Title
Ordinance Amending the Growth Strategy Map of the Connections 2025 Comprehensive Plan
Body
Department: Planning
Council District: all
Public Hearing: April 7, 2015
Advertising Date March 26 and April 2, 2015/By: City Clerk
Contact 1 and Phone: Sue Schwartz, 373-2149
Contact 2 and Phone: Hanna Cockburn, 574-3576
PURPOSE:
City Council is requested to conduct a public hearing and consider adoption of the revised reinvestment corridors and areas that appear on the Growth Strategy Map (Figure 4-3) of the Connections 2025 Comprehensive Plan.
BACKGROUND:
The Growth Strategy Map represents the application of two fundamental principles of the Comprehensive Plan:
1) Promote infill development in urban areas in need of revitalization; and
2) Manage growth at the City's fringe in a sustainable manner through proper staging of annexation, development and infrastructure extensions.
These principles are represented by the reinvestment areas and corridors and the growth tiers that appear on the map. The Growth Strategy Map was last updated in September 2013 to reflect revisions to the Growth Tier boundaries. Reinvestment Areas are neighborhoods and districts that would most benefit from compatible infill development and other forms of reinvestment. Reinvestment Corridors encompass older commercial corridors that would benefit from coordinated public and private investments that enhance economic viability and support adjacent neighborhoods. The total area covered by these designations is currently 16.4 square miles.
The proposed amendment refines and expands the reinvestment corridors and areas boundary to better align with identified neighborhood boundaries and reflect adoption of the Central Gateway Corridor Plan in 2009; the amendment to the Downtown Reinvestment Area adopted in 2012; and a request to extend the designation along High Point Road south from the current terminus at Hilltop/Groometown Road following the alignment of future Gate City Boulevard. These proposed additions result in a net increase of 4.69 square miles. The proposed boundaries are highlighted in yellow on the attached map.
The Planning Board conducted a public hearing on March 18, 2015 regarding the proposed revision.
BUDGET IMPACT:
None.
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
Staff recommends adoption of the revised Growth Strategy Map of the Connections 2025 Comprehensive Plan.