Preserving the historical flavor of the Barrio and revitalizing the downtown Village have been City of Carlsbad goals for many years, and the city has begun to draft a new master plan that will guide future development and land use in the neighborhoods.
Located on the coast between Buena Vista Lagoon and Tamarack Avenue, the Village and Barrio are Carlsbad's original neighborhoods and blend together along Oak Avenue. They have been the focus of significant investments in public infrastructure over the past several years to revitalize them and keep them vibrant places to live and work.
A master plan guides land use and development in a way uniquely suited for a particular area.
The city originally adopted a Village Master Plan and Design Manual in 1995. Last year the City Council approved changes to that master plan to make the neighborhood more bicycle and pedestrian friendly and stimulate business activity.
A master plan for the Village and Barrio will recognize the Village as a hub where small businesses thrive by serving both visitors and the residents who enjoy a more urban environment. The city realizes that a strong partnership between the city and the community helps promote an economically healthy Village and Barrio where local businesses and property owners feel confident investing in the future. A new master plan will be an important tool in achieving that goal.
When city officials began to discuss revising the Village Master Plan last year, they also began a process to enhance the Barrio by improving street lights, promoting pedestrian and bicycle travel, and changing the zoning to increase residential density.
The city has long treasured the Barrio's historical significance, and in the autumn of 2013 city staff approached two small groups of Barrio stakeholders to gauge their interest in extending a new Village master plan to include the Barrio. Joining the two neighborhoods in one master plan appeared an ideal way to preserve the Barrio's historical character while enhancing the neighborhood. A combined master plan also will improve movement between the two neighborhoods, which are adjacent but lack good connections.
The two Barrio groups approached agreed with this proposal, and starting this month the city will kick off a series of events as part of the process of writing a joint master plan for the Village and Barrio. And while the term "master plan" may sound dry, the process of drafting it should be exciting.
This will be a highly public and collaborative process, in which people can offer ideas and suggestions on what Carlsbad's original neighborhoods should look like in the future.
The city has hired urban revitalization experts Dover, Kohl & Partners to draft the new master plan, and the firm's team members have already met with residents, business owners, city staff and elected officials to hear their ideas.
The city and Dover, Kohl will host a public design charrette where people can offer input on what they would like these two neighborhoods to look like in the future.
A charrette is an intensive public workshop that brings all stakeholders to the table over a short period of time to work closely with a design team and reach a draft consensus over the future land use of an area.
As the design team, Dover Kohl will lead the charrette by setting up a temporary studio open to the public and holding community meetings in the Village and Barrio.
In addition to the workshops, the city is collecting input online. Visit www.carlsbadca.gov/villagebarrio for more information.
Located on the coast between Buena Vista Lagoon and Tamarack Avenue, the Village and Barrio are Carlsbad's original neighborhoods and blend together along Oak Avenue. They have been the focus of significant investments in public infrastructure over the past several years to revitalize them and keep them vibrant places to live and work.
A master plan guides land use and development in a way uniquely suited for a particular area.
The city originally adopted a Village Master Plan and Design Manual in 1995. Last year the City Council approved changes to that master plan to make the neighborhood more bicycle and pedestrian friendly and stimulate business activity.
A master plan for the Village and Barrio will recognize the Village as a hub where small businesses thrive by serving both visitors and the residents who enjoy a more urban environment. The city realizes that a strong partnership between the city and the community helps promote an economically healthy Village and Barrio where local businesses and property owners feel confident investing in the future. A new master plan will be an important tool in achieving that goal.
When city officials began to discuss revising the Village Master Plan last year, they also began a process to enhance the Barrio by improving street lights, promoting pedestrian and bicycle travel, and changing the zoning to increase residential density.
The city has long treasured the Barrio's historical significance, and in the autumn of 2013 city staff approached two small groups of Barrio stakeholders to gauge their interest in extending a new Village master plan to include the Barrio. Joining the two neighborhoods in one master plan appeared an ideal way to preserve the Barrio's historical character while enhancing the neighborhood. A combined master plan also will improve movement between the two neighborhoods, which are adjacent but lack good connections.
The two Barrio groups approached agreed with this proposal, and starting this month the city will kick off a series of events as part of the process of writing a joint master plan for the Village and Barrio. And while the term "master plan" may sound dry, the process of drafting it should be exciting.
This will be a highly public and collaborative process, in which people can offer ideas and suggestions on what Carlsbad's original neighborhoods should look like in the future.
The city has hired urban revitalization experts Dover, Kohl & Partners to draft the new master plan, and the firm's team members have already met with residents, business owners, city staff and elected officials to hear their ideas.
The city and Dover, Kohl will host a public design charrette where people can offer input on what they would like these two neighborhoods to look like in the future.
A charrette is an intensive public workshop that brings all stakeholders to the table over a short period of time to work closely with a design team and reach a draft consensus over the future land use of an area.
As the design team, Dover Kohl will lead the charrette by setting up a temporary studio open to the public and holding community meetings in the Village and Barrio.
In addition to the workshops, the city is collecting input online. Visit www.carlsbadca.gov/villagebarrio for more information.