Title
Public Hearing for Consideration of Adopting an Ordinance for the GSO2040 the New Comprehensive Plan
Body
Council Priorities: Create an Environment to Promote Economic Development Opportunities and Job Creation; Maintain Infrastructure and Provide Sustainable Growth Opportunities; Promote Public Safety & Reduce Crime; Exceptional Customer Service and a Diverse City Government Workforce; and Ensure Fiscal Stewardship, Transparency, & Accountability
Department: Planning
Council District: All
Public Hearing: Yes
Advertising Date/By: June 4 and June 11; City Clerk
Contact 1 and Phone: Sue Schwartz, 373-2149
Contact 2 and Phone: Russ Clegg, 373-2211
PURPOSE:
Staff is asking City Council to hold a public hearing and consider the adoption of GSO2040, Greensboro’s new comprehensive Plan.
BACKGROUND:
A comprehensive plan is a city’s long-term overarching guide to growth and development. The Plan creates a vision for what the City of Greensboro wants to be in 2040 based on the community’s aspirations, and is the roadmap to that future. The Plan’s polices will help guide decisions made by the public, appointed boards and commissions, City Council, development interests, City staff, and other agencies and partners.
The Plan can be accessed online at www.greensboro-nc.gov/PlanItGSO <http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/PlanItGSO>. The policies in GSO2040 are based on extensive research about the current state of the City, a review of trends likely to affect cities across the country, and extensive public input. The process included 160 opportunities for input, including traditional public meetings, a presence at existing community events, talks with a wide variety of civic and community organizations, and Speakers Series, and a strong online presence.
GSO2040 is composed of the following parts.
• Building the Vision
This section includes an overview of how to use the plan; links to and a summary of background research, data, and public input; a short Greensboro history; the Community Values that represent what our community holds to be important; and a Vision for what we want Greensboro to be in 2040.
• Six Big Ideas
The Plan’s policies are in Six Big Ideas: Filling in our Framework; Creating Great Places; Becoming Car Optional; Prioritizing Sustainability; Building Community Connections; and Growing Economic Competitiveness.
• Maps and Implementation
This part begins with maps that show current conditions, and lead to two Anticipated Growth Maps, which embody the Plan’s policies in two dimensions. This chapter includes a guide to using the plan to advise land use decisions including rezoning cases, and an overview of implementation.
The Planning Board held a public hearing and voted unanimously in support of adopting the Plan at their meeting on May 20.
BUDGET IMPACT:
There is no immediate impact to the budget associated with adopting the plan; implementation action steps that have new budget impacts will be assessed as individual items.
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
Staff recommends that City Council adopts the new comprehensive plan GSO2040.