City set to update comp plan
SANDPOINT — The city’s comprehensive plan is a 20-year vision of the community, by the community.
The plan was adopted in 2009 and now, at the 10-year mark, city staff are reviewing the document to update it in accordance with City Council’s recent adoption of strategic priorities and master planning efforts.
“It is good practice to review every so often, and look at the historic trends … what has changed and what should we look toward to the future,” said Aaron Qualls, city planning and economic development director.
Idaho law requires that cities adopt a comprehensive plan to guide city staff and officials when making decisions, Qualls said. Updating the comprehensive plan requires a hearing by the Planning and Zoning Commission, as well as official adoption by council members. It will be a “lengthy” process, however, Qualls said, as the planning commission reviews and recommends which elements of the plan need updated, defines the scope and budget for the project, and develops a detailed timeline.
“Our goal would be to have it updated by September of 2020,” Qualls said.
A comprehensive plan is made up of 17 elements, including property rights, land use, recreation and housing, among others. Three of the 17 required elements have been added since the adoption of the city’s 2009 plan — public airport facilities, national interest electric transmission corridors, and agriculture. Therefore, Qualls said, the first step will be to add the missing elements.
Current master planning efforts include the city’s watershed, water and wastewater facilities, parks and recreation, stormwater and transportation among others, and Qualls said those can be integrated into the overall comprehensive plan update as well.
Some of the areas identified for updates so far by planning staff, Qualls said, include permitting efficiency, consideration of deferring impact fees, modifications to City Code regarding land use, housing assessment and design standards for historic considerations.
Qualls said that there will be opportunities along the way, including surveys and workshops, for the public to be involved in the planning process.
“Throughout the process we will be engaging various stakeholders, developers, property owners, employers … and once our master planning for the various master plans that we have in process now are completed, then we can start to incorporate a draft update, ultimately bringing it for a public hearing and then to you (City Council) for adoption,” Qualls said.
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Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.