City of Arcata Holding Gateway Code Open House Next Monday
This is a press release from the City of Arcata:
The City of Arcata is excited be hosting an open house on the currently drafted Gateway Code, also known as Form Based Code, with a specific emphasis on the housing element for community members to learn and provide feedback.
The City of Arcata is currently working on the General Plan Update and Gateway Area Plan which impact the future of Arcata through code changes and updates. The City is currently planning for high- density, infill housing in the downtown area and would like to invite the public to provide their input on the plan as drafted and share their experience with housing in Arcata.
As drafted, the plan would allow four to seven story buildings; create up to 3,500 new housing units; create a vibrant mixed-use, walkable neighborhood; incentivize and improve alternative transportation and create affordable housing.
This open house will be taking place at D Street Neighborhood Center on Monday, Sept. 25 from 4 – 6 p.m. Snacks will be provided to attendees!
For more information, please visit cityofarcata.org or call (707) 822-5955.
Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules
Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/
I think the open house will take place on Monday, September 25th, not Friday the 25th.
For more information on the Gateway Project visit this site> https://arcata1.com/
Jeez this new-speak! They can’t just say “new building codes, general plan update”?
I had to read deep to see what a frickin “Gateway code open house” could be, or a form based code party. I thought a gateway code open house is when the neighbors are on vacation, and you know the gate combo.
Arcata truly enjoys hiding reality with double-speak. Post enough pretty flyers around the CPH campus and offer free snacks to build goodwill that doesn’t exist organically.
Who came up with this idea ? IMHO: 4 to 7 story buildings don’t belong in Arcata.
It will destroy what’s er… ‘left’ of the town. Used to be a quiet college oriented town.
Almost like building 7 story buildings in Ferndale.
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Oh well…
Arcata is nothing like Ferndale. It is the second largest population center in the county and likely to keep growing. The fact that they’ve chosen to protect the outlying farm land means that the only option is to build up in the town center.
The question I still haven’t seen answered is how they plan to deal with the sewage.
And having adequate Fire dept. resources available.
Yes, that too. As I understand it they do know what they need to do to solve that though and it’s not out of reach.
They should do it before they start building though, and they don’t seem likely to actually do that.
>”The fact that they’ve chosen to protect the outlying farm land means that the only option is to build up in the town center.”
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Eh ? They have far more distributed development. Valley Green, Korblex (Old Flakeboard Site), Alliance Mall, Mad River Business Park, Bloomfield Park, Greenview, and have incorporated Bayside and Sunny Brae. They already control more buildable land than they know what to do with.
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‘Downtown’ Arcata has no transportation infrastructure. Main roadways are single-lane with no easy access in or out. ‘Busses’ provided for 3K people (or so) would jam them up.
In downtown, there is only 1 market, then a bunch of mini-resturants, curio shops. Other than that… as far as something to do… nothing.
Interesting, they also have a vacant block right in the middle of town… there is only some lawn and sidewalks there… that’s a real good spot for a high-rise ! Then, of course, they have the ball field. That is another great spot !
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>”The question I still haven’t seen answered is how they plan to deal with the sewage.”
That is why they have long offered ‘environmental’ tours of the sewage ponds. Will need to expand them by 400% or more… will likely be flooding the upper bay with effluent.
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>There’s no realistic scenario under which the Arcata fire dept. could provide adequate fire protection for the new buildings.
Planning is in place. Will need a new professional fire department, with a new headquarters, new fire trucks, new ladder trucks etc. etc. Planning on getting state money (ala Humboldt State). Then they will need a new PD. New City Hall… etc etc.
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Oh well.
What are you talking about? Downtown Arcata has 3 full grocery stores.
And how are you going to complain about transportation infrastructure and access to things like groceries and then suggest that places like korblex, Bayside, and valley west for development?
Sure, they could try to encourage conversion of the robust single family home neighborhoods in sunny Brae and Greenview into higher density housing. But that not only involves convincing many more land owners to abandon basic characteristics of the neighborhoods they bought into, it also involves much more dramatic infrastructure upgrades.
The gateway area is already dense development, it’s got the most robust infrastructure, and it’s the most accessible to the daily needs of food, school, employment, and socializing.
Arcata is going to be strained by the likely population increase its got coming over the next decade, no doubt about that. But simply ignoring that won’t alleviate the strain. The gateway area is a great target for higher density housing development. As long as the city addresses other infrastructure and services needs as well
Building close to downtowns not only preserves the open spaces, it provides walking and biking access to businesses and to public transportation (which definately can be improved). This will lessen the traffic and parking issues so many people seem to love to complain about.
Change is the only constant. Nothing remains the same. Arcata will not be what it was. “Embrace your Future”! Look out- Here comes tomorrow!!!
Personally I think we should just cut to the chase and allow high-rises. As high as anybody wants to build. Skyscrapers full of po-jama people infesting here from all over the world. We have water and now a wonderful climate. We know that in 50 years much of America will be uninhabitable and they will all want to be here. Better start selling beach badges for Moonstone! Save the land and house the excess humans in 75 story apartment high-rises. We will find that 5-7 stories was very very conservative and silly, Bulldoze those elitist and inefficient single family house neighborhoods and let’s get to work building the shiny eco-city of the future!
There’s no realistic scenario under which the arcata fire dept. could provide adequate fire protection for the new buildings.
One can read more about the Gateway Plan here> https://arcata1.com/
Here we go Arcata is gonna be a 15 minute city I was wondering why they were putting up tall spiked fences along the highway. Get ready for the ? it’s about to hit the ?. We do not consent.
You say 15 minute sity like it’s a bad thing.
Absolute garbage approach by the City of Arcata forcing the Gateway Area agenda after years of supposed “community enegagement sessions” where facts and feedback consistently were not included if they did not mirror the City of Arcata’s agenda.
The City claims there will be substantial “Inclusionary zoning” and continues to push the idea of “Equity Arcata” yet there is nothing in this high-density, no-personality approach that ACTUALLY reflects the needs and desires of residents. It’s disgusting watching the City of Arcata pushing the agendas of out-of-area mega developers while consecutively destroying the character of what makes the town grant.
As someone who took great lengths to return to the area during COVID, even buying a business within Arcata city limits, the Gateway District BS and lack of accountability by the City of Arcata have resulted in my family making plans to leave the area likely within the next year. Sadly, there have been countless other business owners and citizens who have done the same- people who will never return, never again invest in the local economy, investing their time and efforts in a town that actually values them!
That’s what bureaucrats do; have a bunch of hearings and committees, and seek public input, then do whatever they want (based on how they can gain the most personally) claiming they have a mandate from the populous…
Lots of great information on the Gateway Plan can be found here> https://arcata1.com/
Why not put the new housing in the valley west area? There are more stores within walking distance in valley west and it would be easier to develop the new sewage and water infrastructure they need for that there. Thousands of university housing units are already being built near arcata so there’s really no reason the new housing needs to be in arcata proper.
I was just trying to point people to information about the Gateway Plan, not taking a stand. But FYI, I’m not in favor of buildings taller than four stories, if that and I’m not a fan of high density.
More stores in valley west? There’s just a rays and harbor freight and tractor supply. The gateway area is walking distance to 3 grocery stores as well as all the shops in Arcata.
Valley west is already little more than a low income housing development next to a gas station. There’s few jobs over there and zero opportunities for socializing outside the home.