Council adopts Seaboard master plan to guide long‑term redevelopment

The City Council on Tuesday adopted the Seaboard Master Plan, a long‑range framework for the industrial‑to‑mixed‑use Seaboard district east of historic Venice Avenue.

Consultant Dover, Kohl & Partners presented a multi‑phased concept that preserves the district’s existing economic fabric while adding streets, alleys, and public spaces to create more walkable blocks and improved connections to the Intracoastal Waterway. "Do no harm and add to what is already existing within Seaboard," project director Josh Frank said, summarizing the plan’s first principle.

Key elements: The plan identifies a sequence of focus areas rather than an immediate full‑buildout. Early public‑realm priorities include: - A new north–south connector (nicknamed internally by the consultant "Nolan Street") to create shorter walkable blocks and generate storefront frontages; - Reconfigured Seaboard Avenue with uninterrupted bike/ped facilities along one side and enhanced street trees and sidewalks; - Adaptive reuse of existing warehouse and industrial buildings for markets, crafts, and artisan uses; and - New public facilities and a re‑imagined waterfront edge that could include a small, limited marina or water taxi stop in the long term.

Planning director Roger Clark said the study focuses on city‑owned land parcels as an initial implementation priority but intentionally leaves most private parcels unchanged unless owners chose to participate. Dover, Kohl emphasized that the plan is a high‑level framework: "There's a very high likelihood that anything that gets built is not gonna look exactly like we've drawn it," Frank said. The aim, he added, is to set a long‑term vision that public investment and future private projects can follow.

Council discussion and vote: Councilors voiced support for beginning with city‑controlled property and incremental investments such as streetscape and trailhead improvements. The council voted unanimously to adopt the master plan and directed staff to explore a focused implementation phase for the city‑owned parcels, including design, funding and potential code adjustments to carry the plan forward.

Next steps: City staff said they will return with a proposed scope for phase‑one design work and potential budget items during the upcoming budget cycle.