Title
Report on Carrboro Connects Comprehensive Plan Implementation and Schedule for Land Use Ordinance Update
PURPOSE: To report on the status of comprehensive plan implementation and other priorities, including the anticipated scope and general schedule for updating the Town’s land use regulations.
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Department
DEPARTMENT: Planning
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Contact
CONTACT INFORMATION: Patricia McGuire, Planning Director, 919-918-7327 <mailto:> pmcguire@carrboronc.gov ; Duncan Dodson, Planner, 919-918-7340, ddodson@carrboronc.gov; Christina Moon, Planning & Transportation Administrator, 919-918-7325, cmoon@carrboronc.gov; Bear Tosé, Planner, 919-918-7344, mtose@carrboronc.gov
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Council Direction
COUNCIL DIRECTION:
___ Race/Equity ____ Climate __X__ Comprehensive Plan __X__Other
Council Direction Statement
N.C. General Statutes, Chapter 160D, Article 5, requires that local governments have a reasonably maintained comprehensive or land use plan to retain authority to adopt and enforce zoning regulations. Adoption and maintenance of Carrboro Connects satisfies this requirement. Responses to the racial equity pocket questions have been prepared and are attached (Attachment D).
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Information
INFORMATION: Carrboro Connects, as adopted, included new projects and previous projects that were already underway. The plan prioritized 35 projects for implementation in the first five years due to their relationship to advancing racial equity and climate action. Upon adoption, the Town Manager worked with departments to begin the process of scheduling and budgeting for projects, identifying a method for reporting on progress, and considering how to incorporate changes in prioritization in relation to other needs and resource capacity, both in terms of staff and funding. This agenda item presents the third report on implementation of Carrboro Connects.
Status of Comp Plan Implementation. During the month of March, PZICAT staff met with department heads to understand the status of their assigned comprehensive plan projects. Directors were asked questions regarding the general progress of and next steps for their priority projects, as well as input on implementation. The results are detailed in two formats:
• Carrboro Connects Projects by Chapter - Status Report (Attachment A).
• Priorities that framed the FY23-24 Annual Budget - Status Report (Attachment B).
Comments related to possible adjustments in implementation are noted for several chapters. One comment not listed related to several chapters encourages prioritization of updating the Town’s Land Use Ordinance to address multiple strategies (native plantings, tree canopy, SCMS, low-impact development, energy efficiency). More info on this topic is provided below.
Most of the Comprehensive Plan projects include various steps for implementation, and the Town has made progress on numerous project steps towards completion/implementation. These steps include identifying actions that are needed to advance the vision of the comprehensive plan, such as several initiatives and programs funded through ARPA, the Language Access Plan, housing assistance funding, the ADA Transition Plan, the Title VI Plan, and others. Completion of REALs, pocket questions, and other racial equity analyses are being prepared consistent with the Racial Equity Action Plan as policies, programs, and practices are reviewed, formulated and decided upon.
The next overall update is anticipated for completion in the spring of 2025; reporting on the Key Priorities identified by the Town Council at its February 2024 Retreat will be included.
LUO Update - The 2022-2042 Carrboro Connects Comprehensive Plan identifies overall consistency between the LUO and the plan as a priority project (Land Use Strategy 4.1). In parallel, other strategies and priority projects outlined in Carrboro Connects benchmark and/or result in specific updates to the Land Use Ordinance. To match the vision of the Comprehensive Plan, and to advance projects with specific implementation strategies related to the LUO, staff are scoping this project and costs for possible budgeting in FY25. Details and information on the purpose, anticipated workplan, and schedule can be found in Attachment C.
Background - Meetings related to adoption and reporting on plan implementation to date have been as follows:
1) June 7, 2022 - Carrboro Connects adoption
a) Agenda - <https://carrboro.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5677720&GUID=39FB7236-77B1-48FC-9CC5-E4F94F7C26A0&Options=&Search=>
b) Minutes <https://carrboro.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=M&ID=921153&GUID=01E6F0D9-D4ED-459F-A3B4-A6E66575ECA5> (see pages 7-8)
2) December 6, 2022 - Status Report
a) Agenda - <https://carrboro.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5955232&GUID=E3A499EB-33CB-4782-A7D2-99D783C09996&Options=&Search=>
b) Minutes - <https://carrboro.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=M&ID=991512&GUID=25603E66-F2D3-417A-A8E8-D9BF05FA2689> (see pages 6-7)
3) February 21, 2023 - Town Council Retreat
a) Agenda <https://carrboro.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1062541&GUID=4D217FA4-390A-43AF-B29C-0828C94EFDE0&Options=info|&Search=>
b) Minutes - <https://carrboro.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=M&ID=1062541&GUID=4D217FA4-390A-43AF-B29C-0828C94EFDE0>
4) March 28, 2023 - Town Council Retreat Follow-up
a) Agenda <https://carrboro.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6105896&GUID=CFAE0141-AD36-421C-AAD2-0E945D1BEB59&Options=&Search=>
b) Minutes - <https://carrboro.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=M&ID=1083200&GUID=F56C08E1-707A-4446-88FE-AC1518769973>
5) September 26, 2023
a) Agenda <https://carrboro.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6360973&GUID=342EC3B3-5D40-42CE-8FFD-4D1AECA668AE&Options=&Search=>
6) February 3, 2024 - Town Council Retreat
a) Agenda <https://carrboro.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1154099&GUID=420A000D-8F39-4EC9-9AE1-975DB0C0457C&Options=info|&Search=>
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Fiscal and Staff Impact
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with receiving this report. Budgetary decisions related to comprehensive plan implementation, including the update of land use regulations, are expected to occur with adoption of the Town’s annual budget.
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Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Town Council receive the report, ask questions, and provide feedback on Carrboro Connects and related priorities implementation.
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