During PMC’s development of the City of Pinole’s General Plan, a parallel planning effort emerged for the development of a Specific Plan for San Pablo Avenue, Pinole Valley Road, and Appian Way. These key community corridors include the City’s Old Town historic core, community gateways, and several key commercial and neighborhood districts. The Specific Plan relied on a strong economic development strategy for land use and infill development patterns, consider traffic circulation, promote community arts, culture, and entertainment, and utilize form-based zoning to implement design guidelines for new and redevelopment throughout all three project areas.

The Specific Plan set out a strategic plan for enhancing the economic vitality of the city’s primary corridors. The specific plan process then dovetailed back into the General Plan Update and provided a clear focus for Redevelopment Agency activities.

A comprehensive public outreach process supported this important planning effort. The tangible product included a land use and design plan that integrates form-based zoning provisions, concepts for the corridor including integration of “Old Town,” realistic right-of-way improvements that address the integration of the public and private realms, and an implementation plan that includes action items and funding sources for the Specific Plan’s realization.