DEPARTMENT: Department of Planning & Community Development
DEPARTMENT HEAD: John Dugan, AICP
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Update on the progress of the Comprehensive Planning Committee.
SUMMARY:
A briefing to provide an update on the progress of the Comprehensive Planning Committee.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Comprehensive Planning Committee (CPC) has requested that a standing item be placed on the Infrastructure and Growth Committee agenda that will allow for monthly updates to the Infrastructure and Growth Committee as to the progress made by the CPC. This item will allow for a staff briefing to Infrastructure and Growth Committee on the progress made to date by the CPC. This briefing will provide an update on the progress of the Comprehensive Planning Committee.
ISSUE:
At their meeting on February 26 the CPC was briefed on the feedback received from the first Comprehensive Plan Advisory Group meeting, held on January 13. Attendees of the first Advisory Group meeting were asked to complete a questionnaire consisting of the following:
1. With your understanding of the Comprehensive Plan, suggest the top two or three organizational priorities you have that relate to the Comprehensive Plan.
2. As it pertains to your organization or group, what other essential question(s) must be answered by the Comprehensive Plan?
3. Does your organization or group have any current of planned initiatives that should be coordinated with the Comprehensive Plan effort?
Staff will present a sample of the responses received from Advisory Group representatives.
The CPC also was updated on the status of the three growth-related plans:
City staff is working with the comprehensive plan consultant, MIG, to develop the process by which we will engage the Plan Element Working Groups. In collaboration with these working groups and City staff, MIG will lead the development of a series of topical policy papers that include assets, opportunities, and challenges. The Plan Element Working Groups will be comprised of industry and community leaders drawn from the various organizations of the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Group and supplemented by subject matter experts identified the planning team and their partners. The chairperson of each Working Group will serve as their Working Group's representative on the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee.
MIG, in collaboration with City staff of the three Growth-Related Plans participating departments, has developed the brand for the City's three separate but interconnected growth-related plan that include the Comprehensive Plan, Multimodal Transportation Plan, and Sustainability Plan.
Analysis is underway regarding the technical aspects of the Strategic Multimodal Transportation Plan. This includes assessment of current and future demographics and the impact on the City's roadway network between now and 2040. Pedestrian Priority Zone criteria is being drafted; the City's Bicycle Master Plan is being assessed for implementation priorities for public and private projects; and the Major Thoroughfare Plan is being evaluated for roadway alignments that have yet to be built, as well as existing roads that may need to be expanded and/or redesigned. Collaboration with VIA is on-going as they continue to update their 2040 Transit Plan. An underlying theme is safety.
The Office of Sustainability contract with consultant Neutral Forum, LLC was awarded by City Council on January 29, 2015. The selected prime consultant is Neutral Forum, LLC, dba Galen Driscol/Kim Lundgren Associates, Inc. and sub-consultants include Adaptation International, LLC, ATMOS Research & Consulting, and Erin L. Deady, PA. The contract has been executed and implementation of the work plan has begun, including the baseline data collection and the greenhouse gas inventory. Office of Sustainability staff has been requesting, receiving and processing data from COSA departments, SAWS, CPS, and SARA for the Sustainable Tools for Assessing and Rating (STAR) Communities system.
Staff also briefed the CPC on the initial Comprehensive Plan study related to the fiscal impact of alternative growth scenarios and gave an overview of the draft Public Involvement Scope for the Comprehensive Plan.
Public involvement is a key component of the Comprehensive Plan process. It provides an avenue to engage the community and ascertain feedback that directly contributes to policy solutions and recommendations. After reviewing those policy options with the public, the consultant team and City staff will incorporate the public's input into the final recommended Plan to the maximum extent possible. The process will include targeted engagement for the general public and the following key stakeholders to include, but not limited to, the following:
· Neighborhood and homeowner association representatives
· Real estate developers, building owners and managers, property owners, architects, and contractors
· High school and college students
· Senior citizens
· Young professionals
The public will have multiple opportunities to provide input at various phases of the Plan's development. The Plan's development will also be supported by a website, a three-part series of videos, social media, and e-mail blasts (see Public Engagement Outline exhibit).
ALTERNATIVES:
N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
This briefing is to provide an update on the progress of the Comprehensive Planning Committee.