Topography
How flat or hilly a piece of land is can make it difficult or expensive to build certain kinds of buildings or add new roads.
Welcome!
Welcome to the December Online Community Open House. This Open House corresponds to the in-person Community Open House that took place on December 10th at Bishop Ireton High School. On this page you can view the same content and information shared with community members on the 10th, provide feedback on the Draft Corridor Themes, and add opportunities you see along the corridor to the interactive Opportunities Map.
Don't forget to let us know whether you're interested in participating in a workshop in January by signing up here.
Use the navigation tabs below to go to the activity you'd like to participate in.
Background + Draft Guiding Principles
What is a Small Area Plan?
The City works with community members, businesses, property owners, the Planning Commission, and City Council to create Small Area Plans, which are long-term land use plans.
Why should you get involved in the City's process for Small Area Plans?
- You are the expert in your life and in your neighborhood - we need your expertise.
- Small Area Plans are a chance to proactively plan for the future and bring benefits to your neighborhood.
- Different ideas and perspectives are crucial for making sure everybody’s needs for the future are met.
What is the Current Schedule for the Planning Process?
Draft Guiding Principles
- Create walkable neighborhoods with a mix of land uses, public spaces, streetscapes, and services.
- Ensure that new development is well-designed and enhances the corridor.
- Ensure that new development enhances access to neighborhood retail, civic uses, transit options, and community focal points.
- Prioritize uses that serve the daily needs of the residents.
- Promote economic opportunities and the retention and growth of small businesses.
- Provide safe ways for people to get around along the corridor.
- Create a well-connected system of streets, alleys, sidewalks, and trails that makes it easier to get around.
- Support a variety of travel choices, including walking, biking, transit, and driving
- Incorporate current and emerging technologies to enhance mobility and safety.
- Pursue new neighborhood-serving parks and public open spaces.
- Pursue opportunities for new City-parks and public open spaces.
- Make it easier for people to connect to and enjoy existing parks and public open spaces.
- Ensure parks and public open spaces include a wide range of amenities.
- Increase the supply and diversity of housing options accessible to households of all incomes.
- Expand committed affordable rental and homeownership opportunities.
- Improve housing quality, safety, and long-term stability in existing and new development, where feasible.
- Prioritize anti-displacement and preservation strategies to the greatest extent possible, including the potential preservation of existing committed and naturally occurring affordable housing.
- Promote a sustainable urban environment, energy-efficient buildings, and renewable energy.
- Implement green infrastructure throughout the corridor.
- Protect the integrity of the corridor’s stream valleys, floodplains, and resource protection areas and expand the tree canopy.
- Strengthen the corridor’s resilience against the impacts of extremes in heat and cold through the design of new development, parks and infrastructure.
- Ensure equitable access to services and resources that improve physical and mental and health and wellbeing.
- Provide opportunities for physical activity, community gathering areas, and social connection.
- Expand access to affordable goods and services such as food and other resources.
Development Factors
How do the characteristics of a piece of land influence what gets built?
Every potential development site is unique in its own way, with its own opportunities and its own challenges. Below are some examples of characteristics that make a piece of land what it is and how these characteristics influence how it will be developed.
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Existing Buildings
Renovating or tearing down existing buildings impacts the overall cost of developing on a piece of land.
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Existing Mobility Network
The current streets and sidewalks form a natural boundary for a property. The type of street can impact what kind of building can be built on a parcel.
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Ownership
Current owners often have their own plans for what happens on a particular piece of land. Different owners have different short- and long-term goals.
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Land Use Regulations
Land use regulations, like zoning, require that developers meet certain standards, like stormwater treatment, open space, streetscape improvements (sidewalks, bike lanes, utility undergrounding), and building height.
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Other Environmental Factors
Sometimes parcels are close to protected environmental resources, like streams and wetlands. This can impact the size, location, intensity, and type of development on a site.
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Infrastructure
The scale of a development must be accommodated by the existing infrastructure capacity, such as utilities, sewer, and schools.
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Size
The size of a piece of land can impact what kinds of development are feasible. Larger parcels can have larger buildings or a variety of different uses.
How much revenue the City takes in through fees and taxes and the costs that are incurred for providing City services is dependent on the type and size of development.
Draft Corridor Themes (Feedback)
Opportunity Theme
Description
Areas with the potential for reinvestment and redevelopment that implement the plan principles and provide opportunities for new housing, commercial, and retail use.
Criteria
Existing commercial areas with surface parking lots adjacent to Duke Street.
Principles
This theme will help meet the Draft Guiding Principles across all the plan topics. For example:
- Create walkable neighborhoods with a mix of land uses, public spaces, streetscapes, and services.
- Increase the supply and diversity of housing options accessible to households of all incomes.
Use the slider bar to switch between the Opportunity Theme Map and a map with all the draft Corridor Themes.
Small Business Theme
Description
Areas with concentrations of existing commercial uses that can accommodate a diversity of small businesses and promote entrepreneurial activity.
Criteria
Locations that provide market affordable commercial rents.
Principles
This theme will help meet the Land Use + Design and Mobility + Safety Draft Guiding Principles. For example:
- Promote economic opportunities and the retention and growth of small businesses.
- Support a variety of travel choices—including walking, biking, transit, and driving.
- Prioritize uses that serve the daily needs of the residents.
Use the slider bar to switch between the Small Business Theme Map and a map with all the draft Corridor Themes.
Affordability + Growth Theme
Description
Areas with rental residential that should be retained due to their existing affordability and where strategic redevelopment and regulatory tools can be utilized to ensure longer-term affordability and the retention of units.
Criteria
Existing market rate and committed affordable rental properties.Principles
This theme will help meet multiple Housing and Land Use + Design Draft Guiding Principles. For example:
- Increase the supply and diversity of housing options accessible to households of all incomes.
- Prioritize anti-displacement and preservation strategies to the greatest extent possible, including the potential preservation of existing affordable housing.
Use the slider bar to switch between the Affordability+ Growth Theme Map and a map with all the draft Corridor Themes.
Civc + City Campus Theme
Description
Areas that consist of City-owned land that can accommodate City uses and other land uses in existing buildings and new development.
Criteria
Existing City-owned properties.Principles
This theme will help meet the Draft Guiding Principles across the different plan topics. For example:
- Pursue new neighborhood-serving parks and public open spaces.
- Ensure equitable access to services and resources that improve physical and mental health and wellbeing.
- Promote a sustainable urban environment, energy-efficient buildings, and renewable energy.
Use the slider bar to switch between the Civic + City Campus Theme Map and a map with all the draft Corridor Themes.
