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HomeMy WebLinkAboutChapter 1 Introduction and Community Vision - City Council Work meeting 4-20-22Chapter 1: Introduction and Community Vision Statement The Comprehensive plan is the official statement of the City’s legislative body (City Council), which sets forth its major policies concerning desirable future physical development. The published comprehensive plan includes a single unified physical design for the community and it attempts to clarify the relationships between physical development policies and social and economic goals. It consists of text, maps and other exhibits and includes all of the planning elements required by Idaho Code Section 67-6508. The comprehensive plan is specifically implemented through the City Planning and Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances, as well as through administrative decision making. Therefore it is critical for public officials to remain well versed in the current plan to assure that day to day decision making does not in some way disrupt the policies and long term initiatives outlined herein. Rexburg is in the middle of substantial changes. As these changes are made, it is important that they be compatible with the efficient functioning of the rest of the community for the present and for the future. When a community begins to think about how present decisions are affecting what their town will become, the planning process has begun. In order to develop a plan that reflects what citizens want their community to be in the future, the ideas and desires of its citizens should be collected. The existing conditions should be inventoried, and then the citizens should decide what opportunities and problems exist. Once the opportunities and constraints have been identified, goals and policies should be developed to maximize the opportunities and mitigate the constraints. Finally, a course of action for implementing the policies is prepared. When the planning process is complete, the finished product is: A collection of ideas and desires of the citizens of the community as to what they want for their community in the future. A statement adopted by the governing body listing its objectives and policies for future development that informs property owners, developers, citizens, and the public agencies of the city’s intentions. A guide for decision making for the advisory and governing bodies in the city, federal, and state agencies considering the funding of projects within the city. Community Vision Statement Residents of Rexburg have chosen to live here because they enjoy the current quality of life, aesthetics, recreational opportunities, mix of land uses, and patterns of development that the City provides. The primary vision of the City of Rexburg Comprehensive Plan is to ensure that these qualities are maintained, preserved, and enhanced. Overall Goals of this Comprehensive Planning Effort To improve the physical environment of the community as a setting for human activities-to make it more functional, beautiful, decent, healthful, interesting, and efficient. To promote the public interest, the interest of the community at large, rather than the interests of individuals or special groups within the community. To facilitate the democratic determination and implementation of community policies on the physical development. To effect the political and technical coordination in community development. To inject long-range considerations into the determination of short-range actions. To bring professional and technical knowledge to bear on the making of political decisions concerning the physical development of the community. To maintain high levels of interaction with the public for planning and decision-making. Encourage citizen input when considering code modifications. Planning Area Included The Rexburg Comprehensive Plan shall guide land use decisions affecting all the lands within the incorporated boundary of the City, as well as all lands outside of the incorporated boundary of the City but within the designated City of Rexburg Impact Area. Purpose and Authority This comprehensive plan is a policy document. It is to be used as a guide by public officials in the: Preparation of specific project plans, Prioritization of public facility improvements, Adoption of land use and transportation related ordinances, and Review of development proposals. Comprehensive Plan Purpose and Authority Idaho state law requires that each city and county prepare and adopt a comprehensive, long-range plan to identify and plan for present and future needs of the community as well as address growth and development of land within the community. Idaho Code §67-6508 authorizes local governments to prepare comprehensive plans for their communities. According to the statute, the plan should consider previous and existing conditions, trends, desirable goals and objectives, or desirable future situations for each planning component. The plan should include the following components, unless the plan specifies reasons why a particular component is unneeded. Property Rights Population School Facilities and Transportation Economic Development Land Use Natural Resources Hazardous Areas Public Services, Facilities, and Utilities Transportation Recreation Special Areas or Sites Housing Community Design Implementation National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors Agriculture Public Airport Facilities This plan is organized around these chapters, with a few modifications. Natural Resources and Hazardous areas have been combined into a single chapter. Additionally, the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors chapter has been omitted, as it is not applicable to Madison County. Finally, a new section on Impact Areas has been added. A Comprehensive Plan sets out to capture and articulate a common vision for residents, businesses, property owners, and city and County staff and officials for future growth and development of the community. It is a guiding document adopted by the community to help decision-makers evaluate development proposals and implement a desired future for the community. According to The Practice of Local Government Planning, First, it is a physical plan. Although reflection of social and economic values, the plan is fundamentally a guide to the physical development of the community. It translates values into a scheme that describes how, why, when, and where to build, rebuild, or preserve the community. A second characteristic of the comprehensive plan is that it is long-range, covering a time period greater than one year, usually five years or more. A third characteristic of the comprehensive plan is that it is comprehensive. It covers the entire city geographically – not merely one or more section. It also encompasses all the functions that make a community work, such as transportation, housing, land use, utility systems, and recreation. Moreover, the plan considers the interrelationships of functions. Finally, a comprehensive plan is a guide to decision-making by the Planning Commission and City Council, mayor, and/or manager. A comprehensive plan typically has a life of around five years, but looks forward at least twenty years to anticipate how the community will accommodate changes in population, demographic, economic, and social trends. Developing the City of Rexburg Comprehensive Plan is an opportunity to consider the community as it is today, determine what is working well, and what needs to change to make it better. The Comprehensive plan also gives Madison County an opportunity to plan for anticipated changes in community priorities, transportation options, and changing demands for various land uses such as housing, commerce, and open space. Using and Updating the Comprehensive Plan A Comprehensive Plan is typically revisited and revised every few years in response to changing community priorities, technologies, market demands, or other unforeseen circumstances. This should be a living document, one that it used on a regular basis and updated as needed. The City should review the plan goals and policies annually, and minor revisions to the land use plan map are allowed every 6 months by Idaho Code §67-6509. There are no restrictions on how frequently the text may be amended. When considering an amendment to the plan, decision-makers should ask themselves, “Have conditions changed so that the plan does not reflect the City’s preferred development patterns or its current goals?” If this question cannot be answered affirmatively, any amendment should be considered with caution.