Soldotna Comprehensive Plan Update

1
Soldotna Comprehensive Plan Update

• Staff Presentation August 13, 2008
• to the Soldotna City Council

2
The Plan What is it?

• the physical manifestation of putting down on
  paper, the hopes, dreams and goals a community
  holds for itself.
• -Michael Chandler
• a guide to be considered by city and borough
  officials when making decisions concerning growth
  and development in the community.
• A statement of where we are, where we want to go,
  and how to get there.

3
Why Plan?

• Prioritize Important Concerns
• Create a Vision
• Protect Valuable Resources
• Orderly and Predictable Development

4
Basic Components

• Past, present, and future
• Development trends
• Socioeconomic data
• Existing land use and vacant parcels
• Forecast growth and need for services

5
Basic Components

• Chapters organized around
• Natural Environment
• Economic Development
• Transportation
• Recreation
• Community facilities
• Land Use

6
Basic Components

• Vision Statement (1995 Plan)
• Soldotna Where the Kenai River flows through a
  vital community which provides a safe, friendly
  home. We are a community where citizens take
  pride and responsibility for their extraordinary
  quality of life, visitors feel welcome and aspire
  to return. Citizens express their historic
  values through attractive, unique architecture
  and landscaping. The river is nurtured and, in
  return, is the heart of healthy, compelling
  surroundings. The community is noted as a highly
  prized location.

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Basic Components

• Goals and objectives
• Example from Anchorage 2020
• Economic Viability. A built environment based
  on design standards that sustain long-term
  economic viability and growth and that promote
  affordable residential, commercial, and
  industrial development.

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Basic Components

• Implementation Strategies
• Specific how-to recommendations to implement
  the Plans goals and vision.
• Example If the Goal was to Beautify Highway
  CorridorsStrategies could include
• Landscaping Standards
• Collaborate w/ the DOTPF to enhance ROW
• Incentive program to local businesses

9
The Plan How is it Used?

• Guide policy decisions (zoning ordinances)
• Evaluate individual land use applications
  (rezone, conditional use permit, variance)
• Capital Improvement Programs
• Information and education
• Incentives and disincentives

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Updating the Plan

• Soldotna Municipal Code
• New Issues facing our community
• Same challenges
• Get the Communitys Input and Guidance
• Create a document we can rely on, and use often!
• Should be evaluated and, if needed, updated every
  several years

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Key Stakeholders
Planning and Zoning Commission
PZ Staff and Administration
City Council
Private Consultant
THE PUBLIC
City Departments
City Boards and Commissions
Kenai Peninsula Borough
12
The Process
We Are HERE
City Staff And Admin.
Public Survey
Plan to Plan
Secure a Consultant
Develop A Vision
Goals Objectives
Public Hearing Draft
Gather and Analyze data
Identify PICs
Identify Stakeholders Public Presentations
Public Planning Work Sessions
13
Council Involvement Throughout

• Commitment to Communication
• Develop a Timeline, Involve and Inform
• Schedule Joint Work sessions
• Public Hearings

14
Plan Adoption

• Recommendation by
• PZ Commission
• City Council
• Borough Planning Commission
• Adopted by
• Borough Assembly

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Where are we, what comes next?

• RFP mailed out Aug. 1st to list of consultants
• Ad posted in Clarion Anchorage Daily News Aug.
  1st, 6th, and 10th.
• Deadline for responses Sept. 5th
• Interviews with finalists Sept. 15th 26th
• Signed contract and NTP by Oct. 3rd
• Depending on work plan, 1-2 year process with a
  target completion date of March 2010.

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Closing thoughts

• A new Comprehensive Plan will provide valuable,
  current data to inform our decisions
• 95 plan was good, but we want to take it further
• Public participation will be key
• Misperception that doing nothing will maintain
  the status-quo

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Questions?