saratoga springs, ny unified development ordinance€¦ · 15/10/2015 · common theme: “the...

Saratoga Springs UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE

Saratoga Springs, NYUNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE

Public Informational MeetingOctober 22, 2015 – City Hall


Thank you for joining us tonight.

WELCOME


Tonight

1. Introduce the UDO Project:

a) What the project is about

b) Goals and timeline

c) How to get involved


Tonight





2. Review the Comprehensive Plan recommendations


Tonight





2. Review the Comprehensive Plan recommendations

Take questions from the audience

Discuss next steps


Background

May 2013 – June 2015 The City embarked on an update to the Comprehensive Plan.


Background

May 2013 – June 2015 The City embarked on an update to the Comprehensive Plan.

19 months19 public meetings4 public workshops2-day open houseFocus group meetings


Background

June 2015 The City Council adopted the Comprehensive Plan.

Economic Strength Environmental Health

Transportation Community Character

Recommendations Covered:


Background


Common Theme:

“The overriding philosophy that will guide future development of our ‘City in the Country’ will be

sustainability.”


Background


Next Step: The city must now ensure that the zoning code and development regulations align with and support the vision and recommendations of that plan.

This plan is now official and guides future city planning.


Background

Grant Funding Knowing that this next step was required, the city applied for grant funding from NYSERDA’s “Cleaner, Greener Communities” program to update the local codes.

This program provides funding to help improve:

• energy efficiency / cost savings

• promotion of solar / renewable energy

• increased walkability / trails and bicycles


Project Team

Saratoga Springs, NY

Land-Use PlanningZoning & Design Guidelines

Fort Collins, CO

Sustainability ConsultingGrowth Management


Project Goals

1. Update codes to align with and support the recently adopted Comprehensive Plan.

2. Explore and implement sustainability measures which the city could adopt.

3. Compile and reformat the codes into one clear and easy-to-use document (Unified Development Ordinance).


What is a UDO?

A Unified Development Ordinance (UDO):

• Combines traditional zoning, subdivision regulations and development standards (design guidelines, stormwater management, street standards, etc.) into one, easy-to-read reference document.

• It is intended to eliminate redundant or conflicting code provisions, help to streamline the review and approval process and clarify the steps and requirements with clear illustrations and language.


What is a Unified Development Ordinance?

Compiled Codes

Remove Redundancies and Conflicts

Simplify Process


What is a Unified Development Ordinance?

Compiled Codes

Simple Layout

Clear Illustrations

Streamlined


A Framework for Project Review

Design the code to assist the reviewing boards in making informed decisions.

Guidance on the most important design considerations.


Example Sustainability Measures

Attract clean energy/technology business for economic development

Increased energy efficiency and cost savings

Promotion of solar/renewable energy

Improved stormwater management and water quality

Urban forest street trees and tree protection

Housing accessibility and affordability


Example Sustainability Measures

Code should aim to provide a mix of voluntary and required standards

Should provide flexibility of different options or incentives

Should focus on easy-to-implement measures that would provide cost-effective results


Task Description Target Date

1 Public Informational Meeting Tonight2 Analysis of Comp Plan and development codes Oct / Nov

Publish Zoning Diagnostic Report Nov 20th3 Public Workshop #1 Jan 2016

Publish Draft Code Outline Jan 2016Public Workshop #2 Feb 2016

4 50% Draft published Mar 20165 75% Draft published Apr 20166 95% Draft and Public Presentation Jun 20167 Planning Board / City Council Public Hearings Jul 20168 Adoption Aug 2016

Schedule


Where We Are Now

This project is just beginning, and we haven’t formed any decisions yet.

Still collecting information and beginning research.

It is a challenging task to update all of this information and reorganize it in a user-friendly format.


Published Updates

All reports, analysis and draft codes will be posted online for public review and comment.

www.saratogaspringsudo.com

[email protected]

Comments submitted to the team or received during

meetings will be collected and posted as well.


2015 Comprehensive PlanSummary of Recommendations


2015 Comprehensive Plan

Summary of Recommendations

Many recommendations are general in nature, and do not directly apply to development code updates.

Want to review the recommendations which are most applicable to the UDO.


Economic Strength

Maintain downtown as the core retail and commercial center of the city.

Encourage adaptive reuse of vacant buildings.

Encourage business growth in existing underutilized commercial areas.

Diverse economy with a mix of uses.

Supplement and support city code-enforcement in monitoring and informing property owners of needed code compliance actions.


Economic Strength

Encourage home-based businesses, in a manner consistent with the surrounding neighborhood.

Provide a clear process for developers regarding potential projects – provide a guidebook which defines the development process and schedule.

Encourage active and passive agricultural activities and agri-tourism, and the establishment of community gardens.


Environmental Health

Create a city that increasingly derives its energy needs from clean and renewable energy sources.

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Establish the city as healthy community to live and work.

Protect important open spaces and natural areas.

Provide links and access to open space and natural resources with trails.

Encourage the preservation of agricultural land.


Environmental Health

Adopt and enforce land use policies that reduce sprawl and maintain a compact, walkable urban community.

Create and preserve civic spaces within urban areas such as courtyards, gardens, plazas and pocket parks.

Pursue additional recreational trails where possible, and continue to implement the Greenbelt Trail.

Encourage restoration and expansion as an alternative to demolition.

Use green infrastructure techniques to manage stormwater and improve local water quality.


Transportation

Provide for all modes of transportation, including vehicles, freight, rail, pedestrians, bicyclists, transit and people with disabilities.

Encourage walking, bicycling and transit to reduce traffic and improve air quality.

Implement the Complete Streets policy.

Review regulations for inconsistencies for when and where sidewalks are required to avoid gaps.

Investigate potential for multi-modal transportation hub in the downtown area.


Transportation

Incentivize transit-oriented development.

Incentivize the inclusion of bus shelters, benches and other street amenities in close proximity to proposed development.

Investigate ways to finance public parking.


Community Character

Maintain and protect the “City in the Country” with a well defined urban core and an outlying area of rural character.

Maintain the greenbelt by restricting incompatible uses and the intensity of development.

Continue to prohibit Planned Unit Developments (PUDs) in the Conservation Development District.

Discourage destination type resorts that compete with the downtown core.

Identify priority gateways such as Route 50 and South Broadway and develop guidelines for their treatment.


Community Character

Create new landscape design guidelines that add safety, comfort and beauty while enhancing ecosystem.

Provide diverse housing opportunities for all economic levels throughout the city.

Maintain a city that values historic preservation and architectural quality.

Evaluate form-based zoning for achieving desired community character and a predictable review process.

Review and update historic districts and design guidelines.


The Comprehensive Plan outlined a long-term vision for future land use which can be worked towards in future years.

This land use vision provided a simplified view which consolidated many of the zoning districts into similar character areas.

We will be reviewing these ideas to see if it makes sense and is reasonable to consolidate and simplify some of the existing zoning districts.

Land Use Recommendations


Land Use Vision


Review and evaluate the zoning ordinance to ensure consistency with Comprehensive Plan recommendations.

Provide applicants with clear guidebook on the review and approval process which is streamlined.

Improve zoning with illustrations and photos of desired development.

Land Use Recommendations


Next Steps

Will be reviewing the Comprehensive Plan, zoning and other development standards over the next month.

Also will be conducting interviews with city staff, officials and stakeholder groups to identify problems in the code and areas of improvement.

Expect to be publishing a “Zoning Diagnostic Report” in late November.

Public workshops to discuss work in more detail scheduled for January, after the holidays.


Project Updates

Please visit the project website for regular updates, announcements and feel free to submit comments.


[email protected]

Can also sign up for emails here tonight to get important announcements or upcoming meeting

dates.


Your Thoughts

We have provided comment cards for you to write down thoughts on what is most important to you:

1. Comp Plan Implementation – priorities?

2. How to improve the development review process?

3. Priorities for improving sustainability?

4. Other thoughts and suggestions?


Questions / Comments?


[email protected]


Thank you.

112 Spring Street, Suite 305Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

151 South Main Street, Suite 200New City, NY 10956

www.behanplanning.com

saratoga springs, ny unified development ordinance€¦ · 15/10/2015 · common theme: “the...

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