
· better sign control
· uniform landscaping
Team #3
Team #3 emphasized improving San Mateo Avenue gateways and access at both San Bruno Avenue and El Camino Real. They wanted to make it a destination district--a place people want to come (i.e. clean, a theme, smaller trees, outside eating areas, new fronts, parking). Team #3 also wanted to attract some new exciting stores such as a book/music store, Starbucks and Gap.
Team #3's top objectives for downtown include:
1. parking
2. remove eucalyptus
3. making it someplace to go
Other Objectives:
· big welcome sign
· clean up back of store
· open San Mateo Avenue's south end
· control signs
· remove balloons
· clean it up
· overhangs uniform width
· clear directions to bus
Team #4
Team #4 wanted to make sure San Bruno kept the small town charm of downtown. They felt it should be a family-friendly place with a plaza and special events. Transportation access and parking were also important. They wanted to create an overall theme that acknowledged its diversity while improving the streetscaping and cleanliness of downtown.
Team #4's top objectives included:
1. low scaled-mixed use buildings
2. signs for parking at rear of stores
3. rear entrances to all stores
Other Objectives:
· theme for San Mateo Avenue
· continue the diversity of restaurants
· image enhancement
· open up San Mateo Avenue at El Camino Real
· parking change parallel/horizontal
· increase public transportation/shuttle
· improve landscaping & cleanliness
· family/friendly stores-theme, image lighting
· develop "social" meeting areas
Team #5
Team #5 wanted to emphasize improving the quality of the image and pedestrian comfort along San Mateo Avenue. Their recommendations included more parking with lighting and planters; better themed and artistic signage throughout the downtown area; diversified shops; and better transit access. They improved access and the image of both north and south San Mateo Avenue gateways.
Team #5's top objectives included:
1. outstanding city entrance, at all major view corridors and gateways
2. more parking, w/walkways, lighted, planted
3. diversified shops
4. transit access to the diversified shops, shuttle buses to/from airport
Other Objectives:
· better signage
· clean streets
· enticing lighting-night
· seasonal banners/murals, color, multi-ethnic
· prettiness-flowers, art
Team #6
The linkage between El Camino Real and San Mateo Avenue shopping was emphasized by Team #6. Their concept featured improved gateways, access to downtown, and parking. They included a civic plaza with community uses, parking structures and infill commercial development to intensify and activate San Mateo Avenue.
Team #6's top objectives included:
· more pedestrian traffic
· clean up area
· form redevelopment agency
· establish image
· restoration
· more trees
Team #7
Team #7 envisioned San Mateo Avenue as a mixed use, commercial and civic street. They enhanced the connections between San Mateo Avenue and Huntington and El Camino Real. They included a civic plaza that is programmed with music and other events. gateways to San Mateo Avenue were also improved. In addition, they wanted better marketing for downtown, improved parking, and an overall beautification program.
Team #7's top objectives included:
1. better marketing
2. improve parking and public transit
3. beautification
Other Objectives:
· safety
· clean
· fun
· connected to other areas
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