Joint City Council/Planning Commission To Discuss Downtown Specific Plan Tonight

Another plan to develop downtown Martinez into an attractive, revitalized space will be discussed tonight by the joint meeting of the City Council and Planning Commission. On the table will be the results of a series of workshops held this summer called “Downtown Matters.”

Those workshops included field trips to other cities like Lodi, Livermore and Redwood City. There were also a series of lectures and discussions by planning consultants and urban professionals, and a walking tour of downtown Martinez.

Tonight’s discussion will bring together the results of those workshops and field trips, and give city officials a chance to bring their own thoughts to the table, as well as hear from the public on ideas for downtown.

“Infill housing and a memorable public realm” are two of the key ideas developed from the meetings.

“New people living in Downtown will expand the customer base for both existing and new businesses, as well as activate the streets and public spaces.  A public realm that is memorable and wonderful to be in can serve as a powerful catalyst for private investment, as demonstrated in Redwood City, Livermore, Lodi, and other cities highlighted in the workshops,” according to a staff report.

Martinez was at one time the economic hub of Contra Costa County. The construction of the Martinez/Benicia Bridge in 1962 and the development of Sun Valley Mall in Concord in 1968 helped usher in the decline of business in downtown Martinez.

Since then, city officials, property owners, merchants and residents have struggled to find ways to bring businesses back to life downtown. The use of redevelopment has been a source of the most contention, but the state has put an end to the formation of any new redevelopment agencies.

So how will the city pay for any new revitalization strategies? That, according to the staff report, is a great question.

“A funding mechanism for implementing the strategies and priorities identified in this report is key to keep the momentum going.  The Downtown Specific Plan references redevelopment as a tool, among others.  Realistically, however, that tool may no longer be available.  Staff has been exploring other options and will return to the Council at a later date to discuss one or more implementation strategies,” it states.

Meanwhile, the joint meeting takes place tonight at 7 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 525 Henrietta Street.