Title
Recommendations on Joint Planning between Alachua County and the City of Gainesville (B)
Explanation
At the January 26, 2001 joint meeting of the City Commission and the Alachua County Commission, the City Commission directed staff to make recommendations for joint area plans for the next two years and to recommend a process for advisory review of joint area plans and other issues of regional concern. County staff was similarly directed at the January meeting by the County Commission, and City and County staffs have worked together to develop the recommendations.
Two special area plans are recommended for FY 2001-2002, and one special area plan is recommended for FY 2002-2003. Special area plans (SAPs) for the East Gainesville Urban Area and for the Southwest 13th Street Corridor are recommended for the upcoming fiscal year. The East Gainesville Plan will require .5 full time equivalent of City of Gainesville planning staff, and will also require staff assistance from the Public Works Department including RTS. This SAP will require urban design consultant costs to be shared with Alachua County, and transportation consulting costs to be borne by the MTPO. The land use scope of this special area plan will focus on implementing the "Livable Community Investment Plan". The main objective of the plan will be to create an urban design and growth management plan, linking land use, transportation and environmental issues.
The special area (corridor) plan for the Southwest 13th Street Corridor, also recommended for the 2001-2002 fiscal year, will include land uses, building types, and landscape and signage requirements. This plan will require consultant costs to be shared with Alachua County, .5 full time equivalent of City planning staff and staff assistance from the Public Works Department including RTS.
The special area plan recommended for the following fiscal year, FY 2002-2003, is Southwest 20th Avenue. This SAP will implement the recommendations from the Southwest 20th Avenue Charrette. It will require 1 full time equivalent of City planning staff, staff assistance from the Public Works Department including RTS, and consulting costs to be shared with Alachua County.
The process that is recommended for advisory review of joint area plans and other issues of regional concern is as follows: combined meetings of and joint recommendations by City Plan Board/Alachua County Planning Commission; recommendations require a majority vote of each local planning agency; ex-officio representation by other entities as appropriate (e.g., School Board, University of Florida and other cities); and joint recommendations by City Plan Board/Alachua County Planning Commission to each governing body at a joint meeting of City and County Commissions.
The costs of needed consultants and the availability of staff resources throughout the planning period are major considerations. All of the special area plans will require consultant assistance with consultant costs to be shared with Alachua County.
Fiscal Note
No additional staff positions are recommended, but two planning staff full time equivalent will be needed, one for each fiscal year. Up to $300,000 in consultant costs to the City are anticipated.
Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) hear a brief presentation from staff; 2) approve staff recommendations for joint planning projects for FY 2001-2002 and FY 2002-2003; and 3) approve staff-recommended process for advisory review of joint planning projects.