The City Council’s Strategic Plan for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 includes a milestone to review Town ordinances and regulations with a focus on modernization in order to facilitate redevelopment. It was estimated that $350,000 would be needed over two years to complete such a project. Accordingly, $175,000 was budgeted in the current fiscal year with the same amount contemplated to be budgeted for FY2019.
Once the budget was approved, staff released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to update the Town’s Zoning, Landscaping, Subdivision and Signage regulations. The RFQ stated that the Town desires a development code that achieves the following:
- Reflects current trends and best practices in the various development regulations, while keeping Addison as a desired location for investment.
- Uses illustrations and form code provisions to simplify the ordinance, to make it more understandable to readers, and to promote well-designed neighborhoods and places.
- Includes mixed-use zoning districts and accompanying regulations for both built-up areas of the city as well as undeveloped properties.
- Includes provisions that link land use and transportation with an emphasis on protecting traditional neighborhood development while encouraging transit-oriented development in the future.
- Promotes and supports alternative forms of transportation, including walking, biking, and transit.
- Provides for a sustainable built and natural environment.
- An ordinance that will meet the needs of the City both now and in the future.
Based on the responses to the RFQ, staff selected a preferred consultant and began discussions with them regarding the scope of this project. During the scope discussion, the importance of a future land use map became evident. A future land use map identifies desirable locations for different types of uses and suggests high level design standards for areas within the city. The map serves to provide general direction for both new development as well as redevelopment. Typically, future land use maps are included as part of a Comprehensive Plan. Addison's Comprehensive Plan does not include a future land use map. According to the preferred consultant, the lack of a detailed future land use map would require a more conservative and generic approach in updating the Town’s zoning standards. Staff is requesting direction from the City Council on how to move forward.
Creating a future land use map will cost approximately $85,000. Should the Council choose to proceed with the future land use map, staff and the consultant will develop the map and review possible revisions to the sign code by early FY2019. Once the map is complete, then the zoning, subdivision, and landscape regulations will be addressed during the remainder of FY2019 and in to FY2020.
With the addition of the future land use map and the revised schedule, the estimated cost of the project will be $440,000. As noted above, the current year’s budget includes $175,000 for this project. By focusing on a future land use map and sign code revisions, staff estimates that the cost for this year would be approximately $160,000. The remainder of the project costs would be included in the FY2019 and FY2020 budget proposals.
Staff believes that the process to update the Town’s development regulations will be better served if the Town has a future land use map. That said, the project can be completed without the map. Staff sees three options regarding this project:
- Continue the development regulation review without a future land use map.
- Revise the scope of the development regulation review to incorporate development of a future land use map.
- Do nothing, meaning do not complete the future land use map or development regulation review at this time.
The attached presentation lists the pros and cons of each option. Staff will discuss the presentation with Council during the Work Session and request direction. |