- 2018 "Against All Odds" Sustainability Award from the Southern California Association of Governments
- 2020 "Against All Odds" Award of Excellence for Comprehensive Planning from the American Planning Association Los Angeles Chapter
In 2014, many parcels along San Fernando’s major corridors were vacant, underutilized, or suffering from disinvestment. The Corridors Specific Plan is transforming them into beautiful, livable, economically vibrant places.
To craft a plan with strong public support, the City of San Fernando hired an interdisciplinary team led by Sargent Town Planning. Through stakeholder interviews, design workshops, and meetings, community members articulated a vision for taming the corridors’ high-speed traffic, attracting new investment, and building a public realm that conveys San Fernando’s distinct historic character.
Patrick Siegman directed the plan’s parking, access, and linkage study while a Principal at Nelson\Nygaard Consulting. This included addressing bicycle, pedestrian, and transit circulation, and collaborating with the team to develop street designs and parking standards.
A central focus of the work was redesigning corridors to improve the quality of the public realm, while simultaneously incorporating multiple transit options being considered by Metro (the regional transit agency). These included bus rapid transit, streetcar, and light rail. Another challenge was addressing the opportunities and constraints posed by planned improvements to San Fernando’s Metrolink rail line and station. Working closely with a steering committee and City staff, the team illustrated a range of infill development possibilities and alternative street designs.
The plan’s preferred street designs turn the corridors back into comfortable, habitable places. New street trees, wider sidewalks, bicycle lanes, traffic calming, and architectural landmarks set the stage for new investment, creating ideal places for pedestrian-friendly development to occur. The new specific plan also includes form-based development standards that ensure compact, walkable, transit-oriented development.
The Plan was enthusiastically adopted by the City Council in late 2017. In May of 2018 it was recognized by the Southern California Association of Governments, winning the “Against-All-Odds” award for excellence in implementation while overcoming numerous challenges and constraints.
Images courtesy of Sargent Town Planning