Title
Discussion and Proposed Scope for Neighborhood Center Work Item
Report
Issue:
The Planning Commission has review of Neighborhood Center regulations on their Work Plan for this year. Tonight's discussion is about the public process timeline and preliminary scope of work.
Staff Contact:
Amy Buckler, Associate Planner, 360-570-5847, abuckler@ci.olympia.wa.us
Presenter(s):
Amy Buckler
Michelle Sadlier, Associate Planner, 360-753-8031, msadlier@ci.olympia.wa.us
Background and Analysis:
Neighborhood Centers are small walk and transit-friendly business clusters within residential neighborhoods that serve the day-to-day retail and service needs of local residents and foster community interaction.
Comprehensive Plan Update Goal GL21: Neighborhood Centers are the focal point of neighborhoods and villages (See related policies in Attachment 3)
The City has had a policy of encouraging the development of neighborhood centers for over 20 years, but these have not developed as described in the Plan. This is a problem because Olympians say they want small-scale business destinations in neighborhoods. Residents across the city have consistently expressed desire for "a place like the San Francisco Street Bakery" close to their home. Also, convenience destinations within a 20-minute walk or a quick transit ride from home are essential to achieving community-wide goals to reduce our environmental impact and carbon footprint, improve human health, and foster healthy and resilient neighborhoods.
During their 2013 Retreat, the Olympia Planning Commission toured the 17 Neighborhood Center areas identified on the Future Land Use map.
Afterwards, they discussed potential reasons why development of these centers may not be occurring as envisioned. As a result, the Commission placed a review of potential barriers, possibly including certain regulations, on their work plan. Tonight's discussion is about the preliminary scope of work and public proc...
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