HomeMy WebLinkAboutAmendment Themes AMENDMENT THEMES
Begin preparing a policy framework to deal with energy descent, economic contraction, and
mounting environmental consequences and costs.
The next twenty years are very unlikely to resemble the last twenty years. The update process
can serve as a launch pad for an ongoing discussion as to what steps City government can take
to make the community more resilient and secure.
The following five (5) basic questions would need to be addressed:
• How will the combined effects of peak net energy and climate disruption affect the
community?
• What can City government do to cushion the community against the long-term negative
consequences of those impacts?
• What should City government be prepared to do in case of emergencies (e.g., prolonged
fuel shortages, price spikes, drought, storm damage, etc.)?
• What basic infrastructure and services are vital to the protection of the public health and
safety, what are their vulnerabilities, and how can the City marshal its resources to
mitigate those vulnerabilities?
• How will the City continue to fund basic infrastructure and services as economic
volatility, recession and economic decline cause tax revenues to fall?
Based on the Economic Feasibility Study (Hovee: 2015), consider revising the Comprehensive
Plan to reflect the "working vision statement" for the Howard Street corridor for improved
community economic development and vitality. Conceived as a multi-use work district, the intent
would be to create new jobs and increase net wage levels.
The following questions would need to be addressed:
• Will existing land use classification/zoning of the Howard Street study area need to be
modified to accommodate the uses envisioned?
• Should the City allow greater flexibility than permitted under existing zoning and
design review standards (e.g., allowable uses/bulk/height and dimensional
requriements)?
• How do we promote "living wage jobs"while preserving community character?
• How do we make the area affordable to small businesses while ensuring quality
design?
• Is a "city-wide market" too limiting?
A central policy initiative of the 1996 Comprehensive Plan was the designation of five (5) mixed
use centers, which were intended to serve as focal points for new and emerging neighborhoods,
and to promote access to goods and services within walking distance of where people live.
None of these zones has been developed as envisioned in 18 years ago. It is recommended
that these designations be reevaluated to assess whether or not they should be retained in their
present form, modified, or eliminated. In conducting this review, it will be important to:
• Ask whether these districts have come to fruition had it not been for the Great
Recession?Will they develop with future population growth and urbanization? Or, do
more fundamental obstacles to their success exist (e.g., higher costs per square
foot/financing challenges/lack of market demand, etc.)?
• Assess not only the policy framework in the Plan, but also the specific (and restrictive)
implementation provisions within Chapter 17.18 PTMC, which potentially have
contributed to the lack of mixed use development; and
• Carefully consider the need and advisability of retaining some form of walk-able activity
nodes throughout the City in light of the Transition and Community Resilience initiative
outline above. Revolutionary changes in degree of human mobility are likely over the
coming decades, and incorporating peak energy and climate change considerations into
all aspects of land-use and transportation policy and capital investment decisions will be
crucially important.
The City's 1996 Plan sought to resist the trend towards becoming a retirement residential town,
and to maintain an authentic small town atmosphere with distinctive and vibrant neighborhoods
and a working waterfront. The Plan (e.g., Community Direction Statement, Economic
Development Element) stressed the need to support the provision of"family-wage"jobs to allow
young families to both live and work in the community. The Plan also sought to cultivate
opportunities for the youth in our community to "play, socialize, find entertainment, work, and be
involved in extra-curricular experiences."
Despite the Plan's focus on maintaining small town character and achieving a better balance
between jobs and housing, the undeniable demographic trend has been towards a retirement
residential community. Moreover, while certain areas of town have experienced an influx of
retirees with comparatively significant financial resources, US Census data also show that the
number of citizens living below the federal poverty line has increased - particularly young
families with children and certain segments of the elderly population.
Without question, these trends mirror broader national currents, and have been magnified by
the economic turmoil of the past six years. While the City is powerless to influence global and
national economic tendencies, it can nevertheless direct policy focus upon, and commit scarce
public resources towards, supporting young families and vulnerable populations.
How can this be accomplished? An important first step in addressing these difficult issues lies
in strengthening Plan policy language within the Land Use, Capital Facilities and Economic
Development Elements, to emphasize the following:
• Fostering educational excellence;
• Providing a fairer distribution of recreational facilities and programs;
• Support for daycare facilities and youth programs.