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During their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, the City Council for the City of Fairfield received new information about two ongoing plans to revitalize different parts of the city.
City staff first presented an update on the Linear Park Trail Revitalization Plan. Node 4A, which is located at the corner of North Texas Street and East Tabor Avenue, will be the first revitalized node of the Linear Park Trail, and will include a new recreational facility, along with new sports courts. In 2019, the Council directed city staff to look into allowing the City’s Police Activity League (PAL) to move to an expanded version of said new recreational facility. The City applied for a grant to fund the expansion, but was ultimately unsuccessful. Because of this, the Council approved a recommendation that staff proceed with the design and construction of the original Node 4A plan, but in a way that will allow for an expansion in the future.
During their discussion about the planned improvements to Linear Park Trail, councilmembers stressed the importance of dealing with the presence of homeless individuals on the trail, stating that unless that issue is addressed, the park cannot improve.
City staff then presented an update on the implementation of the Heart of Fairfield Specific Plan. Among the improvements planned and underway are better lighting along the Downtown Theatre and along streetscapes, the addition of more banners along West Texas Street, and improved gateway features. Updates were also given on multiple projects within the plan area:
- Great Jones Multifamily Housing: It is unknown when the applicant will begin construction.
- 1720 West Texas Street Mixed-Use Development: It is unknown when the applicant will begin construction.
- Parkside Flats: The applicant is currently looking to apply for tax credits and other funding mechanisms so that the project can offer 20% of the total residential units affordable; however, if the applicant is unsuccessful, at least 10 units are still planned to be aimed towards lower-income residents. It is possible that construction may begin by Q2 2021.
- Sem Yeto Property: Staff believe that the design created by the City in 2018 may be infeasible given current market conditions for rentals in Fairfield, so new efforts will be directed towards making alternative designs for the site.
Staff are also looking to increase transit-oriented development opportunities in the southeastern corner of the project near the Suisun-Fairfield Station.
Similar to their comments regarding the Linear Park Trail, councilmembers expressed their great concern regarding the presence of homeless individuals in the plan area, saying that downtown cannot be revitalized unless a solution to the crisis is found. They did express support for more frequent updates, as staff revealed that they will be providing different updates every month or two, in addition to quarterly updates. However, frustration was growing among the councilmembers about the lack of major activity within the plan area and the growing pressure of the homelessness crisis within the city.
In other business, the Council approved updates to the zoning code to allow for more uses by-right within the Heart of Fairfield and to rezone Green Valley Technical Plaza from Regional Commercial to Office Commercial.
As always, you may watch the full City Council meeting on Fairfield Channel 26 and at their YouTube channel (here).
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