Title
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 1205, “ZONING DISTRICTS” AND CHAPTER 1207, “ZONING DEVELOPMENT AND SITE PLAN STANDARDS,” OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE TO PROVIDE FOR FUNDS-IN-LIEU OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC SIDEWALKS AND OTHER PEDESTRIAN AND NON-VEHICULAR CIRCULATION SYSTEMS.
Executive Summary: This legislation would create a Pedestrian Linkages Fund as recommended by the Connect Hudson Plan that came out of the Safe Routes Hudson initiative.
Body
Legislative History
This legislation was first discussed by Council in the fall of 2012. Council conducted its first reading of the legislation and referred the matter to Planning Commission for public hearing and recommendation on February 20, 2013. Planning Commission conducted its public hearing on March 11. After public comment and discussion the Commission recommended that Council disapprove the legislation. At its second reading on April 3, 2013, Council voted to remove the item from its regular meeting agenda and send it to a Council workshop meeting for further review and discussion. Those discussions lead to the creation of the Ad Hoc Connectivity Committee on September 4, 2013 and the adoption in concept of the committee’s proposed Connectivity Plan on February 19, 2014.
Purpose & Explanation
The Connect Hudson Plan that came out of the Safe Routes Hudson initiative recommended the creation of a sidewalk fund created by contributions from builders and developers where sidewalks could be required, but there are no existing walks with which to connect. The new fund would be used to fill the sidewalk "gaps" throughout the City.
This legislation would implement the recommendation and enable discretion regarding the Land Development Code requirement to install sidewalks. Instead of requiring sidewalks that don’t connect to an existing network, payment in lieu of installing sidewalks would be placed into a Pedestrian Linkages Fund instead, which would then be used to complete sidewalk connections in the community. When a sidewalk was needed at the original location, it would be at the City’s expense, possibly through this same funding source.
After all of the discussion this legislation has received the resulting text can be summarized as follows:
• The option of contributing to a pedestrian sidewalk fund is available in Districts 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, and 10.
• Rules for the administration of the pedestrian sidewalk fund are established.
• A general provision for consideration of non-vehicular circulation systems is expanded to all zoning districts.
• Sidewalk regulations are added to District 10 which does not presently have them.
• No changes are proposed to the existing code concerning where sidewalks are required or waiver allowances in Districts 6 and 8.
At the July 13 meeting, PC found that the comments it had made at the June 8 meeting were accurately reflected in the revised text. PC had several additional amendments as follows:
• Page 3, Item (C), line 4 error: change District “1” to District “3”
• Page 10, last line: added “directly” before “connect or link”
• Page 11, Item (2), line 6: add “utilizing State of Ohio prevailing wages” after “City Engineer”
The attached draft shows the proposed changes to the existing code and the changes recommended by PC June 8. PC recommends that the attached legislation be adopted as amended.
Timing Considerations
Council conducted its first reading and referred the matter to Planning Commission on March 3, 2015. Planning Commission conducted its public hearing and continued the case on May 11. Planning Commission continued the case on June 8. Planning Commission recommended adoption of the legislation as amended on July 13. If Council proceeds with second reading on July 21, it could have its public hearing on September 1 and take final action on September 1 or 15.
Fiscal Impact
Currently Budgeted
Supplemental Appropriation Required
X Appropriation Not Required.
Recommendation
Suggested Action
Planning Commission recommends that Council adopt the legislation as amended.
Submitted by,
Jane Howington, City Manager
Mark Richardson, Community Development Director