PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT

Regular Agenda – Public Hearing Item

PC Staff Report

12/20/06

ITEM NO. 15:           COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT TO HORIZON 2020;                                                            CHAPTER 5 (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).

SUMMARY

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 REVIEW

Included as part of this staff report, is the proposed amendment to Chapter 5 (Residential Land Use).  This amendment is intended to replace Figure 5-1 on page 5-2.  Staff reviewed this amendment based upon the comprehensive plan amendment review criteria listed below [identified in Chapter 13 (Implementation) of Horizon 2020].

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT REVIEW

A.        Does the proposed amendment result from changed circumstances or unforeseen conditions not understood or addressed at the time the Plan was adopted?

The proposed amendment is a result of the changing circumstances that have occurred since the comprehensive plan was first written.  At the time Horizon 2020 was written, it relied on a more auto-orientated suburban model of development and showed a distinct separation of uses.  The proposed amendment describes physical elements of a strong neighborhood as opposed to the current diagram of a planning unit concept.  The proposed elements support the promotion of social interaction, efficient use of automobiles, and encourage pedestrian, non-motorized activity, allow more flexibility in the design and content, and help to create a sense of place in a neighborhood.

B.        Does the proposed amendment advance a clear public purpose and is it consistent with the long-range goals and policies of the plan?

The proposed amendment is an advancement of a clear public purpose and is consistent with the long-range planning goals and policies of the community.  The proposed amendment helps further the goals and policies for residential land use while staying consistent with the overall intent of Horizon 2020 and the goals and policies relating to commercial land use, economic development, parks and recreation, and the various other components of the comprehensive plan.  The amendment helps to provide a framework for possible future policy changes that support a more traditional, as opposed to suburban, type of development and a traditional development parallel code.  The amendment also provides more flexibility in design for future development.

C.        Is the proposed amendment a result of a clear change in public policy?

As the City of Lawrence and unincorporated Douglas County continue to grow and expand, there is a need to clearly lay out what the community believes are elements of a strong neighborhood.  These elements will help to guide the community to define a neighborhood by a variety of different characteristics that could include a traditional neighborhood to a more suburban neighborhood, instead of comparing to one general illustration.  

PROFESSIONAL STAFF RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends approval of this comprehensive plan amendment to Horizon 2020, Chapter 5 (Residential Land Use) with the use of “Identifiable Hub” instead of “Identifiable Core” in the elements of a strong neighborhood, and recommends forwarding this comprehensive plan amendment to the Lawrence City Commission and the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners with a recommendation for approval.

Delete Figure 5-1

Figure 5-1 - Planning Unit Concept

Insert Neighborhood Concept (New Horizon 2020 Pages 5-2 – 5-3)

Neighborhood Concept

Neighborhoods are the building blocks of strong communities both physically and socially.  Consequently, neighborhoods should be designed to promote social interaction, efficient use of automobiles, and encourage pedestrian and non-motorized activity.  To enable this, neighborhoods should provide residents with a functional and aesthetic environment where a sense of identity is created, historic features and cultural traditions are respected, choices are offered, basic services are provided, and connections to a common past maintained. 

The physical elements that support strong neighborhoods include:

1. Clearly Defined Edges

Neighborhoods should have clearly defined edges which may be natural or man-made.

- Man-made edges can include: arterial streets; rights-of-way, utilities, or drainage easements; industrial, employment, or commercial areas; public spaces, schools, parks, hospitals, or airports.

- Natural space edges can include: parks, water, wildlife corridors, agriculture, prairie, or floodplain.

- A neighborhood should be limited in size to create walkability, ideally 2 miles by perimeter but no larger than 4 miles by perimeter.

2. Identifiable Hub

The identifiable hub of a neighborhood is a multifunctional area that offers a mix of uses, including a neighborhood commercial area and interspersed public and civic spaces including parks, greenspace, and schools.  These spaces should be designed to human scale to promote social activity and offer basic daily needs and services.

3. Mixed Housing Types

Different types, styles, sizes, densities, and price ranges should be incorporated.  Where possible, rehabilitation of existing structures is encouraged.  Live/work opportunities should be explored.

4. Human Scale

Human scale is how people perceive the size and comfort of their surroundings relative to their own size.  These elements encourage walking and make it an attractive experience.  Elements that should be considered to create human scale are:

- On-street parking and traffic calming for pedestrian safety.

- Building setbacks, height, windows, and other features and characteristics to enhance building exteriors at pedestrian levels.

- Direct, non-motorized routes to local destinations.

5. Connectivity

Connectivity should be included within neighborhoods as well as to the surrounding neighborhoods wherever possible.  These provide alternative routes to ease traffic congestion and help limit the use of cul-de-sacs.  Alleys and short blocks maximize connectivity.  Pedestrian/non-motorized access and alternate modes of transportation including public transit should be incorporated wherever possible.  Open space, greenbelts, and trails can provide linkages throughout the neighborhood.

Street pattern examples that promote connectivity.