Planning For A Better Downtown in El Sobrante A "Transportation for Livable Communities" Project (updated June 21, 2007) Contra Costa County worked with the El Sobrante community in 2001-2002 to develop a plan for revitalizing downtown El Sobrante along San Pablo Dam Road between Appian Way and El Portal Drive. The resulting plan was the Downtown El Sobrante Transportation and Land Use Plan. There were still some unresolved issues mainly concerning the desired intensity of downtown development, so the plan has not been implemented. County staff is working with the El Sobrante Municipal Advisory Council on a scaled-back version of the plan that will bring about less dramatic changes to the area. Following is information on the original Downtown El Sobrante Transportation and Land Use Plan approved by the Board of Supervisors in 2002. More up-to-date information will be provided as soon as it is available. The El Sobrante community has expressed its desire for a more vital, active business district along San Pablo Dam Road – a more attractive downtown with a stronger retail base, improved traffic patterns, easier walking, and public spaces. The Downtown El Sobrante Transportation and Land Use Plan is intended to accomplish these goals. The effort is co-sponsored by Contra Costa County, the El Sobrante Chamber of Commerce, a community group called the 94803 Task Force, and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, which provided a $50,000 grant from its “Transportation for Livable Communities” program to help finance the plan. The Downtown El Sobrante Transportation and Land Use Plan is available for download below.
Plan Approved On January 15, 2002 The
Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors on January 15 approved the Downtown
El Sobrante Transportation and Land Use Plan. The Board also authorized County staff to take several
additional steps toward funding and implementing the plan. The downtown plan is based on the results of an earlier study
by UC Berkeley, an El Sobrante Visioning Workshop conducted in
January-February 2000, guidance from the Project Steering Committee, and
additional input from the 94803 Task Force and the general public
through a series of community meetings in 2000.
Key
elements of the proposed plan include: ·
“traffic
calming” measures to slow down the speed of traffic along San Pablo
Dam Road, to be more compatible with a pedestrian-friendly business
district ·
new
design concepts for storefront facades in the business district, to
improve the visual appearance of the downtown ·
a
new “village center” area on the south side of San Pablo Dam Road
between Hillcrest Road and Pitt Way, to include retail businesses,
services, a public plaza or park, and some housing ·
a
new street providing access to the village center ·
landscaping
and streetscaping along San Pablo Dam Road ·
multi-family
housing, such as townhomes, apartments and condominiums · a walkway along part of San Pablo Creek, on the top of the south bank of the creek ·
pedestrian
links between the downtown business district and nearby residential
areas Next Steps On January 15, 2002, the Board of Supervisors authorized County staff to take the following steps: ·
Seek
grants and other funding for a General Plan Amendment process, a
Redevelopment Study for downtown El Sobrante, and the associated
environmental reviews ·
Seek
grants and other funding for the early phase projects in the downtown
plan, which include streetscaping and signalized crosswalks on San Pablo
Dam Road and “gateway” signs indicating the downtown area to
approaching motorists on San Pablo Dam Road. For more information contact: John Greitzer
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