Gilroy
– The Downtown Specific Plan Task Force will meet tonight to
discuss ways to develop the gateways to the downtown area.
Gilroy – The Downtown Specific Plan Task Force will meet tonight to discuss ways to develop the gateways to the downtown area.
The task force will focus on the north and south entrances of downtown in the vicinity of 1st Street and Luchessa Avenues, the northern and southern boundaries of the corridor stretching along Monterey Road and parallel streets.
Members of the task force also will try to define boundaries for the Cannery, Civic/Cultural Arts, and Historic districts, and discuss possible zoning changes for each area.
The task force has spent the last 18 months putting together a 20-year plan based on a study of current uses, economic and marketing strategies, parking, and zoning.
“It’s a blueprint to revitalize the downtown area,” said Gary Walton, a local developer who chairs the task force.
The city has already implemented several of the task force’s suggestions, including a waiver of building fees and relaxation of parking restrictions within the downtown area.
The task force expects to complete its work in nine months, according to Walton, who summed up the group’s charge: “We’re looking to maintain the historic character of the downtown, but we’re also looking closely at what will draw people to the area.”
