Long Range Planning

The Implementation Guide, developed as part of an area plan, is primarily a staff document that identifies the priorities, expected time frame and responsible agency for implementing concept plan recommendations. It is not adopted by City Council. Rather, actions identified in the implementation guide require future Council approval and are brought before them on a case-by-case basis.

Implementing Land Use Recommendations
Land Use recommendations are implemented on an ongoing basis after an area plan is adopted, especially during the rezoning process when development proposals are brought before staff for support before City Council. During the rezoning process staff works closely with the property owner, developer and/or architects as well as other City and County staff to determine if the proposed development is consistent with the recommendations in the adopted area plan. Consistency of the proposed development is determined after examining a wide variety of factors including land use, transportation, urban design and the environment. The proposed development is deemed consistent with the area plan recommendations if it meets the future land use designation in terms of use i.e. residential, office, mixed-use etc., and in terms of intensity/density, building heights and urban design.

Corrective Rezonings
Staff-initiated corrective rezonings are a key tool for implementing land use recommendations. A rezoning changes the zoning classification on a property, thereby changing the allowed uses and development standards. Staff-initiated corrective rezonings are most often recommended to:

• Align zoning with existing land use to make future land uses compatible with existing development
• Align zoning with the currently adopted land use plan
• Protect environmentally sensitive areas

The implementation guide typically describes the proposed corrective rezonings needed to achieve the plan vision. The proposed rezonings must be approved through a separate rezoning process before they take effect. The rezoning process includes the opportunity for public comment.

Implementing Transportation Recommendations
The implementation guide typically prioritizes the transportation recommendations and may identify potential funding sources for specific street improvements, connectivity enhancements, pedestrian and bicycle improvements and transit. It may also suggest studies or analyses that should be undertaken to better address more complicated transportation issues. Some Area Plans have very specific project proposals with streetscape and cross section recommendations.

Area Plan Implementation Program Fund
There is a Council adopted program fund intended to be used for implementing capital projects that help realize the intended visions set forth in area plans. The program began in 2006 from the need for better follow-through on plan visions and recommendations, especially capital improvements. The Planning Department had dozens of adopted plans and hundreds of plan recommendations but no way of tracking physical results and needing to press forward the implementation mechanisms to bring the plan visions into reality. The Department created a system to analyze, track and implement capital projects as well as other projects originating from City Council adopted Area Plans. City Council also established an Area Plan Implementation Program, intended to help fund capital projects that help establish the vision set forth in adopted area plans.



Click Here to View the "Plan to Progress" document