SUBJECT:
Title
PUBLIC HEARING: A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Erie Approving the 2024 Update to the 2015 Town of Erie Comprehensive Plan, Known as Elevate Erie
Body
DEPARTMENT: Planning & Development
Department
PRESENTER(S): Sarah Nurmela, Director of Planning and Development
Kelly Driscoll, Planning Manager
Josh Campbell, Senior Strategic Planner
Keiley Gaston, Senior Strategic Planner
First Name Last Name, Title
TIME ESTIMATE: 90 minutes
only required for non-consent items
POLICY ISSUES:
The Comprehensive Plan (Plan) captures the Town of Erie’s vision for the community. The Plan sets forth policy direction for all aspects of physical development, Town services, and utility provision. The policies of the Plan will be used to guide strategic planning and improvements for land use and development, parks, open space and recreation, utilities, and transportation infrastructure. The Plan also provides guidance for developing social and cultural belonging and interactions.
More detailed plans and implementation strategies are encompassed in subject-specific planning documents like the Water Supply Plan, Affordable Housing Strategy, or Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails (PROST) Plan-among others.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Adopt Resolution 24-145 approving the 2024 update to the Comprehensive Plan, known as Elevate Erie.
End
SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND OF SUBJECT MATTER:
The Comprehensive Plan is an overarching guide for development, services, and lived experience in the Town. The document establishes a vision, guiding principles, and policies, with action items to implement the Town’s vision. As a guiding document, the policies are meant to provide direction to decision makers and staff alike as they review development, prioritize investments, and deliver infrastructure improvements. The last update to the Comprehensive Plan was conducted in 2015. To reflect Erie’s evolving development footprint, demographics, and needs, the Town initiated an update to the Plan in late 2022.
The Plan update process included four engagement windows built around documenting existing conditions, visioning, testing ideas, and reviewing the draft document. Documents and summaries of this process can be found online on the Plan’s webpage: <http://www.erieco.us/comp-plan-and-tmp>. The Engagement Scrapbook is also attached.
• Phase I occurred between December 2022 and April 2023. This phase of engagement uncovered and documented existing conditions in Erie and included seven in-person engagement events as well as an online survey.
• Phase II extended approximately seven months into December 2023, with a focus on visioning and defining the direction of the plan. Residents identified the Vision and Values of the plan through five in-person events and an online survey.
• Phase III included public input on the three Land Use Scenarios presented to the Council and Planning Commission in a joint workshop in March 2024. Voting for scenarios occurred online and in-person at seven events over four and a half weeks. The plan team used the feedback and results of voting to draft the fourth and final land use scenario, otherwise known as the Future Land Use Map.
• Phase IV, or public review of the draft document and Future Land Use Map, was open from Aug. 14 to Sept. 8. During this fourth phase of engagement, staff held two Open House events where residents could ask questions and provide feedback. A handful of written comments were received from unique users on the project page as well as feedback from 32 attendees at the Open House events. The online and in-person feedback was incorporated into the document.
Over the course of the project, the plan team engaged with the public at more than 30 events and multiple online surveys, resulting in more than 2,500 touch points. Additionally, 29 advisory meetings with the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), Plan Advisory Committee (PAC), Planning Commission, and Council occurred during the project. Throughout each of the engagement periods, the PAC and TAC met multiple times to review work product and provide direction and feedback. The Town engaged Verdunity and EPS as consultants to provide Fiscal and Economic Market Analyses.
The draft plan reflects residents’ vision for Erie’s future, while the technical inputs ground it in data and market realities, resulting in an implementable, fiscally sustainable plan.
COUNCIL PRIORITY(S) ADDRESSED:
ü Attractive Community Amenities
ü Engaged and Diverse Community
ü Prosperous Economy
ü Well-Maintained Transportation Infrastructure
ü Small Town Feel
ü Safe and Healthy Community
ü Effective Governance
ü Environmentally Sustainable
ü Fiscally Responsible
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Staff Report
2. Resolution 24-145
3. Planning Commission Resolution P24-14
4. Presentation
5. Elevate Erie - Comprehensive Plan
6. Engagement Scrapbook
7. Written Public Comment to Planning Commission
8. Notice