Georgetown Planning Department Plan Annual Update: Background

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1 2030 Plan Annual Update: 2014 Background The 2030 Comprehensive Plan was unanimously adopted by City Council on February 26, The Plan was an update from Georgetown s 1988 Century Plan. One of the primary tenets of the new plan was the establishment of an annual update that would review past and future implementation items. The Annual Update focuses on the status of remaining comprehensive plan elements, plan implementation efforts over the last year and new goals and actions to be worked on between now and the 2015 update. In addition to the annual update, the 2030 Plan anticipates a 5-year review that will be a more thorough review of elements and implementation, adoptions of new elements and vision statements, etc. In 2013, the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) and City Council agreed to delay the 5-year revision until it becomes apparent that the plan needs such an update, but no later than The staff recommendation is to begin the 5-year revision process in 2015 to coincide with the hiring of a new city manager. Plan Element Update Completed and Ongoing Elements Since the adoption of the 2030 Plan, four plan elements have been adopted by Council, with several more in various stages of development. The Parks Master Plan and Water and Electric Master Plans were completed in 2009, with Council adopting the Executive Summary for both Utility Plans. An update to the Overall Transportation Plan is nearing completion, with hearings planned for first quarter The Citizen Participation Plan was developed by staff with the help of a citizen advisory committee and was approved in The Housing Plan was funded in 2008 and, after several attempts, approved in July In December 2012, a Public Safety Element was approved as an in-house overview to ongoing departmental strategic plans. In 2014, an update to the Downtown Master Plan was approved by Council. The remaining comprehensive plan elements have been discussed more abstractly, with no funding source or plan for completion at this time. These include a new Economic Development plan, Natural Resources/Conservation, Urban Design, Health and Human Services, and components of the utility plan such as drainage and solid waste. Attached is a summary of approved, active and future plan elements. Actions Affecting the 2030 Plan in Over the last calendar year, there were multiple decisions and actions that have or will affect the short and long-term implementation efforts of the 2030 Plan. These include newly annexed lands, rezonings, land use changes, ETJ boundary extension, utility merger with Chisholm Trail, and the listing of the Georgetown Salamander on the list of threatened species Plan Annual Update Page 1 of 6

2 Annexation Since 2011, all approved annexations were voluntary in nature and it is likely that calendar year 2015 will continue this pattern, although staff is preparing to develop a new Annexation and ETJ Growth Strategic Plan in 2015 which may offer recommendations for some unilateral (Cityinitiated annexations). Since the last annual update in 2013, multiple parcels were annexed totaling 2, acres, including one disannexation for acres (as part of an ETJ release to Round Rock). By the end of 2014, Georgetown city limits had expanded to 35, acres, or square miles. The City s population within those 55 square miles, according to staff estimates, is approximately 54,000 inside the city limits, with about 80,000 if the ETJ is included. In September of 2012, the City Council approved a resolution declaring the City s population to have exceeded 50,000. The effect of this action is that the City s extra-territorial jurisdiction (ETJ) boundary line extended from 2 miles to 3½ miles from the outer edge of the city limits. In most areas of the ETJ, the City has approved boundary agreements with neighboring municipalities and the resolution did not alter the existing boundary. To the northwest of the ETJ, however, Georgetown has no such agreements and the ETJ was extended, adding 11,000 acres into Georgetown s jurisdiction. This has significant impacts on future land use authority, potential utility growth areas and flexibility for the city in the future. One ETJ release for 20 acres occurred in Another 52 acres is currently under negotiations for release for a proposed Leander MUD. Zoning Amendments When the Century Plan was the City s comprehensive planning document, it was common practice to change the Future Land Use Plan and Intensity Plan in order to develop or plan to develop a piece of property. The 2030 Plan is more conceptual in nature, guiding staff, developers, P&Z, and City Council in decision-making for zoning and development intensity without necessitating changes by ordinance to the various maps. The adaptation of this land use strategy for the long-term planning efforts of the Utility Master Plans has led to greater efficiency and certainty in those plans while still allowing flexibility for new or different developments as the need occurs organically. There have been 37 separate rezonings approved by City Council since 2012, yet only one comprehensive plan amendment was necessary to carry out the rezoning. This gives a good indication of the flexibility that the 2030 Future Land Use Plan has provided applicants, and also how it has empowered staff to make planning decisions based on more than just the designations on the map. The 2030 Plan is a guide based on the long-term goals and aspirations of the community and has been successful in this regard. Attached is the updated statistical report for both the zoning map and future land use map. There are no staff-initiated comprehensive plan amendments for 2013 and there were no submitted amendments by citizens/landowners during the open calendar period Plan Annual Update Page 2 of 6

3 Future Land Use Plan The Future Land Use Plan has not been changed considerably since its adoption in 2008 and merits a thoughtful study in 2015 as to projected densities, land use designations, and strategic planning for desired uses. Commercial and Employment Center areas, in particular, deserve a comprehensive effort by Planning, Utilities, Transportation, Finance and Economic Development Staff to develop a strategy that will utilize all of our resources to promote these areas. Residential development is continuing to deteriorate land areas available for employment-centered development those large land areas with good utilities and transportation access and the City needs to determine whether to recommit our efforts towards reserving and incentivizing these areas or allow them to develop as other land uses more suited to the current marketplace. Housing, particular workforce and attainable housing, is another land use project being developed by the Housing Board to further the Housing Element of the 2030 Plan. They have identified areas that are well-suited for higher density residential based on proximity to employment, retail and civic uses, and are often underutilized and, therefore, could be targeted for incentives. Staff would also like to explore some more detailed corridor planning, or defined-area planning (such as Williams Drive Gateway, the TOD area, etc.) that might be linked to special financing districts to provide a boost to developers building a desired product. Goals, Policies, and Actions Implementation Summary The first goal of the Land Use Plan Element is to Promote sound, sustainable, and compact development patterns with balanced land uses, a variety of housing choices Many of the policies and actions throughout the plan relate to establishing guidelines to encourage a balanced mix of housing, commercial, and employment uses. City Council has accomplished many of these intentions with the adoption of the Mixed-Use Zoning District. The immediate (0-2 year) priority actions that were addressed by staff since 2010 are listed below. Many of these items have been recommended by the UDC Task Force as part of the UDC Annual Review process; the majority of these items have been adopted or soon will be considered by City Council. Items considered and principally completed since A. Encourage a balanced mix of residential, commercial, and employment uses at varying densities and intensities, to reflect a gradual transition from urban to suburban to rural development. 1.C. Establish standards appropriate for new residential development pertaining to lot sizes, open space, buffers, road connectivity, etc. 1.D. Establish improved standards for commercial development. 1.E.1. Establish standards for and actively promote new forms of compact development to include Transit-Oriented Development, as well as traditional neighborhood development (TND), mixed-use, and pedestrian-scale development Plan Annual Update Page 3 of 6

4 1.E.3. Promote mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly land use patterns, including community activity centers, neighborhood activity centers, conservation subdivisions, and walkable neighborhoods. 2.A.2. Overlay districts (where specific requirements could be modified to allow established character to be maintained; e.g., buildings pulled up to the street, credit for onstreet/shared parking, etc.) 2.A.3. Adjust the City s schedule of development fees (e.g., development review fees and costs to upgrade infrastructure) to lessen financial burdens on investments in designated areas and more accurately reflect the different costs of providing services in developed areas (where infrastructure is available), suburban areas, and fringe areas (where costly infrastructure extensions are necessary). 2.B.2: Through the City s Capital Improvement Program, prioritize short and long-range capital investments in designated urban areas, including but not limited to utility replacements, capacity improvements, area-wide stormwater systems, street improvements, etc. 4.B. Revise the UDC to ensure development that is compatible in character with the surrounding context. 4C: Develop and apply neighborhood conservation strategies such as code enforcement and house rehabilitation programs. 4.D. Revise the UDC to ensure proper transitions and buffering between established neighborhoods and adjacent commercial and manufacturing areas. Goals, Policies and Actions for 2015 For 2015, staff will explore other implementation items of the Future Land Use Element, including completing work with the UDC Commission on the list of updates to the UDC. The UDC is and will be crucial to execution of the policies and actions of the 2030 Plan and staff will continue to recommend updates to the development code as warranted in the future. Other plans and implementation strategies will parallel UDC updates, such as the CIP, Utility and Transportation Plans, Special District and Annexation Plans, and others. Below are more specific projects for 2015 that will further the larger 2030 Plan goals and policies. Upcoming Projects Affecting the 2030 Plan in 2015 There are several projects related to the 2030 Plan that are ongoing or will get underway in These include: The finalization of the Water and Wastewater Master Plan Updates Development and consideration of new or updated 2030 Plan elements Transportation Plan Update implementation steps, including how Traffic Impact Studies are used, roadway planning, connectivity, public safety delivery, and sidewalk planning Conservation efforts related to natural resource planning, particularly water Continued updates to the UDC Work with the Housing Board on housing plan implementation Parks Planning requirements, for traditional development and special districts Consideration of the 1460/Westinghouse/Sam Houston development area and TIZ area Special District expansion and other alternative financing incentives for infrastructure 2030 Plan Annual Update Page 4 of 6

5 Annexation and ETJ Growth Strategic Plan Airport Master Plan Update and zoning revision HB 1445 agreement discussion with Williamson County regarding subdivision standards, urban development in the ETJ, and roadway planning Other ongoing implementation items of the adopted 2030 Plan Elements The 5-year revision will likely see some suggestions of new Goals, Policies and Actions as we continue to evolve as a community and adapt to quickly changing circumstances. Five-Year Revision In addition to these items, the City has been participating in several discussions on topics that could have a significant effect on the future growth and development of the community. In 2013, Staff recommended that the 5-Year Revision be delayed for the following reasons: The listing of the Georgetown Salamander by U.S. Fish and Wildlife and possible constraints to development. The result of this decision will cause the City to potentially rethink future land use assumptions and review development/infrastructure standards to adapt to new environmental requirements. o Update: Now that the Salamander listing has occurred and the Council is adopting permanent water quality measures in support of Fish and Wildlife s Section 4 (d) implementation rule, staff and the development community continue to gauge the full impact of this decision. Processes are being established and the regulations are being clarified, with more work to be done in The listing will be considered in future updates to the City s land use plans. The Chisholm Trail Special Utility District merger discussions, which have been ongoing for about two years and are intended to address long-term water supply issues in the area. Georgetown and Chisholm officials have discussed ways to handle water service in regards to long-term raw water supply in the midst of drought conditions, fire protection, increased urbanization in rural areas, municipal utility district effects on water needs, and other crucial aspects of development pressures on potable water. The result of this decision will affect the way that the City looks at land use, wastewater, fire protection, and future annexations. o Update: The merger between the two utilities has occurred and implementation of that merger has begun. Much future planning will need to take place in regards to raw water planning, land use/density assumptions and the effect it will have on sewer extension and urban development in the Western District. Possible revision to the City s 2005 Annexation policy. City staff have discussed a review of the Annexation policy as the City looks toward future service needs, cost of expansion, and the resources needed to achieve the ultimate goals. o Staff will begin work in 2015 developing a new policy for annexation and ETJ growth, including formalizing the Interim MUD Policy for special district development. This strategy for utility, financial, and land use planning will 2030 Plan Annual Update Page 5 of 6

6 coincide with the utility master plans, transportation update, parks planning efforts and future land use updates. City of Excellence implementation and other Council-defined goals. o The 2030 Comprehensive Plan is a long-term tool to map out incremental progress towards goal established by the community. The 2030 Plan is complementary to, and an integral component of, any annual and 5-year goals set by the Council and staff through the budgetary process. The community vision for what Georgetown strives to be should be at the forefront of short-term decision making in any future processes. If updates to this visioning are desired, the 5-year vision process. Summary The 2030 Comprehensive Plan is at a point where a thoughtful update is necessary, one that accounts for a significant growth boom in the last couple of years and may continue in the short-term. Georgetown will be adding many new residents, reacting to regulatory changes, experiencing shifts in growth and development philosophies, and continuing to be a popular place to do business, all while trying to plan for the future. A long-term strategy is a crucial component for our preparations for the future of the community, while maintain the flexibility needed to adapt and evolve. The comprehensive plan allows stakeholders to collectively plan for the betterment of the city, determine how we project ourselves to the outside world, and design the kind of community in which we desire to live. The next step forward in that process is to continue to keep the plan at the forefront of the discussion, with a formal revision to the plan being the step recommended in Plan Annual Update Page 6 of 6