DEPARTMENT: Planning Department
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Bridgett White, AICP
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: District 8
SUBJECT:
The UTSA Area Regional Center Plan
SUMMARY:
Consideration of a resolution recommending the UTSA Area Regional Center Plan to City Council to become a component of the City’s Comprehensive Master Plan.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The SA Tomorrow Comprehensive Plan is one of three growth-related plans addressing how the City of San Antonio’s expected population growth will be balanced with social, economic, and environmental resources. The Comprehensive Plan provides strategic direction for decision making and public investment to prepare our communities for anticipated growth at the citywide level. The major “building blocks” of the Comprehensive Plan include:
• Regional Centers
• Urban Centers
• Corridors
• Neighborhoods
The UTSA Area Regional Center Plan aims to create a realistic and implementable strategy to address projected growth in the UTSA Area Regional Center, one of the thirteen (13) Regional Centers identified in the SA Tomorrow Comprehensive Plan. Anchored by the University of Texas at San Antonio, and the UTSA activity center is a focus of entertainment and retail for the northern portion of the City. Located at the intersection of I-10 and Loop 1604, the UTSA Area Regional Center includes major destinations such as the Six Flags Fiesta Texas theme park, The RIM Shopping Center, and the Shops at La Cantera. The main topics covered by the Plan include Land Use, Mobility, Amenities and Infrastructure, Focus Areas, Catalytic Projects, Economic Development, Housing, and Neighborhood Priorities.
As success of the Sub-Area Plan depends on broad participation from area stakeholders, Planning Department staff worked with a wide range of community members throughout the planning process. These included neighborhood associations, business and property owners, residents, employers, educational and cultural institutions, public and nonprofit organizations, and other City departments.
ISSUE:
A Public Draft of the Plan was released to the public for comment on March 19, 2019 and public input was gathered through April 21, 2019. Comments received were considered for incorporation in the Administrative Draft for the adoption process, which is currently available online: <https://utsa-area.sacompplan.com/files/UTSA-Area-Regional-Center-Plan_Administrative-Draft.pdf>.
On May 15, 2019, the Planning Department presented the UTSA Area Regional Center Plan to the Comprehensive Plan Committee of City Council where the Committee voted unanimously to forward the plan to the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission received a briefing on June 26, 2019. The item is tentatively scheduled to be considered by City Council on August 29, 2019.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of a resolution recommending the UTSA Area Regional Center Plan, with all staff recommended revisions, to City Council to become a component of the City’s Comprehensive Master Plan.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Recommend Denial of the proposed resolution recommending the UTSA Area Regional Center Plan to City Council.
2. Make an alternate recommendation.
3. Continue to a future date.