RESOLUTION 5095: GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT (GPA) APPLICATION GPA16-01 (RESOLUTION): ENVISION GLENDALE 2040 - CITY WIDE GENERAL PLAN UPDATE (PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED)
Staff Contact: Jon M. Froke, AICP, Planning Director
Guest Presenter: Celeste Werner, AICP, Vice President, Matrix Design Group
Purpose and Recommended Action
Recommendation
This is a request for City Council to conduct a public hearing, waive reading beyond the title, and adopt a resolution for GPA16-01 for Envision Glendale 2040. The proposed General Plan update furthers the public health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of Glendale.
This is the Glendale General Plan Update and will apply city-wide, including the entire Municipal Planning Area (MPA). Every city and county in Arizona is required by state law to provide and maintain a planning document called a general plan. A general plan is designed to serve as the blue print for future decisions concerning land use and conservation.
Envision Glendale 2040 will serve several purposes. It will provide a description of current conditions and trends shaping the City of Glendale. The plan will identify planning issues, opportunities, and challenges that should be addressed in the general plan, and explore land use and policy alternatives. Updating the plan will ensure that the general plan is current, internally consistent, and easy to use. The new plan will provide guidance in the planning and evaluation of future land use and resource decisions. Finally, the new general plan will provide a vision and framework for the future of the City of Glendale.
A general plan is required by state law. It serves as the official policy statement of the city to guide the public and private development of the community by guiding new development and redevelopment initiatives. A general plan must be updated every 10 years.
A general plan is general and comprehensive, long-term, and a statement of the City’s vision for the future. A general plan is a guiding document and a set of goals and policies to achieve the vision and an expression of citizen preferences.
A general plan is not rigid, inflexible and unchanging, not a zoning ordinance nor a zoning map, nor a city budget, nor a capital improvement program, nor a tool to promote special interests.
Envision Glendale 2040 reflects current conditions such as the development of the employment and transportation corridors of Grand Avenue, Loop 101, Loop 303, and Northern Parkway. It recognizes existing plans and the Sports and Entertainment District. The updated plan furthers Glendale’s partnership with Luke Air Force Base and addresses land around the base.
The process of developing the general plan has been ongoing. Events in the spring and summer of 2014 included compilation of data, background research, and a City Council kickoff meeting. Events in fall 2014 through spring 2015 included understanding existing conditions and developing a map atlas, identifying issues and opportunities, developing the first fact sheet about the general plan, and holding the first public workshop about the general plan.
Between spring 2015 and spring 2016 tasks completed included the development of alternatives, City Council district meetings, developing a second fact sheet, holding a second public workshop, preparing a public draft, and providing notice of the required 60-day public review period.
Following the two required Planning Commission public hearings and adoption of the general plan at a City Council public hearing, a vote is required to be held to approve the general plan. This vote is scheduled for August 30, 2016 at the primary election. Throughout the process, public outreach, Steering Committee meetings, and community workshops have been held. Additional information concerning public participation is included in the Citizen Participation section below.
Changes to General Plan Structure
While Envision Glendale 2040 is primarily an update, rather than a complete rewrite of the plan, there are some changes to the general plan. One change is with the general plan structure, where the general plan elements are now grouped into six themes: Growth and Development, Community Preservation and Revitalization, Economic Vitality, Connectivity, Public Facilities and Services, and Environmental Sustainability.
Within each theme, the general plan elements are arranged as follows: The Growth and Development Theme include the Land Use, Housing, Growth Areas, Urban Design, and Military and Aviation elements.
The Community Preservation and Revitalization Theme include the Conservation, Rehabilitation and Redevelopment, Historic Preservation and Design, and Neighborhood Preservation and Revitalization elements. The Economic Vitality Theme includes the Fiscal, Economic Development, and Cost of Development elements.
The Connectivity Theme includes the Circulation and Bicycling and Pedestrian elements, while the Public Facilities and Services Theme include Public Services, Facilities and Buildings, Water Resources, Public Health and Safety, Open Space, and Recreation elements. Finally, the Environmental Sustainability Theme includes the Conservation of Resources, Environmental Planning, and Energy elements.
New elements added to the 2040 General Plan include Military and Aviation, Neighborhood Preservation and Revitalization, and Energy. Sixteen of the elements are required by Arizona state law. Five elements are specific to Glendale. These elective elements include Urban Design, Military and Aviation, Historic Preservation and Design, Fiscal, and Economic Development.
Envision Glendale 2040 includes goal and policy changes. The plan provides changes to the goal and policy statement format. Goals have been updated to reflect a desired future. Most objectives in the current plan have been converted to policies. Policies have been updated to have a consistent format where all policy statements state the City should or shall.
The updated general plan added new Goals and Policies to make the plan current, meet current City needs, and complying with current State requirements.
The Growth and Development Theme added new Mixed-Use categories, and encourages a variety of housing options for all income levels. This theme strives to preserve the unique character of neighborhoods and enhance the land compatibility around Luke Air Force Base.
The Community Preservation and Revitalization Theme focuses on infill and redevelopment in mature areas such as Glendale Centerline, strives to maintain and protect mature neighborhoods. This theme recognizes that historic preservation is an important consideration for new construction, and encourages partnerships between community organizations and the City to promote neighborhoods.
The Economic Vitality Theme works to expand and diversify Glendale’s economy, including the redevelopment of Centerline to attract new business, and leveraging Glendale Municipal Airport for economic growth.
The Connectivity Theme encourages public transit as a viable alternative mode of transportation and promotes transit-oriented development. A bicycle and pedestrian system with a continuous network to access all parts of the city is part of this theme, as is enhanced bicycle and pedestrian safety along roadways.
The Public Facilities and Services Theme acknowledge the high quality, well-maintained school system and library system and the need to ensure water quality and service for the City’s future. Effective fire and police protection services are necessary for the city, as is maintaining adequate parks and open space as the city grows.
Finally, the Environmental Sustainability Theme provides for conservation and management strategies to maintain natural resources, water preservation measures such as xeriscape, planned management of stormwater runoff, and enhanced energy conservation and renewable energy development strategies.
Changes to Land Use Map
As this is an update of the existing General Plan, the proposed land use diagram and areas of change on the new land use diagram are relatively minor. Changes to the land use map in the established part of the MPA include revisions to reflect the new Aspera mixed use development, other changes to reflect existing land use, and downtown land use pattern revised to reflect existing land use and add the new Downtown Mixed-Use (DMU) category.
Changes to the land use map in the western part of the MPA include a new Regional Mixed-Use (RMU) category added to promote growth along the Loop 303 corridor, Luke Air Force Base boundaries filled in as Public Facility (PF), developed residential areas updated to reflect existing and planned development, and changes to reflect existing non-residential land use.
Updates to Existing Mixed-Use Categories
The current General Plan includes two existing mixed-use categories. Corporate Commerce Center (CCC) describes mixed-use employment centers with a desired mix of 15 percent residential, 30 percent commercial, and 55 percent office. The Entertainment Mixed-Use (EMU) category is intended to host regional level sports, entertainment, shopping, and employment centers; a wide range of commercial and office and multi-family residential at a minimum of 18 dwelling units per acre.
The proposed General Plan proposes new mixed-use categories. The Downtown Mixed-Use (DMU) is roughly bounded by Glenn Drive to the north, Lamar Road to the south, 51st Avenue to the east and 59th Avenue to the west. The DMU encourages a mix of residential and commercial in Historic Downtown Glendale. The Regional Mixed-Use (RMU) encourages new multi-modal, mixed-use development in regionally significant areas featuring an intensive use of land with a compact urban form along the Loop 303 corridor with minimized residential.
Citizen Participation to Date
On February 10, 2016, the City of Glendale mailed the required 60-day review letter required by State Statute to the City of Glendale Mayor and City Council, City Manager, City Clerk, Arizona Commerce Authority, Arizona Department of Water Resources, Maricopa County, the cities of Avondale, Buckeye, El Mirage, Goodyear, Litchfield Park, Peoria, Phoenix, and Surprise, Luke Air Force Base, members of the General Plan Steering Committee, City of Glendale Interested Parties List, City of Glendale Homeowners Associations and Registered Neighborhoods, and Matrix Design Group. The state agencies, surrounding jurisdictions, and Luke Air Force Base are required to be notified in this manner by state law. Planning received a response in support concerning the request from the firm of Withey Morris. The Citizen Participation Final Report is attached.
Staff was assisted by the General Plan Steering Committee. The Steering Committee is an advisory body of citizens appointed by City Council to guide development of the General Plan. The Steering Committee held 13 meetings since May 2014.
Other meetings with public involvement included a public workshop on March 25, 2015, and a second Public Workshop on March 14, 2016, presentations at the Cholla District Meeting on April 8, 2015, Cactus District Meeting on April 29, 2015, Sahuaro District Meeting on October 1, 2015, another Sahuaro District Meeting on March 24, 2016, and an Ocotillo District Meeting on March 30, 2016.
Several City Council Workshops were held where staff explained the General Plan Update to Council. An interactive project website www.glendale2040.com <http://www.glendale2040.com> was developed, and on that website the interactive map tool could be used. The Public Draft of the General Plan was available for review and comment from February 9 to April 9, 2016 and remains available at www.glendale2040.com <http://www.glendale2040.com>.
As this is considered a Major General Plan Amendment, two Planning Commission meetings will be held. A Planning Commission public hearing will be held on April 23, 2016 to accept comments. No action will be required at that meeting. A Planning Commission public hearing will also be held on April 25, 2016. The Planning Commission will make a recommendation at their April 25 meeting with the results being presented to City Council on April 26, 2016. It is anticipated that the new General Plan will be referred to the voters for their consideration at the Primary Election, to be held on Tuesday, August 30, 2016.