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On June 9, 2025 City Council approved the Final Design for Harrington Park. Click here for more information
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City Council adopts the Downtown Streetscape Master Plan
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The City of San Carlos is excited to share that the Council adopted the Downtown Streetscape Master Plan on April 28, 2025. The plan can be accessed here.
The Downtown Streetscape Master Plan is a key component of the broader Downtown Specific Plan project. The Downtown Streetscape Master Plan sets forth new designs for the downtown's entire street network, including new public plazas, and sets the stage for significant transformation of the downtown core.
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Specific Plan
City Council Study Session, Downtown Specific Plan
August 25, 2025, 7:00 p.m.
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In 2021 the City Council established the following goal in its 2021 Strategic Plan:
“The City of San Carlos will work with residents, property owners, business owners, committees, commissions, the Chamber of Commerce, and all other interested members of the community to develop a plan to understand and ensure that the downtown meets the needs of the community and businesses now and into the future.”
Two different, but complementary documents are essential for fulfilling this City Council goal: (1) a Specific Plan, and (2) a Streetscape Master Plan. Together, these two documents will govern future development and street improvements in the downtown over the next 20 years, The Specific Plan will establish goals, policies, standards for new development, and identify action items that will be undertaken throughout the life of the plan. The Streetscape Master Plan provides clear, delineated space allocations for all users within the street rights-of-way and provides clear instruction for how the streets would be beautified with new paving, lighting, public seating, public restrooms, new street trees and landscaping, and new public plaza and park designs.
City staff and the consultant team are working towards completing the Downtown Specific Plan. As part of this process, a Study Session with the City Council will be held Monday, August 25, 2025, at 7 pm at 600 Elm Street in the City Council Chamber.
Staff and the consultant team will present the initial draft goals, policies, actions and development standards that will apply to the downtown’s 67.5-acre plan area.
City staff is aiming to release a Public Draft Downtown Specific Plan in late July, with formal adoption hearings scheduled in August and September this year.
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City Council approved the Final Design for Harrington Park. Schematic Design still continues for the 700 Block of Laurel Street
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The Downtown Streetscape improvements for Phase 1 is divided into two parts:
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Phase 1A: Harrington Park
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Phase 1B: The full span of the 700 block of Laurel Street
Ground breaking ceremonial celebration for Phase 1A (Harrington Park) is expected in November 2025 with actual construction expected in January 2026. The construction timeline for Phase 1B (Laurel Street) is not being determined and depends on City Council's final approval of the schematic design, funding and financing availability.
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On June 9, 2025 City Council approved the Final Design for Harrington Park and directed Staff to proceed with the Plans, Specifications, and Estimate (PS&E) for Phase 1A Renovation of Harrington Park. The meeting materials and recording can he found here. (See Agenda Item 10a at the 0:20:40 minute mark).
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​​​​​​​Questions? Please reach out to advanceplanning@cityofsancarlos.org
A good plan involves everyone!
