14.C.
City Council Meeting - FINAL
- Meeting Date:
- 12/03/2013
- Co-Submitter:
- Jim Cronk, Planning Director
- From:
- Kimberly Sharp, AICP, Comprehensive Planning Manager
Information
TITLE
Flagstaff Regional Plan 2030: Place Matters – Public Hearing #2
This Public Hearing will not begin before 6:00 p.m.
This Public Hearing will not begin before 6:00 p.m.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Conduct Public Hearing Number 2 on the Flagstaff Regional Plan 2030: Place Matters
INFORMATION
Flagstaff Regional Plan 2030: Place Matters document titled “Public Hearing Draft”, dated August 2013 is before you and the public today as a broad policy document for consideration of City Council and Board of Supervisors. The intent of Public Hearing #2 is to hear the public’s comments on the draft document, so that elected officials may hear the community’s voice, and then begin deliberation. Because of the length of the document and the level of public and Council interest, the Council will continue deliberation on the Regional Plan in subsequent public meetings.
The main contents of the plan include an Introduction and three broad categories identified as the Natural Environment; the Built Environment; and the Human Environment. The Introduction includes a vision and guiding principles; a description of the region; background, existing conditions, and trends; how the plan was developed; and how it will be used and implemented over time. Each of the three broad categories of Natural/Built/Human Environments includes several elements. Each element includes specific goals and policies regarding future development in the region. The three categories and their respective elements are listed below.
Maps
The Plan contains numerous maps intended to illustrate a variety of regional features, including natural resources, population, housing, roads, trails, utilities, land ownership patterns, and other information. Unlike the current Flagstaff Regional Plan, this Plan update does not include a parcel-based “Land Use Map” per se, but instead includes a more generalized “Future Growth Illustration.” The Future Growth Illustration is intended to depict a generalized conceptual growth pattern without specifically identifying a particular land use on a parcel-by-parcel basis, which is contained in the Zoning Code. In other words, the emphasis in this plan update is on the goals and policies contained in each plan element rather than on a particular land use designation on a map.
Goals and Policies
The Plan is structured so that there is at least one or more goals and related policies under each subsection of each element in the plan. The goals are high-level statements of a desired future condition, and the policies are specific statements of intent designed to accomplish the goals. As a collection of goals and policies, the Plan is a policy document and not a regulatory document. As such, the broad, high-level goals and policies on various topics may occasionally conflict. This is a normal characteristic of a policy plan and is not a problem. Decision-makers such as the Planning and Zoning Commissions, City Council and Board of Supervisors have broad discretion in applying the goals and policies of the Plan in relation to any given situation and may choose which goals or policies to emphasize over others as they deem appropriate.
It should also be noted that there are certain policies in the plan that only apply in the City and other policies that only apply in the County. Other goals and policies are more general and could apply throughout the region. When it comes down to decision-making relative to future development in the City and the County, each jurisdiction retains full authority in their respective areas.
Plan Hierarchy
The Regional Plan holds a different position in the hierarchy of plans at the City versus the County. At the City, the Regional Plan serves as the City’s General Plan, so it is the primary planning document at the City. By contrast, in the unincorporated County, the Regional Plan becomes another member of our “family” of plans. The Coconino County Comprehensive Plan is the overall primary planning document County-wide, including the unincorporated portions of the greater Flagstaff area covered by the Regional Plan. In addition, the County has adopted five local area plans within the Regional Plan boundaries.
Public Process
The update process began in 2008 with a Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) established by ordinance 2008-34. The original CAC members were selected from publicly solicited applicants, both city and county residents, and were selected by Councilmembers and Supervisors with the intent of a diverse group representing the community at large. Two Councilmembers and two Supervisors along with the City Manager and Deputy County Manager, as the Steering Committee, have continued to advise the Core Planning Team (city planners, county planners and FMPO Manager) for the past five years as well.
From February 2009-July 2013, the CAC met monthly and took into consideration existing Regional Plan goals and policies along with the thousands of public comments gathered on the state-statute required topics for the plan. With over 300 open houses, focus group meetings and working group meetings, the Regional Plan was drafted as a policy document reflecting this community’s values.
A public review of the Flagstaff Regional Plan 2030: Place Matters document was released March 28, 2013. Over 700 editing comments were gathered during the 60-day public comment period, via e-mail, mail, and comment cards. During this public comment period, 60 community groups hosted a regional plan presentation and discussion. In June and July, 2013, the CAC re-convened to review and incorporate the suggested edits from the public and initial Planning & Zoning Commission discussions.
The Flagstaff Planning and Zoning Commission, Coconino County Planning and Zoning Commission, Flagstaff City Council and the Coconino County Board of Supervisors have had the opportunity to review and comment on the Flagstaff Regional Plan 2030: Place Matters, titled “Public Hearing Draft” dated August 2013.
The Flagstaff Planning and Zoning Commission recommended adoption by Flagstaff City Council with a list of 42 suggested edits (attached) on October 23, 2013. For the City, the Flagstaff Regional Plan 2030: Place Matters will supersede the Flagstaff Area Land Use and Transportation Plan (2001) and serves as the City’s General Plan.
The County Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval to the Board of Supervisors without any changes on October 29, 2013. For Coconino County, the Flagstaff Regional Plan 2030: Place Matters will supersede the Flagstaff Area Land Use and Transportation Plan (2001) and will be an amendment to the Coconino County Comprehensive Plan.
The December 3, 2013 City Council Meeting is the official Flagstaff Regional Plan 2030: Place Matters - Public Hearing #2.
RECOMMENDATION
The purpose of the hearing is to receive public comment, give the Council an opportunity to ask questions of staff or the public, and to begin deliberation if possible considering time constraints. It is anticipated that Council will discuss, debate and give staff direction regarding the Regional Plan at the Council retreat on Friday, December 6 at the Aquaplex beginning at 8 a.m. The Council will continue deliberation and make decisions regarding the Plan at the December 17 City Council meeting.
The main contents of the plan include an Introduction and three broad categories identified as the Natural Environment; the Built Environment; and the Human Environment. The Introduction includes a vision and guiding principles; a description of the region; background, existing conditions, and trends; how the plan was developed; and how it will be used and implemented over time. Each of the three broad categories of Natural/Built/Human Environments includes several elements. Each element includes specific goals and policies regarding future development in the region. The three categories and their respective elements are listed below.
Natural Environment
|
Built Environment
|
Human Environment
|
Maps
The Plan contains numerous maps intended to illustrate a variety of regional features, including natural resources, population, housing, roads, trails, utilities, land ownership patterns, and other information. Unlike the current Flagstaff Regional Plan, this Plan update does not include a parcel-based “Land Use Map” per se, but instead includes a more generalized “Future Growth Illustration.” The Future Growth Illustration is intended to depict a generalized conceptual growth pattern without specifically identifying a particular land use on a parcel-by-parcel basis, which is contained in the Zoning Code. In other words, the emphasis in this plan update is on the goals and policies contained in each plan element rather than on a particular land use designation on a map.
Goals and Policies
The Plan is structured so that there is at least one or more goals and related policies under each subsection of each element in the plan. The goals are high-level statements of a desired future condition, and the policies are specific statements of intent designed to accomplish the goals. As a collection of goals and policies, the Plan is a policy document and not a regulatory document. As such, the broad, high-level goals and policies on various topics may occasionally conflict. This is a normal characteristic of a policy plan and is not a problem. Decision-makers such as the Planning and Zoning Commissions, City Council and Board of Supervisors have broad discretion in applying the goals and policies of the Plan in relation to any given situation and may choose which goals or policies to emphasize over others as they deem appropriate.
It should also be noted that there are certain policies in the plan that only apply in the City and other policies that only apply in the County. Other goals and policies are more general and could apply throughout the region. When it comes down to decision-making relative to future development in the City and the County, each jurisdiction retains full authority in their respective areas.
Plan Hierarchy
The Regional Plan holds a different position in the hierarchy of plans at the City versus the County. At the City, the Regional Plan serves as the City’s General Plan, so it is the primary planning document at the City. By contrast, in the unincorporated County, the Regional Plan becomes another member of our “family” of plans. The Coconino County Comprehensive Plan is the overall primary planning document County-wide, including the unincorporated portions of the greater Flagstaff area covered by the Regional Plan. In addition, the County has adopted five local area plans within the Regional Plan boundaries.
Public Process
The update process began in 2008 with a Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) established by ordinance 2008-34. The original CAC members were selected from publicly solicited applicants, both city and county residents, and were selected by Councilmembers and Supervisors with the intent of a diverse group representing the community at large. Two Councilmembers and two Supervisors along with the City Manager and Deputy County Manager, as the Steering Committee, have continued to advise the Core Planning Team (city planners, county planners and FMPO Manager) for the past five years as well.
From February 2009-July 2013, the CAC met monthly and took into consideration existing Regional Plan goals and policies along with the thousands of public comments gathered on the state-statute required topics for the plan. With over 300 open houses, focus group meetings and working group meetings, the Regional Plan was drafted as a policy document reflecting this community’s values.
A public review of the Flagstaff Regional Plan 2030: Place Matters document was released March 28, 2013. Over 700 editing comments were gathered during the 60-day public comment period, via e-mail, mail, and comment cards. During this public comment period, 60 community groups hosted a regional plan presentation and discussion. In June and July, 2013, the CAC re-convened to review and incorporate the suggested edits from the public and initial Planning & Zoning Commission discussions.
The Flagstaff Planning and Zoning Commission, Coconino County Planning and Zoning Commission, Flagstaff City Council and the Coconino County Board of Supervisors have had the opportunity to review and comment on the Flagstaff Regional Plan 2030: Place Matters, titled “Public Hearing Draft” dated August 2013.
The Flagstaff Planning and Zoning Commission recommended adoption by Flagstaff City Council with a list of 42 suggested edits (attached) on October 23, 2013. For the City, the Flagstaff Regional Plan 2030: Place Matters will supersede the Flagstaff Area Land Use and Transportation Plan (2001) and serves as the City’s General Plan.
The County Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval to the Board of Supervisors without any changes on October 29, 2013. For Coconino County, the Flagstaff Regional Plan 2030: Place Matters will supersede the Flagstaff Area Land Use and Transportation Plan (2001) and will be an amendment to the Coconino County Comprehensive Plan.
The December 3, 2013 City Council Meeting is the official Flagstaff Regional Plan 2030: Place Matters - Public Hearing #2.
RECOMMENDATION
The purpose of the hearing is to receive public comment, give the Council an opportunity to ask questions of staff or the public, and to begin deliberation if possible considering time constraints. It is anticipated that Council will discuss, debate and give staff direction regarding the Regional Plan at the Council retreat on Friday, December 6 at the Aquaplex beginning at 8 a.m. The Council will continue deliberation and make decisions regarding the Plan at the December 17 City Council meeting.
Attachments
No file(s) attached.