Community Development Department Planning Division
City of Salem Unified Development Code Project
City Council Work Session
August 25, 2008
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Project Overview
Background: What’s wrong? The Project: What are we doing? Approach: Why start here? Issues, Opportunities and Constraints: What can be done vs. what is outside of scope? Expected Results: What will change? Next Steps
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Background
What’s Wrong?
Comprehensive plan & zoning ordinance are out-of-date and not equipped to address contemporary issues and problems or reflective of state-of-the art planning practices. Zoning ordinance is unnecessarily complex. Zoning ordinance lacks an organization scheme intuitive to readers’ needs. Zoning ordinance amended over the years through a series of individual amendments rather than in a comprehensive approach.
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The Project
What Are We Doing?
Reformatting: Combining the zoning code (SRC Title X) and Community Development Code (SRC Title V) into single Unified Development Code. Clarifying & Simplifying: -Opportunity to simplify and clarify code language. -Utilize more graphics, tables, and visuals to convey development requirements and standards to supplement text. Overall Result: A development code better arranged and formatted with language that is clearly written and easier to use by staff, citizens, applicants, and decision makers.
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Approach
Why Start With The UDC?
Current state of development regulations necessitates action – NOW! Eliminate administration problems that lead to inconsistencies and mistakes. The UDC will provide a framework for subsequent code amendments resulting from future policy changes.
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Approach (Continued)
What Has Already Been Done?
First steps already taken: 1) Site Plan Review Process -PC Recommendation of Approval: May 2008 -1st Reading of Ordinance: September 15, 2008 2) Procedures Ordinance -Consolidates various land use application review types into one chapter to clarify and simplify procedures. -Anticipated to be before City Council near end of the year.
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Planning Division Multi-Year Work Program
How Will We Do It?
Adopt Procedural Ordinance & Site Plan Review Complete UDC & Take Through Review & Approval Process
Identify Problems & Draft Outline of UDC
Comp. Plan Update (Major Policy Issues)
Code Amendments (Major Policy Issues)
Underway
Year 1
Year 2
Future Phase
Procedures
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Development Standards
Approach (Continued)
Who Will Be Involved?
Extensive public involvement program developed to ensure ample opportunity for involvement by: -Neighborhood Associations -Private Sector -Staff -Decision Makers Planning Commission will be central to public involvement program through: -Being part of the UDC advisory committee -Hosting public open houses -Conducting formal public hearings
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Issues, Opportunities, & Constraints
What Can Be Done vs. What Is Outside Scope?
Process of developing UDC will naturally bring out Major and Minor policy issues. -Minor policy issues can be addressed. -Major policy issues will be catalogued for a later comprehensive plan update phase (e.g. residential min. lot size, infill development standards). Examples of good work that has been completed or is in progress: -Employment Center (EC) zone -Fairview Mixed-Use (FMU) zone -Draft South Waterfront Mixed-Use (SWMU) zone
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Expected Results
What Will The UDC Achieve?.....some examples
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Fill in present “gaps” in the code where certain additional development standards may be needed Eliminate internal conflicts and inconsistencies Reorganize and reformat the code so it is concise, clear, and logical User friendly code
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Next Steps
Where Do We Go From Here?
Solicit RFP for consultants to work with staff. Anticipated two year process: -Year One: Identify opportunities for improvement to the code and detailed outline of the proposed UDC. -Year Two: Flesh out the UDC outline and take UDC through approval process.
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Questions & Discussion
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