Agenda Date: 03/12/2019
Subject:
Title
Joint study session with the Planning Commission regarding Envision Littleton
Body
|
Presented By: |
Gary Mitchell, Kendig Keast Collaborative Keith Borsheim, HDR Consultants Kathleen Osher, Envision Littleton Project Manager |
REQUESTED COUNCIL ACTION:
Based on the shared values, priorities, and concerns learned from community outreach efforts in 2018, combined with the existing conditions data, the city council and planning commission will review the foundation of the Comprehensive and Transportation Master Plans and the path forward for any items that need to be addressed at a later date.
BACKGROUND:
City council adopted a unifying vision and five guiding principles on December 18 in anticipation of the update to the city’s Comprehensive Plan and creation of the city’s first-ever Transportation Master Plan. The purpose of this study session is to recap the existing conditions data book, which will wrap-up Phase 1 of Envision Littleton, conclude Phase 2’s discussion of the assumptions moving forward, and kick-off the Phase 3 future scenario planning.
STAFF ANALYSIS:
Both consultant teams, Kendig Keast Collaborative (KKC) and HDR, have completed the data collection phase of existing conditions for Envision Littleton and have produced a databook for review by council and planning commission. This data meets best practices for the first phase of comprehensive and transportation planning. It will be a useful tool in continuing to educate the community about the current make-up of the City of Littleton. Staff will present this data over the next three months through social media and Open Littleton in the form of short multiple choice trivia questions (this was also incorporated into the first of the Envision Littleton Speaker Series events).
The city selected KKC based on the belief that the central function of any long-range plan should be protecting and enhancing the character qualities and traits that residents and visitors value. This unique process and methodology present Littleton with an advantage to address long-range planning. During Phase 1 of Envision, KKC’s methodology of community character has been applied and they have assigned every corner of the city its existing community character. This inventory will be the foundation for both the Comprehensive Plan and Transportation Master Plan and is the basis for discussion at the joint leadership workshop on March 12.
During the process to create this inventory, KKC identified four observations:
1. Littleton has the entire ‘community character’ spectrum
2. There is more ‘auto urban’ in Littleton than expected
3. Littleton has muddled ‘community character’ in many cases
4. This muddled character is found on privately and publicly-owned property
This character inventory is combined with the key data points developed by HDR about the classification and general characteristics of the city’s transportation system. This combination is the starting point for discussion about the future of the city during Phase 3 of Envision Littleton.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Conclude Phase 1 and 2 of Envision Littleton and pursue the following:
● Incorporate the community information provided by KKC and HDR into the future Comprehensive Plan and Transportation Master Plan
● Develop a future community character map with community input
● Develop a systematic plan for the future transportation system that incorporates bike, pedestrian, auto, and transit
● Analyze the future Comprehensive and Transportation Master Plans to determine the cost and financial feasibility with forecasted revenues and what may be funded through new sources of revenue and/or grants
Pursue strategic planning efforts for each of these initiatives between 2020-2024:
● Economic Development Strategic Plan
● Neighborhood level planning along key corridors
● PEL along Santa Fe in cooperation with CDOT
● Downtown Transportation Plan
● Update the city's zoning and land use codes
OPTIONS/ALTERNATIVES:
If Phase 1 and 2 are not completed on March 12 the timeline shifts for completion of Envision Littleton beyond October 15, 2019.