Title
Approval of Planning Commission Charter for Comprehensive Plan Update, and Request to Delay Consideration of Urban Agriculture and Other Work Plan Items to 2013
Issue:
On June 19, the City Council and Olympia Planning Commission (OPC) held a joint study session to discuss OPC's Charter for the Comprehensive Plan Update. This item is to formally approve that Charter, as well as provide clarity about timing for other work plan items.
Committee Recommendation:
The Land Use and Environment Committee recommends OPC defer review of Urban Agriculture Code Amendments to 2013.
The Planning Commission recommends approval of the Charter and requests clarity on expectations for other work plans items.
City Manager's Recommendation:
Move to Approve the Planning Commission Charter for the Comprehensive Plan Update and deferral of Urban Agriculture Code Amendments and other work plan items to 2013, as recommended by the Land Use and Environment Committee and the Olympia Planning Commission.
Staff Contact:
Amy Buckler, Associate Planner, 360.570.5847
Background and Analysis:
On July 6, the City will release the 'July Draft' (OPC Hearing Draft) of the Comprehensive Plan Update. OPC will hold their initial public hearings on July 23 and 25, and deliberate on their recommendation for the remainder of 2012.
The Council had requested a Charter to guide OPC's review of the Comprehensive Plan Update. The Charter outlines OPC's goals, public process, roles and responsibilities pertaining to their review process.
At the June 19 meeting, Council confirmed the Charter, and provided additional guidance. In summary:
· The April Draft of the Comprehensive Plan provides a good starting point for Planning Commission deliberations.
Stick to the Charter. It's a good reference point.
· The anticipated delivery date for the OPC recommendation is January 2013. Council would like things to stay on schedule. OPC should communicate with Council if they get stuck.
· The Leadership Team will report out the Land Use & Environment Committee each month. Councilmember Langer is the liaison to OPC. OPC is free to contact him at any time.
· OPC should involve other advisory boards in their review.
· Scope of OPC review is high level policy. The draft seems like it is in pretty good shape. Line-by-line changes and wordsmithing are not expected.
· A guideline for good Comprehensive Plan policies is they should flow naturally into development code language. If OPC gets to a place where the policy language isn't clear from a common sense perspective, then it makes sense for the language to be a point of discussion.
· OPC should involve neighborhoods, the Neighborhood Coalition, business associations, ODA, WOBA and EDC in their review.
· The April draft of the Comprehensive Plan presents the community and the Planning Commission with a strong foundation from which to build.
OPC also requested other work plan items, including Urban Agriculture Code Amendments, be deferred to 2013. The purpose is so they can devote their meeting time in 2012 to review of the Comprehensive Plan Update. On June 21, the Land Use and Environment Committee discussed the issue, and recommends deferring Urban Agriculture Code Amendments to 2013 for the same reason. Other work plan items are staff initiated, and staff recommends they be deferred. See attached 2012 OPC Work Plan.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
None Known
Options:
· Move to approve the OPC Charter, and defer OPC's review of Urban Agriculture Code Amendments and other work plan items to 2013.
· Move to approve the OPC Charter, and ask that OPC review Urban Agriculture Code Amendments (and/or other work plan items) in 2012.
Financial Impact:
Included in Base Budget.