By Jason Islas
Lookout Staff

March 2, 2012 -- The Downtown Specific Plan -- which could transform the heart of the beachside city -- is beginning to take shape as themes and patterns have begun to emerge, staff told the City Council Tuesday night.

But as plans coalesce, the task that lies ahead is reconciling disparate input gathered from the extensive outreach to stakeholders and during community input sessions over the past months.

“What people are really looking for is... a friendly, useable downtown,” said Mayor Pro Tem Gleam Davis.

Parking has been a concern for many residents, with most worrying about increased traffic and dwindling parking spaces.

Council Member Pam O'Connor said that when it comes to parking, the Plan should be realistic.

“If ever on a Friday or Saturday night you can find easy parking in Downtown Santa Monica, that's the day I'm worried about Downtown Santa Monica,” she said.

However, she said that the Plan should help ease the frustration of searching for parking spaces.

Residents have also said they want higher design standards for future developments in Downtown, with more public art and creative spaces, according to Neal Payton, a principal with the urban design firm Torti Gallas and Partners.

Residents have also said they want more housing and creative wayfinding Downtown.

Council member Kevin McKeown said that the Plan should place more emphasis on storefronts that attract pedestrians.

There was also a call to make sure that the Plan makes provisions for the preservation of historical buildings.

“This is an exciting time for the evolution of the downtown,” said Sarah Lejeune, a Principal Planner with the City.

With the coming of the Expo Light Rail line, the future development of the City owned property at Fourth Street and Arizona Avenue, the Colorado Esplanade and such private developments as the redevelopment of the Miramar and a new hotel at 710 Wilshire Boulevard, the Downtown area will be transformed over the next few years.

The Specific Plan will help guide the dramatic change coming to what Payton called “Santa Monica's living room.”

The Specific Plan is required by California state law and must have design standards, zone regulations, its relationship to the City's master plan (in this case, the LUCE) and outline how the plan will be administrated.

However, the process is far from over, according to City Staff.

Community & Strategic Planning Manager Francie Stefan said that the City welcomes any input residents would like to give at any time and that in the next few months, there will be more formal community input sessions.

Payton hopes that the Plan will be ready for Council approval by the winter of 2013.