On Tuesday, the Antioch City Council were provided with a brief overview of recommendations made by the Waterfront Revitalization Subcommittee which the full council directed staff to bring back concepts and a plan at a future meeting.
Although many of the concepts were not new to Antioch, many discussed over the years, the council aims to have staff bring back a plan with costs.
Mayor Pro Tem Joy Motts stated the two things they wanted to bring forward are the installation of speed tables on 2nd Street, noting that their advisory committee of Sean McCauley and George Cardinale stated they thought this was an important part for the calming measures downtown.
“It’s something that would really enhance the downtown,” stated Motts.
Motts then stated the next recommendation was the establishment of the “downtown dining district”. She explained that staff would come back with a proposal at a later date. Motts then asked for support from the council.
Councilmember Monica Wilson explained the importance of a downtown dinning district and being able to change zoning and market it to outsides to come downtown. She further highlighted they are looking at the Wilbur Corridor and also will be receiving a presentation from Supervisor Federal Glover‘s Office on the Northern Waterfront.
“We really feel like getting some information and letting them know how we want to move forward with not only the downtown district, but the whole waterfront going from the bridge to the pittsburg border, those are things we discussed,” said Wilson.
During council discussion, Lori Ogorchock highlighted there was no information in the staff report on speed tables, no cost estimates or drawings of what the proposal may look like. She also noted the ad-hoc committee provided the full council with no minutes from the meetings and was seeking more information from the discussion.
Motts explained that is what they are asking for, the council as a whole ask staff to come back with a proposal with what it would look like.
Mayor Sean Wright explained tonight they were looking to provide staff with direction of what to look at which he stated he was okay with allowing staff to work on a plan. The council provided consensus.
The topics include:
- Launching a pilot program to close 2nd Street between G Street and City Hall
- Establishment of parklets to allow for on-street outdoor dining or business
- Installation of speed tables on 2nd Street
- Create a waterfront dining district in the downtown
- Development of an unreinforced masonry building policy
- Recommend that the Waterfront Revitalization Ad-hoc Committee be turned into a Standing Committee.
Back in February 2018, the Antioch city Council adopted its Downtown Specific Plan. The Planning Area boundaries of Downtown Antioch, for the purposes of this Specific Plan, are generally the San Joaquin River to the north, Fulton Shipyard Road to the east, 10th Street to the south, and Auto Center Drive to the west. This area is approximately 1.5 miles wide and 0.5 mile deep, with a total area of 0.75 square miles. The Planning Area boundaries generally reflect the traditional grid that was developed during the 19thand early 20th centuries.
Mayor Wright confirmed Wednesday morning that there was no staff report or plan reported out by the ad-hoc committee, the direction by the entire council, will now allow staff to create a full plan for future council discussion.
No timeline was provided as to when staff will report back with a plan.
