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Home My WebLink About3/19/2003 - STAFF REPORTS (9) DATE: March 19, 2003 TO: City Council FROM: Director of Planning & Zoning SUBJECT: RECEIVE AND FILE GENERAL PLAN UPDATE OUTLINE. RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council receive and file the attached General Plan Update Outline presented to the Planning Commission at their workshops on January 15 and February 5, 2003. SUMMARY: The Department of Planning and Zoning with the assistance of the Planning Commission has developed an outline to guide the City's General Plan Update process. Should the City Council be comfortable with the General Plan Update Steering Committee and public input and participation process, the Department of Planning and Zoning will contact each group to select a representative for the Steering Committee. BACKGROUND: On January 8, 2003, the Department of Planning and Zoning presented a General Plan Update Outline to the City Council Cabinet. The Outline,which is attached for City Council review, includes a brief description of a General Plan and the need for an update, public and community participation, and work program phasing. The Outline was refined by the Planning Commission to include groups of representatives that will make up the General Plan Update Steering Committee, as well as minor modifications to the phasing schedule. At its study sessions on January 15 and February 5, 2003, the Planning Commission concurred with the Outline and make up of the General Plan Update Steering Committee. J'4 ZA� Gf °tea., Director of Pf nning and Zoning A City Manager �� ATTACHMENTS: 1. General Plan Update Planning Commission Meeting Outline dated January 15, 2003. 01�— General Plan Update Planning Commission Meeting January 15, 2003 WHAT IS A GENERAL PLAN? • All cities in California are required to adopt a General Plan. • The General Plan provides the goals and policies to guide development in the community and to provide goals and policies for conservation, parks and recreation, circulation, housing, safety, and noise. • The City of Palm Springs adopted its first General Plan in 1966 and approved major amendments in 1973 and 1993. Minor issue-specific amendments have been made annually. State law requires each General Plan address seven (7) mandated elements: 1. Land Use — land use map and policies 2. Circulation — roadways, transportation, and other transportation systems 3. Housing — programs, needs, and policies 4. Conservation — natural resources, water, rivers, wildlife, and minerals 5. Open Space — recreation and natural resource protection 6. Safety —seismic, slope stability, flooding, fires, and emergency services 7. Noise — roadway, rail, aviation, industrial, wind energy • The 1993 General Plan was intended to guide growth and development through the year 2010. • One of the first objectives of the General Plan is to encourage cooperation between the boards and commissions of the City. WHAT CAN BE CONSIDERED IN A GENERAL PLAN UPDATE? A full range of issues can be considered in the General Plan. Key issues addressed in the City's current General Plan include economic development, distribution of land uses, building intensity, population, housing supply and programs, scenic resources, cultural resources, recreation,water resources, biological resources, minerals, historic resources, community design, flood hazards, airquality,geology, hazardous materials,health care,emergency preparedness, noise,circulation, airport, public utilities, education, human services, and trails. Each and every board and commission has a role to play in the General Plan program. PUBLIC INPUT AND PARTICIPATION: The Planning Commission and/or the City Council will need to develop a formal work program which will include a range of public input programs. The groups that are outlined in "A" and "B" below will develop into responsible roles with the primary role being the General Plan Steering Committee, that will report to Planning Commission, City Council Cabinet, and City Council. Objective is to seek wide-spread community participation and buy-in to General Plan process. Page 2 of 3 General Plan Update Planning Commission Meeting January 15, 2003 Public involvement include the following: Al. General Plan Steering Committee — made up of Planning Commissioners and selected community members. Appointments either by Planning Commission or City Council. The following is a list of groups and number of representatives that will make up the public involvement input program strategy: 3 Planning Commission members 4 Residential Neighborhood representatives 2 Economic Development Corporation representatives 2 Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indian representatives 1 Chamber of Commerce representative 1 Desert Business Association representative 1 Main Street representative 1 Uptown Association representative 1 Hotel Association representative 1 Parks and Recreation Commission representative 1 Historic Site Preservation Board representative 1 Airport Commission representative 1 Environmental Group (Sierra Club) Total: 20 A2. Planning Commission and staff— The Planning Commission and staff would be responsible for conducting a series of meetings with community groups, neighborhood groups, boards, and commissions. Staff will take its direction from the Steering Committee and report to the Planning Commission, City Council Cabinet, and City Council, A3. City Council Cabinet General Plan Advisory Committee — The General Plan Steering Committee would be made up of board and commission members and the City Council Cabinet would hold quarterly meetings to discuss the General Plan program. Staff will provide the City Council Cabinet with updates on Steering Committee and Neighborhood Group input. B. Neighborhood Meetings— Regardless of the structure for a General Plan Steering Committee,neighborhoods would be provided ample opportunities to provide input and advice on the General Plan program. Staff will formulate neighborhood groupings and identify representatives, as well as conduct on-site workshops within those neighborhood areas. A successful General Plan requires extensive public input and community representation. The Page 3 of 3 General Plan Update Planning Commission Meeting January 15, 2003 City Council and Planning Commission will need to determine the appropriate advisory group. GENERAL PLAN PHASING: Phase I A. Geographic Information System (GIS) development and implementation. Step 1 - General Plan Land Use Map and Zoning Map B. Select Steering Committee format and membership appointments C. Define committee's role/rule/procedures Phase II A. Initial community input— neighborhoods, community groups, and interest groups, including full Geographic Information System implementation B. Develop detailed work program C. Hire consultants (General Plan, traffic, air noise, cultural resources, and environmental impact report) Phase III A. Draft General Plan Amendments —text and map(s) B. Draft Environmental Impact Report Phase IV A. Community Feedback- meetings Phase V A. Public Hearings and Adoption of General Plan Phase VI A. Implementation —five to ten-year planning period. EXPECTED COMPLETION: FY 2004-2005