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07-21-08 Release: Draft Downtown Plan Update available for review
July 21, 2008
Contact: Pat Dodds, Public Affairs Officer, 480-312-2336
Draft Downtown Plan is available for review and comment
The first formal draft of a new Downtown Plan – the first update since 1984 – is now available on the city’s Web site (click here). The document also is available at the Advance Planning Office, 7506 E. Indian School Road, and will be available at city libraries beginning next week.
See a 30-minute interview on the Draft Downtown Plan by clicking here. Or tune in to CityCable 11 at noon, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and Sundays through the end of August. Acting City Manager John Little and Advance Planning Director John Lusardi discuss the plan with Downtown Liaison Robin Meinhart.
The update generally follows themes set in the 1984 plan – encourage high quality revitalization and new development in the Downtown, while at the same time recognizing that the scale and design character of the specialty retail core, including Old Town and Marshall Way, should be preserved and provide Downtown with its unique identity.
See a 30-minute interview on the Draft Downtown Plan by clicking here. Or tune in to CityCable 11 at noon, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and Sundays through the end of August. Acting City Manager John Little and Advance Planning Director John Lusardi discuss the plan with Downtown Liaison Robin Meinhart.
However, at more than 90 pages, the draft plan lays out a much more extensive and detailed set of goals, compared to the original 17-page document. For example, it envisions much more emphasis on sustainability, shade and pedestrian walkways, more public open space, an expanded trolley system and better “edge transitions” between the Downtown and adjoining areas. The new plan also contains new chapters on history, urban design, expanded mobility, arts and culture, economic vitality and community involvement, as well as extensive illustrations that emphasize the aspirations of the future of the Downtown.
The draft 2008 plan proposes to continue the concept of development flexibility, as established in the 1984 plan. Requests for adjustments in height and density could be considered by the City Council in return for desired community benefits. The 2008 draft plan provides a much more detailed analysis of the types of benefits that could be considered. Such benefits might be new parks or open space, pedestrian improvements, neighborhood serving uses (such as supermarkets) or the provision of certain land uses like arts and cultural facilities.
The draft plan recommends general goals, not specific zoning measures or other regulations. It recommends overall policies that the city would implement later – after additional public and City Council review -- with changes to zoning codes, infrastructure plans and other project plans.
The draft plan is set to be reviewed in September by the Planning Commission. The commission will forward recommendations to the City Council, and the council will review the plan later this fall.
In the meantime, the draft is available for review by clicking here. The Web page includes a link to a comment form where residents can provide observations and feedback.
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