SUBJECT:
Title
Comprehensive Plan and Related Topics
Body
DEPARTMENT: Planning & Development
Department
PRESENTER(S): Sarah Nurmela, Director of Planning and Development
Kelly Driscoll, Planning Manager
Josh Campbell, Senior Strategic Planner
MJ Adams, Affordable Housing Manager
Eric Leverage, Housing Analyst
David Pasic, Public Works Director
John Firouzi, Transportation and Mobility Manager
Miguel Aguilar, Principal Transportation Planner
Gabi Rae, Communications and Community Engagement Director
First Name Last Name, Title
TIME ESTIMATE: 180 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.
Council expressed interest in discussing policy direction identified in the Comprehensive Plan and the companion Transportation and Mobility Plan (TMP). These include residential density, affordable housing, traffic, and the public outreach process. These elements are described in more detail in the attached staff report and presentation.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Informational item only.
End
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND:
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 vision articulated in the Comprehensive Plan is implemented by more detailed plans and implementation strategies like the Transportation and Mobility Plan (TMP), Water Supply Plan, Affordable Housing Strategy, or Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails (PROST) Plan-among others.
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 and the TMP in late 2022. This combined effort was branded as “Elevate Erie”. The two plans were scoped together, and engagement efforts were coordinated together. Additionally, staff conducted the Housing Needs Assessment in 2023 and adopted a combined Housing Needs Assessment and Strategy in May 2024. This work informed the policy direction in the Comprehensive Plan.
Over the course of the Comprehensive Plan and TMP planning process, the Plan team engaged with the public at more than 30 events and in multiple online surveys, resulting in more than 2,500 touch points. Additionally, 30 stakeholder/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, stakeholders (PAC and TAC) met multiple times to review work products and provide direction and feedback.
In addition to Trestle, who helped guide the outreach strategy described above, the Town engaged Verdunity and EPS as consultants to provide Fiscal and Economic Market Analyses. Logan Simpson led the initial visioning phase of the process. Fehr & Peers led the TMP and transportation section of the Comprehensive Plan. All told, the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update included over 550 hours of consultant time, over 200 hours of advisory group time, 250 hours of staff time for public events, $460,000 in contracts, and a $100,000 grant from the State.
The attached Staff Report and Presentation provide more in-depth descriptions of the role, process, and content of the Comprehensive Plan and TMP. Both plans are attached, along with the Housing Needs Assessment and Strategy, which provided a basis for the Housing chapter of the Comprehensive 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. Presentation
3. Comprehensive Plan <https://erieco.gov/2446/Comprehensive-Plan>
4. Transportation and Mobility Plan <https://www.erieco.gov/DocumentCenter/View/21782/2024-Erie-Transportation-Mobility-Plan>
5. Housing Needs Assessment and Strategy <https://www.erieco.gov/DocumentCenter/View/18429/Affordable-Housing-Needs-Assessment>
6. Plan Relationship Diagram
7. Entitled and Planned Projects