The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About07/14/2020 - Regular Minutes - Comprehensive Plan Evaluation Committee MINUTES COMPREHENSIVE PLAN EVALUATION COMMITTEE Tuesday, July 14, 2020, 6:00 PM Virtual meeting via Zoom COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Brian Bochner, Brad Brimley, Michael Buckley, Elizabeth Cunha, Shana Elliott, Joe Guerra, Lisa Halperin, Linda Harvell, Dennis Maloney, John Nichols, Jeremy Osborne, and Julie Schultz COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: Clint Cooper CITY STAFF PRESENT: Assistant City Manager and Interim Director of Planning and Development Services Jennifer Prochazka, Transportation Planning Coordinator Jason Schubert, Long Range Planning Administrator Alyssa Halle-Schramm, Staff Planner Jade Broadnax and Staff Assistant Robin Macias 1. Call the meeting to order. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. 2. Presentation and discussion of the Evaluation and Appraisal Report working draft with focus on the chapter goals and actions. Planning Next consultant Michael Curtis gave an update regarding committee member concern with combining the land use categories General Suburban and Restricted Suburban into one land use category named Suburban Residential. Since the two categories have the same intent, the idea was to combine the categories in order to simplify the map. There would still be two distinct zoning categories and a process where these categories would apply on the map. Not everyplace that is Restricted Suburban on the future land use map today would be changed to Suburban Residential. This would be looked during the Comprehensive Plan update. The concern with combining the two categories was that this could create an impact regarding the densities. Where would the deficiencies be and where would we need the capacity? There was also concern that an exercise wasn’t done regarding the density. There needs to be thoughtful consideration on what gets changed on the land use map. Transportation Planning Coordinator Jason Schubert explained that land use designations are not a one-for-one relationship with zoning. While Suburban Residential would allow for either zoning category it doesn’t mean it would get approved. He also explained that combining these categories does not change the current zoning designations. Planning Next consultant Michael Curtis said we could adjust the definition of Suburban Residential to make sure that it reflects both densities. Chapter 6 Transportation Planning Coordinator Schubert highlighted the following items: 6.1 – Implement context sensitive roadway designs 6.2 – Evaluate Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) requirements • There was support for this item in regards to the inclusion of internal site elements in relation to bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. 6.3 – Enhancements to intersections, including roundabouts where appropriate. • There was support for roundabouts and the city’s roundabout policy. • There was concern about using crosswalks on the roundabout when walking or biking. There may need to be a different design to the roundabout to make them more bicycle and pedestrian friendly. 6.4 – Streetscaping improvements within gateways and images corridors 6.5 – Conduct a Thoroughfare Plan audit. • There was support for this item. The committee felt like we always need to reevaluate areas. • There was concern regarding the word congestion. Should there be parameters or definition of what congestion actually is? 6.7 – Funding for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and safety improvements 6.8 – Implement best management practices for bicycle and pedestrian use • There was support for including these bicycle/pedestrian actions in Chapter 6 to broaden it to “mobility.” Chapter 7 Long Range Planning Administrator Halle-Schramm highlighted the following actions: 7.1 – Prioritizing utility and services improvements in existing areas (infill and redevelopment) 7.3 – Achieving multiple city objectives through coordinated infrastructure projects. Investing in city projects and infrastructure to create a real “wow factor.” 7.4 – Evaluating the utilization of community paramedicine. • Does this include mental health and social services situations that require intervention that may not necessarily require EMT services? Maybe this would relieve the police requirement of having to respond to everything. Halle-Schramm will follow up with EMS/Fire to clarify the full scope of community paramedicine. 7.18 – Design City facilities and infrastructure to incorporate sustainable and resilient practices. • Is this something just for city facilities or for private development? Halle-Schramm explained that it is mainly presented for city facilities but could be an open discussion. Private development sustainability and resiliency is incorporated in Chapter 2. • Should we offer incentives to better incentivize conservation? • We should try to use some examples or partnerships with A&M for landscaping and conservation ideas. Chapter 8 Long Range Planning Administrator Halle-Schramm highlighted the following actions: 8.1 – Prioritize infrastructure investments in strategic redevelopment areas \ 8.2 – Amend the zoning map and consider incentives to encourage infill and redevelopment • Look at using the RDD overlay district more; this may require amendments to the UDO to include more significant incentives 8.3 – Evaluate impacts fees that provide revenues to support infrastructure demands 8.4-8.6 – These have now been vetted by city staff and the City Manager’s Office. Changes from the Texas legislature limit the ability of cities to annex. The City will use a combination of the water/sanitary sewer extension policy, development agreements, and municipal utility districts (MUDs) to meet defined growth goals. • Some concern about having a workable annexation policy that is consistent with legislation and growth goals. • We need something more explicit regarding thoughtful policy development. Look at maintaining authority in ETJ and MUD districts. • Continue to look for other ways to incentivize annexation Chapter 9 9.1-9.5 – These highlight our strategic actions with Texas A&M • Try to get A&M more involved in the planning efforts. Find some mutually beneficial actions. • General consensus to include more proactive and stronger language in these actions. • How could our City management participate on A&M boards to know what is happening on campus? • Could we get a University/City agreement or updated agreement(s)? Be bolder in the statements. • How do we become knowledgeable about what A&M is planning to do? • Planning Next will help provide stronger language for these actions based on their experience with other university / city relationships. 9.8 – Coordinate with CSISD. • Include the International Leadership of Texas School and public charter schools in this action 9.9 – Continue participation in regional transportation initiatives. • Add Brazos County Regional Mobility Authority to list Chapter 10 This chapter highlights how we will implement the plan. The current table 9.1 will be updated to reflect the final actions that stem from the Comprehensive Plan update. 3. Presentation and discussion outlining next steps in the Evaluation process. Planning Administrator Halle-Schramm gave a presentation regarding the next steps. • The virtual Community Choices Workshop is open until August 3rd. We need CPEC members to continue to spread the word through their networks. • The next Comprehensive Plan Committee meeting will be August 11th. This meeting will focus on the public input gathered from the virtual workshop. • The joint City Council and P&Z meeting will be August 28th • There will be another CPEC meeting September 2nd 4. Adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.