Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee Meeting - September 2, 2021

The Ledger

Meeting

Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee (CPAC) Meeting
Date: September 2, 2021
Location: Not stated in transcript
Type: Regular meeting / work session (as described in agenda items)

Source: https://fatetx.new.swagit.com/videos/136433

Call to Order

• The presiding officer welcomed attendees to the CPAC meeting.
• The secretary confirmed a quorum was present.

Public Comment

• The secretary reported no public comment forms had been received.
• No public comments were recorded in the transcript at that time.

Consent / Minutes

Item: Approval of minutes — City Council / Planning & Zoning Commission / CPAC joint work session (July 22, 2021)

• The chair asked for questions regarding the joint minutes.
• No questions were raised.
• A motion was made to approve the minutes.
• A second was made.
• Vote: Approved by voice vote (affirmative “I” votes; no “nay” recorded).

Work Session

Combined agenda items presented together:

• Project updates
• Draft plan review
• Implementation plan update
• Recommendation for approval
• Next steps: plan adoption and implementation boot camp

Project Update and Draft Plan Review

Presented by:

• City staff speaker (introduced Brennan Kane of Halff Associates; staff names referenced included Ryan, Justin, Michael, and Susie)
• Brennan Kane (Halff Associates project manager)
• Consultant team members referenced: Kendall Howard and Kelsey McNiss
• Additional consultant support referenced: Urban3 and Jason Claunch

Statements and information presented:

• Staff stated this was the sixth and final CPAC meeting in a year-long comprehensive plan process.
• Brennan Kane stated the project was in the adoption phase and outlined anticipated milestones:
  • CPAC meeting: September 2, 2021
  • Planning & Zoning Commission: September 16, 2021 (tentative)
  • City Council approval: October 11, 2021 (tentative)
  • Public summit / “implementation boot camp”: October 26, 2021 (time not set)
• The draft plan was described as organized into:
  • A policy manual (guiding document)
  • A strategic playbook (expanded priority strategies and case studies)
  • Appendices, including:
    • Community assessment
    • Engagement summary
    • Focus area plans for downtown and the FM 551 / I-30 interchange area (as described)

Planning components described in the draft plan:

• Vision, community input, value statements, goals
• Preferred scenario (referencing fiscal analysis work and Urban3 participation)
• Future land use map described as character-based with eight place types and rural/suburban/urban categories
• Place type descriptions, representative zoning references, and development policy considerations
• Integration with other planning efforts (parks/trails, thoroughfare plan, capital improvement planning)

Discussion

Market flexibility / density and scenario assumptions

• A speaker expressed concern about whether the preferred scenario would be “good enough” and noted potential acceleration of development expectations over time.
• Brennan Kane stated:
  • Two scenario concepts were used: “business as usual” and “Fate it Forward,” and a hybrid preferred scenario was identified.
  • The preferred scenario was described as a baseline, with potential for more intensive development proposals in some areas.
  • The scenario modeling considered existing residential entitlements and vacant parcels.
• A speaker asked whether the plan built enough flexibility for staff and council to respond to market changes and whether the plan provided support for approving denser proposals.
• Brennan Kane stated:
  • Character-based planning was described as providing flexibility.
  • The comprehensive plan was described as step one, with unified development ordinance updates as step two to reflect standards and flexibility.
  • A fiscal checklist and quality-of-life priorities were described as tools to guide tradeoffs in development decisions.

Microphone reminder

• The chair requested that questions be asked using the microphone for online listeners.

Fiscal Checklist (Draft)

• Brennan Kane stated the fiscal checklist was in draft form and being refined.
• The checklist was described as:
  • An educational tool for developers and a guide for decision-making.
  • Intended to be provided as a spreadsheet and handouts for developer use.
  • Focused on productivity of land use, infrastructure costs over time, public-to-private ratio, and quality-of-life considerations.

Implementation Plan Update

Presented by: Kendall Howard

• The implementation plan was described as organized around seven value statements:
  • Managed growth
  • Distinctive identity
  • Quality housing choices
  • Connected transportation system
  • Places to play
  • Economic opportunity
  • Vibrant downtown
• Kendall Howard stated updates since the prior joint work session included:
  • Time frame and “high priority” columns filled in with staff
  • Cost considerations added (where applicable)
  • Cross references added between related strategies
  • Definitions added in the policy manual for planning terms (including “tactical urbanism”)

High priority strategies summarized by value statement (as presented):

• Managed Growth
  • Unified development ordinance update
  • Evaluation of proposals for consistency with place types
  • Codify fiscal checklist as a review tool
  • Capital improvement program updates (ongoing)
  • Create a GIS-based asset inventory management system for utilities (age/condition tracking)
  • Annual updates to “cost to serve”
  • Assess feasibility of separating the Department of Public Safety into distinct departments as the city grows
• Distinctive Identity / Quality Housing Choices
  • Promote a flexible framework for I-30 focus area development with pedestrian-scale, high-quality development
  • Continue branding downtown Fate
  • Address housing options within the “dynamic neighborhood” place type
  • Discourage future creation of MUDs or PIDs for future single-family residential (language described as softened following prior discussion)
  • Consider expanding allowance of accessory dwelling units (ADUs)
  • Support place-based attainable housing options
• Connected Transportation System
  • Develop safe non-motorized routes across I-30 in association with future crossings
  • Complete a new parks and trails master plan (noted as helpful for grants; update recommended about every five years)
  • Pursue stable funding for long-term roadway maintenance
• Places to Play
  • Review fees and land allocation requirements related to open space and park development
• Economic Opportunity
  • Target innovative and niche businesses
  • Streamline business start/opening processes
  • Support communications related to I-30 construction impacts
• Vibrant Downtown
  • Seek public-private partnerships for development
  • Promote downtown as a hub for new/local businesses
  • Support mixed-use development (consistent with focus area plan)
  • Conduct a parking audit to assess supply and location during peak use/events
  • Implement tactical urbanism/catalytic projects to test new uses

Correction noted

• A participant indicated a PowerPoint slide should reference “2.4.”
• Kendall Howard stated it appeared correct in the implementation plan in the policy manual and would be checked and corrected in the presentation if needed.

Next Steps and Implementation Boot Camp

• Kendall Howard stated the final public summit / implementation boot camp was scheduled for October 26, 2021, with time not yet identified.
• The boot camp was described as intended to orient key implementers and include work sessions anticipated for:
  • City staff (multiple departments)
  • Boards and commissions (including CPAC)
  • Developers, business owners, and major landowners

Additional Comments

• A CPAC participant asked about the strategic playbook; Kendall Howard stated it had been sent to city staff that day and described it as an expanded version of the strategies with graphics.
• Staff stated the plan would have check-ins over time and referenced an overarching review process approximately every five years.
• A participant stated the City of Fate was ahead of other municipalities in planning efforts (as compared to other municipalities they work with).
• Staff and consultants thanked committee members and city staff for work on the process.
• A participant suggested the city consider a prominent welcoming sign emphasizing a family-friendly community.
• A participant asked about the source of the thoroughfare plan; staff stated:
  • The city engineer (Kimley-Horn) works with city staff and the Planning & Zoning Commission.
  • The latest update process occurred in 2019–2020 and was adopted in 2020.
  • The update was conducted in conjunction with roadway impact fee and water/wastewater impact fee updates.

Recommendation for Approval

• The chair requested a motion to recommend approval.
• A motion was made to recommend approval.
• A second was made.
• Vote: Approved by voice vote (affirmative “I” votes; no “nay” recorded).

Adjournment

• A motion to adjourn was made and seconded.
• Vote: Approved by voice vote.
• The meeting time at adjournment was recorded as 6:54 (as stated in transcript).

Record Note
This Ledger entry records the publicly observable proceedings of the meeting listed above. It does not offer analysis or commentary.