Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/05/2007, SS 2 - PRESENTATION BY SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS (SLOCOG) STAFF REGARDING THE COMMUNITY 2050 i council Mne.s o.� 6-5-07 j acEnc)a Repoat S5 a CITY O F SAN LUIS O B I S P O FROM: John Mandeville, Director of Community Development Prepared By: Kim Murry, Deputy Director, Long Range Planning. SUBJECT: PRESENTATION BY SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS (SLOCOG) STAFF REGARDING THE COMMUNITY 2050 GROWTH STUDY—CALIFORNIA REGIONAL BLUEPRINT PLANNING PROGRAM VISIONING EFFORT CAO RECOMMENDATION Receive the information and direct staff to coordinate with SLOCOG as they prepare the Community 2050 Regional Plan and during the anticipated Land Use Element update visioning process slated to begin in 2009. DISCUSSION The San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) received a state grant to develop a regional plan to address long term growth in San Luis Obispo County. The state grant was envisioned to build collaboration on a regional level by involving the communities, critical stakeholders, business interests, academia, builders and environmental advocates in developing consensus on a vision and preferred land use pattern. This effort is being replicated in other . Metropolitan Planning Organizations all over the state and is known as the Regional Blueprint Planning. The SLOCOG effort is called the Community 2050 Program and its focus is to provide a forum and framework for the coordination of local planning efforts with regional and state goals and objectives to integrate transportation, housing, land use, environmental resources, and other infrastructure and resources. A key objective is to be able to have sufficient housing supply developed to accommodate natural population increases and workforce needs (up to 65,000 housing units and 56,000 jobs by 2050) for the full spectrum of the population, and to provide consumers more housing and transportation choices. The following bullet points summarize the results of the visioning exercises and the goals of the consensus documents that are the targeted outputs of this process: • Optimize infill/refill and identify priority areas for transit oriented development. • Minimize impacts on productive farmland and valuable habitat. • Provide a foundation for improved mobility, reduced single-occupant vehicle trips (including encouraging more walking and bicycling) and improved air quality • Reduce sprawl and promote efficient land use in new edge development • Promote resource use efficiency (energy, water, and materials conservation) a ^ i i SLOCOG Presentation—Community 2050 Page 2 • Work with member agencies to identify specific geographic areas within the region that are priorities for increasing the amount and rate of needed housing development and jobs As a means of providing analytical data to inform the planning process, SLOCOG is using regional forecasting and analysis tools in the form of scenario models. In order to develop the data for purposes of modeling growth scenarios, SLOCOG staff obtained each jurisdiction's general plan, as well as environmental resource maps from a variety of sources that show sensitive development areas. This information was fed into modeling programs to forecast where regional growth will occur under different scenarios. One of the expected products of this planning process is a consensus by regional leaders, local governments and stakeholders on a preferred growth scenario or "blueprint" for future growth in the County. Steve Devencenzi, SLOCOG staff, will present the modeling process and information regarding the status of the proj ect. SLOCOG is looking for the City's input and concurrence that the principles guiding the regional model being developed reflect the vision and principles of the City. Primarily, the ten Smart Growth principles are being used as a basis from which to grow the regional vision. These principles are: Create a Range of Housing Opportunities and Choices �k Create Walkable Neighborhoods Encourage Community and Stakeholder Collaboration Foster Distinctive, Attractive Communities with a Strong Sense of Place Make Development Decisions Predictable, Fair and Cost Effective Mix Land Uses Preserve Open Space, Farmland, Natural Beauty and Critical Environmental Areas Provide a Variety of Transportation Choices Strengthen and Direct Development Towards Existing Communities �k Take Advantage of Compact Building Design Because participants in the Community 2050 planning process are being asked to look beyond the borders of their own communities, suggestions for how the City of San Luis Obispo should grow will come from people who do not live in this City. This input may differ from the vision expressed by City residents in the adopted City General Plan. Most of the Smart Growth principles being referenced are ones that the City has endorsed through its General Plan. The development of these principles into a regional vision will be challenging and a process where the Council's input and concurrence will be a reiteration of the vision of the community that has been expressed through the adopted General Plan. The process of modeling and evaluating potential growth patterns under the current rules in place has great value. SLOCOG's development of a regional plan and conclusion of what will be required of the cities in the region in response to this information and how funding may be tied to this conclusion is where careful consideration of SLOCOG efforts and the City's adopted General Plan will need to occur. Two areas of potential differences (starred above *) between the principles guiding development of a regional vision and the vision that was developed by the City's citizens relate to the goals of creating housing opportunities and directing development towards existing communities. In considering housing opportunities, the input that SLOCOG OC'ca U SLOCOG Presentation-Community 2050 Page 3 has received to date is that the City of San Luis Obispo should accommodate substantially more housing that what is envisioned in the Housing Element or Land Use Element of the General Plan. With respect to directing growth toward existing communities, there is a concern that implementation of this principle will result in County zoning that directs additional development to the City's edges. Staff's goal in working with SLOCOG will be to ensure the local vision is incorporated within the regional plan without creating consistency issues. CONCURRENCES Public Works has reviewed the SLOCOG traffic model and growth assumptions and does not have major concerns with the accuracy of the model. FISCAL IMPACT Grant funding may be influenced in the future by a City's compliance with the Community 2050: Regional Vision Plan. There may be differences between local plans and the regional plan which may create problems as grant funding becomes dependent on conformity with the regional plan. Therefore, participation and collaboration in this process is essential. ATTACHMENT SLOCOG Newsletter, February 2007 r V Attachment 1 S A N L u is O B is P 0 REG 10 14 NUMMUM20501 PROGRESSUPDATE A BLUEPRINT FOR TOMORROWS GROWTH oft *61 to Recent Events: Community 2050 Earns State Grant Support Sept 2006 At the recent Blueprint Learning Network Workshop in Anaheim, Community 2050 was Blueprint Learning awarded $325,000 to continue its study of growth for the San Luis Obispo Region as part Network-Oakland of the Califomia Regional Blueprint Planning Program -for more information, see p. 4. This Natural Resource grant will allow Community 2050 to continue to develop regional forecasting and analysis Manager's Workshop tools. Such tools can support local efforts including general plan and specific plan updates, redevelopment plans, capital improvement programs, traffic studies, environmental impact analyses, and public involvement efforts. Nov 2006 Blueprint learning Impacts of Regional Buildout Network -Anaheim - ' Calculated by Urban Growth Model Dec 2006 nM i Focus Group Meetings with each of the Community 2050 is utilizing a growth mod- Seven Cities& the el known as UPLAN.This model comes from County for the the Information Center for the Environment Growth Model at UC Davis and was developed as a tool - - - - - - to improve the capacity for greater analysis Natural Resource Manager's Workshop in September 2006. of resources and development constraints in urban planning. With UPLAN, a range of programmed with local data and input. environmental resources can be considered Using each of the local general plans as Upcoming alongside other constraints such as infra- the foundation, the model also incorporates Events: structure capacities to predict what the future resource information such as the location may look like. Through UPLAN,we can find of important farmland, oak woodlands and February 22 out where development would be helpful and other critical environmental resources.This Promoting Public where it would be harmful to the public data was refined with input from natural Health Through interest.As we all understand, environmental resource managers as well as local Community Design resource areas are often highly localized planning staff members at one day-long Forum and can often be accommodated early in the workshop and a series of focus group planning process. Postponing consideration meetings. Spring 2007 of these sensitive resources until late in the Once complete, the model will Community-Wide development process, on the other hand, reveal to all of us-community members, Workshops leads to increased conflicts, higher costs and government officials, and other Base-Case and poor environmental results. stakeholders- how some of our natural Alternative Future In order to model growth for the San Luis resource, financial, and other finite Scenarios Obispo Region, UPLAN has been resources will be impacted. Presentations 1970 2000 2030 1 NUM.INCREASE PCTANCREASE CENSUS CENSUS FORECAST~ �— 70-'00 00=30 70-00 '00-'30 PEOPLE 105,690 246,681 335,470 140,991 88,789 133% 36% HOMES 37,612 102,275 136,370 64,663 34,095 172% 33% OBS 30,213 96,754 157,800 66,541 61,046 220% 63% Sources: 1970&2000 U.S. Census,:ERA Reporl SLOCOG a-L� Attachment 1 Excellent Feedback from included information about wet- information. They were asked ques- Natural Resource Managers lands, oak woodlands, conservation tions regarding issues such as the easements and other protected quality of the data and the sensitivity One of the driving forces of lands, flood zones and rare plant of various resources to the impacts Community 2050 is to take a and animal species areas. Once of development. These questions proactive approach to environmen- collected, the datasets were over- provoked discussion and debate tal planning in the San Luis Obispo laid and examined to see the com- amongst those present. In addi- Region. In a sense, it is an effort to posite mosaic of resource areas. tion, the participants identified areas give the"green infrastructure"of In an attempt to refine this where information is lacking or needs agricultural lands and open spaces process, Community 2050 hosted to be improved. In the end, all com- the same level of attention and a day-long workshop for natural ments were carefully documented concern as the"gray infrastructure" resource managers and technical and organized into a to-do list for the of roads, sewers, and utilities.The stakeholders to review and com- Community 2050 Working Group to term "green infrastructure" has ment on this collection of datas- take action on. become more widely used because ets used in UPLAN. Participants This collaborative exercise pro- it carries the implicit message that included representatives from the duces more benefits than improved these open spaces are necessi- U.S. Bureau of Land Management, mapping of resources. It provides ties that play important functional County Agricultural Commissioner, the San Luis Obispo Region with a roles (e.g. filtration of water, wildlife Morro Bay National Estuary cooperative basis for establishing habitat, production of food, etc.)and Program,Air Pollution Control regional priorities for protection and thus are deserving of serious public District, Homebuilder's Association, developing green infrastructure pro- planning and investment. CA State Parks, U.S. Fish &Wild- tection plans with performance goals The green infrastructure of the life, ECOSLO, Caltrans, U.S. Forest and measures. Ultimately though, our San Luis Obispo Region is being Service, and the Association of ability to protect our natural resource catalogued through computerized Environmental Professionals. communities depends on our ability mapping. Sources such as the Cali- County and local planning offices to create liveable and healthy com- fornia Department of Conservation, were also represented. Through a munities for people. Division of Land Resource Protec- series of presentations, the tion were consulted for the most resource managers and stake- recent data on important farmland holders were asked to apply their designations. Other data compiled knowledge of natural resources Overview of Natural Resource Managers' Workshop gr Purpose of the Workshop ` •Review/refine conservation targets •Identify populations/occurances of targets ' •Gather information on viability/integrity of target occurances •Gather opinions on conservation goals for targets '�. 'k'4' •Identify data gaps and inventory needs for targets and conservation areas . Examples of Workshop Participants Products From Workshop •Federa'Agancy Staff&Managers •Refined conservation targets list - - •State Agency Staff&r0ar.agers •Preliminary conservation areas •Academic Ecologists •List of data gaps for the region •P annirg&Env. Cons0arts •E-v &Co^servato^ Organizations Workshop Follow Up GIS staff incorporated improved information from all the data gathered at the z �r workshop for further analysis �I Check back soon for our updated website at 1vwiitcofmrnunity2O5O.org Attachment 1 � CoDlmDn�� 7��� ��8��� �l� '' ~ ` ^ 0nzmdhnmo�e UPL���The0noup � With Local Partners provided many helpful suggestions � onhow tobetter incorporate cur- In aneMbrttosolicitinputfrum rent and future planning and devel- | |ooa}partnems. theComnnunib/2O5O oponenttrends into the model such ! working group arranged two group aeincorporating the population | sessions~one with the North County capacity ofland use elements and / and one with the South County. improving distracters togrowth � Community Development staff from suchauairport safety zones. growthmodel. Comments from ' the Paso Robles,Ataaomdero. San Inaseparate session,the this group included refining the � | Luis Obispo, Morro Bay, Pismo Community 2O5OWorking Group C/\Natural Diversity Database � ! Beach, Grover Beach & SL«] County met with afocus group of data for our region and improving | | met torefine the parameters used in Resource Managers boreceive the application ofstream data to ) | our preliminary trials ofthe regional feedback and refine our regional include stream bank area. | j Blueprint Learning Regional Blueprint Planning. For BLN Network Hosts more information on the Blueprint Statewide Workshops Learning Network, visit the Califor_ nia Center for Regional Leadership (CCRL)website at: The CA Business,Transportation www.calregions.org and Housing Agency, Caltrans and the CA Center for Regional September 13, 2006 Oakland - November 29 & 30 Anaheim - Leadership joined to host three Transportation & Land Use Plan- Air, Water, Land and Regional statewide workshops.These work- ning Blueprint Planning shops brought together partners from across the state to discuss regional - Panelists from CA Center for Panelists from CA Resources priorities, strategies for improving Regional Leadership (CCRL), UC Agency,Air Resources Board, US regional analysis, and maintaining Davis, San Diego Association of EPA, Federal Highway Administra- a comprehensive perspective of the Governments, Sacramento Area tion,American Farmland Trust, issues. Many state agencies and a Council of Governments, Southern The Nature Conservancy, CA diverse array of stakeholder groups California Association of Govern- Dept of Conservation, CA Dept of were well represented and shared ments, and the Sierra Club Agriculture, CA Dept of Water Re- their interest in and support for sources, State Water Resources Control Board Interestinc, Websites: UPCOMING COMMUNITY 2050 :K' America 2060 ARM EVENT !i A look at America's 10 emerging Megaregions February 22: Promoting Public Health i: American Farmland Trust KN Through Community Design lit www.farmiand.org/programs/states/futureisnow/rancheftes.asp Featuring Keynote Speaker: Dr. Richard i An analysis of ranchettes;and other rural development Jackson,M.D. 1:30-4:30 pm Local Government Commission French Hospital Auditorium KN Latest info on energy issues, green building &smart growth 1911 Johnson Ave, SLO Attachment 1 Planning for a Region become what is known as Regional Scenario planning.utilizes.com- Through Regional Blueprint Planning. Regional Blue- prehensive computer-modelsto'. ^ - print Planning efforts are taking examine alternative scenarios for Blueprint Planning place all across the state from San the future.This brings an unprec- Diego to Shasta County and are edented ability to view and analyze In 2005, Governor Schwarzeneg- attempting to better address trans- the effects of our decisions. For ger made$5 million available to portation, land use, and environmen- example,through scenario plan- Metropolitan Planning Organiza- tal planning from a broad regional ning, we can look at how alterna- tions, such as the San Luis Obispo scale. tive growth patterns will impact our Council of Governments, to build One of the unique aspects of roadways, open spaces, and other the capacity for regional collab- Regional Blueprint Planning is the performance measures. orative planning. This effort would incorporation of scenario planning. Scenario Planning Steps • Research the driving forces: different strategies in different The devised scenarios are mea- Define the major sources of change future environments. What are the cured against each other by that impact the future. Some are community's priorities and what comparing indicators that measure. relatively predictable (i.e.trends in trade-offs is the community willing progress toward community defined local land use consumption),some to make? priorities. are less predictable(i.e.the world • Analyze the implications: • Monitor indicators: economy). Specialized computer software As the future unfolds,reality needs j • Determine patterns of interaction: visually represents the interaction to be assessed and compared to Consider how the driving forces among the driving forces in each the preferred growth scenarios. r could combine to determine future scenario illustrating the financial, New scenarios must be developed conditions. social, and environmental and new decisions or policies need I • Create scenarios: consequences of potential actions. to be mode to address changing Think through the implications of • Evaluate Scenarios: conditions. S AN Luis O B I s v o REGION ® W5_0 A BLUEPRINT FOR TOMORROW'S GROWTH Is I ISO Osos St,Ste 202 San Luis Obispo,to 93401 (805)781-4219 To receive project updates and to participate in the process please contact: Steve Devencenzi sdevencenzi@slocog.org or Richard Rojas rrojas@slocog.org Community 2050 is a partnership between: AIR POLLUTION San Luis Obispo / # . CONTROL DISTRICT Local Agency CWNiT(Y HN:U6001W1 b'• a.I.al n<)I.i n la.. i,p,GlWddM ,. Formation Commission r r)