A vision statement describes the desired state of a place in the future. With community support, an effective vision can influence decisions and inspire action to move toward that idealized future. Goals further describe the outcomes that will support the realization of the vision. These, in turn, are supported by more specific strategies and actions that will implement the bigger-picture vision and goals. These strategies will involve specific proposed projects, programs, policies, and other means of achieving the community vision.

The Draft Vision and Goals for the Port San Antonio Area Regional Center were prepared based off input from residents and community stakeholders through an online questionnaire, two community meetings, and a planning team meeting. Below are the emerging vision and goals for the Port San Antonio area:

The Port San Antonio Area Regional Center will be a community that supports Joint Base San Antonio Lackland’s mission, embraces and enhances its rich military history while continuing to evolve as an innovation hub with strong partnerships focused on promoting science, technology, and education.

 

The Regional Center will be an attractive and vibrant destination area that encourages a dynamic mix of community-serving uses along with stable, family-friendly neighborhoods. We foster an environment that promotes a healthy ecosystem, where people feel safe and comfortable bicycling and walking, where streets, sidewalks, and trails are pleasant and inviting to use, and where all businesses and industries have the support of local residents and visitors.

Goal 1: Attract, retain, and support businesses and local talent to promote science, aerospace, aviation, logistics, and technology.

  • Support Joint Base San Antonio Lackland by attracting employers and businesses that specialize in cybersecurity and other industries that compliments the Base’s mission and operations.
  • Attract large employers to the Regional Center area by encouraging urban design concepts in key locations that will create active spaces for employees and the public to visit and enjoy.
  • Strengthen partnerships with local educational organizations and technology-based companies that will help attract smaller startups to locate in this area.
  • Encourage school-community partnerships to facilitate access to learning opportunities and other resources to support students.
  • Build connections between businesses and local talent by encouraging educational programs that help local students learn more about the technology-based employment opportunities of this area.

Goal 2: Promote the Regional Center’s military identity and preserve Port San Antonio’s rich military history.

  • Continue working with Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) in reviewing and enforcing land use and development regulations that protect the military mission at Lackland AFB.
  • Promote, preserve, and expand public art and memorials related to San Antonio’s military legacy.
  • Highlight the area’s military identity, history, and heritage by incorporating military-themed beautification efforts into new development, infrastructure, and community amenities where feasible.
  • Consider adaptive reuse of old buildings to build on existing assets of the area in such a way that preserves the military history and culture and helps retain the authentic and unique character of the area.

Goal 3: Increase healthy and sustainable transportation options in areas with anticipated increases in intensity of public and private use.

  • Capitalize on the anticipated growth in employment at Port San Antonio and identify both new and enhanced transit routes that will help connect people to jobs while alleviating automobile congestion.
  • Provide clear physical and visual pedestrian and bicycle connections from transit facilities to employment centers, retail, and entertainment attractions that will encourage people to use alternatives to the automobile.
  • Identify suitable locations for a multi-modal “grand transit” center that will connect the Regional Center to other Regional Centers in the City.
  • Create great public and publicly accessible private spaces that are an amenity to surrounding businesses and that encourage gathering and activate the areas around the “grand transit” center and other important transit stations.
  • Improve multimodal connectivity between neighborhoods with infrastructure improvements including construction of new sidewalks, bike lanes, and multi-use trails, as well as maintenance and repair of existing sidewalks using the complete green street model.

Goal 4: Increase housing options while preserving or increasing home ownership rates.

  • Foster an appropriate mix, density, and orientation of land uses in each part of Template to maintain the character of unique places, such as the North St. Mary’s Street music culture.
  • Introduce a variety of housing options in the area, particularly those currently under-represented or missing from the area that may appeal to current or future residents, including those employed within the Regional Center area.
  • Preserve existing family-friendly neighborhoods and seek a healthy portfolio of housing types in the Port San Antonio Area Regional Center.
  • Direct higher density housing options to targeted focus areas and along major corridors, and encourage appropriate transitions of density and intensity to existing lower density neighborhoods.
  • Identify locations for future housing options and mixed-use/retail development uses so that they are close in proximity to encourage a vibrant and active area.
  • Rehabilitate or renovate housing within existing neighborhoods that are in need of repair and remediation.

Goal 5: Create public-facing amenities and entertainment to transform the area into a destination.

  • Support mixed-use/retail development in properly located areas in order to attract prospective tenants, and to create active areas that provide shopping, dining, services, and entertainment options that serve local residents, employees, visitors, and transit patrons.
  • Incorporate appropriate complete green street design, native plant/functional landscaping, and infrastructure improvements that improve pedestrian safety, stormwater control, and water quality while helping create active environments that are desirable for residents and employees to visit and enjoy.
  • Encourage business establishments that meet the day-to-day service and retail needs of residents, families, and area employees, allowing people to shop or obtain services locally.
  • Increase connectivity within and to surrounding parks, open spaces, and green spaces to attract visitors and provide local residents with enhanced recreational opportunities.

What is a Vision Statement?

A vision statement describes the desired state of a place in the future. With community support, an effective vision can influence decisions and inspire action to move toward that idealized future. Goals further describe the outcomes that will support the realization of the vision. These, in turn, are supported by more specific strategies and actions that will implement the bigger-picture vision and goals. These strategies will involve specific proposed projects, programs, policies, and other means of achieving the community vision.

Come find out How Your Voice Matters!