Magnolia Avenue Specific Plan Workshop #1 - June 30, 2004 Issues, Goals & Opportunities

1. Magnolia Avenue Specific PlanWorkshop #1 - June 30, 2004Issues, Goals & Opportunities The Arroyo Group Team The Arroyo Group, Planning & Urban Design Meyer, Mohaddes Associates, Transportation EPT Design, Landscape Architecture Cotton/Bridges/Associates, Environmental Assessment

2. History of Magnolia Avenue

3. History of Magnolia Avenue • Magnolia Avenue was designed by architect W.T. Sayward to be a showplace corridor to promote the sale of 8,500 acres of land southwest of Arlington Avenue by the Riverside Land and Irrigating Company. • Sayward’s original concept was for Magnolia Avenue to extend beyond the City of Riverside, from the Santa Ana mountains on the southwest to the San Bernardino Mountains on the northeast. • Magnolia Avenue was constructed in 1875 from Ontario Avenue in Corona to Fourteenth Street in Downtown Riverside, where it meets Market Street which runs through Downtown to the Santa Ana River.

4. History of Magnolia Avenue • Beautiful citrus farms and estates lined much of Magnolia Avenue with wide parkways on both sides and a landscaped median running the length of the corridor. • Original landscaping provided unity and identity to Magnolia Avenue as a grand boulevard that was a destination in itself…a place where residents and tourists alike could enjoy a scenic drive.

5. Southwest Magnolia Avenue - 1899

6. Magnolia Avenue - 1890

7. Magnolia Avenue - 1890’s

8. Magnolia Avenue - 1890

9. History of Magnolia Avenue • In 1888, rails were laid along the median for horse drawn cars. • In 1899, these cars were replaced by electric cars that ran all the way to Corona. • By the 1950’s these electric car lines were eliminated.

10. Magnolia Avenue - Electric Rail Along the Median

11. Magnolia Avenue Today

12. Magnolia Avenue Today • Today most of the citrus groves and estates are gone, replaced by commercial centers and residential, institutional and business uses.

13. Magnolia Avenue Today • Much of the landscaped median has been removed to accommodate additional traffic or turning lanes for cars and the original parkway landscaping remains only in segments.

14. Magnolia Avenue Today • Still, Magnolia Avenue retains some of its historic and scenic character, and maintains its importance not only as a traffic carrier, but also as a definable place in Riverside that links neighborhoods, districts and shopping areas.

15. What Will Magnolia Avenue Be Tomorrow?

16. Magnolia Avenue Specific Plan • The future of Magnolia Avenue will be determined through the concepts, policies and implementation programs of the new Riverside General Plan and the Magnolia Avenue Specific Plan. • Our focus this evening is on the Specific Plan.

17. Magnolia Avenue Specific Plan What is a Specific Plan? • A regulatory tool used to implement the General Plan and guide development in a localized area. • Focuses on the unique characteristics of an area by customizing the development and design regulations and public improvements.

18. Magnolia Avenue Specific Plan What can a Specific Plan do for Magnolia Avenue? • Establish a vision and development framework for Magnolia Avenue and a means to implement that vision. • Provide tailored land use regulations, development standards and design guidelines for private development. • Set forth a strategy for public investment and improvements along the Corridor.

19. Issues, Goals & Opportunities June 30, 2004 1 Workshop Review of the Draft Specific Plan Fall 2004 2 Workshop Planning Commission/City Council Late Fall/Winter 2004 Public Hearings H Specific Plan Process Overview

20. Ramona Drive Specific Plan Area Buchanan Street (western city limit)

21. Previous Studies

22. Previous Studies • Identified distinct districts along the corridor. • Provided land use, urban design and circulation recommendations. • Is not a regulatory document, but a comprehensive study. • Will contribute to the development of this Specific Plan. In 1999, theMagnolia/Market Corridor Studywas prepared with an extensive public involvement process. This study:

23. Previous Studies • Includes the Market Street segment of the Magnolia/Market Corridor. • Makes recommendations for streetscape and gateway improvements (currently underway), which could relate to future gateway improvements at the western end of Magnolia Avenue at the entrance to the City. In 2002, theDowntown Specific Planwas adopted. This Specific Plan:

24. Relationship to the General Plan

25. Relationship to the General Plan • As part of this city-wide process, Magnolia Avenue has been studied in detail to determine appropriate land use designations for the corridor. • The updated General Plan land use designations will provide direction for this Specific Plan. The City is currently undergoing an update to its General Plan and Zoning Code with an extensive public involvement process.

26. Relationship to the General Plan • One of the major changes of the General Plan is the creation of Mixed-Use Designations, which apply to large segments of Magnolia Avenue. • A mixed-use designation will allow for projects that integrate residential uses with compatible commercial and office uses. • There are 3 different Mixed-Use Categories in the Draft General Plan: • Mixed-Use Neighborhood (MU-N) • Mixed-Use Village (MU-V) • Mixed-Use Urban (MU-U)

27. Relationship to the General Plan • Mixed-Use Neighborhood (MU-N) allows neighborhood-serving commercial uses with low-intensity residential uses.

28. Relationship to the General Plan • Mixed-Use Village (MU-V) allows medium to high-density residential development with retail, office and service uses primarily at the street level to facilitate a pedestrian environment.

29. Relationship to the General Plan • Mixed-Use Urban (MU-U) allows higher density residential development with compatible commercial uses; employment and entertainment uses are the focus; transit-oriented development.

30. Relationship to the General Plan • Much of Magnolia Avenue has been designated one of these Mixed-Use Categories by the Draft General Plan. • The updated General Plan also includes new urban design and circulation designations for the corridor. These include:

31. Parkway • Scenic Boulevard • Four-lane Arterial • Bus Rapid Transit Corridor • Arts Bus Corridor Magnolia Avenue - Corridor WideBuchanan Street (western city limit) to Ramona Drive Source: Riverside General Plan Process, 2004

32. Relationship to the General Plan • This Specific Plan will build upon the new General Plan designations and provide additional recommendations for: • Development standards and design guidelines for new development • Landscape and streetscape improvements to unify and beautify the corridor • Access and circulation improvements • Bus Rapid Transit • District and corridor identity

33. Magnolia Avenue Districts

34. Magnolia Avenue Districts • There are six districts along Magnolia Avenue, from west to east: • La Sierra • Galleria • Arlington Village • Magnolia Heritage • Magnolia Center • Wood Streets • Following is a summary of each district’s current conditions and new Land Use Designations per the Draft General Plan.

35. La Sierra District

36. La Sierra District Buchanan Street to Banbury Drive

37. La Sierra:Current Setting • Most recent portion of the corridor to develop. • Contains strip commercial development, multi-family residences, business park and light industrial uses, and large vacant parcels with Highway 91 frontage. • Kaiser Permanente is major employment center and destination in this District. • Auto-oriented district, with wide curb-to-curb street width and dispersed land uses. • Metrolink Station located just south of District (south side of freeway) at La Sierra Avenue. • Parkway and median landscaping is intermittent. • Western end of district is gateway to City. • Bus Rapid Transit stops planned by RTA at Kaiser Permanente and La Sierra Avenue.

38. La Sierra: Current Setting

39. La Sierra: Current Setting

40. La Sierra:New Land Use Designations Mixed-Use Village Mixed-Use Urban High Density Residential General Commercial Business/Office Park Source: Draft General Plan

41. Galleria District

42. Galleria District Banbury Drive to Harrison Street

43. Galleria:Current Setting • Entirely commercial district with regional and general commercial uses. • Premier upscale and fashion-retailing destination for City and region. • Galleria at Tyler is performing as the number two Inland Empire regional mall in terms of sales; expanding to include “lifestyle” shopping and entertainment. • Also contains supportive “big box” comparison shopping retailers and some underutilized properties. • Auto-oriented district and the only area of the corridor with six lanes. • Superior freeway access and visibility. • Bus Rapid Transit stop planned by RTA at Galleria at Tyler.

44. Galleria: Current Setting

45. Galleria: Current Setting

46. Galleria:New Land Use Designations General Commercial Regional Commercial Source: Draft General Plan

47. Arlington Village District

48. Arlington Village District Harrison Street to Jackson Street

49. Arlington Village:Current Setting • One of the oldest portions of the corridor, originating in 1876. • Originally a distinct and geographically separate village center. • Contains local-serving, “mom and pop” retail and office uses surrounded by stable single-family neighborhoods. • Infrastructure and history of a cohesive, pedestrian-oriented village environment, however, certain land uses, front yard parking and curb cuts have diminished the pedestrian quality. • Van Buren at Magnolia will be widened to accommodate six travel lanes. • Contains Arlington Park and the Arlington Branch Library, which is planned to relocate across Magnolia Avenue. • Bus Rapid Transit stop planned by RTA at Van Buren.

50. Arlington Village: Current Setting