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Appendix E (Initial Study /Part 2) Page 9 Staff anticipates that timing for implementation of future projects within the Plaza 1 Project Area could be affected in the near term with the proposed merger. This situation would exist through January 1, 2009, when the Plaza I Redevelopment Project Area would expire. Within the Plaza 1 Redevelopment Project Area, the Draft Downtown Plan and Urban Design Guidelines (Downtown Plan) is the project most likely to be implemented, should the merger of the two Project Areas occur. If adopted, the Downtown Plan (which includes all of the Plaza I Project Area plus additional areas beyond the Project Area boundaries) is intended to provide policy and guidelines for the City's General Plan for Downtown San Leandro, and to serve as a "stand alone" marketing tool for attracting new uses to the Downtown. In addition, the Plan serves as a conceptual urban design element for Downtown, with an effort toward preserving the historic richness and diversity of existing Downtown architecture and uses, with an aim toward recapturing the pedestrian vitality and retail choices evident within Downtown San Leandro.' Short-term recommendations for improvements within the Plaza 1 Redevelopment Area contained in the Draft Downtown Plan include the following: • Establish Washington Avenue as traditional street with sidewalks; • Create an Estudillo Gate with trees to mark a clear pedestrian path to Downtown; • Implement pedestrian corridor improvements'at Estudillo and Joaquin; • Improve parking and landscaping on Hays and West Juana; • Enhance the shopping center parking lot to improve circulation for pedestrians and vehicles; • Improve East 14' Street to three lanes with parking on both sides.' It is important to note that any of the above projects, if funded with tax increment monies, would be subject to future environmental review. (The Downtown Plan covers an area that is larger than the Plaza I Redevelopment Project Area. Only those improvements that would occur within Plaza 1 are listed above). Draft Downtown Plan & Urban Design Guidelines, October 1999; page 7. 2 Ibid. Plazas 1 & 2 — IS - Part 2