AGENDA #10
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Town Council Goals for 2003 and Proposed Revisions to the Implementation Schedule of the Comprehensive Plan
DATE: February 24, 2003
The purpose of this report is to present a draft statement of Town Council goals for 2003 that were adopted at the Council’s January 17 work session; and, to summarize proposed revisions to the implementation schedule of the Comprehensive Plan adopted on May 8, 2000. The attached materials include:
· Draft 2003 Council Goals and Implementation Plan (Attachment 1).
· A proposed revised Comprehensive Plan Action Plan (Attachment 2); and
· A summary record of the Council’s Planning Session (Attachment 3).
The attached Resolution A would adopt the Town Council goals for 2003 and establish a challenging work program for the Council and staff.
The attached Resolution B would refer the draft revised Comprehensive Plan Action Plan to the Planning Board and other advisory boards for comment prior to consideration by the Town Council.
We have prepared a resolution for the Council’s consideration to enable the Council to move forward on the Northside Neighborhood Conservation District, one of the highest priority goals identified in the work session. The attached Resolution C would initiate a process of developing a neighborhood conservation district for the Northside neighborhood.
BACKGROUND
On January 17, 2003, the Town Council held a planning session to establish goals for 2003 and to review the status of implementation of the 2000 Comprehensive Plan.
At the planning session the Council received a report on the Status of Comprehensive Plan Implementation based on the Action Plan in the 2000 Comprehensive Plan. The Council reviewed the status of the Action Plan, developed a list of possible additions to the Action Plan, and voted on the action items they felt were of the highest priority. The resulting priority items were listed in order of the number of votes received, and the Council agreed to use the following priority groupings:
· Five or more votes: Highest Priority Group
· Three to four votes: Second Priority Group
· One to two votes: Third Priority Group
The planning session is summarized in Attachment 3.
At the conclusion of the Planning session, the Council instructed the Manager to prepare a summary report for consideration by the Council.
DISCUSSION
Attachment 1 lists the Council’s goals, ranked by priority, and a plan for implementation. Each goal statement includes a description, the products to be produced and a timetable for beginning and completing work. Factors we used to propose an implementation schedule included the Council’s priority level and the amount of staff time required to complete a task. The implementation plan emphasizes the highest priorities by scheduling staff work on most of these goals in 2003.
The 2003 Council Goals and Implementation Plan, under the heading “Additional Council Goals,” includes goals that the Council added at the January 17 Planning session but were not assigned a priority level. For each of these we have included a description and a list of follow-up actions.
Using the Council’s goals and priorities generated, we have developed a draft revised Comprehensive Plan Action Plan for the Council’s consideration (please see Attachment 2). In this chart, we have used the following revised calendar year timeframes:
· Short Term (0-2 Years): 2003, 2004
· Mid-Term (2-5 Years): 2005, 2006, 2007
· Long Term (5-10 Years): 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Projects completed since the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan in 2000 allows for several actions to be removed from the original Action Plan. These include:
· Implement a “percent for art” program
· Develop plan to address UNC traffic and parking impacts on neighborhoods
· Revise Development Ordinance (front-yard parking, noise, Historic District regulations)
· Adopt a Town strategy to address Shaping Orange County’s Future
· Develop and adopt a rental licensing and inspection ordinance
· Revise Development Ordinance (affordable housing, rental licensing and inspection)
· Develop a growth management protocol
· Evaluate low-impact development practices
· Adopt low-impact development practices
· Revise Development Ordinance (sidewalk and bike lane construction, traffic impact analysis guidelines)
· Adopt roadway standards for on-street bike lanes and begin applying to resurfacing/reconstruction projects
· Conduct community-wide mobility survey
· Complete a Parks and Open Space Master Plan
· Revise the Town’s permit and fee structure
The Council’s assessment of the status of the Comprehensive Plan Action Plan provides an opportunity to evaluate to what extent the Town is achieving the goals of the 2000 Comprehensive Plan and an opportunity to make midcourse adjustments in the short, medium, and long-term goals. By further focusing on the short-term goals, the Council has the opportunity to integrate the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan into its quarterly review of progress.
In this manner, the Council will establish a method to integrate the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan goals into the ongoing budgeting and management functions of the Town.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION DISTRICT
Resolution C, attached, would initiate the process of developing a neighborhood conservation district for the Northside neighborhood, one of the Council’s highest priority goals for 2003 based on vote tallies at the Council’s January 17, 2003 planning session. Northside is the first neighborhood to request the use of this tool, which was added in the new Land Use Management Ordinance. The ordinance allows for the establishment of overlay districts for older neighborhoods; the expectation is these districts would be prepared and adopted as part of a residential small area planning process. Attachment 1 proposes that the project would be started in the first quarter of 2003, and be completed by the end of the calendar year.
NEXT STEPS
After receipt of this report and discussion tonight, we recommend that the Council refer the draft Proposed Revision of the Comprehensive Plan Action Plan to the Planning Board for review and recommendation as the principal advisory board with responsibility for developing the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. In addition, other advisory boards may wish to comment on the goals related to their advisory boards, including the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, Community Design Commission, Greenways Commission, Historic District Commission, Housing and Community Development Advisory Board, Human Services Advisory Board, Library Board, Million Solar Roofs Committee, Parks and Recreation Commission, and Transportation Board.
RECOMMENDATION
We recommend the Council adopt the attached resolutions:
ATTACHMENTS
A. Comprehensive Plan Implementation Summary and Worksheet (p. ).
B. List of Additional Items (from handwritten newsprint sheets) (p. ).
C. List of Council Priorities (with votes) (p. ).
RESOLUTION A
A RESOLUTION ADOPTING TOWN COUNCIL GOALS FOR 2003 (2003-02-24/R-11a)
WHEREAS, the Town Council developed a list of proposed goals and priorities for 2003 at the Council’s January 17, 2003 Planning Session, using the Comprehensive Plan Action Plan as a basis; and
WHEREAS, the Council desires to integrate the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan into its quarterly review of progress;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council adopts the 2003 Council Goals and Implementation Plan as described in Attachment 1 of this memorandum.
This the 24th day of February, 2003.
RESOLUTION B
A RESOLUTION REFERRING Proposed revision of comprehensive plan action plan TO TOWN ADVISORY BOARDS FOR COMMENT (2003-02-24/R-11b)
WHEREAS, the Town Council has used the Comprehensive Plan as a policy guide since Council adoption of the Plan on May 8, 2000; and
WHEREAS, the Town has made progress implementing the Comprehensive Plan Action Plan since the Plan’s adoption; and
WHEREAS, the Council has adopted goals for 2003 that represent new initiatives to be added to the Comprehensive Plan Action Plan and require amending the schedule for implementing existing Action Plan initiatives;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council refers for comment and recommendations the Proposed Revision of the Comprehensive Plan Action Plan (as described in Attachment 2 of this memorandum) to the Planning Board as the principal advisory board with responsibility for developing the Town’s Comprehensive Plan, and to the following advisory boards:
· Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board
· Community Design Commission
· Greenways Commission
· Historic District Commission
· Housing and Community Development Advisory Board
· Human Services Advisory Board
· Library Board
· Million Solar Roofs Committee
· Parks and Recreation Commission
· Transportation Board.
This the 24th day of February, 2003.
RESOLUTION C
A RESOLUTION initiating the process of developing a neighborhood conservation district for the Northside neighborhood (2003-02-24/R-11c)
WHEREAS, the Comprehensive Plan has a goal of protecting the physical and social fabric of Chapel Hill’s neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, the Comprehensive Plan called for selecting the Northside neighborhood for a residential small area planning process and called for developing local design guidelines as part of the planning process; and
WHEREAS, the Town’s new Land Use Management Ordinance includes provisions for creation of overlay zoning districts for older neighborhoods and several neighborhoods in order:
· to promote and provide for economic revitalization and/or enhancement
· to protect and strengthen desirable and unique physical features, design characteristics, and recognized identity, charm and flavor;
· to protect and enhance the livability of the Town;
· to reduce conflict and prevent blighting caused by incompatible and insensitive development, and to promote new compatible development; and,
· to stabilize property values;
· to provide residents and property owners with a planning bargaining tool for future development;
· to promote and retain affordable housing;
· to encourage and strengthen civic pride; and
· to encourage the harmonious, orderly and efficient growth and redevelopment of the Town.
WHEREAS, the Northside neighborhood representatives have requested that the Council consider initiating a neighborhood conservation district planning process for their neighborhood;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council directs the Manager to initiate the process of designating Northside as a Neighborhood Conservation District in accordance with Section 3.6.5 of the Land Use Management Ordinance.
This the 24th day of February, 2003.