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Planners review revised Avenue of the Flags median park designs, seek consensus on Art Deco elements
Summary
The Buellton Planning Commission reviewed updated designs for a downtown median park (Avenue of the Flags) including an amphitheater, permeable pavers, bioswales, donor pavers and separated civic and restroom buildings; commissioners and members of the public expressed preferences and safety concerns but took no formal vote.
The Buellton Planning Commission on Jan. 23 reviewed revised concept designs for the downtown median park on Avenue of the Flags, discussing layout changes, materials and architectural style options and asking staff to seek consensus before forwarding recommendations to the City Council.
Presenters described several substantive revisions from prior concepts: the amphitheater was rotated to face south to avoid sun glare; permeable art-deco-style pavers will replace decomposed granite in non-pathway areas; bioswales and small bridges will run through the median; and donor pavers (embedded in darker paver fields as star-shaped markers) are proposed as a fundraising feature. Designers proposed separating the community/civic building from the public restrooms so the civic building can have windows and be more of a focal point, while restrooms remain functional and secure.
Designers said the central path would be 10 feet wide, a compromise reached to preserve open lawn area while meeting basic accessibility needs; a 15-foot path had been considered but reduced because it significantly decreased open space. The plan includes vehicle access with removable bollards for vendor and service access, food-truck spaces flanking the median, and bridges over segmented bioswales. The amphitheater would have attached backstage/storage on its east side and shade sails and larger, mature trees in the open space.
Commissioners raised technical and design questions: whether the restrooms should include more character or windows (staff said detailed architectural treatment would come later), how donor paver names would be displayed, whether bridges interface flush with the right-of-way and ADA access details, and whether bulb-outs at crosswalks should be added for pedestrian protection. Commissioners generally favored Art Moderne/streamline Art Deco styles that better match adjacent approved projects (Creekside, 518), while opposing Mission/Colonial choices as inconsistent with the median’s material palette.
A member of the public, Kathy Breeland of the Buellton Chamber and Visitors Bureau, urged design features to discourage bench misuse, welcomed public restrooms and suggested a mural on the amphitheater’s back wall. Staff and presenters said donor pavers and grants remain potential funding sources, and noted the arts and culture committee could be a future partner for arts funding. One commissioner also asked staff to check whether Assembly Bill 1572 (state Turf restriction law referenced by a commenter) would affect the design; staff said they would review the bill.
No formal decision or vote was taken; staff requested commission feedback and consensus on three flagged items (flag placement, bulb-outs, and architectural style) to take forward to council. Commissioners offered clear preferences (flags set behind the plaza, Art Moderne/streamline Art Deco treatment, 10-foot path width) and suggested further study of ADA transitions at bridge landings, lighting distribution and donor-paver implementation details.
Next steps identified in the discussion: refine construction drawings and ADA transitions, bake donor-paver funding options into capital funding strategies, and return a final concept for a council hearing once staff incorporates the commission’s consensus and addresses technical access and safety details.
