AGENDA #10
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Revision of Town’s 2000 Comprehensive Plan Action Plan
DATE: May 12, 2003
This memorandum summarizes advisory board recommendations related to the draft revised Comprehensive Plan Action Plan (Attachment 1). We recommend the Council adopt the attached resolution amending the Town’s 2000 Comprehensive Plan to revise the Action Plan.
In its planning session on January 17, 2003, the Town Council reviewed the Action Plan of the Town’s 2000 Comprehensive Plan as part of its annual goal-setting process. The Council’s process includes an evaluation of the extent to which the Town is achieving the goals of the 2000 Comprehensive Plan, and the opportunity to make midcourse adjustments in the short, medium, and long term goals of the Plan.
On February 24, 2003, the Town Council adopted the 2003 Council Goals and Implementation Plan (Attachment 2). The implementation plan is for the calendar years 2003 and 2004. This plan ranks the goals into Highest Priority, Second Priority, and Third Priority categories. It also sets out a schedule for achieving the Council’s goals and priorities established at the planning session. The Council will receive quarterly reports on the status of implementation throughout the year (please see related information report on this agenda).
On February 24, 2003, the Council also referred a draft revised Comprehensive Plan Action Plan to the Town’s advisory boards for comments and recommendations.
Advisory boards have made recommendations to the Town Council for revisions to the draft revised Comprehensive Plan Action Plan (see Attachment 1). The draft revised Comprehensive Plan Action Plan is organized into ten sections according to general topic areas in the Comprehensive Plan (see Attachment 3). The recommendations from the advisory boards are presented below, divided into each of the ten topic areas of the Action Plan, along with staff comments on each:
1. Community Character
Community Design Commission: Reassign the following action from Long-Term Action (2008-2012) to Mid-Term Action (2005-2007): “Evaluate residential area planning process. Based upon evaluation, initiate additional residential area plans.”
Staff Comment: On February 24, 2003, the Council adopted as part of its 2003 Council Goals and Implementation Plan to undertake an additional Small Area Plan (second priority, project #17). The schedule adopted indicated this work is to begin in 2004. At that time, this item should have been added to the proposed Revision to the Comprehensive Plan Action Plan as a Short-Term Action (2004). The attached Revision makes this change.
Based on this timeline, we believe it is reasonable to move the next phase of the project, “Evaluate the residential area planning process…” to the Mid-Term (2005-2007). The attached Revision makes this change.
2. University Relations
No changes recommended by advisory boards.
3. Regional Cooperation
Planning Board: Reassign the following action from Mid-Term Action (2005-2007) to Short-Term Action (2004): “Evaluate options for a joint Urban Services Area/Rural Buffer strategy.”
Staff Comment: The Planning Board has indicated it intends to discuss the status of Orange County’s Comprehensive Plan with the Orange County Planning Board. We suggest that this item be reviewed again if new information emerges about the need to undertake a study sooner than 2005.
4. Economy and Employment
Community Design Commission: Reassign the following action from Mid-Term Action (2005-2007) to Short-Term Action (2004): “Revise Development Ordinance (non-residential development design standards).”
Staff Comment: This action item was included in the 2003 Council Goals and Implementation Plan adopted by the Council on February 24, 2003 as project #21 under “Third Priority.” The Council at that time adopted a schedule to begin this project in 2005.
5. Housing
No changes recommended by advisory boards.
6. Land Use and Development
No changes recommended by advisory boards.
7. Environment
Community Design Commission: Reassign the following Short-Term Action from 2004 to 2003: “Develop a water quality performance review process. Implement a dedicated funding source for stormwater management.”
Staff Comment: We understand that the implementation of a dedicated funding source for stormwater management will be considered as part of the Council’s work on establishing a stormwater management utility. Work on this project is underway, and is expected to come before the Council in 2004. Therefore, we believe a change in the schedule on the Action Plan is not needed.
Million Solar Roof Committee: Reassign the following action from Mid-Term Action (2005-2007) to Short-Term Action (2004): “Develop a local action plan to reduce greenhouse emissions.” Also, amend action language to read: “Develop a local action plan to promote energy conservation and the use of renewable energy technologies in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
Staff Comment: We agree. Work is underway through the Metropolitan Planning Organization to obtain funding in order to be able to begin work on this project in 2004. Part of the project is developing an action plan. We have made this change in the Revision to the Action Plan.
8. Transportation
Bicycle and Pedestrian Issues
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board: Reassign the following two actions from Mid-Term Action (2005-2007) to Short-Term Action (2004): “Implement priority sidewalk development projects” and “Implement priority bikeway development projects.”
Staff Comment: The Comprehensive Plan Action Plan was designed so that these strategy statements would follow the development of a pedestrian and bicycle action plan. Development of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Action Plan is scheduled in the Council’s 2003 Goals to begin this year, and be completed in 2004. Therefore, we do not recommend adjusting the timing of these actions.
In the meantime, the Town continues to implement sidewalk and bicycle projects through annual consideration of a program of improvements in the fall of each year.
Park and Ride System
Community Design Commission and Transportation Board: Reassign the following action from Mid-Term Action (2005-2007) to Short-Term Action (2004): “Develop a plan and funding source for an expanded park and ride system.”
Transportation Board: Reassign the following action from Long-Term Action (2008-2012) to Mid-Term Action (2005-2007): “Implement expanded park-and-ride system.”
Staff Comment: The Short-Range Transit Plan, currently under development with the Transportation Board, begins the planning to address the need for an expanded park and ride system. This Plan is scheduled for Council review this year. We recommend that the action to develop a plan and funding source remain as a Mid-Term Action (2005-2007). The implementation strategy statement would follow in sequence after the development of an expanded park and ride plan. Therefore, we do not recommend reassignment of this implementation action to the Mid-Term.
Downtown Transfer Center
Transportation Board: Reassign the following action from Mid-Term Action (2005-2007) to Short-Term Action (2004): “Evaluate the feasibility of a downtown transfer center.” And, add a new action to Mid-Term Actions (2005-2007): “Develop plan and funding sources for downtown transfer center.”
Staff Comment: The Council adopted the goal of evaluating the feasibility of a downtown transfer center in its 2003 Council Goals and Implementation Plan as project #22, Third Priority, with a schedule of work to begin in 2004. Therefore, the Comprehensive Plan Action Plan chart has been adjusted to reflect this schedule. Developing a plan and funding sources could logically follow an evaluation of the feasibility of a transit transfer center. This proposed action could be considered in Council’s regular review of Comprehensive Plan goals, should the study find the project is feasible.
9. Community Facilities
No changes recommended by advisory boards.
10. Fiscal Conditions
No changes recommended by advisory boards.
OTHER COMMENTS
In addition to making specific recommended changes to the Comprehensive Plan Action Plan, some advisory boards provided other comments to the Town Council related to the Comprehensive Plan and implementation of the various actions. The comments are summarized below:
· Improvements to local transit are needed now, and additional staff will be needed to implement the transportation-related actions. (Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board)
Staff Comment: In response to requests from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board and the Transportation Board, the Council received a Budget Working Paper on this topic on April 2, 2003, and it is an option under consideration as part of the Council’s budget process.
· Final implementation of the Action Plan will likely require additional funding. (Greenways Commission)
Staff Comment: We agree. The Council will consider funding issues in this and following years.
· That the Parking Study Town Council goal for 2003 (#6 of 2003 Council Goals) include review of the Town’s Transportation Management Program (#18 on 2003 Council Goals), and that any consultant chosen for the parking study project work with a citizens’ advisory group, with members to include representatives from the Planning Board, Transportation Board, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, and citizens. (Planning Board)
Staff Comment: Adding a review of the Transportation Management Program could increase costs of the consultant study. At this time, the review of the Transportation Management Program is scheduled to be a project completed by Town staff. Designation of a citizens’ advisory group for the Parking Study is an option that the Council could consider at the time the consultant is engaged to perform the study.
· The Planning Department and the Public Arts Commission should work together to visualize and plan for a public art component being a part of a variety of Town projects. (Public Arts Commission)
Staff Comment: Through the percent for public art program, the Public Arts Commission is involved in planning for public art as part of Town capital projects.
Some of the advisory board comments related to actions adopted as part of the 2003 Council Goals and Implementation Plan. We have not recommended any changes to the Action Plan in these areas. At this time, available staff resources are dedicated to completing these items, and in general we do not recommend adding items to the list for 2003 or 2004. Items recommended for change include:
1) Community Character Section: Add language to undertake additional Small Area Planning Process as a Short-Term Action (2004) to reflect the schedule in the Council’s adopted goals. Reassign “Evaluate residential area planning process…” to Mid-Term Actions (2005-2007).
2) Environment Section: Reassign “Develop a local action plan to reduce greenhouse emissions” to Short-Term Action (2004) to reflect work anticipated to begin at the Metropolitan Planning Organization level.
3) Transportation Section: Reassign “Evaluate the feasibility of a downtown transit center” to Short-Term Action (2004) to reflect the schedule in the Council’s adopted goals.
We recommend the Council adopt the attached resolution amending the Town’s 2000 Comprehensive Plan to revise the Action Plan with these changes incorporated.
1. Summaries of Action from Advisory Boards (p. 8).
2. 2003 Council Goals and Implementation Plan (p. 17).
3. Table – Recommended Revision of Comprehensive Plan Action Plan (May 12, 2003) (p. 27).
A RESOLUTION amendING the Town’s COMPREHENSIVE PLAN to REVISE THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ACTION PLAN (2003-05-12/R-7)
WHEREAS, on May 8, 2000, the Chapel Hill Town Council adopted the 2000 Comprehensive Plan, including an Action Plan; and
WHEREAS, on January 17, 2003, the Town Council reviewed the Action Plan of the Town’s 2000 Comprehensive Plan as part of its annual goal-setting process; and
WHEREAS, on February 24, 2003, the Town Council adopted the 2003 Council Goals and Implementation Plan, and referred a draft revised Comprehensive Plan Action Plan to the Town’s advisory boards for comments and recommendations;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council hereby amends the Town’s 2000 Comprehensive Plan to revise the Action Plan, according to the Action Plan contained in Attachment 3 of the Manager’s memorandum to Council, dated May 12, 2003.
This the 12th day of May, 2003.