Jan
28
Los Alamitos needs your input on Katella/Los Al Blvd. study
Filed Under 2010 Issues, Planning & Zoning
(1/28/2010, Los Alamitos) The city is finally moving forward with the SCAG-funded Compass study of the Los Alamitos Blvd. and Katella corridors.
Part of the initial phase involves a very important survey of both residents and non-residents who travel on either street in Los Alamitos.
The study takes about 5 – 15 minutes to complete, depending on how many of the open ended boxes you complete.
According to the City’s website (see links below), here’s what this study’s all about:
The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is providing a grant to the City of Los Alamitos to re-envision the land uses, circulation, and livability of Katella Avenue and Los Alamitos Boulevard. At the same time, the Orange County Transit Authority (OCTA) is planning to introduce enhanced bus service (Bus Rapid Transit or BRT) along Katella Avenue. Over the next six months, the City will analyze and outline actions that can be taken to capitalize on the forthcoming BRT routes and stations, stimulate new private investment and development, and ultimately create a new vision for great places in Los Alamitos.
My experience with the survey
I took the survey, & it did take a little while to think things through and to take advantage of several open-ended questions.
From my review of the survey it seemed to include lots of information about how to increase bus use. (I suggested a monorail from the Long Beach Blue Line to Anaheim’s Platnum Triangle and metro-rail, then splitting south to John Wayne & beyond and north to Cal State Fullerton & Corona. I tried the Katella bus coming home from Disneyland once, and even with no transfers it still took about 3 times as long as driving with the waits & stops & walking to & from the bus stop.)
Bikeways weren’t mentioned at all, but green space, public services, & offices were mentioned along with business uses. (I suggested replacing office and manufacturing with sales-tax generating retail. One of the Council’s priorities for the year is to explore relocating City Hall and the Chamber off Katella & combining those parcels with the office buildings to the west by the 605 for a retail zone. I think that might be a nice place for a high-rise or mid-rise hotel as well, close to everything.)
Be prepared to describe what you’d like katella and Los Al Blvd. to look like in 5 and 20 years.
For Los Al, I hope that eventually one of the Los Al USD’s 4 secondary schools will move closer to the center or south of the district (& I’m thinking Oak or Los Al High, not the continuation school). It’s crazy that all 4 schools are at the extreme northern end of the District, and the traffic impact is startling if you compare school mornings and afternoons on Los Al Blvd. with summer days and school holidays. I think it just makes sense for one of the two Middle Schools to be off of or south of Lampson.
Regardless of your opinion, however, this is an important opportunity for your view to count. Even if you don’t have time for the detailed answers, take advantage of this opportunity to register your input, especially if you live here in Los Al.
How to Participate:
- Click here to take the survey on line. Participation does not appear to be limited to one survey per computer or I.P.O., s0 all of your family members can participate.
- Click here if you’d rather print out the survey and fax, mail, or walk it in to Los Al City Hall.
- If you have questions, you can contact Los Alamitos Community Development Director Steve Mendoza at smendoza@ci.los-alamitos.ca.us
- Be sure to share your thoughts and join the discussion in the comment section at the end of this post. As always, we encourage you to use a diplomatic tone and focus on the issues and trying to understanding the various points of view present in the community.
Additional links on the Study:
- Click here for a pdf map of the exact boundaries of the area being studied.
- Click here for an overview of the study process.
Comments
One Response to “Los Alamitos needs your input on Katella/Los Al Blvd. study”
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This is a good survey and your chance to be heard. Don’t miss the opprtunity to respond and add in your own words what you would like to see for Los Alamitos.