Preserve and Celebrate Our Downtown Creeks!

Creeks in the downtown are an asset not enjoyed by many cities.  The City of Lafayette feels fortunate to have this asset and is working on a Downtown Creeks Plan that can entice more people to shop, dine and linger.   The City began work on the Downtown Creeks Plan in September to fulfill a recommendation from Lafayette’s Downtown Specific Plan which was adopted by the City Council in 2012.  A consultant team with expertise in landscape architecture, civil engineering and environmental restoration is developing the Plan under the guidance of the City Creeks Committee. 

The objectives of the Plan include:

•Identifying creek preservation and restoration opportunities;

•Clarifying creek setback requirements for the downtown;

•Preserving existing trees and riparian corridors;

•Developing standards for how development should relate to adjacent creeks;

•Producing strategies and methods for creek improvements and stewardship;

•Developing opportunities for public access and pathways;

•Preventing property damage by creek processes (flooding, erosion);

•Identifying public safety and environmental concerns.

What's Happening Now:

A Final Draft of the Downtown Creeks Preservation, Restoration and Development Plan is available for review.  A June 12^th joint study session by the Creeks Committee and the Design Review Commission resulted in two revisions to amendments to the Downtown Design Guidelines proposed by the Plan.  Those revisions can be see here. 

At their June 19^th meeting, the Planning Commission recommended adoption of the Plan to the City Council and supported early implementation of the proposed Riparian Vegetation Restoration Manual to  help promote revegetation along the banks of downtown creeks.  In addition, the Planning Commission recommended that the City Council  evaluate the feasibility of using existing development impact fees such as the Parkland and Park Facilities Fee, or a new development impact fee, to help match grant funds or offset a portion of the cost of creek enhancements on downtown creekside parcels.

At their June 26^th meeting, the City Council discussed the Planning Commission’s recommendations, and then decided to continue the matter to their September 25^th Council meeting to provide more time to review the Plan. 

For more information on the Plan, contact Steven Goetz at sgoetz@ci.lafayette.ca.us or at 925-525-5527

For more information:

• Final Draft Downtown Creeks Preservation, Restoration and Development Plan

• October 6th Public Workshop Presentation

• February 2nd Public Workshop Presentation     

• Downtown Specific Plan

• Downtown Design Guidelines            

• Creek Setback Determination Document
• Response to Comments Table
• Addendum

To receive e-notifications updates on future meetings, please sign up here and subscribe to the Creeks Committee.