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INTRODUCTION
This report provides background information and describes opportunities
and constraints for the Ocean Street Area Plan, a long-term strategy to revitalize this major corridor and gateway to the City. As this report explains,
the Ocean Street corridor has the potential to become a vibrant gateway area
that reflects the unique character of Santa Cruz, attracts visitors and accommodates the needs of residents.
A. Ocean Street Setting
The City of Santa Cruz is the largest city in Santa Cruz County. Located
between the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz is
connected by Highway 1 to Half Moon Bay to the west and Watsonville to
the east. Highway 17, which terminates at Highway 1 and Ocean Street as
shown in Figure 1-1, connects the city with Los Gatos, San Jose and the San
Francisco Bay Area.
The Ocean Street corridor serves as the north-south connection between
Highway 17 and other major streets that link the corridor with other parts of
the city. These streets include Water Street and Soquel Avenue, which provide east-west connections across the river, as well as Broadway, which runs
through several Eastside neighborhoods. The San Lorenzo River sits to the
west and south of Ocean Street. Five bridges, including one pedestrian
bridge, provide connections from Ocean Street across the river, leading to
destinations such as Downtown and the beach.
Figure 1-2 shows the preliminary boundaries of the Ocean Street Plan Area.
It is approximately 1.2 miles long, stretching from Highway 17 at the north
to the San Lorenzo River at the south. The Plan Area contains a total of 70
acres and is composed of almost 350 parcels, most of which front on Ocean
Street. A few additional parcels are included that face other streets but are
contiguous with the rest of the Plan Area. While most existing land uses
along Ocean Street are commercial businesses, the Plan Area is also adjacent
to several residential neighborhoods, and it incorporates portions of the
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C I T Y O F S A N T A C R U Z
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Lower Ocean neighborhood at its southern end. The Ocean Street Area Plan
will address the relationship between Ocean Street and the surrounding
neighborhoods.
B. Area Plan Process
Santa Cruz has adopted a variety of Area Plans as amendments to its General
Plan, which guides development and natural preservation in the city. In contrast to the General Plan, which focuses on citywide policy issues, an Area
Plan provides more focused policy direction for a smaller part of the city.
Area Plans can address all of the topics that are covered in the General Plan,
including land uses, community character and transportation. They can also
propose streetscape improvements and provide design guidelines for new
buildings.
The City’s existing Area Plans have been adopted for places that are of special
importance or concern, such as Downtown and the Beach/South of Laurel
area. Santa Cruz’s current General Plan, adopted in 1992, calls for the City to
create a Plan and Design Guidelines for Ocean Street, in recognition of the
corridor’s role as a key gateway to Santa Cruz.
This Opportunities and Constraints Report represents a first step in the process of creating an Area Plan. It describes existing conditions and identifies
opportunities for future improvements within the Plan Area. The Report has
been developed based on a comprehensive review of background documents,
as well as through interviews with key decision-makers, City staff and other
experts. The Opportunities and Constraints Report contains the following
chapters:
♦ Chapter 2: Land Uses. Describes existing uses and businesses, current
and proposed developments, vacant and underutilized sites, and ownership patterns in the Plan Area.
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CITY OF SANTA CRUZ
OCEAN STREET OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS
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Source: City of Santa Cruz GIS, 2007
FIGURE 1-1
PLAN AREA CONTEXT
CITY OF SANTA CRUZ
OCEAN STREET OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS
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Source: City of Santa Cruz GIS, 2007; DC&E, 2007
FIGURE 1-2
PLAN AREA AND SURROUNDING CONTEXT
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♦ Chapter 3: Community Character. Describes the physical character
and streetscape conditions in the Plan Area.
♦ Chapter 4: Circulation and Parking. Describes existing circulation and
parking conditions in the Plan Area, pedestrian and bicycle facilities and
transit service.
♦ Chapter 5: Existing Plans and Policies. Describes the regulatory setting, including General Plan policies and land use designations, that pertains to the Plan Area.
♦ Chapter 6: Opportunities and Constraints. Identifies opportunities for
streetscape and gateway improvements, land uses, architecture and site
planning, and circulation.
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