City council plans for the future • News Atascadero

Council discusses plans to develop El Camino Real corridor

ATASCADERO – The Atascadero City Council met on Tuesday, October 12 for its regular meeting at 6 p.m., after a closed-door session with nothing to report. The agenda was approved 5-0, and presentations followed.

Councilor Charles Bourbeau read a proclamation recognizing October 2021 as National Month of Action Against Domestic Violence, Mayor Heather Moreno read a proclamation recognizing September 15 to October 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Month, and Council member Mark Dariz read a proclamation acknowledging October 3-9. , such as Fire Prevention Week.

Atascadero Fire Chief Casey Bryson and Battalion Chief David Van Son spoke and thanked council members on behalf of the Atascadero Fire Department.

The consent schedule was approved 5-0, and the meeting moved on to updates from Atascadero director Rachelle Rickard.

The lake perimeter clean-up day is Saturday, October 23, 2021. Volunteers can meet at 8:30 am in front of the lodge to register. Bring gloves, pruners, hat and water and help clear unwanted brush along the way to improve the view. Coffee and donuts will be offered.

Residential waste collection will take place Saturday, October 23 to 30 from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Atascadero Chicago Quality Landfill. Residents of Atascadero can dispose of additional household waste free of charge. Please contact Waste Management at (805) 466-3636 or visit the local office to request your voucher.

City Manager Rickard has announced a variety of fun Halloween activities around town this year.

Mark Russo Sr. is once again hosting a spooky haunted house with a “Lights, Sights, and Scares Show” every night from approximately 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. until the end of October at 7720 Cortez Ave.

The Haunt will host a haunted house at 5805 El Camino Real where “18 rooms of not-so-pleasant fairy tales, legends and nursery rhymes are portrayed in the worst possible way.” Buy your tickets online at thehauntinatascadero.com.

On Saturday, October 23, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Charles Paddock Zoo will host its Zoo Boo event. “Join us at the zoo for carnival games, Halloween activities, a haunted house, and treats and treats!” Put on your best costume and bring the whole family to a not-too-spooky night at the zoo!

Downtown Trick or Treat will take place on Entrada Ave. for a safe, family-friendly Halloween event, October 31, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The event is free and will feature candy giveaways from local businesses, a hay maze, food and drink from local restaurants, costume contests for various age groups, a pet costume contest, a bouncy house and more!

There are a few road rehabilitation projects currently underway, including work on San Marcos Rd. From San Gabriel to Portola Rd. And San Gabriel Road from Highway 41 to San Marcos Road. At least one lane will be open to traffic during construction. Delays of up to 15 minutes are to be expected. Residents will be allowed access to their homes and Bonita Rd. Will be opened to allow access to San Marcos Rd. And surrounding neighborhoods. Please use alternative routes if possible and drive carefully. This road project is expected to be completed by the end of October.

The 3rd Annual Central Coast Craft Beer Festival on October 23, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Sunken Gardens, hosted by the Central Coast Brewers Guild. The festival will feature more than 50 craft breweries from Monterey counties to Ventura counties, as well as live performances by local reggae band Resination, The Voice semi-finalist Will Breman and DJ Hecktik. A variety of food trucks and plenty of quality vendors will be on site, and there are multiple entry price levels, including VIP and Designated Driver options. This is a 21+ event, and tickets are available online at visitatascadero.com.

The community forum was opened and closed without any member of the public choosing to speak.

A single MD&A was submitted by Community Development Director Phil Dunsmore, who presented the El Camino plan, which is “the result of an 18-month study on the potential to reshape and improve the El Camino corridor. Real to better serve and support the residents and businesses of Atascadero.

The objectives of the project are to:

• Evaluate shopping areas
• Quantify market potential
• Identify possible niches or commercial nodes
• Provide recommendations for land use and development
• Describe strategies and funding mechanisms
• Describe the role and potential of Atascadero as a business destination

The El Camino plan not only focuses on the city center, but the entire El Camino Real corridor, separating the corridor into the North End, Downtown and South End. Community outreach efforts have highlighted public interest in the following areas

• Economy and vitality
• Character and location
• Mobility options
• Quality of future development
• The city center as an anchor

The document was completed in March 2020 and contains concepts and suggestions for future planning standards, ideas for land use and zoning along the corridor to improve both economic development and land use. housing opportunities; and potential improvements in the right-of-way to increase the number of cyclists and pedestrians. security and mobility.

From this plan emerged the following economic strategies:

• Encourage infill development and reuse of existing underused sites
• Focus on niche creation and business consolidation for momentum at key nodes
• Target the commercial park zone for business parks and employment centers
• Investment in the public domain to create a pedestrian friendly and aesthetic environment
• Prioritize areas of opportunity and develop standards and zoning for a streamlined development process
• Modify uses in existing zoning districts to ensure compatibility
• Encourage the grouping of plots to create planned development sites
• Ensure the application of the code of activities along the corridor that degrade the aesthetic and economic environment

“This plan is a basis for the city’s future action,” said Dunsmore, who reiterated that the El Camino plan is not a policy book, but rather a reference, a source of inspiration and a ” cookbook for the future “.

The Council reflected and gave its opinion on the El Camino plan with an in-depth conversation covering far too many topics to relate here, but interested parties can watch the archived meeting at slo-span.org/static/meetings-ATASCC.php.

After the discussion, Mayor Moreno opened for public comment, and caller Geoff Auslen called to express some concerns about the discussions about pushing some businesses to relocate downtown as well as the need to take into account trends that are occurring out of state that might come. This way. He commended the Council for doing an excellent job this evening and for having addressed most of its concerns during their discussion.

The meeting was adjourned at around 8:06 p.m. and the next council meeting is scheduled for October 26 at 6 p.m.

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