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11 - City's Comprehensive Plan UpdateItem No. 11 s TO: Mayor & City Council John Godwin, City Manager FROM: Alan Efrussy, AICP, City Planning Manager SUBJECT: DEFINITION AND FUNCTIONS OF A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DATE: June 18, 2018 BACKGROUND: There are many growth—management tools that a municipality can implement to direct and control its physical development. One of the most important is the comprehensive plan. There are two major reasons why this mechanism is essential to aid a city's growth— management program. First, the comprehensive plan is the primary document that can collectively coordinate a number of physical development plans, such as parks, future land use, thoroughfares, etc. This coordination could help a city avoid duplication of effort and cost regarding its physical development. Second, the comprehensive plan has historically been the major document that describes a city's long—term vision for physical development, which is typically from five to 30 years, or even longer. STATUS OF ISSUE: The city staff has made the following findings: (A) Definition of a Comprehensive Plan: The essential definition of a comprehensive plan is that it is a long—range plan intended to direct the growth and physical development of a community for a 20 to 30 year or longer period. (B) History of Comprehensive Planning. in Paris: Paris is one of the small percentage of American cities which have a history of comprehensive planning going back over one hundred years. Records indicate that comprehensive plans were prepared for Paris in 1915, 1966, 1981, 2001, and the Future Land Use Plan Map and the Plan Map Legend Explanations were updated in 2008. (C) The Current Role-ofComl rehensiveww,Planning, in Paris: Standard city planning practice recommends that a city's comprehensive plan be reviewed annually, and updated as necessary, which is oftentimes every three to five years (or sooner, based on changing physical or economic conditions). Therefore, at this time the city staff believes it is appropriate to update the current plan; the staff is now preparing a modified 2018 update to the current officially adopted 2001 Comprehensive Plan. In that regard, the staff believes the following information is highly relevant: 1) The 2001 Paris Comprehensive Plan is strongly recommended not to be rescinded since much still remains very relevant for Paris. Therefore, staff is recommending, where still relevant and feasible, that the 2001 plan be used in conjunction with the 2018 update. Also note that the 2001 plan is still the official and adopted Comprehensive Plan for Paris, and that the 2008 update did not rescind said 2001 plan. 2) In relation to paragraph 1) above, however, the 2018 plan update will recommend that the updated Future Land Use Plan, Park Plan, and the Major Thoroughfare Plan be implemented upon the 2018 Plan adoption, and therefore these particular components of the 2001 Plan be rescinded. It is noted that historically, while a comprehensive plan should typically include a range and discussion of well—accepted city planning principles and practice, nonetheless the future land use plan, major thoroughfare plan, and the park, recreation and open space plans are consulted much more often than any other components in a comprehensive plan. However, in addition, there are important city planning principals and practice recommendations included in the 2018 Plan update. 3) An historical and fundamental principle in city planning is that short—range decisions (e.g. zonings, site plans, etc.) should always be evaluated against the long-range vision of a city (i.e., especially through the future land use plan). The Paris city staff strongly emphasizes this practice, otherwise why have a long—range future land use plan? The critical reason for advancing this is that the comprehensive plan and future land use plans evaluate and impact the long—range physical development vision for the entire city, and a zoning decision mainly evaluates and impacts a much smaller area. A larger perspective, therefore, will aid in the potential for more efficient, more aesthetic, more cost—effective, and more functional development of a city. 4) At the July 9a` Council meeting, staff will discuss a PowerPoint presentation that will further amplify the functions of a comprehensive plan as already stated herein. BUDGET: Minimal or no cost to the city, since the plan update will be done in-house. RECOMMENDATION: Observe the PowerPoint presentation made in conjunction with this agenda item memorandum, make any comments and ask any questions you so desire, and 2 support the staff in the preparation and implementation of the Paris 2018 Comprehensive Plan Update project.