Title
DER2015-00001: COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS PLAN 2015-2035. (ALL DISTRICTS).
Presented by: Dale Miller, Director, Metropolitan Area Planning Department.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve the Community Investments Plan 2015-2035, dated November 19, 2015, as the new Wichita-Sedgwick County Comprehensive Plan, including those neighborhood and area plans itemized on Attachment "C" to the resolution of the Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Commission, authorize the Chairman to sign the resolution and authorize the resolution to be published
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Background: In 2011, the City of Wichita and Sedgwick County initiated a process to develop the Community Investments Plan to replace the current joint City and County Comprehensive Plan which dates back to 1993. A more current and relevant plan is needed to provide a policy framework and set priorities to guide future public investments in municipal buildings and infrastructure out to the year 2035.
In 2012, the City and County partnered with WSU to undertake a comprehensive assessment of all City and County infrastructure and facilities. A Plan Steering Committee was also jointly appointed by the Wichita and Sedgwick County Managers in late 2012 to begin the development of a new joint comprehensive plan. Seven of the 18-member Steering Committee are also members of the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (MAPC).
During 2013 and 2014, the Steering Committee developed and evaluated three possible long-term growth scenarios for Wichita. Following an extensive community engagement process in the spring and summer of 2014, a preferred growth scenario was selected by the Committee to serve as the basis for the development of the new comprehensive plan.
In March 2015, the Steering Committee released the draft Community Investments Plan 2015-2035 for public review and feedback. The Planning Department organized four public open house events and provided over 40 presentations (April through June) to over 700 people on the draft Plan. Feedback was also received through the Activate Wichita website. The Steering Committee met in late June to finalize changes to the draft Plan based upon feedback received from the community engagement process and two workshops held with the Wichita City Council in April and June. Also in late June and early July, staff briefed the members of the Sedgwick County Board of Commissioners on the draft Plan.
Notice of a public hearing date of August 20, 2015, for the MAPC to consider the proposed adoption of the final draft Community Investments Plan 2015-2035 as the new Comprehensive Plan for Wichita-Sedgwick County was published in the official City and County newspaper on July 30, 2015. In early August 2015, staff presented the final draft of the Community Investments Plan to the six District Advisory Boards (DAB’s) for the City of Wichita. All six DAB’s voted unanimously to recommend that the Plan be adopted as the new comprehensive plan for Wichita and Sedgwick County. At the public hearing held on August 20, 2015, the MAPC unanimously approved a resolution adopting the Community Investments Plan 2015-2035 as the new Comprehensive Plan for Wichita-Sedgwick County. Existing adopted neighborhood and area plans were also adopted as elements of the new Plan. The Plan does not take effect until it is approved by the governing bodies of the City of Wichita and Sedgwick County.
On October 6, 2015, the City Council considered a recommendation to approve the Community Investments Plan 2015-2035. Council passed a motion to defer action on the Plan until the November 10, 2015 Council meeting in order to see what action the County Commissioners take on the Plan at the November 4, 2015 County Commission meeting.
On November 4, 2015, the County Commissioners passed a motion (3-2) to return the Plan to the MAPC with the attached list of recommended Plan changes. Given this action by the County Commissioners, the Wichita City Council passed a motion (5-0) at the November 10, 2015 Council meeting to return the Plan to the MAPC for further consideration of the Plan changes recommended by the County Commissioners, but with the recommendation that the Plan stay as originally adopted by the MAPC on August 20, 2015.
On November 12, 2015, the Advance Plans Committee met to consider the merits and appropriateness of the County Commission and the Wichita City Council recommended changes to the Plan. The Committee submitted for consideration by the MAPC the attached recommended action/response to the Plan changes as recommended by the governing bodies.
On November 19, 2015, the MAPC considered the Plan changes recommended by the governing bodies and the recommendation of the Advance Plans Committee. Public comment on the recommended changes was heard. The MAPC voted (10-3) to amend the Community Investments Plan 2015-2035, dated August 20, 2015, and adopt the Community Investments Plan 2015-2035, dated November 19, 2015, as the new Comprehensive Plan for Wichita-Sedgwick County. Existing adopted neighborhood and area plans were also adopted as elements of the new Plan. The Plan does not take effect until it is approved by the governing bodies of the City of Wichita and Sedgwick County. On December 8, 2015, the Wichita City Council approved the Community Investments Plan as amended and adopted by the MAPC on November 19, 2015.
Analysis: The attached Community Investments Plan 2015-2035, dated November 19, 2015, adopted by the MAPC is recommended to the Board of Sedgwick County Commissioners for approval as the new joint comprehensive plan for Wichita-Sedgwick County. It is a high-level policy plan that provides guidance for future growth, sets overall community investment priorities, and provides a decision-making framework to guide future public infrastructure investment decisions.
The following is a listing of amendments to the Community Investments Plan 2015-2035, dated August 20, 2015, included in the Community Investments Plan 2015-2035, dated November 19, 2015:
Plan page 17. Add the following additional text (identified below with italics) to the first sentence of the introductory paragraph located in the left-hand column of the page:
The purpose of the Future Land Use Policies is to encourage orderly growth that meets future market demand while considering impacts to taxpayers, developers, the environment, and the community as a whole while protecting individual property rights.
Plan page 29. Add the following new Funding and Financing Strategy C statement (identified below with italics) under Goal 2 - Maintain a responsible and appropriate taxing level to address our community’s needs.
C. In 1985, Sedgwick County voters approved a countywide one-cent sales tax to help maintain or construct road projects as well as reduce property tax. The one-cent sales tax revenue distribution formula is determined by statute and is based on local jurisdiction property tax mill levy rates as well as population.
Plan page 30. Add the following new sentence (identified below with italics) at the end of the last sentence of the second paragraph located in the right-hand column of the page:
Opportunities for alternate, innovative solutions must be pursued.
Plan page 30. Reverse the listing of transportation investment priorities for Wichita as contained in the third paragraph located in the right-hand column of the page, from highest priority to lowest priority as follows (indicated below with italics):
Very high priority - local streets and bridges
Medium-high priority - public transit
Low-medium priority - freeway enhancements
Low priority - new bypasses
Plan page 30. Following the third paragraph located in the right-hand column of the page, add the following new paragraph of text (indicated below with italics) listing the transportation investment priorities for Sedgwick County:
For Sedgwick County, the level of investment priority over the next 20 years varies across the major transportation infrastructure categories as follows:
Very high priority - local streets and bridges
Medium-high priority - freeway enhancements
Medium priority - new bypasses
Low priority - public transit
Plan page 31. In Transportation Strategy B statement listed in the left-hand column of the page, delete “public” (indicated below with a strikethrough) from the Strategy wording as follows:
B. Develop and implement a long-term public transit system plan that reflects the needs of our community.
Plan page 33. In the Arts, Culture and Recreation Goal 1 statement listed in the left-hand column of the page, delete the word “premier” (indicated below a strikethrough) from the Strategy wording as follows:
Goal 1 - Improve quality of life and healthy lifestyles for all through an accessible system of premier arts, culture, library, recreation and open space facilities.
Plan page 33. In the Arts, Culture and Recreation Strategy G statement listed in the right-hand column of the page, delete the words “Establish a task force to” (indicated below with a strikethrough) from the Strategy statement as follows:
G. Establish a task force to Identify opportunity areas and regulatory adjustments necessary to support agritourism in the unincorporated areas of Sedgwick County.
Alternatives: 1. Take the Recommended Action stated above (requires a simple majority vote).
2. Override the MAPC and amend or deny the Community Investments Plan 2015-2035, dated November 19, 2015 (requires a simple majority vote).
Financial Considerations: There are not any additional financial considerations to the County associated with the approval of this Plan. Approval of this Plan involves no commitment of funding for the County.
Legal Considerations: Approved as to form and signed by County Counselor's Office. The City and County are authorized by K.S.A. 12-747, et seq. to approve and amend a joint comprehensive plan.
Policy Considerations: The MAPC has reviewed and adopted this Plan in accordance with the requirements of, and under the authorization of K.S.A. 12-747, et seq.
Outside Attendees: Cindy Miles, Co-Chair Plan Steering Committee
Multimedia Presentation: PowerPoint