About the Project

Welcome to the Docks Area Project web page!  Here you will find a description of the Docks Area Project and information on how to get involved. Please click the Docks Area map to see an aerial view of the project area. The Docks Area development team, KSWM Docks Partners, LLC, was selected in January 2006 to exclusively negotiate the right to develop the Docks Area.  KSWM Docks Partners, LLC is made up of three entities, including Kenwood Investments, Stockbridge Capital and Wilson Meany Sullivan.

• What's New?
• Project Details
• The Riverfront Promenade/Parkway
• Art in Public Places/Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission
• Project Background
• Developer Selection Process
• Public Workshops
• Newsletters
• Community Involvement
• Contact Us

What's New?

1. On August 12, 2008, City Council authorized a Request for Proposal (RFP) to select an engineering firm to independently analyze relocating Pioneer Reservoir and to value-engineer concepts to support a rooftop park (aka a "greenroof"). In addition, the RFP requested the development of a finance plan for relocating or modiying Pioneer Reservoir. The engineering contract was awarded to West Yost Associates (WYA) and the Finance Plan to Economic Planning Systems, Inc. (EPS). City Council will consider these documents at their regular meeting on November 3, 2009.
   
   Final Finance Plan (PDF)
   PIoneer Reservoir Feasibility Plan (PDF)
   
   
   
2. The Specific Plan and the Design Guidelines will be considered by the Planning Commision and City Council on the following dates:
   
   
   

   PLANNING COMMISION
   Oct. 8, 2009	Introduction, Review and Comments
   Nov. 12, 2009	Consideration for the Docks EIR, Specific Plan, Design Guidelines
   CITY COUNCIL
   Dec. 1, 2009	Introduction, Review and Comments
   Dec. 8, 2009	Consideration for the Docks EIR, Specific Plan, Design Guidelines

Next Steps:  Docks Area Plan and Promenade Design

1.  Notice of Availability - Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Docks Area Specific Plan

Docks Area Specific Plan

The Redevelopment Agency of the City of Sacramento has completed the preparation of a Draft Specific Plan for the Sacramento Docks Area. The document is now available for review, click here for the Draft Specific Plan. You may also obtain a hardcopy by going to 1030 15th Street, Suite 250, Sacramento, CA 95814 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., there is a $50 fee for this document.

The Docks Area Specific Plan creates the planning and design standards for the redevelopment of approximately 29+ acres of land along the Sacramento River bound by Capitol Mall to the north, Front Street to the east, Interstate 80 to the south and the river to the west. The Specific Plan represents the final phase of the planning process that includes the Sacramento Riverfront Master Plan (2003) and the Docks Area Concept Plan (2005). The Specific Plan provides a comprehensive vision for the Docks Area along with goals, policies and development standards to guide future public and provide development projects.

Environmental Impact Report

The City of Sacramento, Development Services Department, Environmental Planning Services has completed the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Sacramento Docks Specific Plan and Planned Unit Development Guidelines. The document is now available for public review and comment. You may view a copy of the document at 300 Richards Blvd., Third Floor, Sacramento, California 95811; or at the Planning Department, 915 I Street, 3rd Floor between the hours of

8:00 am-4:00 pm (except holidays).

The Draft EIR is being circulated for a 45-day public review period from Monday, August 11, 2008 through Thursday, September 25, 2008. Written comments regarding the Draft EIR should be received by the Environmental Planning Services NO LATER THAN 5:00 P.M., THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2008. Written comments should be submitted to:

City of Sacramento - Economic Development Department

Downtown Development Group

915 I Street, 3rd Floor

Sacramento, CA 95814

ATTN: Beth Tincher

Ph: (916)808-7730 Email: btincher@cityofsacramento.org

All comments must include full name and address in order for staff to respond appropriately. If you have questions regarding the Draft EIR please contact Beth Tincher as described above, or Scott Johnson at (916)808-5842, srjohnson@cityofsacramento.org.

2.  PROMENADE DESIGN

Based on stakeholder meetings and the community workshops held in October 2006 thru April, 2007, Walker Macy developed promenade design options.  As refinements to the promenade design options were developed, meetings were held with the Docks Technical Advisory Committee and Stakeholders to receive additional input. As a result of these meetings, a preferred alternative was selected in June 2007. Click here to view the preferred alternative presentation.

On October 16, 2007 the City Council approved the conceptual design presented, conceptual costs and supported the submittal of a Proposition 50 application for the first phase of construction. Please click here to view the staff report. On December 6, 2007 the Parks Commission supported the design concept.

On July 15, 2008, City Council approved the Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Docks Riverfront Parkway Promenade Project. City Council established a budget for Phase I of the Promenade, which will extend the Promenade from O Street to R street along with the construction of a new park near R Street. An RFQ for the Docks Riverfront Promenade was issued on July 23, 2008.

• Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Docks Riverfront Parkway
  Promenade Project (PDF) 9.23Mb

Project Details

City Council approves Project Details



On October 31, the City Council approved the project concept for the Docks Area redevelopment project as a high-density, mixed use neighborhood that includes housing and retail as well as a riverfront parkway/promenade with parks and open space for the area north of the Pioneer Bridge and west of Front Street.  The approval also included a Term Sheet for Phase 1 of the project which outlines the City and Development Team responsibilities.  Phase I essentially includes the northerly 8 acres of the project site.  Essentially the next steps are:


1. Refine plans A2 and C.
2. Complete the entitlements for the properties north of Pioneer Bridge and west of Front Street.
3. Continue with the acquisition of properties north of Pioneer Bridge and west of Front Street.
4. Work towards building the infrastructure required for Phase I.
5. Determine the plan for repair/replacement of Pioneer Reservoir.
6. Design the promenade along the riverfront from the existing promenade (near Embassy Suites) to Miller Park. 

A Docks Area Project update presentation was made to the Sacramento City Council on June 26,2007 relaying project project regarding project progress and challenges. The Agency adopted an extension of the business terms and the exclusive right to negotiate with KSWM Docks Partners, LLC. to the end of March 2008.

Urban Design Update

Throughout the month of August 2007, the City and the development team presented to the community high-level land use concepts for the Docks Area.  The draft land use concepts included four design variations, presented below:


1. Option A1
2. Option A2
3. Option B
4. Option C

The Riverfront Promenade/Parkway

On August 22nd, City Council awarded a contract to Walker Macy for the design of the promenade/parkway as well as the related levee improvements. Walker Macy will be supported by Nichols Consulting Engineers, Chtd., which will be providing the civil engineering and geotechnical analysis. Over the past several months Walker Macy collected and analyzed data related to the design of the Promenade and presented two design alternatives at the Public Workshop in April 18, 2007. Refined Land Use Plans were also presented at the April workshop and a preferred concept was selected in September 2007. Click here to view the preferred plan.

Art in Public Places/Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission

An Art In Public Places program will be incorporated into the Promenade plan. Ned Kahn is the artist who was selected to complete the art plan.

In June 2007, artist Ned Kahn presented his refined concepts for the proposed art plan for the public promenade. The proposal included nine unique ideas which Kahn described as artwork that would "seek to preserve, to frame, to enhance or to reveal the natural phenomena that are already present in the site". The final draft Art in Public Places Plan will return to the APP/SMAC for final approval.

Project Background

In 2003, there was a great collaborative planning effort between the cities of Sacramento and West Sacramento that resulted in the 2003 Sacramento Riverfront Master Plan.  The information gathered during the Riverfront Master Plan served not only as an update to the 1994 Sacramento & West Sacramento Riverfront Master Plans, but also laid the foundation for the successful development of both sides of the Sacramento River.

The Docks Area, part of the 2003 Riverfront Master Plan, is approximately 43 acres of mostly undeveloped land.  It is defined on the north by Capitol Mall, on the east by the I-5 Freeway, on the south by Broadway and on the west by the Sacramento River. The Docks Area is a collection of parcels with great development potential.  The 2003 Riverfront Master Plan looked at the Docks Area in the context of the rest of the Sacramento riverfront, as well as how it relates to the other side of the river

in West Sacramento.

The goal of the Docks Area Project is to develop the area into a new riverfront mixed-use neighborhood, including the necessary infrastructure, street circulation, and bicycle and pedestrian access, all the while maintaining the defining elements identified in the 2003 Riverfront Master Plan, including:

• Public Access to the Riverfront
• Linkages to Adjacent Neighborhoods
• Pedestrian Orientation
• An Animated Riverfront

Developer Selection Process

The City of Sacramento issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for development teams in October 2005.  The City was interested in development teams with a proven track record of successfully developing the following types of projects:

• Waterfront Development
• Brownfields Development
• Urban Infill Neighborhood Projects
• Urban Reuse Projects

The City received eight submittals in response to the Request for Qualifications.  Five teams were selected to move forward and present their qualifications at a December 14, 2005 community workshop.  The five teams included:

1. Costa Pacific Communities
2. KSWM Docks Partners, LLC
3. Legacy Partners 
4. Montgomery-Signature
5. The Olson Company
   
On January 5, 2006 the City Council selected KSWM Docks Partners, LLC to exclusively negotiate the development of the Docks Area.  The negotiation process is expected to take six-nine months.  KSWM is in the process of completing a market analysis and other due diligence activities before completing a draft concept plan. The draft concept plan will be based on the community concept plans developed during the 2005 community planning process.  The draft concept plan will also be presented to the community before going to city council for review and comment.  Keep checking this web site for information on presentations of KSWM’s draft concept plan.

Public Workshops

Newsletters

The following documents require the use of Adobe Acrobat Reader, file sizes are approximate: 

• Newsletter - March 2005 (1.5Mb)
• Newsletter - April 2005 (1.5Mb)
• Newsletter - July 2005 (1.5Mb)

Community Involvement

The City of Sacramento’s Economic Development Department encourages you to participate in planning this important project. 

Docks Area Concepts from the 2005 Community Planning Process

• Option 1 (pdf) (512Kb)
• Option 2 (pdf) (524Kb)
• Option 3 (pdf) (524Kb)
• Docks Area Concept Plan (39.8Mb)

Contacts

Project questions
BethTincher, (916) 808-7730

Media inquiries
Maurice Chaney, (916)808-7948