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Item # H.
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| Town Council Regular Session |
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| Information |
| SUBJECT: |
| Review and approval of the Planning Division Two Year Work Plan (Fiscal Years 17/18 and 18/19) |
| RECOMMENDATION: |
| The Planning and Zoning Commission and the Historic Preservation Commission have recommended approval of the Planning Division Work Plan as provided in Attachment 1. |
| EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: |
The Planning Work Plan is a Town Council approved document that identifies projects to be completed by the Planning Division over a two-year period. The Zoning Code establishes the requirement for the preparation and adoption of the Planning Work Plan. The work plan is used to:
- Implement the General Plan, the Strategic Plan and other adopted policies
- Provide a structure for prioritizing planning staff work and resources
- Allocate division funds and validate budget requests
The new Planning Work Plan covers FY 17/18 and 18/19, and outlines significant work efforts for the Planning Division. The Work Plan was directly derived from the 2017 Strategic Plan and includes 10 projects related to Long Range Planning, Process and Code Improvements and Land Use and Development.
The previous Planning Work Plan FY 15/16 – 16/17 was adopted on May 20, 2015 and is due to expire on June 30, 2017. A number of items from the previous work plan have been completed, including the Your Voice, Our Future General Plan and a number of code amendments. Other projects are ongoing, such as Oro Valley Main Streets. Lastly, some have been nested into the new work plan.
The Planning Work Plan proposes significant projects for the Planning Division over the next two years. It contains important studies, plans and amendments designed to accomplish community goals and desires. |
| BACKGROUND OR DETAILED INFORMATION: |
Purpose
The Planning Work Plan is typically drafted every two years and identifies projects to be completed outside of development review and customer service. The Zoning Code provides the requirements for the work plan, with the stated purpose of identification and prioritization of the various planning efforts by the Town. Additionally, the Zoning Code specifies the role of the Planning and Zoning Commission as well as the Historic Preservation Commission as recommending bodies regarding the work plan. Both commissions have been briefed on the Planning Work Plan and have forwarded a positive recommendation to the Town Council.
The work plan provides multiple purposes, but most importantly the Town has used the work plan as a primary implementation tool of the General Plan. The Your Voice, Our Future General Plan was formed from extensive community participation over a three year period that included thousands of comments, hundreds of survey responses and the active sharing of ideas. Oro Valley’s residents worked hard to build the next community plan.
The Your Voice Plan was ratified on November 8, 2016. This set the stage for the creation of the 2017 Strategic Plan which was adopted on March 15, 2017. Now, the process of developing work plans has started. The Planning Work Plan will be used to make decisions on staff resources and the annual budget process.
The Planning Work Plan serves an important purpose of providing a structure for the busy and often shifting work of the Planning Division. The work of development review and customer service will always be a priority. However, being proactive and forward-thinking is also necessary. The completion of work plan items which ultimately result in smoother processes and better developments. This benefits the community as a whole.
Discussion of Work Plan Items (Attachment 1)
The new Planning Work Plan covers FY 17/18 – 18/19 and includes significant work efforts for the Planning Division over the next two years (Attachment 1). The work plan was derived from the 2017 Strategic Plan, which in turn is directly derived from the newly voter-ratified Your Voice, Our Future General Plan.
Upon review of the two-year priorities of the Strategic Plan, the Planning Division proposes 10 projects which relate to the Strategic Plan focus areas of Complete Community, Economic Development and Land Use and Design. These projects have been in turn grouped into three categories, which represent the range of tasks typically undertaken by the Planning Division. The categories and projects are identified below.
- Long-Range Planning
- Main Streets
- Economic Growth Analysis
- Annexation Strategy
- Process and Code Improvements
- Development Review
- Sign Code
- Zoning Code Maintenance
- Public Art Maintenance
- Land Use and Development
- Environmentally Sensitive Lands (ESL) Evaluation
- Infill and Redevelopment
- Design Standards
More detailed information, including the connection to the Your Voice Plan and Strategic Plan can be found in Attachment 1. It should be noted that several of these projects have sub-tasks identified. For instance, Zoning Code Maintenance includes six potential topics that may require amendments.
The completion of all work plan projects is contingent upon the availability of staff and resources and constrained by fluctuations in development review and customer service needs. A primary focus of the work plan is the Main Streets project. Due to the nature of this project, it requires effort by both current and long range planning staff. It is anticipated it will involve a concerted commitment of staff resources.
Report Card on Previous Work Plan Items (Attachment 2)
Projects which were included in the previous work plan are derived from various sources: State requirements, the Strategic Implementation Program from the General Plan and the Town’s Strategic Plan. In order to better understand progress to date and potential future items, a Report Card on the status of items from the previous work plan in included as Attachment 2.
A number of items have been completed, including:
- Your Voice, Our Future General Plan
- Senior Care Zoning Code Amendment
- Zoning Code Amendments on:
- Permitted Use Table
- Conditional Use Permits
- Minor Plan Amendment
A number of items are ongoing, including:
- Oro Valley Main Streets Project
- Form-based code
- Complete streets
- Mixed use zoning
- Tangerine 550 Annexation
Other incomplete items that have been incorporated into the new work plan, include:
- Zoning Code Amendments on:
- Parking
- Setback Projections
- Wireless Facilities
- Minor Setback Reductions
The final work plan item on Arroyo Grande has not been initiated by the State Land Department and is not included in the new work plan. If and when the State shows interest in progressing discussions on this area, this project will be added as a top priority.
Conclusion
Staff will provide an overview of each of the work plan items at the upcoming Town Council meeting. It is important to emphasize the significant work effort of the Main Streets project. Additionally, staff would caution that any new work plan items should have policy backing in the Your Voice, Our Future General Plan and the Strategic Plan as these planning documents serve as the guiding policy for future actions by the Town.
The attached draft work plan proposes significant projects for the Planning Division over the next two years. The work plan items have been drawn from a variety of sources including the General Plan, Strategic Plan and incomplete items from the previous work plan. The work plan contains important studies, plans and amendments designed to accomplish community goals and objectives. |
| FISCAL IMPACT: |
| The majority of items on the work plan are proposed to be completed using existing staff resources. The Oro Valley Main Streets project is being completed using existing staff and the use of minimal outside consultant resources, which have been budgeted in the current fiscal year budget. Additional outside services for the Oro Valley Main Streets project are intended to be budgeted in subsequent budget years. |
| SUGGESTED MOTION: |
I MOVE to approve the Planning Division Two Year Work Plan (Fiscal Years 17/18 and 18/19) as provided in Attachment 1.
OR
I MOVE to direct staff to revise/modify the draft for further Town Council consideration, specifically__________________________________. |
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