Council advances amendments to downtown specific plan, expands boundary by 79 acres

Corona City Council on Dec. 4 introduced by title only an ordinance to amend the Downtown Revitalization Specific Plan to update development standards, design guidelines and public streetscapes and to expand the plan boundary by roughly 79 acres.

Joanne, planning and development director, told the council the amendment updates a document last overhauled in 1998 and is intended to implement the city's general plan vision and the 2022 downtown revitalization effort. "We will also be expanding the boundary of the specific plan by 79 acres," Joanne said, adding the plan area will increase from about 621 acres to roughly 700 acres.

The amendment would modernize the plan's regulatory chapters and appendices, change building envelope rules and add enforceable design guidelines, Joanne said. Key changes discussed include a zero-foot street-front setback within the downtown…