HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007 04 23 Regular 600 Letter to DCA
CITY COMMISSION
& LOCAL PLANNING AGENCY
ITEM 600
Regular
April 23, 2007
Special Joint Meeting
REQUEST: The Community Development Department - Planning Division requests that the City
Commission and Local Planning Agency review, comment and affirm the list of major key planning
issues to be included in a Letter of Understanding with the Department of Community Affairs (DCA).
The Letter will request the DCA's agreement to the topics selected as their guide in reviewing
Winter Springs' Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) for sufficiency.
PURPOSE: To provide opportunity for the City Commission and Local Planning Agency to
finalize the list of issues that are to serve as the focus of the Winter Springs' 2008 EAR, prior to
transmittal to DCA. {so 163.3191(1)(c), F.S.}
APPLICABLE LAW AND PUBLIC POLICY
Florida Statute s. 163.3191 Evaluation and appraisal of the comprehensive plan.
Florida Statute 163.3174 (4) (related to responsibilities of the Local Planning Agency regarding
the comprehensive plan)
CHRONOLOGY:
Feb. 5.2007 - Joint City Commission / Local Planning Agency Workshop
Feb. 28,2007 - "Great Ideas for a Great City" Local Planning Agency Public Workshop
Mar. 15.2007 - InterAgency Scoping Meeting with state and regional agencies, and local
government jurisdictions
April 2007 - Transmittal of Letter of Understanding to DCA
BACKGROUND: The Evaluation and Appraisal Report functions as an audit of the
successes and shortcomings of the City's Comprehensive Plan and suggests how the plan should
be revised to better address community objectives, changing conditions, trends affecting the
community, and changes in state requirements. The identification of major planning issues sets
the stage for revisions to the City's Comprehensive Plan. By identifying local issues clearly and
April 23, 2007
Joint Meeting of the City Commission and Local Planning Agency
REGULAR AGENDA ITEM 600
specifically, the resulting document becomes a useful tool for the City and not just an exercise in
compliance.
The Letter of Understanding requests the Department of Community Affairs' agreement to the
topics selected, as their guide in reviewing Winter Springs' EAR for sufficiency. The Winter
Springs' 2008 EAR is due May 1,2008. City staff developed this list by holding various
workshops and meetings, to give opportunity for public participation {so 163.3191(2)(j), F.S.}
including:
. Local Planning Agency Scoping Meeting (Fall 2006);
. Joint City Commission and Local Planning Agency Workshop (Feb. 5,2007);
. "Great Ideas for a Great City" Public Workshop (Feb. 28,2007);
. Inter-Agency Scoping Meeting (Mar. 15,2007) with state and regional agencies, and
local government jurisdictions;
. Staff Review Meeting (Feb. & Mar. 2007); and
. Joint City Commission and Local Planning Agency Meeting (Apri123, 2007) to affirm
the list of issues, prior to transmittal to DCA.
In addition to the issues identified, the City will address the items required by Section
163.3191(2), Florida Statutes (F.S.), which are included on the attached List ofIssues.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
The Community Development Department - Planning Division requests that the City
Commission and Local Planning Agency affirm the list of major key planning issues to be
included in a Letter of Understanding with the Department of Community Affairs (DCA).
ATTACHMENTS:
EAR List of Issues
CITY COMMISSION / LOCAL PLANNING AGENCY ACTION:
- 2-
CITY Of WINTER Sf'RINGS
EVALUATION AND APPRAISAL REPORT
List of Issues
The following are the major issues identified by the City of Winter Springs {s. 163.3191 (2), F.S.}:
Greenway Interchange Employment District
The Greenway Interchange District (GID) was established as a land use category in the City's Comprehensive
Plan, to provide regional employment opportunities, an expanded tax base, and long-term economic stability
for the City (given its location and regional accessibility at the nexus of the Greeneway and S.R. 434).
Currendy, up to 25% of the GID can be developed in medium to high density residential use after a certain
percentage of the GID is developed.
· The City will explore the implications of removing the residential housing component of the GID;
· The City will review existing Winter Springs Comprehensive Plan (WSCP) Objectives and Policies to
see if they should be enhanced to direct development of valuable GID lands for targeted uses, to
ensure long term economic gain to Winter Springs;
· The City will explore the implications of developing the GID as a regional collaborative effort and
will evaluate existing WSCP objectives and policies to determine if new policies are needed.
.Elderly Housin~ So Medical Care
Most elderly wish to remain living independendy, even when they can no longer fully manage their household
affairs; however, they can only do so, if alternative housing options are available.
.
The City will evaluate the implications of Winter Springs' aging "boomer" population on housing
demand and services;
The City will explore various options to increase elderly housing and services, such as attracting an
Assisted Living Facility; allowing Accessory Dwelling Units to be constructed in single family zoning
districts with strict guidelines to protect the neighborhood character; attracting an Urgent Care
Facility; and/or requiring a certain percentage of townhouses and condominiums to conform to
"Communities for a Lifetime" standards; and
The City will assess Goals, Objectives and Policies of the WSCP to determine what actions or
corrective measures are needed to support the provision of identified elderly housing options and
services.
.
.
Affordable and W ork-f orce tjousing - (Work-force Housing is defmed as "Housing available for
working households that earn up to 140% of the Area Median Income")
To ensure community viability, the housing stock must include diverse, affordable, and accessible "for sale"
and "rental" units. The cost of housing has skyrocketed in recent years, while wages have remained relatively
flat. Only one out of three City employees resides in the City. Will families that cannot afford to purchase a
single family detached home, purchase townhomes, condominiums, or find available rental property ?
· The City will identify opportunities and methodologies and redevelopment initiatives to encourage
the provision of both affordable and work-force housing that do not jeopardize neighborhood
character. The City, due to growth in the last twenty years, is reaching "build-out", meaning that
there is litde vacant developable land remaining. Therefore, it will be crucial to consider innovative
options that do not diminish neighborhood character.
· The City will evaluate the effectiveness of existing WSCP Goals, Objectives, and Policies related to
affordable and work-force housing;
· The City will investigate funding sources, such as state and federal grants.
State R.oad 434 Corridor
S.R. 434 is a major arterial that passes through the City of Winter Springs. As population increases in Winter
Springs and the surrounding communities, S.R. 434 will become more congested. Winter Springs should
explore transportation alternatives and route alternatives to ensure that the LOS will not require widening to
six lanes. S.R. 434 passes through the Town Center, the City's concentrated mixed-use urban center
downtown. The Town Center is a pedestrian-oriented environment, but S.R. 434, with a posted speed of 50
mph, is hostile to the pedestrian.
. The City will review WSCP Objectives and Policies to determine how they can be enhanced to
ensure the timely provision of interconnecting roadways;
. The City will enhance WSCP Objectives and Policies to support regional transportation connectivity
and multimodal transportation;
. The City will explore the implications of designating it's Urban Central Business District (fown
Center) as a transportation Concurrency Management Area {so 163.3180(5), F.S.} and/or Urban
Infill area {so 163.2517, F.S.}.
. The City will enhance WSCP Objectives and Policies to support reduced speeds on S.R. 434, through
the Urban Central Business District (fown Center); and
. The City will continue negotiations with FDOT to retrofit this segment of the arterial into a roadway
with a character that is conducive to its context within the Town Center.
F opulation, Housing Densit!;j and Greenspace
In the past, the City experienced expansion of its land area through annexation of adjacent developing land.
In the 1970s the City more than doubled its land mass with the annexation of the Tuscawilla PUD. However,
since that time, the City has seen decreased expansion. During the last ten years, the City's land mass
increased by only 7%. With the implementation of an annexation boundary to the east along DeLeon Street,
future increases will be primarily through the annexation of enclaves.
Since Winter Springs will not be sprawling out, it will see more interest in infill development. The majority of
vacant land is in the Greeneway Interchange District or Town Center. The next 5-7 years will see the Town
Center develop into the vision portrayed in the original Master Plan as a concentrated, mixed-use center for
the City with parks, conservation areas and public facilities blended with commercial, office and residential
uses. Currently, the Comprehensive Plan allows a FAR of 2.0 and 36 dwelling units per acre in the Town
Center.
However, residents have expressed concern regarding the development of the remaining natural areas and
lands constrained environmentally will see more pressure for development. Residents have also expressed
concern over the density of new housing development; however, infill development typically is higher density.
Therefore:
.
The City will review WSCP Objectives and Policies to determine how they can be enhanced to
ensure greater protection of natural areas, wildlife, and green space; Incentives and policies will be
explored, such as the following:
o In exchange for obtaining additional (and significant) greenspace, Winter Springs may allow
multi-family residential units in commercially zoned areas;
o In exchange for obtaining additional (and significant) greenspace, Winter Springs may allow
building heights up to 6 stories in the Town Center.
o Limit development of new high density housing to the Town Center and the US 17-92 CRA
Corridor;
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Additional Issues to be Included for Compliance with State Regulations
{so 163.3191(2), Florida Statutes}
Schools
City Staff is in the process of fInalizing an Interlocal Agreement {s. 163.31777, F.S.} with the other
governments in Seminole County to address the coordination of future land use and residential development
with the capacity of existing and planned schools, establish consistent and appropriate population projections
with the School Board, and assist the School Board in planning and siting of new schools. This document is
expected to be adopted in May. The preparation of the Public School Facilities Element will follow and will
implement a school concurrency program according to the requirements of s. 163.3177(12), F.S. Adoption is
due December 1, 2008. {so 163.3177(12)(i), F.S.}
The EAR will subsequendy evaluate the success or failure of the coordination of the future land use map and
associated planned residential development with public schools and their capacities, as well as the joint
decision making processes engaged in by the local government and the school board in regard to establishing
appropriate population projections and the planning and siting of public school facilities. {s. 163.3191 (2)(k),
F.S.}
Water Supply ~
The City's Water Supply Plan 2007 and related Comprehensive Plan amendments are in the process of being
transmitted to DCA for review. Adoption is due August 7, 2007. The 2008 EAR will subsequendy evaluate
the City's success in identifying and implementing alternative and traditional water supply projects necessary
to meet its water supply needs, including conservation and reclaimed water use programs. {s. 163.3191 (2)(1),
F.S.}
Other
In addition to the Major Issues, the EAR will include a brief assessment of successes and shortcomings
related to each element of the plan using tables, illustrations, and maps, to the extent possible {s.
163.3191(2)(h), F.S.}.
The EAR will also update the comprehensive plan, with text, maps, illustrations, or other media, related to:
.
Population growth and changes in land area, including annexation, since the adoption of the original
plan or the most recent update amendments;
The extent of vacant and developable land;
The fmancial feasibility of implementing the comprehensive plan and of providing needed
infrastructure to achieve and maintain adopted level-of-service standards and sustain concurrency
management systems through the capital improvements element, as well as the ability to address
infrastructure backlogs and meet the demands of growth on public services and facilities; and
The location of existing development in relation to the location of development as anticipated in the
original plan, or in the plan as amended by the most recent evaluation and appraisal report update
amendments, such as within areas designated for urban growth.
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