SUBJECT: General Business
Title
A Resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Town of Erie Approving in Principle the Preliminary Master Plan for the Erie Town Center
Body
DEPARTMENTS: Administration, Economic Development, Planning and Community Development, and Public Works
PRESENTER: Malcolm Fleming, Town Administrator
TIME ESTIMATE: 20 minutes
only required for non-consent items
FISCAL INFORMATION:
Cost as Recommended: Unknown future costs associated with implementing the Master Plan offset by unknown future revenues associated with new development in the Town Center.
Balance Available: $0
Budget Line Item Number: NA.
New Appropriation Required: NA.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Resolution approving in principle the Erie Town Center Illustrative Master Plan and setting the tentative schedule for consideration of the Plan by the Erie Planning Commission, and Planning Commission recommendation to the Board of Trustees regarding the Illustrative Master Plan and draft implementing regulations and Code principles.
.End
SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND OF SUBJECT MATTER:
Town staff have been working with the Board of Trustees, DPZ CoDesign, property owners, representatives from adjacent neighborhoods, developers, the Urban Land Institute Technical Advisory Panel (ULI TAP) and others to determine how best to create a unique sense of place and an economically thriving Town Center around the intersection of Erie Parkway and County Line Road.
From Wednesday, November 6th through Tuesday, November 12th, the Town in collaboration with DPZ CoDesign and hundreds of participants, conducted an intensive week-long design charrette process to engage all interested parties to produce designs clarifying the vision for the Town Center. The charrette included opportunities to talk with members of the DPZ design team, as well as presentations with opportunities to hear about, ask questions, get answers and comment on:
• Smart Growth/New Urbanism Principles
• Economics and Market Analysis
• Transportation and Infrastructure
• Open Space/Civic Amenities
• Environment and Sustainability
• Land Use and Zoning
• Implementation Strategy.
At the mid-point of the charrette, Andres Duany, DPZ’s founding co-partner, gave a presentation on a draft “Midterm Plan” reflecting the design team’s work to that point. Charrette participants then had many opportunities over the next several days to comment on that Midterm Plan.
At the conclusion of the charrette on November 12, and during the Board of Trustees regular meeting, Mr. Duany gave a final presentation outlining an Illustrative Master Plan for the Town Center that reflects the design team’s collective efforts as well as comments and ideas received (both in person and via the Town’s electronic media portals) from participants throughout the charrette.
The attached “Charrette Work Product” presentation highlights both the charrette process, numerous elements of the Illustrative Master Plan, and the Market Analysis findings. The second attachment is draft Code Principles staff can use to prepare proposed amendments to the Town’s Unified Development Code, which will be needed as the legal basis to formally implement the Illustrative Master Plan.
Additionally, at the November 12th meeting the Board of Trustees asked anyone with comments on the draft of the Master Plan to submit their comments to the Town by November 25th. The compilation of those comments is also attached.
Next Steps
If the Board of Trustees approves the Illustrative Master Plan in principle, staff will work with DPZ to finalize the materials for consideration by the Planning Commission and the Board of Trustees on the following tentative schedule:
• February 5, 2020. Planning Commission considers Master Plan and proposed UDC Code Amendments to implement the Plan
• February 25, 2020. Board of Trustees considers Master Plan and proposed UDC Code Amendments to implement the Plan.
Approving the Illustrative Master Plan in principle will continue the very positive momentum from the design charrette and signify the Board’s support for finalizing the Master Plan and implementing regulations for consideration by the Board in February.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
2. DPZ CoDesign Erie Town Center Charrette Work Product
3. Erie Town Center Code Principles
4. Town Center Comment Summary