pacoima river improvement overlay

8/12/2019 Pacoima River Improvement Overlay

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DEPARTMENT OF URBAN STUDIES AND PLANNING

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERS ITY, NORTHRIDGE

FEBRUARY 2011

RIVER IMPROVEMENT OVERLAY (RIO)


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BACKGROUND

Approximately four miles of channelized concrete, the Pacoima Wash has served the residents of the Northeast

San Fernando Valley as an unsihtly flood control tributary while simultaneously dividin dynamic communities

between Pacoima and the City of San Fernando.

This project is a collaborative effort between students enrolled in the Community Based Urban Desin course

at California State University Northride and the non-profit oranization Pacoima Beautiful, to produce desin

uidelines appropriate for development alon the Pacoima Wash.

Focus Area: A 2 mile sement from San Fernando Rd. to the Pacoima Spreadin Grounds.

Approximately 1/4 mile radius from the Pacoima Wash

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Soccer Fields

Basketball Courts

Pacoima Wash

RIO Boundaries


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The intent of this project was to (1) identify lack of

public open space in Pacoima, (2) analyze three

years of previously researched data, and (3) establish

desin uidelines and aerial maps usin AutoCAD

software for a River Improvement Overlay project

similar to the revitalization of the Los Aneles River.

Our focus was a 2 mile sement from San Fernando

Rd. to the Pacoima Spreadin Grounds.

This project was intended to assist Pacoima

Beautifuls Pacoima Wash Vision Plan, outlinin

concepts for revitalizin the Pacoima Wash as

a recreational amenity that includes bike and

pedestrian trails and enhances connectivity to parks

and open space such as the Aneles National Forest

in the north east San Fernando Valley.

Another purpose of this project was to encouraeresidents to occupy and activate public spaces within

their neihborhoods. Cumulative impacts from

industries and hihways in Pacoima create toxic

environments in a reion where 17% of residents

are obese, 20% suffer from asthma, and 6% with

diabetes.

The existin 54 acres of park space in Pacoima

misrepresents the needs of a community comprised

of over 90,000 residents livin within 7.14 square

miles. Developin a riverfront alon the Pacoima

Wash alleviates what is considered a park poor

neihborhood, serves as a way to create connections

between communities, and increases public access

to natural resources.

PURPOSE

Industrial trucks in neihborhood streetsPhoto: 2008 Mixed Use Development Proposal

Auto Dismatlers in PacoimaPhoto: 2011 Marcos Zamora-Sanchez

Hihway intersectionsPhoto: 2011 Carlos Hernandez

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PROCESS

The fist study was conducted in May 2008

and focused on developin a Mixed Use

Development Proposal for the neihborhood

of Pacoima. This study established the needfor public open spaces as well as other uses in

the area, and introduced community members

to the process of Urban Plannin. This study

was composed of 339 community member

interviews and 35 workshop attendants. The

charts outline how the community chooses

to spend their leisure time and weather it is

done so in Pacoima or not.

The second study took place durin May

2009 and focused on developin a Public

Open Space Proposal in an area occupied by

an asphalt recyclin center. The intent was topropose an alternative to the existin asphalt

recyclin plant and ease the adverse effect

of industries adjacent to residential areas.

This study was composed of 156 community

member interviews and 35 workshop

attendants. The 2009 interview outcomes

outlined the need for public open space in

Pacoima.

2008 Interview Outcomes

2009 Interview Outcomes

This project is the culmination of 3 years of research by students in Urban Desin/Urban Problems

Seminar courses and the residents of Pacoima. Students of the Fall 2010 session analyzed three

research reports as well as a walkin tour/mobile workshop facilitated by members of Pacoima Beautiful.

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Followin the second study, members of Pacoima

Beautiful were able to provide a walkin tour within

the restricted areas of the Pacoima wash and

distribute pamphlets. Residents who participatedwere then able to visualize and document the

needs of the community for potential development

of the Pacoima Wash. There were approximately

50 participants for this study. The chart describes

needs alon future development of the Pacoima

wash with emphasis on desinated opportunity

areas. Results of the walkin tour hihliht elements

of open space, circulation, and connection.

The last study focused on proposin Walkable

Streets around San Fernando Hih School; a

public Hih School on the border of Pacoima and

the City of San Fernando. This project examined

accessibility, safety, and comfort for students

walkin to and from school and was completed

in 2010. 391 Hih School students participated in

assessin walkable streets in their neihborhood.The student walkin paths identified Laurel Canyon

Blvd. as the most used thorouhfare, a main street

that crosses a major hihway intersection and the

Pacoima wash.

2010 Student walkin paths

User preference diarams

Walkin tour outcomes

The students of the CSUN Urban Plannin courses then developed user preference diarams to address

needs of the community accordin to the previously researched data. The user preference diarams

helped develop appropriate Desin Guidelines for future development of the Pacoima wash.

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DESIGN GUIDELINES

CirculationAll paths should be accessible for all users and lead to desinated activity areas.

PedestriansDevelop walkin paths alon the wash to increase circulation and encourae walkin for residents.

Increase pedestrian access from buildins and neihborhoods adjoinin the River Greenway.

Paths are to consist of smooth, hard surfaces to encourae accessibility for strollers and wheelchairs.

BicyclesDesin and develop bicycle lanes for increased mobility, transportation, and recreation.

Areas of the Pacoima wash should be connected by shared use paths that promote multi modal traffic includin walkers, joers,skateboarders, bicyclists, and other non-motorized users.

Bicycle racks should be provided to promote the use of multi modal traffic.

Automobiles

Strict parkin reulation and accessibility should be considered within the outlined Mile distance of the wash; protectin the currentparkin requirements and facilitate needs for non-neihborhood residents.

ConnectionResidents should have easy access to the Pacoima wash and its accompanyin amenities.

BridesLand alon the Pacoima wash should accommodate additional brides to connect residents, paths, and amenities on either side of thewash.

Existin brides should be revitalized and increase accessibility for residents and commuters.

EntrancesAll entrances should be prominent and easily accessible.

All critical nodes and intersections should have entrances to the wash.

Sinae should be prominent and near entrances.

Land alon the Pacoima wash should include incorporate ateways.

Classification of Streets

Principal Arterial Streets provide lon distance, continuous routes within urban areas typically used by commercial trucks.

Minor Arterial Streets are continuous routes throuh urban areas used mostly for tourin purposes.

Connector Streets ather traffic from local streets and deliver to and from arterial streets.

Local Streets are short in lenth and frequently interrupted by traffic control devices. These streets are typically short in distance andcater to both residential and commercial zones.

Land alon the Pacoima wash should enhance mobility for

the surroundin residents. Accordin to the 2008 leisure

time activity outcomes, a hih percentae of residents enjoywalkin and do so in Pacoima.

MOBILITY

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Extent of the River Improvement Overlay (RIO)All streets leadin to the wash should consider desin uidelines described herein.

Plannin for the Pacoima Wash should not be limited to the river channel itself, but should include open and natural space, transportation,housin, business, community development, art, and other existin infrastructure.

Development of the Pacoima Wash should serve as a reional destination; contributin to the economic vitality of the city and the reion.

The Pacoima Wash should improve neihborhood connection, providin opportunities for increased recreation/less auto dependentstreets.

Development alon the Pacoima Wash should include existin parkways and other open spaces such as the Pacoima spreadin rounds.

SocialResidents alon the Pacoima Wash should have access to social activities.

Playrounds

Development alon the Pacoima Wash should accommodate childrens playrounds.Benches should accompany playrounds for parental supervision.

PicnicSeveral desinated picnic areas will outline the lenth of the wash and are to include tables, benches, and an outdoor rill.

Community GardenResidents should have access to a common community arden to interact with others, cultivate the land, and harvest crops.

A community arden should facilitate 20 or more plots with dimensions of 100 square feet for each plot.

Do Park

Desinated do pocket-parks should accommodate pet owners and leash-free dos.

Athletic RecreationLand alon the Pacoima wash should accommodate the athletic needs of the community.

SportsGiven the limited space, parkways should facilitate soccer fields and basketball half-courts where space and accessibility is available.

Exercise CourtDesinated exercise areas should accommodate the fitness and health requirements for surroundin residents.

Youth friendly exercise stations should be included in the development of the Pacoima wash.

Skate ParkAn outdoor skate park should be encouraed where space and accessibility is available.

Land alon the Pacoima wash should facilitate activity areas

and encourae community participation. The 2009 publicopen space proposal listed the majority of residents wanted

childrens playrounds and picnic areas.ACTIVITIES

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Street FurnitureDevelopment alon the Pacoima Wash should contain street furniture.

BenchesRest areas and benches alon the wash will provide comfort and attraction to pedestrians.

Recyclin/Waste ContainersRecyclin and waste containers are should help reduce visible pollution and adhere to formal and informal sectors of recyclin initiatives.

Recyclin and waste containers should be placed every 200 feet alon paths and at critical nodes/intersections.

Recyclin and Waste Containers are to be located near activity areas especially picnic, community arden, and rest room facilities.Rest roomsAll rest rooms should be connected by paths or activity areas.

LihtinAll paths and activity areas should include adequate lihtin, ensurin visibility at niht.

Photovoltaic lihtin should be encouraed as the main source of niht visibility in the Pacoima wash.

Public ArtPublic art, such as murals, mosaics, and sculptures, should be encouraed and introduced to the Pacoima RIO.

All public art is to represent the character of Pacoima.

SinaeAll entrances should be well defined includin sinae, a bulletin announcin events, and a map of the many activities to be found inthe RIO.

Plaques should be installed to describe monuments and the history of Pacoima.

Distance indicators should be visible on all paths.

Plants

Development of the Pacoima RIO should include comprehensive plantin uidelines.

Landscapin should be used to separate paths and distinuish activity areas.

All landscape flora should consist of drouht tolerant, native plants to conserve water and re-establish the character of the community.

Water consumin trees are to be limited wherever possible and fruit producin trees are to be encouraed, especially near communityarden locations.

A native plant riverfront should support the miration patterns of species.

Landscapin alon the Pacoima wash should include native

flora of Southern California as well as street furniture. The

walkin tour outcomes listed trees, street furniture, and nativelandscapin as the most necessary elements for the wash.

LANDSCAPING

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Prepared by the students of Community Based Urban Desin course in the

Department of Urban Studies and Plannin at California State University,

Northride durin the Fall semester of 2010:

report developed by Carlos Hernandez

(edited 2014)

Students:

Haneefah Abdullah

Matthew Azpilicueta

Loriel Cacho

Audel Contreras

Saud Daham

Arsen Dervishian

Huo Fiueredo

Aaron Gudelj

Sarah Haney

Julie Irabon

Paul McClaren

Lilyana Morejon

Janae Morris

Tania Oronoz

Gail Pitters

Ralph Sansano

Daniel Savala

Joshua Schroder

Under the supervision of:

Zeynep Toker, PhD.

Assistant Professor

Urban Studies and Plannin Department

California State University, Northride

In collaboration with Pacoima Beautiful


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CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE

18111 NORDHOFF ST.

NORTHRIDGE CA, 91330

pacoima river improvement overlay

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