Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes the Planning Division's shift to a planning framework with 13 12 higher level area plans to be updated every 10 years. No additional City appropriation is required with the authorization of this framework. Any costs associated with public engagement or implementation of plans created through the framework will be included in future budget requests and subject to Council approval.
Title
SUBSTITUTE - Authorizing the Planning Division’s shift to a Planning Framework with 12 higher level Area Plans to be updated every 10 years
Body
WHEREAS, in addition to the Comprehensive Plan, the City of Madison has nearly 70 adopted sub-area plans; and
WHEREAS, these sub-area plans vary greatly in terms of when they were adopted, the size of the geographic area covered, the topics included and the level of detail; and
WHEREAS, over time, recommendations in sub-area plans may no longer reflect current City policies and priorities; and
WHEREAS, some areas of the City lack a sub-area plan, while other areas have overlapping plans which can lead to confusion for stakeholders regarding expectations for future development and infrastructure investment; and
WHEREAS, the 2018 Comprehensive Plan recommended creation of a process for reviewing existing sub-area plans, which led to a larger review of the City’s sub-area planning and ultimately this proposed planning framework; and
WHEREAS, staff conducted interviews with 10 other cities to gain insights on various approaches to sub-area planning, including cities that have recently implemented a similar planning framework; and
WHEREAS, the City’s Racial Equity and Social Justice comprehensive analysis tool was utilized to inform development of this new planning framework; and
WHEREAS, in addition to Area Plans, the Planning Division will continue to create neighborhood plans supported in part by federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for smaller geographies within the city where 51 percent or more residents are living with low to moderate incomes and there is a higher proportion of residents from Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Division coordinated with staff in other City agencies to identify how this new planning framework can increase collaboration with agencies’ plans and initiatives; and
WHEREAS, this new planning framework is simplified, standardized and intended to achieve more equitable outcomes by covering the entire city on a regular and frequent schedule; and
WHEREAS, the planning framework covers the entire city with 13 12 geographies that will be used to create Area Plans, which will address a consistent set of topics and include higher-level recommendations for land use, transportation, parks and open space, utilities, and community facilities; and
WHEREAS, during the creation of Area Plans, the Planning Division will review recommendations from adopted neighborhood plans, special area plans and other sub-area plans, and will incorporate recommendations from these plans into the Area Plans when the recommendations are within the scope of Area Plan recommendations, consistent with current City policies, and relevant to Area Plan communities; and
WHEREAS, the creation of each Area Plan also provides a venue to consider retirement of existing, underlying sub-area plans as outlined in the Comprehensive Plan; and
WHEREAS, Area Plan processes will include public outreach and engagement during each phase of the planning process with special emphasis on reaching residents and communities typically underrepresented in City processes; and
WHEREAS, Area Plans will be adopted as a supplement to the City’s Comprehensive Plan, with the Area Plan land use recommendations directly updating the Comprehensive Plan’s Generalized Future Land Use Map.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council does hereby authorize the Planning Division’s shift to a planning framework with 13 12 higher level Area Plans to be updated every 10 years.