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5 - Update on the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (BVCP) C I T Y O F B O U L D E R TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD AGENDA ITEM MEETING DATE: December 13, 2004 AGENDA TITLE: Update on the 2005 Major Update to the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan PRESENTERS: Tracy Winfree, Director of Public Works for Transportation Ruth McHeyser, Long Range Planning Manager Louise Grauer, Planner EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The purpose of this memorandum is to provide TAB an update on what has occurred to date on the major update to the Comp Plan, and focus in on a few key areas of interest: the Transit Village Environs Area Plan, the city structure maps, and the public process and opportunities for input. We are at the end of the first phase of the Comprehensive Plan Major 2005 Update involving the key areas of focus for the update. This has included public outreach on the history of the Comprehensive Plan and its role in shaping the community and input on emerging issues that might need to be addressed in this comprehensive plan update (i.e., the Planning 201 sessions and a public meeting on September 13). Based on this input and a joint study session with Planning Board and City Council on July 27, five areas of policy focus and two areas of land use focus were identified for this update. Planning Board and City Council endorsed these areas of focus at their meetings on October 14 and November 9 respectively. The focus areas are: Policy Areas: 1.Economic Prosperity 2.Social Equity and Diversity 3.Environmental Sustainability 4.Urban design 5.Regionalism Land Use Areas: 1.Transit Village Environs Area Plan 2.CU South Land Use Suitability Analysis AGENDA ITEM ___5___PAGE NO. ___1___ In addition to these focus areas, we have always envisioned that the transportation policy direction from the recently completed Transportation Master Plan (TMP) be incorporated into the Comp Plan in the policy section. Other parts of the TMP may also be incorporated into the Comp Plan. Staff has received 25 requests from the public for changes to the plan. On December 2, Planning Board and City Council will hold a public hearing regarding which of the public requests should go forward for further consideration. Staff will also prepare a briefing paper on the topic of service provision and on Comp Plan amendment procedures. Service provision will include an evaluation of the plan’s service provision policies and the Urban Service Standards and Criteria section. The paper on amendment procedures will review the current procedures and identify potential areas for change including four-body review, the process for service area expansions, and the public request process. These papers will initially be a staff effort, followed by public review and input during the public workshops. Before we move into the second phase of the update process, it is important to understand what the future would look like under the current comprehensive plan. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the following three items with the board: 1.The future under the current Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan Staff has prepared information on: Existing and projected future employment and population Overall city structure and urban form today and in the future under the comprehensive plan, and how that translates into the areas of the community that can be expected to change the most in the future in comparison with areas that can be expected to remain relatively stable. 2.The Transit Village Environs Area Plan One of the land use focus areas identified for this update is an Area Plan for the area surrounding the Boulder Transit Village (BTV.) The work plan and goals and objectives revised at the November 18 Planning Board meeting are included. 3.The Public Process for the Major Update Included is a draft public process proposal. A working group of two city council members and two planning board members have had an initial discussion, and an interdepartmental staff group has provided additional feedback. . THE FUTURE UNDER THE CURRENT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN A. Employment and Population Estimates and Projections Planning staff has updated the city’s employment and population projections for the major update. The projections are based on the current comprehensive plan and zoning and are summarized on the chart below. AGENDA ITEM ___5___PAGE NO. ___2___ Draft 2004 Population and Employment Estimates and Projections for Areas I & II Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan 2005 Major Update Existing*BVCPProjected Realistic (Jan. 2004) Estimate to 2030 Buildout +12,900 +12,900 Population 111,500 (124,400) (124,400) +24,400 +70,900 Jobs 101,100 (125,500) (172,000) Jobs to Population.91 1.01 1.38 Ratio +6050 +6050 Dwelling Units 48,850 (54,900) (54,900) *based on DRCOG 2004 estimates The projections have been updated to reflect a 2030 and “realistic buildout” for both population and employment. The 2030 projection corresponds to the timeframe used by the Denver Regional Council of Government’s (DRCOG) projections for the region. “Realistic buildout” is based on the likely amount of development under current regulations. It does not assume that all properties develop to 100 percent of their maximum zoning capacity, but rather a likely maximum. . City Structure and Urban Form B The Comp Plan defines and describes in text and a map, the four elements of the city’s overall structure: Natural setting and open space 1. defines Boulder’s shape and size The Mobility grid 2. defines important intersections and corridors Activity centers 3. define areas of high activity and intensity. This includes the three regional centers: the historic downtown, the Boulder Valley Regional Center and the University of Colorado with the University Hill commercial area. Subcommunity and neighborhood centers form a second tier of centers that focus retail and service activities at locations that are easily accessible to surrounding neighborhoods. Special character areas 4. define the quality of Boulder’s centers and residential neighborhoods. Each of these areas-- residential, commercial centers, and industrial areas-- have unique qualities that are to be preserved and enhanced. (See pages 13 and 14 of the Comp Plan and Map 2). The diagram and description do not include the nodes of higher residential densities that are located along the multi-modal thth corridors, including Broadway, Pearl, Arapahoe, and the 28 and 30 Street corridor. AGENDA ITEM ___5___PAGE NO. ___3___ Staff has drafted revised city structure/ urban form maps with this additional layer of Attachment A information (see ). Included are three draft maps: a) City structure/ urban form today; b) City structure under the comprehensive plan at 2030; and c) Locations of the areas anticipated for change in the future. Areas of Change: Areas where significant change in character, density and/or use is anticipated along with significant future population or employment growth. Areas of change often result from city actions to actively shape future redevelopment, either through regulatory changes or investment. The following areas have been identified as areas of change. Additional detail on each of Attachment B. these areas is in 1.North Broadway 2.Downtown thth 3.28 & 30 Street Corridor/ Transit Village Environs 4.28 Street Frontage Road/ Williams Village 5.McKenzie Junction at Foothills Pkwy and the Diagonal 6.Pearl Parkway/ Valmont City Park/ City Yards rd 7.63 Street Recycle Row 8.Gunbarrel Community Center 9.University of Colorado: Research Park, CU South, and Grandview Terrace WORK PLAN FOR THE TRANSIT VILLAGE ENVIRONS AREA PLAN Introduction and Context The city initiated a site selection process in 2002 to determine the best location for a transit village to include a regional transit station, high density housing, and supporting retail services— in close proximity to the existing rail lines-- to accommodate future rail service between Boulder and Denver. The process analyzed four sites, one in each of the 4 quadrants of the intersection of the rail lines and Pearl Street. The best location, based on a number of criteria, was determined to be the northwest quadrant of the rail lines at Pearl Street, or the Pollard site, an 11 acre site on th the northeast corner of Pearl and 30 Street. The transit station will include local and regional buses and potential future commuter rail to th Denver. The new transit service will provide high frequency transit service in the 30 Street corridor. The Goose Creek bikeway is immediately adjacent to the site. Housing will be an important component, and was specifically called out in Resolution 922. The city has always envisioned transit oriented development surrounding the transit village—in an approximate half mile or walking distance of the transit station. AGENDA ITEM ___5___PAGE NO. ___4___ The city has purchased the property, the major update to the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan) is beginning, and the time is right to develop an area plan for the transit village environs which in turn would give rise to potential land use designation and transportation connection changes in the area and potential design guidelines and zoning changes. Purpose Area and subcommunity plans serve as a basis for future land use decisions, for reviewing and approving development projects, for ensuring desirable transportation connections, urban design character, public improvements, and public facility locations. An area plan for the transit village environs will provide a common understanding between the city, property owners and citizens on the future of this area. Objectives As the work of the area plan progresses, a set of goals and objectives should guide the work. The study area around the transit village is unique since it is within a half-mile radius, or walking th distance of the future transit station. The area is bounded by Valmont to the north, 28 Street to the west, Walnut Street to the south and Foothills Highway to the east. In addition, an analysis of land use and transportation connections was conducted in conjunction with the review and rd analysis of the 33 and Arapahoe project, for the area south of the transit village study area, th from Walnut on the north, 30 Street to the west, Arapahoe to the south, and Foothills Parkway rd to the east. If the 33 & Arapahoe site review is approved, this area will be incorporated into the overall transit village environs study area, and if not, it will not be included. (See map Attachment C ). We have identified the following draft goals for the area plan: 1.Location efficiency: the conscious placement of homes and places of employment in proximity to future commuter rail and bus rapid transit service, and local and regional transit 2.Rich mix of choices: a mix of land use and mobility options that expand opportunities for households of different incomes, different demographics, and people of different abilities. 3.Value capture: for Boulder, increased revenues from increased sales and property values; for residents, employers and employees, reduced transportation expenditures and increased convenience; for RTD increased fare box revenues 4.Connections to the natural environment: future development should reflect environmental sustainability 5.Place-making: creation of a well-used and well-loved place of enduring value that reflects Boulder’ s personality and respects existing neighborhoods An area plan should be developed which addresses all of the following objectives: The Area Plan should support all existing planning efforts and adopted plans The Area Plan should include: AGENDA ITEM ___5___PAGE NO. ___5___ 1.Active walkable streets 2.Adequate city services available to both the residents and employees 3.Multiple housing choices of different types and income ranges 4.Multiple choices for places of employment, for different types of business spaces and different price ranges. th 5.Good access within the area, and to and from adjacent areas including 29 Street, the th , adjacent neighborhoods 28 Street shopping street, the Downtown, Goose Creek bikeway / Valmont Park, and the future neighborhood park 6.Multiple transportation options to provide alternatives to the auto and parking requirements 7.Analysis of traffic congestion 8.Analysis of existing environmentally hazardous elements and proposed remediation 9.The identification and preservation of special character 10.The availability of neighborhood-serving retail uses 11.Analysis of flooding and storm water issues 12.Analysis of building intensity and concentration: intensity relates to development on individual sties, while concentration relates to the cumulative activity in the “transit zone”. Regulating for intensity and concentration that support transit productivity is a specific objective that will require some additional research and discussion. 13.Usable functional public spaces that have plenty of sun Outcomes/Tasks 1.Create a land use and urban design plan a. Develop several land use sketch plans based on community-wide planning principles; investigate alternative approaches for the urban design plan i.e. visual preference survey, urban design criteria, use of a framework plan (see above) b. Identify locations for public facilities, with emphasis on a park c. Ensure that the land use alternatives are consistent with population and employment projections . dInclude development criteria for open space to ensure adequate functional open space is included in all residential projects. 2.Create a circulation plan, for bikes, pedestrians, auto, and transit. 3.Create an implementation plan including funding and the process for changes to the land use map, design guidelines, the Transportation Master Plan, zoning regulations, and possible grants or outside funding sources. PUBLIC PROCESS Attachment D A flow chart showing the overall public process for the update is included in . Although each of the key components of the update (public requests, policy changes, Transit Center Environs Plan, CU-South, and Process Changes) has its own work plan, the chart shows AGENDA ITEM ___5___PAGE NO. ___6___ the phases of the update and key stages of public input, policy direction, and decision. Staff is working with the Planning Board/City Council working group to refine the public involvement plan. In Phase 1, a major public outreach effort occurred through the Planning 201 sessions and the September 13 community meeting. We are now at the beginning of Phase 2, where efforts will focus on working with “partners” to prepare background information and briefing papers in each of the key policy and land use areas. Although Transportation is not one of the five focus areas, since policy direction was determined during the TMP, TAB will be partner as the transportation policy direction gets incorporated into the Comp Plan. Phase 3 will be the key stage of broad public outreach and input, focusing on a public workshop in February. Questions at the public workshop include: Ask the community: What policy and other text changes are needed? What is the vision for the Transit Village Environs Area? What areas need to be addressed in a land use suitability study for CU-South? Approved By: ___________________________ Tracy Winfree, Director of Public Works for Transportation ATTACHMENTS: A. City Structure Maps A1, A2, A3 B. Description of the Areas of Change C. Transit Village Map and Planning Process D. Public Process AGENDA ITEM ___5___PAGE NO. ___7___ ATTACHMENT A1 ATTACHMENT A2 ATTACHMENT A3 ATTACHMENT B Description of Areas of Change 1.North Broadway: The areas along North Broadway, shown on the North Boulder subcommunity Plan (NoBo Plan) as the North Boulder Village Center, industrial and mixed use areas. This area is currently being redeveloped based on the NoBo plan, and is undergoing changes in use and character. Population and employment growth is anticipated. 2.Downtown: The downtown includes the commercial areas generally from Spruce Street thth on the north, Canyon on the south, from 9 to 16 street, although in spots is expands to th South to Arapahoe and east to 17 street. The historic district is not expected to change in character, although additional residential can occur in the future. ththth 3.28 & 30 Street Corridor/ Transit Village Environs: The 29 Street project is underway and its redevelopment will result in significant changes in character, and in the transportation network. The city has purchased the Boulder Transit Village site from the Pollard family, and planning and development is expected to occur over the next several years, reflecting significant changes in use and character as well as additional residential density. As a result of the city and RTD investment in the transit village, an area plan for the environs within generally a half mile of the transit village is anticipated which will result in a land use and transportation connections plan for the area. Ti is anticipated that changes in both use and character, with increased population and employment density occurring over time. th Other redevelopment may be expected to occur as a result of the 29 Street project and additional land use changes to mixed use business land use that were approved in the 2000 Update to the Comp Plan within this corridor.2 th 4.28 Street Frontage Road/ Williams Village: As part of the 2000 major update to the th Comp plan, the areas along the 28 Street Frontage Road from Colorado to Aurora had a land use change from transitional business to high density residential uses, in part because of its adjacency to the University of Colorado main campus. The Williams th Village shopping center site at the southwest corner of Baseline and 30 Street received a land use designation change to mixed use business from community business. This mixed use area is adjacent to the University’s property where new residential units have been built and where additional housing may be planned for the future. 5.Gateway Parcel: This is one of the few vacant parcels of this size in the city. While various proposals have been reviewed by the city, there is no current development application for the property. 6.Pearl Parkway// Valmont Park/ City Yards: The city is in the process of revising the th master plan for the city yards property, along Pearl east of 49 Street. The yards may be reconfigured, and the park will be redeveloped in the future. As a result of these future city actions, additional changes may occur in the area between New Pearl Parkway and th Old Pearl, east and west of 49 Street. rdthrd 7.63 Street Recycle Row: The area along Arapahoe from about 55 to 63 Street contains a number of small under-developed industrially-zoned parcels, most are in the city, but several of which are in Area II, and are County enclaves. The area north of Arapahoe rd west of 63 Street contains a number of large parcels that are expected to add industrial/ waste recycling uses. Parcels include Western Disposal’s site (in Area I), the Brickyards and Resource 2000 (in Area II). The Valmont Butte site (owned by the city, in Area III) is immediately adjacent to the area, on the east. 8.Gunbarrel Community Center: A public process to develop an area plan for the community center areas of Gunbarrel ahs been completed and approved by the city. New mixed use development as well as redevelopment in some areas is expected, with both changes in use and character of this area, along with population and employment growth. 9.CU: CU has indicated some changes in their master plan regarding their Research Park, the South Campus, and the Grandview Terrace area. Final plans have not been completed, but it is anticipated that changes in character and use will occur in these area as well as additional employment growth. ATTACHMENT C Planning Process for the Transit Village Area Plan Planning Process Phase I. Opportunities & Constraints What Data gathering Issue identification Discussion / agreement on objectives Who Identify stakeholders: property owners, University of Colorado, students from a planning class, RTD, Urban Land Institute (ULI), Downtown and BVRC interests, citizens, city and county staff: current and long range planning, transportation, parks, economic vitality. When October – December Phase II. Land use and transportation alternatives; urban design concepts What Several charrettes with key stakeholders to identify land use, transportation, and urban design alternatives Who Stakeholders identified above, ULI expert panel, other consultants if grant request is successful When January – March Phase III. Public review and land use, transportation, and urban design alternative recommendations; When April - May Phase IV. Adoption hearings When June - July Phase V. Implementation Plan When August – September