HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004 - Planning And Zoning Board - Work PlanTO: Karla Smith
Boards and Commissions Coordinator
FROM: Mikal Torgerson, Chairman
Planning and Zoning Board
DATE: December 1, 2003
SUBJECT: Planning and Zoning Board Work Program- 2004
The Planning and Zoning Board continued to review large numbers of
development applications this year (in addition, the City's Administrative
Hearing Officer is being kept busy with Type I hearings), but it is
anticipated that the number of development plans reviewed by the Board
will decline in 2004. Given this trend, and the City's present budget
constraints, Planning and Zoning Board will continue the recently adopted
practice of conducting hearings once per month.
In addition to evaluating development proposals, the Board will address
important land use policy and process issues, including:
Improvements to the Development Review Process - The City's effort
to make the development review process more efficient and
predictable continues through 2004. More than a dozen fundamental
changes to the development review process were completed in 2003,
but many of the recommendations and opportunities for improvement
remain to be implemented. Planning and Zoning Board will continue to
play a vital role in critiquing staffs efforts related to this project.
Development Review Fee Study- The Board will participate in staffs
efforts to change the development review fees in a manner that will
provide an incentive for high quality development applications and help
recover a higher percentage of staff time dedicated to the review
process.
• Natural Habitat Buffer Standards Project- The underlying fundamentals
of the Natural habitat protection standards do a very good job of
protecting natural habitat and features from development -associated
impacts, but there are substantive and administrative issues that must
be addressed. Staff, will the help of the Natural Resources Board, and
Planning and Zoning Board, will be addressing these issues in a
comprehensive amendment to Section 3.4.1 of the Land Use Code. It
is anticipated that the changes will be folded into the Spring 2004 Land
Use Code revisions.
Alley House Design Standards- Recent development applications for
alley houses or other secondary dwelling units within the City's
Eastside and Westside neighborhoods have raised citizen and
neighborhood concerns about the appropriateness of existing Land
Use Code design standards related to such development. In response
to these citizen concerns, staff has developed a project to identify and
comprehensively address each issue raised. The project may result in
amendments to the Land Use Code, codifying certain guidelines
identified in the adopted East Side and West Side Neighborhood
Guidelines, and clarification of the City's alley paving policy.
Infill Development - One of the principal outgrowths of the City Plan
update are new policies promoting infill and redevelopment. Much
work needs to done to translate these general policy statements to
well-defined development standards. The Board will play a key role in
the formation and evaluation of new infill development standards and
will be making a recommendation to City Council.
Fossil Creek CPA/CSU Foothills Campus GMA Expansions- Two
potential amendments to the City's Growth Management Area GMA)
Boundary have been identified in the City Plan Update. The Planning
and Zoning Board will be assisting staff and the Council to analyze
whether such areas should be included with the GMA and, ultimately,
within the City of Fort Collins.
• Larimer County, CSU, Poudre School District Coordination- Planning
and Zoning Board will continue to work toward improved coordination
with Larimer County, CSU, and the school district, building on recent
successes between the City and these public entities.
This past year, the Council liaison has attended joint meetings with
Planning and Zoning Board to review issues of concern and suggestions
for improved coordination. The Board has found this to be productive, and
will continue the meetings during 2004.
cc: Planning and Zoning Board Members
Karen Weitkanut, Council Liaison
Greg Byrne, CPES Director
Cameron Gloss, Current Planning Director
Joe Frank, Advance Planning Director