Council reviews revised Median 3 plan for Avenue of Flags; directs flags behind plaza, approves bulb‑outs and pauses final building design
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Summary
Staff presented a revised conceptual plan for Median 3 of the Avenue of Flags. The council directed that the flag display be located behind the town plaza and that bulb‑outs be included at crossings, but deferred final architectural decisions on the community building and restroom until nearby private projects progress.
City planners and consultants presented an updated conceptual plan for Median 3 of the Avenue of Flags — the downtown median envisioned as a central public plaza — and the Buellton City Council provided direction on several items, including flag placement and traffic calming features.
Planning staff presenter Kara Morales and landscape designer Yolanda Bruno described the refined concept: an amphitheater facing south, an integrated town plaza with donor pavers and in‑ground plaza lighting, permeable art‑deco‑style pavers to match Median 2, a bioswale along the east side, vendor space for food trucks or popups, separated community and restroom buildings, and larger, mature trees and drought‑tolerant planting. The presentation showed three Art Deco‑derived architectural options for the buildings (Classic Moderne, Streamline/Art Moderne and a 1950s diner influence) and noted the Planning Commission's preference for flags positioned behind the plaza and for including bulb‑outs at crosswalks to calm traffic.
During discussion councilmembers and members of the public raised concerns about the scale and placement of buildings relative to nearby private development and urged caution so the plaza and structures will harmonize with adjacent projects. Public commenter Ed St. George asked council to consider a short pause on final building decisions until some neighboring developments advance, saying that would help ensure a coherent overall design. Several councilmembers expressed a desire for the street and plaza to be usable for events such as the city's winter vendor events and for the design to avoid creating visual obstacles at pedestrian crossings.
Council direction at the meeting: place the flag display behind the town plaza (as recommended by the Planning Commission), include bulb‑outs for pedestrian safety at crossings, and allow staff to proceed with construction drawings for landscape and pavement elements while deferring final architectural selections and building massing decisions (community building and restroom) until additional information from the adjacent development projects is available. The council also asked staff to return with more refined designs and cost estimates; no formal vote on the conceptual plan or on construction drawings occurred at the meeting.
Why it matters: Median 3 will be a key public space on Avenue of the Flags and will influence public use, pedestrian safety and the character of downtown development. Agreeing the plaza layout and the location of the flags allows work on grant applications and on public‑realm improvements to continue while preserving flexibility on building form.
What's next: Staff will proceed with landscape and hardscape construction drawings consistent with council direction (flag placement behind the plaza and inclusion of bulb‑outs) and will return with architecture, detailed grading, utilities and cost estimates once adjacent private projects attain greater design maturity.
