HomeMy WebLinkAboutBike & Hike Task Force Reccomendation Bike & Hike Task Force Recommendations
April 25, 2005
I.Formation of a Drainage Advisory Board (DAB)
• Coordinated by the Greenways Program Manager and staffed through
Public Works
• Will be a stand-alone Advisory Board, appointed by City Council, for
ongoing monthly (or more frequent) meetings to review development
requests in the floodplain
• The board should be comprised of citizens with interests and expertise
that complement the multiple functions of the greenways land use (e.g.,
hydrology, civil engineering, wildlife ecology, recreation, urban forestry,
real estate development, transportation)
• Works in concert with the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board and the
Planning & Zoning Commission
➢ Would hold joint meetings as needed with the Parks Board (e.g., to
address development of trails and other recreational uses in
greenways)
➢ Would provide recommendations on greenway dedication, easements
or other options and on zoning (see Rec. II below) to the P&Z
II. Designation of Greenway Zones within the Existing Greenways Land Use
• Greenways would be a zoning designation (i.e. GU, GS, GR) and would be
classified as Urban, Suburban, or Rural, with certain allowable and
recommended uses in each zoning class
• For development requests within these zones, the DAB will review such
requests in the context of the entire greenways system, whose primary
purpose is to provide a system for stormwater management while also
providing for recreation and non-motorized transportation (i.e., trails)
• The greenway zone as a system will result in connectivity for efficient
storage and transport of stormwater and for non-motorized travel
between neighborhoods, schools, parks and commercial centers
III. Re-appropriate the remaining N$1.6M of land acquisition funds from the
1998 bond package
• These funds would be able to be used for the operations, maintenance,
and development of the greenway system
• The funds may still be used for acquisition of land or easements where
the DAB sees fit (e.g., for upland connections, in already-developed parts
of the city or outside of a greenway zone)
IV. Zero-Rise or No Adverse Impact Management of floodplains
• We are working with the City of Bryan to develop uniform drainage design
standards and policy which will address the management of floodplains
V. Greenways defined as a "Quality of Life" indicator
VI. Develop a more effective method of classifying Greenways
• Absolve the current greenways priority map as it does not have much
practical use as greenways are acquired and/or dedicated not by priority,
but as development requests come in
• Inventory and map the resources (e.g., hydrology, soils, vegetation,
habitat value, cultural/historical attributes, visual quality) within the
greenways land use to assist in decision making about zoning and
development.
VII. Seek input from the development community
• Greenway management will be included in the subcommittee on design
standards from the Business and Land Development Forum
VIII. Expand the Greenways definition to include detention areas and
incorporate this into the Subdivision Regulations and the Zoning Ordinance
IX. Allow"stacking" to occur within new developments (i.e., if a development
meets all standards, allow for similar requirements to be met with one particular
plot of land). This would allow developers to use greenways to meet some
parkland and detention area requirements. The DAB would be responsible for
reviewing the greenways portion of a stacking request.
X. Create a new map online which would act as an interactive map
application, but be easy to use and easy to print.
XI. Create further public outreach opportunities
• Conduct public opinion survey on greenways
• Publish greenway"blip" on Channel 19
• Distribute greenway information via utility bill inserts
• Develop new brochures for distribution at TAMU, CoCS, CVB
XII. Include these recommendations in the re-write of the Subdivision
Regulations
• Include a sub-section on greenways
• Insert dedication standards
• Insert criteria for acceptance of greenways
X. Develop a revised greenways planning document to reflect the updates and
changes to policy outlined above.
XI. Establish a Bicycle Advisory Committee for CoCS
• review and guide the implementation of the bike and pedestrian master plan
• review capital projects involving a bicycle component
• provide feedback and ideas for the bicycle program
• provide policy guidance on bicycle issues