Talk about an idealistic headline: “Placemaking: The integration of planning and people to create a place that is ideal in which to play, work and live.”
That’s LUCE‘s effort to get you to its meetings. LUCE, BTW, is an acronym for a decidedly unsexy title: Land Use and Circulation Element. Basically, LUCE is Santa Monica’s “General Plan” — a plan that’ll guide Santa Monica’s future for the next 20 years.
The State of California requires that all cities come up with “a comprehensive, long-term general plan” that addresses 7 elements: Land Use, Circulation, Housing, Conservation, Open Space, Noise, and Safety. Santa Monica added 1 optional element — Historic Preservation — and dubbed the whole plan LUCE.
As someone new to this, I’m psyched that we’re all invited to weigh in on LUCE. And as someone new to this, I’m still pretty confused as to what LUCE’ll accomplish on a more concrete, less nebulous level. Will LUCE become like a mandate of sorts? Or will LUCE be like a set of recommendations, which city departments can choose to ignore?
You can find out more firsthand, because LUCE is holding public workshops (PDF). Why you should go:
Your input will help to create planning principles that will ensure self-sufficient focal places within the City which will provide support and services to existing neighborhoods, as well as determine which new transportation and parking alternatives will maintain the quality of life throughout the City.
If you live or work or play in Santa Monica, check out the meetings:
- Monday, March 26, 7-9 pm. Virginia Avenue Park, Thelma Terry Room, 2200 Virginia Ave.
- Wednesday, March 28, 7-9 pm. Lincoln Middle School Cafeteria.
- Thursday, April 5, 7-9 pm. Olympic High School Cafeteria. 721 Ocean Park Blvd.
RSVP at 310.458.8341, though I’m guessing no one will be turned away due to lack of RSVP.
Update, 4/24/07: Vote on LUCE’s next steps (PDF) — the Placemaking Principles developed at the March / April meetings — at a meeting Monday, May 7 at 7 pm. at the Civic Auditorium, 1885 Main St., Santa Monica.
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