title
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT - TRANSPORTATION MOBILITY ELEMENT (B)
ORDINANCE NO. 0-01-19; PETITION NO. 146CPA-00 PB
An ordinance of the City of Gainesville, Florida, amending the Transportation Mobility Element of the City of Gainesville 1991-2001 Comprehensive Plan; adding a goal and related objectives and policies to promote transportation choices, compact development, and a livable city; adding a goal and related objectives and policies to promote walking; adding a goal and related objectives and policies to promote an accessible and comfortable community transit system; adding a goal and related objectives and policies to promote bicycling; making minor amendments throughout; adding a goal and related objectives and policies to develop a trails network; adding goals and related objectives and policies to create livable streets that promote safety and quality of life and minimize single-occupant vehicle travel; adding a goal and related objectives and policies to promote accessibility to people with disabilities; making minor amendments throughout; providing directions to the city manager; stating intent to adopt the amended element as part of the City of Gainesville 2000-2010 Comprehensive Plan; providing a severability clause; providing a repealing clause; and providing an effective date.
recommendation
The City Commission adopt the proposed ordinance, as amended.
explanation
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT STAFF REPORT
On July 22, 2002 the City Commission reviewed revisions to the Transportation Mobility Element of the Comprehensive Plan and directed staff to schedule the adoption hearing for August 12, 2002.
The draft, updated Transportation Mobility Element was the subject of City Plan Board workshops on February 24 and April 27, 2000. In addition, staff has made presentations regarding this proposed element to the Citizens Advisory Committee of the Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization on May 24, 2000, to the Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Board on June 27 and September 26, 2000, and at community workshops on May 23, 2000 at the Millhopper Public Library, June 1, 2000 at Northeast Recreation Center, June 21, 2000 at Westside Park, and July 12, 2000 at the T.B. McPherson Recreation Center. The City Plan Board held a public hearing on the proposed updated Transportation Mobility Element on October 19, 2000 and recommended approval by a vote of 3:2. The City Commission held a public workshop on the Transportation Mobility Element on January 16, 2001.
The City Commission approved the ordinance adopting the updated Transportation Mobility Element on first reading on September 10, 2001. The updated element was transmitted on December 12, 2001 (following the December 10, 2001 hearing on the Conservation, Open Space and Groundwater Recharge Element) to the Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA) for review. The DCA issued the requested Objections, Recommendations and Comments (ORC) report on February 22, 2002. The ORC report contained no objections and no comments from the Florida Department of Community Affairs. In its review of the updated Transportation Mobility Element, the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council recommended to DCA that the City and MTPO planning staffs work together to review the number and locations of existing and proposed activity centers to insure consistency with the principals and concepts contained in the MTPO's Livable Community Reinvestment Plan (the year 2020 transportation plan for the Gainesville metropolitan area, approved by the Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization on December 14, 2000). The proposed updated Element is generally consistent with the Livable Communities Reinvestment Plan, but in response to the regional planning council's comment, City staff has met with MTPO and County staffs and with community leaders from other municipalities in Alachua County regarding the number and location of activity centers, and looks forward to also working with FDOT staff in developing recommendations.
CITY ATTORNEY MEMORANDUM
The State of Florida Department of Community Affairs issued a letter dated February 22, 2002, that offered no comments or objections to this element upon receipt of the letter, the City of Gainesville has 120 days in which to adopt, adopt with changes, or determine that the City will not adopt the proposed amendment. If the ordinance is adopted, the Plan amendment will not become effective until the State Department of Community Affairs issues a final order determining the adopted amendment to be in compliance in accordance with the Local Government Comprehensive Planning and Land Development Regulation Act, or until the Administration Commission (Governor and Cabinet) issues a final order determining the adopted amendment to be in compliance.