What Can Planning do for My City

1
What Can Planning do for My City?

• Aron Kulhavy, AICP
• City Planner
• City of Huntsville

2
Reasons to Plan

• Ensure future is one citizens desire
• Coordinate decisions between interests
• Encourage public input
• Foundation for local codes and ordinances
• Prevent wasteful expenditures
• Protect property values
• Economic developments
• Promote sense of place

3
Not Reasons to Plan

• Leave the details to the implementers
• Produce immediate changes
• Plan is not a tool for regulation
• Patience!

4
Downtown

• Center of urbanized areas
• Economic core of cities
• Center of activity
• Business
• Government
• Social
• Inherent focus of community style

5
The Role of Planners

• 3 Cs of Planning
• Comprehensive
• Coordinating
• Continuing
• Difference in views of roles
• Key players in development of program
• Largely irrelevant?

6
Five Tools of Planning

• Land Use Controls
• Capital Improvements
• Tax Incentives
• Land Acquisition
• Persuasion

7
Downtown Master Plan Purposes

• Give direction for positive change
• Guidance for decisions
• Create a vision-impact of change over time
• Historic characteristics
• Outline time frame for implementation
• Communication document

8
Downtown Master Plan Charachteristics

• Physical development
• Future oriented
• Geographically inclusive
• Entire downtown area
• Relation of downtown to city as a whole

9
Downtown Master Plan Elements

• Land use analysis/designation
• Public improvements
• Transportation
• Circulation
• Vehicles/pedestrians

10
The Tale of Two Cities

• Nacogdoches
• 32,000 population
• Stephen F. Austin University-12,000 students
• Founded circa 1779
• Huntsville
• 38,000 population
• Sam Houston State University-16,000 students
• Founded 1835

11
Recent History of Planning

• Nacogdoches
• Comprehensive Plan Update adopted in 2003
• Included implementation strategies and identified
  priorities
• Huntsville
• Huntsville Horizon Plan adopted in 2007
• Included implementation strategies and identified
  priorities

12
Challenges orIssues and Opportunities

• Economic Development
• Public Health and Safety
• Quality Affordable Housing
• Image and Aesthetics
• Education and Culture
• Historic Resources
• Limited Tax Base
• Aging Infrastructure
• Need for Improved Regulations

13
Revitalizing Traditional Downtowns

• Huntsville
• Texas Main Street
• Arts Commission
• Historical Marker Program
• Courthouse/public buildings nearby
• Festivals/Events

• Nacogdoches
• Texas Main Street
• NHLPC
• National Historic Landmark
• City Hall/Court-house locations
• Festivals/Events

14
Nacogdoches

• Land Use Controls
• Zoning Ordinances
• Historic Landmark Preservation Committee
• Historic Demolitions
• Capital Improvements
• Tax Incentives
• Land Acquisition
• Persuasion

15
Nacogdoches

• Land Use Controls
• Capital Improvements
• City Hall
• Courthouse
• Underground utilities
• Streetscape
• Tax Incentives
• Land Acquisition
• Persuasion

16
Nacogdoches

• Land Use Controls
• Capital Improvements
• Tax Incentives
• Downtown tax abatement
• Enterprise zone designation
• Restoration grants
• Land Acquisition
• Persuasion

17
Nacogdoches

• Land Use Controls
• Capital Improvements
• Tax Incentives
• Land Acquisition
• Festival Plaza
• Parking
• Public Facilities
• Persuasion

18
Nacogdoches

• Land Use Controls
• Capital Improvements
• Tax Incentives
• Land Acquisition
• Persuasion
• Creation of historic districts
• Main Street/DBA
• Blue Hairs

19
Huntsville

• Land Use Controls
• Downtown Zoning
• Commission on the Arts
• Main Street Board
• Capital Improvements
• Tax Incentives
• Land Acquisition
• Persuasion

20
Huntsville

• Land Use Controls
• Capital Improvements
• Downtown Streetscape
• Sidewalks
• Tax Incentives
• Land Acquisition
• Persuasion

21
Huntsville

• Land Use Controls
• Capital Improvements
• Tax Incentives
• Sign Grant program
• Land Acquisition
• Persuasion

22
Huntsville

• Land Use Controls
• Capital Improvements
• Tax Incentives
• Land Acquisition
• Public Buildings
• Parking
• Persuasion

23
Huntsville

• Land Use Controls
• Capital Improvements
• Tax Incentives
• Land Acquisition
• Persuasion
• Private Reinvestment
• Main Street/Arts Commission

24
Small Town Style

• Nacogdoches Events
• Freedom Fest
• Red Dirt Roundup
• Scare on the Square
• Nine Flags
• Azalea Trail
• Multi-Cultural Fest
• Blueberry Festival

25
Small Town Style

• Huntsville Events
• Christmas Parade
• Airing of the Quilts
• Summer Film Festival
• Fair on the Square
• SHSU Homecoming

26

• Questions??