A lane reduction on Main Street through downtown is among the many changes the City Council approved as part of the Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan. The long-term public improvement costs will be $48.8 million, which consists of $30 million for utility improvements, $8.3 million for streetscape improvements and $10.5 million for roadway, pedestrian and bicycle improvements.
How will downtown Watsonville look over the next few decades? That is a topic that will be explored as the Watsonville City Council considers adopting the Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan at its Tuesday meeting.
Like a lot of jurisdictions, especially in California, housing is a priority for Watsonville. Starting in 2024, the city will be entering the sixth cycle of its Housing Element, in which 2,053 new units are expected to be constructed.
The Watsonville City Council and Planning Commission are both separate governing bodies, but as both deal with land-use matters, they will be joining forces Tuesday to discuss one of the biggest land-use matters: how to allocate and construct 2,053 housing units over the next eight years.