Another Step Forward for Downtown Improvement Plan
Marina’s march to improve it’s downtown is set to take another small step forward Thursday when the Planning Commission is expected to approve the Downtown Specific Plan — and adopt General Plan amendments and zoning changes to implement it.
The changes are meant to create more space for commercial development downtown, as well as more space for pedestrians, bicycles and people to mingle. It’s an ambitious plan.
There are real challenges for the city. As the plan acknowledges, the street network downtown is rather disconnected, with many dead-end streets. Streets are not regularly spaced either and no block standards were ever required. There are no parks and no clearly defined business district. There also is no great way to connect what exists with all the new development at the former Fort Ord, and downtown was created for autos, having developed with the highway running right through.
But opportunities do exist. The gateways to the city are clearly defined; there are wide right-of-ways on Del Monte Boulevard and Reservation Road. The city has an airport, a nice MST Transit Center and the CUSMB Campus next door. Key areas are primed for redevelopment.
In addition to downtown, the commission is recommended to approve a Conditional Use Permit to allow the continued operation of the Las Animas Concrete plant at 499 Ninth Street for another three years, with an additional year to dismantle the operation.
The plant has been operating since 2005 and employs 14 people. It has never had any complaints about any air quality issues. It consists of some bunkers and hoppers for materials, a couple of sheds, a small building for workshop space, two 55-foot-tall silos, one 125-footlong conveyor, and four 30×15 foot settling ponds.
Up to 35 truck trips per day go in and out of the plant, but it averages about half that. Staff has proposed to limit night time operations at the plant to 30 days per year, with no more than 10 in a row. Click here for the complete staff report.
The Planning Commission meets Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Marina City Council Chambers. You can participate through Zoom with the URL: HTTPS://US02WEB.ZOOM.US/J/84287578704. A Zoom meeting by telephone only is available at 1-669-900-9128 – Webinar ID: 842 8757 8704
General Plan Update
The community is also invited to share its thoughts on the General Plan during a public workshop to be held on Saturday, Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Community Center at 211 Hillcrest Ave. You can view news on previous General Plan workshops here.
Imjin Parkway Update
Preston Drive’s reopening keeps getting pushed back. Pacific Gas and Electric is holding up the project as we wait for it relocate power poles and install underground utilities. Originally planned to reopen by September, it will now be at least until mid-October before the roadway is open again. Anybody driving through Imjin is aware that the bigger problem is the intersection of Abrams and Reservation. There is no word on when that might be completed.
POLICE REPORTS
Aug. 30
Nothing consequential
Aug. 31
• A rape was reported on Messinger Drive
• Spousal abuse was reported on Dunes Road
• A robbery was reported on Bayonet Circle and an arrest was made. The suspect was also charged with violating probation.
Sept. 1
• An incident on General Stillwell resulted in a myriad of offenses. Apparently, police stopped a burglary ring, arrested three suspects, and one probation who then tried to smuggle drugs into jail. The charges include conspiracy to commit crime, possession of burglary tools, shoplifting, possession of narcotics and paraphernalia, probation violation and bringing drugs into a jail. Two other people were also charged with grand theft and shoplifting.
• A DUI on Melanie Road, including a hit-and-run with property damage.
• Vandalism at Mortimer Lane and Del Monte Boulevard
• Vandalism on Carmel Avenue
• Vandalism on Third Avenue
(I’m going to guess that all three incidences of vandalism were graffiti.)
Sept. 2
• DUI on Vaughn Ave.
Sept. 3
• An apparent bully was charged with threatening with intent to terrorize; assault through intimidation; vandalism and violating probation
• A rape was reported on Hilo Avenue
• DUI on Imjin Road
• Somebody’ car was stolen on Crescent Avenue
Sept. 4
• Police appear to have rescued a young woman from her pimp. There is an incident on Reservation Road with charges of human trafficking; pimping; pandering for prostitution by threat; kidnapping; exhibiting a firearm; threatening a crime with intent to terrorize, and conspiracy.
• Lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 and sexual penetration of a child under 14
• Theft of personal property on Del Monte Boulevard
Sept. 5
Nothing consequential
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