The Old Town Specific Plan The Town of Yucca Valley has contracted the Digital Planning Studio, a southern California-based community revitalization company, to come into the town and work with the residents and businesses on building a new image for Old Town and to recommend upgrades to the SR62 corridor.

During early June the company representitives were in town for a "Community Immersion Week" where they conducted interviews, workshops, storefront "drop-in" interviews and met with community and civic leaders, all to get a feel of what we had (both good and bad) and where we wanted to go. Involved in the process was the Old Town Merchants Association, the Yucca Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Yucca Valley, CalTrans and a great many interested community members.

"During the Yucca Valley Community Immersion, June 2-12, 2004, hundreds of residents, merchants, property owners, local officials, and agency representatives participated in a number of events aimed to help define the future of SR-62 and Old Town Yucca Valley. The meaningful input provided by the community established very strong foundations upon which two draft products are being prepared: an Old Town Yucca Valley Specific Plan and an SR-62 Streetscape Master Plan. Visit the project website at www.yucca-valley.org for the most recent updates! (Click on the "What's New" section.)

Currently, the Town and the consulting team are working with Caltrans to refine the SR-62 alternatives for Old Town that were developed during Community Immersion. As SR-62 is a major element of Old Town, energies are being focused now on arriving at a direction for the future of the highway so that we can proceed at the earliest possible time on land use, urban design, pedestrian improvements, etc. Information on the alternatives, including order of magnitude costs, will be brought to the Yucca Valley community, Town Council and Planning Commission later this summer for review and comment. Participants who provided their address on a sign-in sheet at one of the Community Immersion events will be receiving a Certificate of Appreciation, signed by Mayor Robert "Bob" Leone, in a few weeks. Also, presentations, photographs, and materials from the Yucca Valley Community Immersion are now posted on the Town's website: www.yucca-valley.org, click on "Old Town Specific Plan and SR62 Streetscape Master Plan" in the lower right-hand corner. Thank you for your continued support and investment in making a difference in the future of Yucca Valley!"

As of early July, the company is back at their home base working on plans, recommendations and a strategy for the future. Information will be provided as it is released or known. Mr. Shane Stueckle (Town of Yucca Valley) is the project manager for the Old Town Specific Plan and the SR62 Streetscape Master Plan and he can be reached at (760) 369-6575.