PC Minutes 12/20/06 DRAFT

ITEM NO. 15:           AMENDMENT TO HORIZON 2020, CHAPTER 5-RESIDENTIAL LAND USE (MJL)

 

CPA-2006-04: Consider an amendment to Horizon 2020, Chapter 5 – Residential Land Use, to replace Figure 5-1, Planning Unit Concept with Neighborhood Concept developed by the CPC (Comprehensive Planning Committee).

 

STAFF PRESENTATION

Ms. Michelle Leininger presented the item and gave a summary of the following:

 

An amendment to Horizon 2020, Chapter 5, to replace Figure 5-1 with the Neighborhood Concept has been developed by the Comprehensive Planning Committee (CPC).  After trying to revamp Figure 5-1 and deciding that there are a variety of ways to define a neighborhood illustratively, the CPC decided to produce a description.  The neighborhood concept includes physical elements that when put together, make a strong neighborhood.  These elements can be put together in a variety of ways depending on the existing landscape, what already exists around the proposed neighborhood and a neighborhood may not necessarily include each element.  The elements are partially derived from the new urbanism principles and include clearly defined edges, identifiable hub, mixed housing types, human scale, and connectivity.  The proposed neighborhood concept also includes diagrams that illustrate various connectivity methods.  The neighborhood concept will be used as a guide for future development of neighborhoods.

 

At the October 25, 2006 Planning Commission meeting, the initiation of this text amendment was discussed.  The Commission noted that the neighborhood element “Identifiable Core” indicated an area that was physically centrally located in a neighborhood when a functional meaning was intended.  Staff was directed to research different options to replace core with another word that indicates an area that is not necessarily centrally located.  Some options are:  Center, Centre, Space, Area, Hub, Juncture, Focus, or Gathering Place. Staff recommended Identifiable Hub to be used to replace Identifiable Core.

 

PUBLIC HEARING

No public comment.

 

COMMISSION DISCUSSION

Commissioner Haase said that the League of Women Voters had sent a letter asking for the addition of some diagrams and he wanted to know if they were well enough informed to consider it?

 

Ms. Leininger said she had seen these before but had not studied them in great detail.

 

Commissioner Erickson stated that these diagrams have to do with dense areas served by bus and that she did not think this could be added to an area without a lot of studies.

 

Ms. Leininger stated that the current bus service would probably not support this type of development described in the diagram.

 

ACTION TAKEN

Motioned by Commissioner Haase, seconded by Commissioner Finkeldei to forward CPA-2006-04 to the City and County Commissions with a recommendation for approval based on the findings of fact in the staff report.

 

Motion unanimously carried 8-0.