Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 12-11-2007 workshop FWNS — reading text

EAR); and discuss other possible amendments to the Comprehensive Plan CDS Director) c WA- 2 Agenda Item Number: c  CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA MEMORANDUM DATE: November 16, 2007 TO: Joyce Shanahan, City Manag:~,. er . rl. V" - THROUGH: Missy McKim, CDS Direct~ nr FROM: Samantha Abell, Senior Planne~ SUBJECT: Presentation of possible Major Issues to be considered in the City' s E.A.R. THE REQUEST: The City of Fort Walt9n Beach is undergoing a audit to evaluate the successes and self.. shortcomings of the comprehensive plan. This Evaluation and Appraisal Report ( EAR), last performed in .1999, will become the basis for amending the Comprehensive Plan in 2008. BACKGROUND: c The process for the EAR requires that first city staff identify major issues to be included in the plan. Next, an intergovernmental meeting is held to agree on these issues, or modify these issues. The local government then prepares a final list of issues to be included in the EAR. Where we' re at now The City began soliciting public input in April 2007 for the EAR. The municipal planning board. has heard the Major Issues drafted by staff, and an interdepartmental meeting for further input will be held next week on November 20, 2007. MP1;3 has recommended a joint workshop in order for City Council to agree on a final list of issues. Post workshop, CDS staff will send the list of major issUes to the Department of Community Affairs with a request for a letter of understanding expressing DCA's agreement with the topics selected. Receiving this letter of ' Understanding from the Department will help avoid any misunderstandings when the Department reviews the adopted EAR for sufficiency. DISCUSSION: There are several important steps leading to adoption and subsequent review by DCA of the EAR for sufficiency ( see attached EAR flow chart). For the next three months, CDS timeline will be the following: After receiving a Letter of Underst~ nding with DCA, CDS will complete EAR draft while simultaneously continuing the public input process. The MPB must hold at least one public meeting on the draft EAR before making a recommendation to City Council. MPB makes a motion for CDS staff to send EAR to DCA for comments no later than 90 days before the scheduled due date (this will occur early February).  City Council holds a public hearing for adoption of the EAR by resolution or ordinance. C At this public hearing, the council will consider the proposed received EAR, from as revised, DCA. based on comments at the MPB hearing as well as comments The EAR may be adopted no earlier than 90 days prior to the scheduled adoption date of May 8, 2008. RECOMMENDATION: For a joint city councillMPB workshop on December 11, 2007 in order to hear a brief presentation in consideration of EAR Major Issues. Attachment: Presentation handout of major issues. The EAR process flowchart  EVALUATION AND APPRAISAL REPORT ( EAR) DIRECTIONS THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH: 2008 Major Issues The Florida Statutes, Section 163. 3191 require the City to define and address " major issues" as part of its Evaluation and Appraisal Report. A major issue is: Not defined by the State Detertnined locally A narrowly defined matter of concern to the existing and future development of the local community The Florida Statutes require that issues be determined with the assistance of other state and local agencies, the public and the elected officials. F or Example: Transportation" in general is not an issue. Congestion on a certain road segment could be an issue. Possible Major Issues to be Considered in the City' s E.A.R. Staff has identified these issues as possible major issues that should be considered during the evaluation of the Fort Walton Beach Comprehensive Plan. These issues are becoming better defined as a result of from the staff, input public, city department heads, the Municipal Planning Board, and City Council. Major Issue 1. Growth and Development have taken new directions not forecasted in the original plan. Sub- Issue Reflect the newly- adopted CRA Plan within Comp Plan. Shoreline Protection Zone. Consider developing a Marina Siting Plan to allow certain nonresidential land use in environmentally sensitive areas. Ensure that anticipated build- out population has sufficient services when needed.  Major Issue 2. The impact of current development trends, market demand and high property values have created a shortage of workforce housing. Sub- Issue Provision and management of workforce housing in or near multitnodal, tn1."'{ ed- use land areas ( such as downtown). Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Aging housing and gentrification. Limited vacant lands for redevelopment. Major Issue 3. A city-wide traffic study and multimodal transportation plan are needed to develop a consensus on city transportation policies. Sub- Issue Through- traffic and cut-through traffic. Citizens who do not live or work in the city burden local roadways. Interconnect schools, parks and community facilities with sidewalks and hike lanes, as recommended in city adopted plans. Status of the Transportation Concurrency Exception Area (TCEA) downtown. Look for opportunities throughout the city for Transportation Concurrency Management Areas (fCMA), a system to better manage traffic calculations for infill development areas. The major issues identified in the adopted E.A.R. document will be addressed in a revised comprehensive plan that is required to be adopted in 2008. Members of the public are invited to share their thoughts on the major issues facing the City at this time. c