Encinitas City: Has vision, now has $1.1 million master plan, er make that 'Conversation' (and a community 'Commons' ?)
Old Encinitas hugs the coast with businesses and eclectic houses. New Encinitas has larger tract homes, golf courses and shopping centers. Olivenhain is old school semi-rural bordering Rancho Santa Fe. Cardiff is surfer central oceanfront with a touch of the Welsh and Leucadia, is, well, Leu-crazia, keeping it funky.
Put it all together in the kinda way back machine, 1986, and what did you get -- the incorporated city of Encinitas, d'uh.
And now Encinitas has "Encinitas 2035 General Plan Update" begun in spring and finished for fall, following a series of workshops, visioning experiences, forums and even a "General Plan Vision Festival." Hundreds of residents in this 65,000 person city participated in the process, thousands if one includes the various lectures, public meetings, and outreach sessions devoted to determining the city's future. The city paid MGI consultants $977,000 and Austi-Foust Associates $110,000 for work on the master plan, said Patrick Murphy, city planning and building director.
Not only that, but a newly released privately-funded $35,000, 39-page 'A Vision for a New Commons in Enicintas' calling for creation of a Balboa Park-like area to serve as a "focal point" for the North County Yugoslavia -- as far as combination of disparate communities -- that is Encinitas.
As for the overall master plan:
"In the spring of 2010, the City of Encinitas embarked on a citywide process to actively engage the community to comprehensively update the City’s General Plan and better prepare Encinitas for the future," the recently released report said.
"Through a comprehensive outreach effort, many Encinitas residents were given the opportunity to contribute their ideas and opinions of the City’s assets, challenges, core values and vision for the future.
"It represents the culmination of the first phase of the City’s General Plan Update and provides guidance for future policy and planning decisions about key topics related to the City’s growth and development. Vision topics include land use, housing, economic development, transportation, parks and open space, public facilities, sustainability, conservation and community character," the report said.
The entire 21-page report is attached here as a pdf file.
It's grand vision:
In 2035, Encinitas is…
- A unique coastal community known for its beaches, surf culture, art, and easygoing and relaxed lifestyle.
- A City that embraces the distinct identity and character of its fi ve communities.
- A sustainable community that embraces everyone’s quality of life through environment, fiscal health, community health and equity.
- A family-oriented community that supports healthy and active lifestyles with strong connections to the natural environment and outdoor recreation.
- Known to deliver high-quality parks and community facilities serving the needs of all residents.
- A leader in green living and environmental stewardship and is known to conserve its natural habitat, protect its natural landforms and preserve its scenic resources.
- Easy to walk, bike and get around in — to schools, shopping, parks, beaches and/or other destinations.
- A complete community for working, shopping and living.
- A place where one can live their entire life with housing for all ages, incomes and abilities.
- Known for its distinct, locally owned and operated shops and businesses that support residents, visitors/tourists and employees.
- A City that supports local businesses that serve Encinitas and those businesses that further the image of Encinitas, such as the agricultural and horticultural industries.
- A City where innovative and creative developments respond to the needs of the community and where its architecture helps maintain community character.
- Supportive of its local culture and promotes artistic creativity.
