The West U Town Center Committee will present its report on a new zoning district to city council and the Zoning and Planning Commission no later than Jan. 24.
The Town Center committee was scheduled to give its report in a joint meeting with city council and the ZPC during last night’s meeting, but it was pushed back to January.
City Manager Michael Ross told InstantNewsWestU last week that the committee had to push back their presentation date, “primarily due to the upcoming holiday season and availability of everyone to meet and discuss the finalization of the recommendation to the ZPC and Council.”
Council received an update from Ross about the committee, during last night’s meeting.
The committee was formed by council in December 2009 and is made up of West U residents who have expertise in real estate development or are nearby property owners, Ross said.
In February city council approved this mission statement:
“To explore options and create a mixed use development envelope and palette for a City Center zoning district, thus facilitating the opportunity to encourage appropriate and community compatible redevelopment with relief from tradition zoning requirements, encompassing the analysis and proposal of a City Center district zoning overlay if appropriate. This exploration will include but not limited to building height and setback, pedestrian friendly access, parking, buffering and ultimate feasibility.”
The committee’s mission objective was to “successfully accomplish the mission statement and deliver a draft development philosophy and a draft/proposed City Center district overlay document for City Council’s review and discussion within four months or by July 1st 2010.”
Ross said the committee has had numerous meetings to discuss their ideas.
“They have had some conceptual drawings produced that reflect some of those ideas and we’re to understand potential impacts,” he said. “There were no city costs associated with the production of those drawings … as they were donated by a resident professional.”
The public works department will assist the committee in the formatting and production of their report and will present to council and the ZPC no later than Jan. 24, Ross said.
Once the committee presents its report, city council may give guidance to the ZPC so they can get started on their work, he said. All meetings will be public, once the report is handed off to the ZPC.
Councilmember George Boehme said he sees two things potentially happening after the committee’s report: creating a new zoning district and making a zoning change.
The city would be required by law to hold at least one public hearing in regards to zoning changes.
“I think there’s going to be a full throated discussion on this,” Boehme said. “I think it’s wise to fully develop and not try to rush.”
Mayor Bob Kelly said he agreed.
“Especially with what has happened here in the past recently,” Kelly said.
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