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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPathway Master Plan RecsSTAFF REPORT Hearing Date: TO: FROM: SUBJECT: April 14, 2009 Mayor and City Council Bill Parsons, Associate City Planner (208) 884-5533 CPA-09-001- Master Pathway Plan E IDIAN-- ~~W 1. SiJ1VIlVIARY DESCRIPTION OF APPLICANT'S REQUEST The applicant, City of Meridian Planning Department, is requesting approval of a Comprehensive Plan Text Amendment to incorporate by reference the Meridian Pathways Master Plan. This request was initiated based on a resolution from the Parks and Recreation Commission. See section 6 and 8 for more information. 2. SiJNIMARY RECOMMENDATION Staff is recommending approval of the subject CPA application, based on the Findings of Fact listed in Exhibit B. The Meridian Planning & ZOning Commission heard this item on March 5, 2009. At the public hearing the Commission voted to recommend approval of the subject CPA reguest• a. Summary of Commission Public Hearing: i. In favor: Meridian Planning Department ii. In opposition: None iii. Commenting• None iv. Written testimony: None v. Staff presenting application: Bill Parsons vi. Other staff commenting on application: None b. Kev Issue(s) of Discussion by Commission: i. None c. Kev Commission Change(s) to Staff Recommendation: i. None d. Outstanding Issue(s) for City Council: i. None 3. PROPOSED MOTION Approval After considering all staff, applicant and public testimony, I move to approve File Number CPA- 09-001 as presented in the staff report for the hearing date of April 14, 2009, with the following comments: (Add any proposed comments.) Denial After considering all staff, applicant and public testimony, I move to deny File Number CPA-09- 001 as presented during the hearing on April 14, 2009, for the following reasons: (State specific reasons for denial of the subject CPA application.) Continuance After considering all staff, applicant and public testimony, I move to continue File Number CPA- 09-001 to the hearing date of (insert continued hearing date here) for the following reason(s): (State specific reason(s) for a continuance.) Master Pathway Plan CPA-09-001 PAGE I 4. APPLICATION a. Site Address/Location: City wide b. Applicant/Representative: City of Meridian Planning Department 33 E. Broadway Avenue Meridian, Idaho 83642 c. Applicant's Statement/Justification (reference submittal material): "See applicant's narrative for this information. 5. PROCESS FACTS a. The subject application is for a Comprehensive Plan Text Amendment. A public hearing is required before the Commission and City Council on this matter, consistent with Unified Development Code, Title 11, Chapter 5. b. Newspaper notifications published on: February 16, and March 2, 2009 (Commission); March 30, and Apri16, 2009 (City Council) c. A public service announcement was broadcast faxed on February 6, 2009 (Commission) and March 19, 2009 (City Council) regarding this application. 6. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ANALYSIS The Meridian Pathways Master Plan was adopted by City Council in July 2007. Updates to the Comprehensive Plan that reference the adopted pathway plan have not been incorporated into the Comprehensive plan. The intent of the text change is to maintain consistency between the two documents. Further, the proposed text change aligns the Comprehensive Plan with the updated documents improving the administration of the Meridian Pathways Master Plan. Idaho Code 67-6508 states that "the plan shall consider previous and existing conditions, trends, desirable goals and objectives, or desirable future situations for each planning component." Staff has reviewed the subject CPA application and offers the analysis and recommendations contained herein for the Commission and the City Council's consideration. Please see below and Exhibit D for detailed analysis of the required findings for a Comprehensive Plan Map Amendment. Staff finds the following Goals, Objectives, and Action items contained in the 2002 Comprehensive Plan to be applicable to this application (staff analysis is in italics below policy): • Chapter VI, Goal II, Objective B, Action 2 (page 85) - Conduct a pathway study to provide a bike and pathways system between neighborhoods, local collectors and community destinations. The Meridian Master Pathway Plan is the adopted document that designates the preferred location and design standards for City's pathway network. The plan contains a map depicting future and existing pathway locations to provide pathway connectivity city wide. • Chapter VI, Goal III, Objective A, Action 11 (page 87) -Develop trails and path plan. The Meridian Pathways Plan was adopted by City Council in July 2007.While the Pathway map is referenced on the Future Land Use Map, the text has not been integrated with the Comprehensive plan. The proposed CPA text change marries the two documents paving the way for implementing the Meridian Master Pathways Plan. Master Pathway Plan CPA-09-001 PAGE 2 • Chapter VI, Goal II, Objective A, Action 3: Consider "Accommodating Bicycle and Pedestrian Travel: A Recommended Approach" from the National Center for Bicycling and Walking in all land-use decisions. This publication encourages jurisdictions to establish bikeway and walkway facilities in new construction and reconstruction projects, in a manner that is safe, accessible and convenient. Staff believes that the subject applications generally comply with the applicable policies listed in the literature noted above. Based on the analysis above, staff believes the proposed text change is consistent with the City's Comprehensive Plan. Staff recommends that the Commission rely on any verbal or written testimony that may be provided at the public hearing when determining if the CPA request is appropriate. 7. UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE The Comprehensive Plan is to serve as a guide for future development within Meridian. As development is proposed, staff will ensure compliance with the UDC and Meridian Master Pathway Plan. 8. ANALYSIS a. Analysis of Facts Leading to Staff Recommendation COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT: The subject CPA text amendment is proposing to incorporate by reference the Meridian Pathways Master Plan into the Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Department initiated the CPA text amendment at the request of the Parks & Recreation Commission. Meridian City Council adopted the Meridian Pathways Master Plan in July 2007. With the adoption of the updated plan, the requested revisions to the City's Comprehensive Plan maintain consistency between the two documents. Some of language in the adopted Comprehensive Plan references outdated Parks & Recreation Department documents. The requested changes align the City's Comprehensive Plan with the updated documents thereby paving the way for implementation of the Pathways Master Plan. Therefore, staff is recommending the following text revision to the Comprehensive Plan as follows: Page 39, Goal I, Actions: 2. Implement the Meridian Pathways Master Plan. 4. Ensure long-term maintenance of greenbelts along waterways either directly by the City Parks and Recreation Department or throuch partnerships with neichborhood associations. homeowners associations, and other community croups. Page 54: Replace map and explanation with revised network map from Page 4-3 in the Master Pathways Plan. Page 55: Figure VI-3. Detached Sidewalks Key Concepts • Detached sidewalks will be required along all arterial streets. + Detached sidewalks along all arterial streets will be built to a minimum width of five feet, although seven to ten feet is preferred. . In addition to creatinc a safe way for non-motorized users to Master Pathway Plan CPA-09-001 PAGE 3 travel along roadway corridors, detached sidewalks are intended to complement and provide links throughout the off-street network described in the Master Pathways Plan. In 2007. Meridian City Council adopted the Meridian Pathways Master Plan. The plan proposes the development of a pathway network that identifies a core system of pathways based on the existing canal system within the Citv of Meridian. This core system of pathways is enhanced by the developer-implemented pathways that will provide connections to and through menu residential areas while creating a larger citywide loop. This system gives community members a wide variety of pathway options throughout the City and to other parts of the metropolitan region The adopted network map is included as figure VI-2 (Replace existing uraphic for Figure VI-21 Please refer to the Meridian Pathways Master Plan for specific alignments, pathway types. design specifications. detailed network descriptions, etc. [Figure VI-4.On-Street Bikeways, gives a nod to ACHD's "Bicycle Accommodation Policy on ACRD streets." We intentionally left the on-street/commuting network out of the City's Pathways Plan in anticipation of ACl3D's Roadways to Bikeways Plan, and this map should be replaced with the Roadways to Bikeways network once adopted by ACRD. The City could consider a future text amendment adopting the entire plan by reference. It may be appropriate to request a presentation by ACRD staff to the Parks Commission during the public involvement process.] Pg. 58, under "Facilities": More information about pathways is provided in the Pathways Master Plan. Pg. 71: Pathways that encourage use by bicyclists and pedestrians can decrease road congestion and add to the community's quality of life. The proposed off-street and multiple-use pathway systems are depicted in the Meridian Pathways Master Plan. New and existing developments should ensure that the network and guidelines laid out in this plan are ~ implemented. Pg. 85: Goal II, Objective A, Action 9: £~ Implement the City's Pathways Master Plan. Recognize and consider related ACRD plans in land use decisions. Pg. 86: Goal 1T, Objective B, Action 2 - " Implement the City's Pathways Master Plan to provide a bike and pathways system between neighborhoods, local collectors, and community destinations. Work with new development, ITD, ACRD. COMPASS, Ada County, and other entities to identify partnership opportunities." Master Pathway Plan CPA-09-001 PAGE 4 Pg. 87: Goal III, Objective A, Action 11- IIevelep Implement the City's Pathways Master Plan Action 12 -Develop City pathways to connect Meridian with Boise along the e~sting rail corridor and in other locations where possible. Pg. 88: Goal IV, Objective A, Action 18 - Coordinate with irrigation districts to implement the proposed pathway network along irrigation canals. Pg. 112: Goal III, Objective B, Action 3 -Coordinate with irrigation districts to implement the proposed pathway network within e~sting irrigation easements. 9. EI~~ITS A. Other Agency and Department Comments B. Required Findings from the Unified Development Code Master Pathway Plan CPA-09-001 PAGE 5 A. Other Agency and Department Comments On February 12, 2009, a joint agency and department meeting was held with service providers in this area. The agencies and departments present include: Meridian Fire Department, Meridian Parks and Department. None of the agencies or departments listed above provided comments at the January 29th meeting. 1. FIRE DEPARTMENT 1.1 Provide 10-foot wide surface capable of supporting a 50,000 lbs through system. 1.2 Any gates or bollards used shall MFD approved. 2. POLICE DEPARTMENT 2.1 The Police Department has no concerns related to this application. 3. PARKS DEPARTMENT 3.1 The Parks Department has no concerns related to this application. Exhibit A - 1 - B. Required Findings from the Unified Development Code 1. Comprehensive Plan Amendment Findings Upon recommendation from the Commission, the Council shall make a full investigation and shall, at the public hearing, review the application. In order to grant an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan, the Council shall make the following findings: a. The proposed amendment is consistent with the other elements of the Comprehensive Plan. The Commission fmds that the proposed amendment is consistent with the other elements of the Comprehensive plan (See Section 6 above). b. The proposed amendment provides an improved guide to future growth and development of the city. The Commission fmds that the proposed amendment provides an improved guide to future growth and development of the city. c. The proposed amendment is internally consistent with the Goals, Objectives and Policies of the Comprehensive Plan. The Commission fmds that the proposed amendment is internally consistent with the Goals, Objectives, and Policies of the Comprehensive Plan (See Section 6 above). d. The proposed amendment is consistent with the Unified Development Code. The Commission finds that the proposed amendment is not inconsistent with the Unified Development Code. Staff will ensure full compliance with the UDC and the Master Pathway's Plan with future development proposals. e. The amendment will be compatible with existing and planned surrounding land uses. The Commission fmds that the proposed amendment will be compatible with existing and planned land uses for the area. f. The proposed amendment will not burden existing and planned service capabilities. The Commission fmds that the proposed amendment would not burden existing and planned service capabilities in this area of the city. g. The proposed map amendment (as applicable) provides a logical juxtaposition of uses that allows sufficient area to mitigate any anticipated impact associated with the development of the area. NA h. The proposed amendment is in the best interest of the City of Meridian. The Commission finds that the proposed amendment is in the best interest of the City. Exhibit B - 1 -