PALMDALE — The City of Palmdale will host a community workshop for its Transit Oriented Development (TOD) project and Avenue Q Feasibility Study this Saturday, Nov. 15.
The workshop begins at 10 a.m. in the Yucca Elementary School Cafeteria, located at 38440 2nd Street East in Palmdale.
“We’re hosting this community workshop to present residents with the overall scope, goals and objectives for both projects,” said Palmdale’s Communications Manager John Mlynar. “The thoughts, suggestions and concerns of our residents regarding both projects will assist City staff and the consultant to better understand key issues and community priorities.”
The community workshop is the next task to be completed prior to executing the Existing Conditions and Site Analysis Report for both projects.
Last year, Palmdale was awarded a $400,000 grant by Metro for the TOD study (TOD3), which will update the City’s General Plan and Zoning Ordinance to reflect its current vision for TOD within the vicinity of the Palmdale Transportation Center (PTC) and future California High Speed Rail Station.
The City also received a $100,000 grant from Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) for the Avenue Q Feasibility Study. This will provide the City with an analysis that will determine the feasibility of developing the Avenue Q Corridor that will apply fundamental TOD/mixed use design and ultimately serve as an extension of the PTC and California High Speed Rail Station Planning Area.
It also helps the City take another step towards implementing the approved SCAG’s Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy with the intention of establishing a more livable and prosperous Southern California.
“TOD is typically defined as more compact development within easy walking distance of public transit which contains a mix of uses such as housing, jobs, recreation, shops, restaurants and entertainment,” said Assistant Planner II Carlos Contreras. “TOD is about creating walkable, pedestrian/bicycle/public transit friendly communities for people of all ages and incomes. The vision is to provide neighborhoods with more transportation and housing choices where residents can live work and play and maintain lifestyles that are convenient, affordable and active.”
On October 6, various stakeholders within the study area were interviewed and students from Advancing Communities Together (ACT) took part in a livability audit that includes mapping exercises at City Hall and a field survey of the focus area.
“City staff and the project consultant interviewed several people who live and work within the project area so that City staff and the consultant can gain insights from their experience, thoughts and suggestions as they relate to both projects,” said Assistant Planner II Juan Carrillo. “A strong collaborative effort between stakeholders, community members, and decision-makers is essential to this planning process.”
The studies are expected to be completed by 2016.
For more information regarding TOD3, visit www.cityofpalmdale.org/TOD, call Carlos Contreras directly at 661-267-5200 or email ccontreras@cityofpalmdale.org.
For more information regarding the Avenue Q Feasibility Study, visit www.cityofpalmdale.org/Businesses/Development-Services/Planning-and-Zoning/Avenue-Q-Feasibility-Study, call Juan Carrillo at 661-267-5200 or email jcarrillo@cityofpalmdale.org.
[Information via press release from the City of Palmdale.]
Previous related story: Palmdale begins work on transit oriented project and Ave Q feasibility study
Marie says
Something odd. Palmdale is studying placing public transportation where it is convenient for those who will use it. Lancaster wants to move its metrorail station to the boonies where fewer will use it. As I understand, the proposed metrorail station would be at least five miles from its current location near the Blvd. Buses are expensive and time consuming for riders. Anyone know what is going on with the proposed move?