DEPARTMENT: World Heritage Office
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Colleen Swain, Director
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City-Wide
SUBJECT:
World Heritage Work Plan and Land Use Amendment Process Updates
SUMMARY:
The World Heritage Work Plan identifies specific tasks and deliverables necessary to enhance the visitor and resident experience around the five San Antonio Missions. A critical component of the work plan has been to update the existing land use plans through community input in order to develop a unified vision for the future of the World Heritage Buffer area. City staff will provide a brief update on the Work Plan that includes recommendations for proposed land use amendments to the following plans: Lone Star Neighborhood, South Central Community, Stinson Airport Vicinity, and Heritage South Sector, as well as next steps.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The World Heritage designation for the five San Antonio Missions will increase visitation and tourism spending, promote the history and culture of San Antonio, and create jobs and small business opportunities. To prepare for this increased activity and to maximize benefits, City staff prepared the World Heritage Work Plan. The work plan identifies specific tasks and deliverables.
Tasks and deliverables included in the work plan address the following categories: management and oversight, infrastructure, wayfinding, transportation, economic development, land use, and marketing and outreach. The work plan is being coordinated with the Alamo Master Plan effort.
Additionally, the work plan is a dynamic document and items may be added to the work plan as a result of the public input process. The work plan includes items that were identified at the World Heritage Symposium hosted by Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran last fall. Thereafter, City staff supported Councilwoman Viagran in hosting two other symposium events focused on the visitor experience and land use. The second World Heritage Symposium was held on December 5, 2015 and included breakout sessions on topics such as infrastructure, wayfinding, small business development, and the visitor experience. On February 6, 2016, the City hosted the third symposium focused on land use and development where residents and participants were able to provide feedback and input on the individual neighborhood and sector plans. This input was used to develop general themes and proposed amendments for each land use plan, which was first presented at an Open House held on April 5, 2016 at the National Park Service Visitor Center. In addition to presenting the community vision for land use, the new Director was introduced and feedback on the progress being made on the World Heritage Work Plan in all categories was requested. City departments and community partners hosted tables to display and share input received throughout the symposia series and answered questions.
Since April, the World Heritage Office has presented the proposed land use amendments to neighborhood associations and other key groups, including individual property owners. A 30 day Open House process was held this summer. The City hosted several opportunities for the community to review the proposed amendments for the following plans: Lone Star Neighborhood Plan, South Central Community Plan, Stinson Airport Vicinity Land Use Plan, and Heritage South Sector Plan. Notices, in both English and Spanish, with dates and locations were mailed to property owners within the World Heritage Buffer Area (except for Downtown and Lavaca) and those within 500 feet of a proposed amendment. Additionally, a news release was issued, ads were placed in the Southside Reporter and emails to Neighborhood Associations and key stakeholders were sent. The Open House was held at the Central Library, McCreless Library, Mission Library, Pan American Library, Stinson Airport, Fire Station 7. All information including comment cards was available online and at all locations. Staff was also available at the library locations on each Wednesday, Friday, and two Saturdays during the 30 day process.
On September 20 and 24, two community meetings were held at Stinson Airport and Mission Branch Library. Notices, in both English and Spanish, with dates and locations were mailed to property owners within the World Heritage Buffer Area (except for Downtown and Lavaca) and those within 500 feet of a proposed amendment. Additionally, a news release was issued, ads were placed in the Southside Reporter and emails to Neighborhood Associations and key stakeholders were sent. All information including comment cards was posted online. Approximately 170 people attended both meetings where staff presented information on the general themes and proposed land use amendments. Staff also documented community input, answered questions, and provided additional information to attendees.
ISSUE:
The World Heritage Work Plan identifies the short- and long-term tasks and deliverables necessary to enhance the visitor and resident experience around the five San Antonio Missions. Staff will provide a brief update on the Work Plan with a focus on the land use process to include a summary of feedback received, general themes, proposed amendments and recommended next steps in order to implement the vision of the community.
ALTERNATIVES:
This item is for briefing purposes only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This item is for briefing purposes only.
RECOMMENDATION:
This item is for briefing purposes only.