Live Oak Comprehensive PlanComprehensive Plan Steering Committee

July 11, 2019

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Agenda

• Comments and Confirmation of the Community Snapshot

• Stakeholder Meeting Results

• Engaging the Community• Survey – Closes July 31st

• Community Event – July 18th at 6:00 p.m. at Hilton Garden Inn

• Meetings2Go

• Drafting Vision and Guiding Principles

• Preparation for Next Meeting: • Engagement Outcomes• Confirmation of Vision and Guiding Principles• Land Use, Population and Housing

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Community Snapshot

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Comments Received

• Clarifications on subdivision timing in early years of Live Oak

• We are confident Live Oak experienced a Census error in 2000 from undercount

• Clarify that the 2022 Plan was developed in 2002 and updated in 2011

• Pull in representative & relevant photography in final version

• Some general editing for improved readability (and a volunteer that wants to help!)

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The CPAC mentioned a general need to provide graphics and photography to break up the text. Members of the CPAC recommended a revised format with a “ragged right” format for readability, though this presents challenges for 2-sided printing. At a minimum, it may be beneficial to go to a single-column format to help with word spacing.

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Stakeholder Meeting Results

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Business and Economic Development

• Hospital expansion; medical practices selecting Live Oak due to growth in subregion

• Appeal of Live Oak is location-based: proximity, out of downtown congestion, close to where employees want to live

• Demographics and regional growth driving recent retail development, and they are exceeding their performance indicators

• General feeling that Live Oak has begun getting what folks have been asking for

• Regional congestion is risking quality of life, particularly I-35

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Several members of the CPAC were able to attend some or all of the stakeholder meetings. They described the meetings as being especially active and informative, and praised participants for being so open with their perspectives and issues.

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Business and Economic Development

• Missing elements• Medical and professional office

• Restaurants beyond the fast-casual format

• Early childhood care in proximity to Live Oak

• Higher-end single-family residential, townhouses and condos

• Higher-end senior living

• Alternative development types (mixed use, startup spaces)

• Millennial-friendly businesses – outdoor spaces and pet friendly

• General feeling that service businesses are lagging behind new expectations

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Business and Economic Development

• Transit• Hospital workers on lower end of wage scale experiencing challenges• Service & hospitality workers on lower end of wage scale experiencing challenges

• Business Environment• HUGE kudos to Live Oak’s business-friendly environment• Live Oak needs to be more shameless in talking about this

• Small Business Support & Local Identity• Small business programs are good but need to be advertised more• Potential need of small business mentoring• Need to get away from “sameness” of chains

• Newer businesses are linking brand to Live Oak, rather than San Antonio Metro

• Improved utilities west of I-35 is helping

• Corporate campus can work, but depends on broad pay scale; NW corner of interchange appealing

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”positive attitudes” “best in the region” “speedy reviews &

approvals”

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Institutional – Northeast Lakeview College

• 28% Summer and 16% Fall enrollment growth• Updated accreditations, new tuition programs• “Degree applicability,” which goes beyond simple transferability

• 80,000 s.f. STEM building breaking ground this Fall; TAMU partner

• Adding cyber security, network administration & logistics

• Added local job placement assistance

• 8-week online programs being added

• Moving towards advanced manufacturing due to market scan

• Advocacy Center for student food & housing insecurity• Affordable housing needed near campus

• Transit is a major issue for students; they have free fare and can’t use it• Interest in micro-mobility, such as bikeshare and scooters, as “last mile” access

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“Alamo Promise”

Provides “last dollar” scholarships in coordination with Bexar County to help break cycle of poverty through educational access –“Tuition should not be a barrier to betterment”

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Institutional – Judson ISD

• Crestview is one of their absolute best schools

• Facing challenges of facility reallocation• Aging facilities and logistics (pick-up queuing, etc.)• Enrollment

• Judson Early College is a shining star – graduates leave with an Associates Degree

• Enrollment decline• Charter schools, but prompted more by convenience than academic performance• People don’t leave Live Oak… when the kids grow-up, the parents stay

• Natatorium opportunity being discussed between ACCD and Judson ISD

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Institutional – Bexar County

• Strong interest in advanced manufacturing and cyber security for economic development and education• Toyota planning $400M expansion• Rackspace

• Bexar County is interested in prioritizing suburban cities from economic development perspective• Suburban Cities Coalition

• Need for job creation incentives

• Just happy to be at the table – based on the conversation they are interested in doing this with other cities

• VIA Board is changing, bringing new ideas and new opportunities

• Tremendous need regionally for technical trades – the labor pool is not keeping up with growth, especially the building trades

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Institutional – Randolph

• Recently added a Community Initiatives position• Recognition that JBSA facilities are no longer on the outskirts, and their role as

economic generators• Proactively address encroachment rather than historic pattern of reacting

• T-38 is being phased out for the T-7A; same size, but single engine• One of the busiest facilities, with 200,000+ operations annually• Live Oak is not an immediate concern, and has always been proactive with

Randolph communication/coordination• Drone training is nationally recognized, with potential for links with ACCD• JLUS/AICUZ

• 4 runways with three safety zones• Watch heights, antennas, cranes, etc. (IKEA a positive example of coordination)

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Transportation – TXDOT

• I-35• Elevated express lanes from 1103 to downtown• New express interchange at 1604

• Affects Pat Booker; ramps planned, but not yet funded• Possible consideration for Wurzbach in the future

• Nacogdoches, Schertz Parkway and 410 exit points• HOV component, to also accommodate bus rapid transit and autonomous• Design/Build, with late 2021 construction start• Opportunities for design themes, gateways

• 1604 – widening to 10 lanes from 4 lanes, includes HOV

• “Latent Demand”

• Would like to see consistency with adjacent cities (bike infrastructure, etc.)

• Appreciate being in development conversations early

• Remember street hierarchy – highways should not be local traffic

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Shin Oak, Pat Booker and Gateway/RBFCU are all structurally compatible

with pedestrian improvements

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Community and Cultural• LOCAP, LOLA, SOLO in attendance

• LOCAP particularly successful in fundraising, supporting key police purchases; observe & report function

• League of Arts relatively small, but offers annual juried show• Interest in expanding into arts education, promotion and public art• Origin from recreation programming

• Senior Citizens of Live Oak• Preventing seniors from isolating themselves; the health risk of loneliness • Walking groups, art, travel, carpooling, social outings, finding free/cheap activities

• Observations• All mentioned need for recreation programming coordinator• Parks serve as the community gathering places• “70% of my street has been here for 30+ years.” • Need a place for kids to get together and for seniors to get together• Transportation is an issue for people, especially “gap services”• Need safer pedestrian facilities, particularly medians and intersections for slower moving folks• Interest in housing choice

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Engaging the Community

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Online Survey

• Published on July 3rd

• Closes July 31st

• Positive feedback –135 participants so far• 2,563 issue ratings• Over 170

independent comments

• 223 markers on map

• Demographics generally aligning with Snapshot

• Early Themes:• Community facility desired• Recreation programs – seniors

and for all• Some park enhancements• Sidewalks• Improved food access• Nightlife• Traffic frustration• Auto-dependence• Improve park facilities/operations

rather than more open space• Dissatisfaction with building

design, walkability, biking• Happy with land use, parks

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Statistics are as of July 11, 2019.

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Community Event• July 18, 2019, from 6pm to 8pm

• Hilton Garden Inn

• Designed as a “come-and-go” open house• Tends to align with “busyness” observations and complex

personal/professional life schedules

• Allows for smaller discussion groups in which people are typically more comfortable

• Multiple stations around room addressing various topics, vision, goals, etc.

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Meetings2Go• Each of you has a “kit” to use to lead discussions with friends, neighbors

(or strangers, if you’re feeling bold)

• Contents• Flash drive with citizen presentation (if you need it), comprehensive plan 101

handout, visioning survey, and “take the survey” cards• 15 visioning survey packets• 1 hard copy of the “Meeting in a Box” citizen presentation• 20 “take the survey” cards• 20 Comprehensive Plan 101 Handouts

• Drop of the results off with Michael or Scott, and I’ll pick them up

• Don’t feel bad if you can’t or don’t want to do it – YOU’RE A VOLUNTEER AND ARE NOT OBLIGATED!!!

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Drafting Vision and Guiding Principles

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Vision StatementLive Oak is a city of endless opportunity, for start-up businesses, corporations and bright minded students looking for that next bit of knowledge to be successful, while having never lost sight of the small-town character and military roots that is prevalent throughout the community and in city governance—which attract businesses and individuals alike. Live Oak embraces growth, development and values the community’s interest regarding the environment, social inclusivity and economic prosperity by leveraging its prime location, community connectivity, attractive recreational spaces and diverse transportation options to become the next premiere city in Texas. The City of Live Oak believes in:

• Standing at the forefront of change to become a major regional player by developing new ideas and approaches for housing diversity, economic opportunities, and emerging trends in technology.

• Creating a unique sense of identity that residents and future generations can relate to.

• Making smart decisions to improve housing, neighborhoods, transportation, recreation, educational opportunities, development, public services and the local economy with the best interest of the community and future generations in mind.

In short, Live Oak is a “big little town” that is clean, family friendly, inclusive and metropolitan enough to stay up with the times, and exciting enough to keep folks here through every stage of life whether 8 months or 80 years. It is the envy of the region.

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This is a draft to get the

conversation started.

Completion of the public

engagement efforts will likely lead to changes. This gives people

something to react to at the

community event.

The CPAC indicated that the overall theme of the vision statement was accurate. The CPAC noted, however, a general need to improve conciseness and clarity. The complex sentence structure and length in the current version cause the vision statement to “bury the lead” on the key elements. The focus should be on readability for all users. The CPAC requested FNI look into means of graphic representation of the vision statement similar to an infographic, as such an approach could help draw attention to the most important elements.

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Guiding Principles• Create a unique and memorable experience that will

contribute to a unique City Identity and marketing brand• Encourage vibrant workplaces through placemaking initiatives to

incorporate public/gathering spaces in concentrated employment centers and public institutions

• Revaluate development standards to maximize development potential of redevelopment and infill opportunities

• Provide new growth opportunities by reimaging, repurposing, redeveloping and reusing underutilized areas, embracing the community’s potential

• Redevelop key opportunity sites that will propel new development concepts and uses

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This is a draft to get the

conversation started.

Completion of the public

engagement efforts will likely lead to changes. This gives people

something to react to at the

community event.

The CPAC observed stakeholder input along with early survey returns indicate Live Oak’s inclusive approach to partnerships and overall positive/helpful attitude appear to stand out amongst its peers, but do not appear in the Guiding Principles. The CPAC recommended emphasizing this either within the principles as presented, or as a standalone Guiding Principle. Given the regional nature of many issues facing Live Oak, partnerships will likely be critical to successful implementation.

The CPAC recommended some simplification of language, particularly words and phrases that function on the margins of urban planning jargon. Examples include “infill,” “placemaking,” and “edges and gateways.” This can also be supplemented by sidebars with useful explanatory information. In addition, two of the goals under transit were duplicative. Also, the transit guiding principle appears to contain far more than transit, and should be worded accordingly to be more descriptive & inclusive.

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Guiding Principles• Strengthen Neighborhood Livability through quality and

unique residential and nonresidential development• Strategically maximize land by providing housing opportunities for all

ages, fostering an environment for local commerce, introducing mixed use and promoting recreational uses

• Ensure that all residents living in Live Oak have safe and convenient access to jobs, housing and a variety of amenities that promote equity and a greater quality of life

• Balance residential and nonresidential uses to diversify the tax base so the city is fiscally sound for generations to come, providing diverse employment opportunities and diverse development types.

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This is a draft to get the

conversation started.

Completion of the public

engagement efforts will likely lead to changes. This gives people

something to react to at the

community event.

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Guiding Principles• Support Transit upgrades and redesign to improve local and

regional mobility.• Ensure a safe and efficient roadway network for current and future

needs

• Support an improved pedestrian and bicycle circulation system

• Connect neighborhoods through a pedestrian and bicycle system of streets, trails and other means

• Promote equity and access through varied and balanced transportation choices within the City

• Partner with regional transit authorities (VIA) to support alternative and regional transit options

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This is a draft to get the

conversation started.

Completion of the public

engagement efforts will likely lead to changes. This gives people

something to react to at the

community event.

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Guiding Principles• Improve the City’s edges and gateways to create recognizable

destination• Ensure Live Oak is distinguishable from adjacent communities through

purposeful placemaking initiatives that embrace the City’s unique qualities and reflect that values of the community

• Encourage identifiable features that enhances Live Oak’s visual appearance and quality

• Place an emphasis on business retention to strengthen existing businesses and attract new businesses that will help create a thriving local economy

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This is a draft to get the

conversation started.

Completion of the public

engagement efforts will likely lead to changes. This gives people

something to react to at the

community event.

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Next Steps: Engagement Outcomes Vision & Principles ConfirmationLand Use, Population and Housing

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