10 - 2018 Comprehensive Plan Update

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While the 2001 plan has many excellent recommendations, a fundamental problem is that many of these recommendations were not implemented. The city staff is of the opinion that there apparently was a misconception that by adopting the plan, that made the recommendations enforceable. It must be remembered that a comprehensive plan is a guide to development, and that to implement and enforce its recommendations, legally based documents must be invoked to achieve the plan's goals. Those documents are mainly the zoning ordinance, subdivision regulations, and other codes and ordinances. Therefore, with the adoption of the 2018 updated plan, the city staff intends to update existing codes and ordinances, and also create necessary new regulations that will aid in the implementation of the plan's recommendations. The required I lic hearing and adoption process: Throughout the United States comprehensive plans have been established through the public hearing process. This is to provide the opportunity for citizens to participate in and be aware of a city's planning program. From that basis, Paris is now undertaking the required public communication and public hearing process. On August 20th, a joint Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council work session was orchestrated by city staff. The government officials were provided with copies of the proposed plan, and staff presented elements of the plan, and addressed comments and questions. After that work session, staff provided the draft plan and associated maps online at the city's website, at the library, and at the city hall annex. The provision of these data to the public was meant to encourage feedback and input. A public hearing for the plan was held on September 18th before the Planning and Zoning Commission, at which no public comments were made. The Commission voted to recommend that the City Council approve the 2018 Comprehensive Plan Update. A second public hearing will be held on October 81h before the City Council. On September 20th, minor comments were received from Earl Erickson regarding the Trail & Linkages Plan as related to sidewalks and connectivity. The comments include addition of sidewalks or bike lanes along the following streets: Collegiate Drive from Love Civic Center to the NE Loop 286; S Main Street from Hearne to the Plaza. No other comments on the proposed plan or its map components were received. Staff has received the Downtown Visioning Plan from the Toole Design Group, and will include it as Attachment B to the 2018 Comprehensive Plan Update. 2