Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-10-20 Special Meeting NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 33 SPECIAL MEETING, OCTOBER 20, 2015 PAGE 397 ASSEMBLY The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met for a Work Session on Tuesday, October 20, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. in the Harrell Conference Room at the New Hanover County Government Center, 230 Government Center Drive, Wilmington, North Carolina. Members present: Chairman Jonathan Barfield, Jr.; Vice-Chairman Beth Dawson; Commissioner Skip Watkins; Commissioner Woody White and Commissioner Rob Zapple. Staff present: County Attorney Wanda M. Copley; County Manager Chris Coudriet; and Deputy Clerk to the Board Kymberleigh G. Crowell. Chairman Barfield called the meeting to order stating the purpose of the work session is to discuss the New Hanover County Comprehensive Plan – Chapter 4: Visualizing the Future and requested that Planning Staff provide the presentation. Planning and Inspections Director Chris O’Keefe thanked everyone for attending, recognized Planning Board Chairman Donna Girardot and stated that several of the Planning Board members were unable to attend the th meeting due to calendar conflicts but would be receiving the information on October 28. He asked Long Range Planners Jennifer Rigby and Dylan McDonnell to present the information on Chapter 4 of the New Hanover County Comprehensive Plan. PRESENTATION NEW HANOVER COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN – CHAPTER 4: VISUALIZING THE FUTURE Long Range Planners Jennifer Rigby and Dylan McDonnell provided an overview of Chapter 4: Visualizing the Future as follows:  Comprehensive Plan Process:  Completed to date:  Chapter 1: Authentic Participation: Public Engagement; Work Plan/Time Line  Chapter 2: Evaluating the Present: Inventory of Data; Population Projections; and Appointment of Citizen Advisory Committee  Chapter 3: Framing the Policy: Theme Committee work process; Theme Committee Recommendations; and Citizen Advisory Committee Recommendations  To be completed:  Chapter 4: Visualizing the Future: Visioning and Future Scenarios; Future Land Use Map  Chapter 5: Coastal Area Management Act Consideration; Areas of Environmental Concern  Chapter 6: Implementation Plan; Strategy Map; CIP Process; Plan Compliance Toolkit for development  Future Land Use Map:  Replaces the 2006 CAMA Land Use Map  Reflects the vision established by the Goals and Implementation Strategies established in Chapter 3 of Plan NHC  Used as a guide for future development decisions (Rezonings, SUPs, Variance Requests, etc.)  Used to help determine areas that need further study (through Small Area Plans)  Used to help create new zoning classifications and districts in the new Unified Development Ordinance  Big Changes:  No Urban Services Boundary  Mixed Use Development is the predominant focus  Land Use is not restricted by existing infrastructure (i.e. new roads, water, sewer, etc.)  Future Land Use Map Creation:  Population projections  Existing development patterns and land use  Regional growth scenarios  Goals and Vision/ Public Input  Extensive community conversations (led to 5 versions of the map)  Public Meetings Overview:  The Planning Department held extensive community meetings during the months of January, February, and March of 2015.  9 public meetings were held during this time:  3 at Executive Development Center (Stakeholder, Public, and City-County Planning Staff joint meeting)  Bellamy Elementary  Ogden Elementary  Murray Middle School  Eaton Elementary  Myrtle Grove Middle School  Wrightsboro Elementary NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 33 SPECIAL MEETING, OCTOBER 20, 2015 PAGE 398  Individual Meetings with Key Stakeholders:  Osher Learning Center  Chamber of Commerce (3 times)  Porters Neck Community  Coastal Federation  CFPUA  Emergency Management  Engineering  UNCW MPA Class  NorthChase Community  Parks Conservancy Board  Fire Services  Individual Developers  Elements of the Future Land Use Map:  Place Types: Categories of development types that outline function and intensity.  Exceptional Resource Areas: Areas of environmentally sensitivity that need additional consideration during development  Place Types:  Commerce Zone: Area serves as employment and production hubs, predominantly composed of light and heavy industrial uses, though office and complementary commercial uses are also allowed. Densities are dependent in part on the type of industry. Commerce Zones, unlike Employment Centers, do not allow residential uses. Commerce Zones require arterial or major collector road access connecting them to areas outside their boundaries. Focuses mostly on light and heavy industrial uses. Types of uses include heavy industrial, light industrial, and office.  Employment Center: Area serves as employment and production hubs, with office and light industrial uses predominating. Densities are dependent in part on the type of industries located here. Employment Centers can also include residential, civic, and recreational uses, but should be clearly delineated from rural and conservation areas. Commercial uses designed to serve the needs of the employment center are appropriate. Employment Centers require arterial or major collector road access connecting them to areas outside their boundaries. Types of uses include office, industrial, single-family residential, commercial/retail, and recreation.  General Residential: Focuses on lower-density housing and associated civic and commercial services. Housing for the area is typically single-family or duplexes. Commercial uses should be limited to office and retail spaces, while recreation and school facilities are encouraged throughout. Access to areas outside these residential areas is provided by arterial roadways, but still allowing for interconnection between other place types. However, limiting cul-de-sacs is encouraged to promote better internal circulation and minimizing high-volume traffic roads within the area. Types of uses include single-family residential, low-density multi-family residential, light commercial, civic, and recreation.  Urban Mixed Use: Provides access to a mix of residential, office, and retail uses at higher densities. Multi-family residential uses are preferred, though higher-density single family developments will not be prohibited. Mixed uses are encouraged in the same footprint in a vertical pattern, but they can also be adjacent, or separated by lower traffic local and collector roads in a horizontal pattern. It can include big box retail that has included appropriate urban design features. These areas place an emphasis on multimodalism through the requirement of sidewalks on all non- local streets, crosswalks at all intersections, dedicated bicycle lanes or wide outside lanes, and bus access. Types of uses include office, retail, mixed use, small recreation, single-family and multi- family residential.  Community Mixed Use: Focuses on small-scale, compact, mixed use development patterns that serve all modes of travel and act as an attractor for county residents and visitors. These areas share several qualities with the urban mixed use place type, including first-floor retail with office and housing above, wider sidewalks, and an emphasis on streetscaping. However, these centers are generally small, no more than a few square blocks. Civic uses, particularly recreation and public gathering places, are particularly encouraged here. Ideally, large-scale, lower density commercial and industrial developments are prohibited. The mixed use, retail and office spaces are generally smaller while more housing options of encouraged. Types of uses include office, retail, mixed use, recreational, multi-family and single-family residential.  Rural Residential: Focuses on rural areas where new development occurs in a manner consistent with existing rural character while also preserving the economic viability of the land. Residential uses are the predominant, but not exclusive, use. Agricultural and rural recreational uses are intermixed with large-lot residential areas. These areas can be quite large. Clustering of homes in smaller lots can provide for conservation of other land while still providing opportunities for residential and agricultural growth. Rural areas have minimal transportation infrastructure requirements; rural collector and arterial roads are sufficient. Types of uses include single-family residential, small-scale agriculture and forestry, recreation, and open space.  Conservation: Covers areas of natural open space and are intended to protect the natural environment, water quality, and wildlife habitats. They serve the public through environmental education, low-impact recreation, and in their natural beauty. Protection may also extend to important cultural or archaeological resources and to areas where hazards are known to exist. NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 33 SPECIAL MEETING, OCTOBER 20, 2015 PAGE 399 Conservation areas and tools may apply to land that also falls into another zoning category, such as single-family residential, though density is limited and conservation requirements generally take precedence. In such areas, increased density would be discouraged, and low impact development methods would be required. Such requirements place limits on development so as to ensure the protection of resources. Active efforts to acquire these areas should be pursued.  Exceptional Resource Areas: Areas that are valued and protected to ensure the longevity of New Hanover County’s natural environment and safety of its citizens. The Exceptional Resource Area Map identifies environmental and flood hazard areas that are governed by the State of North Carolina. The delineation of these areas are to be used in conjunction with the Future Land Use Map and aid in the development process by providing foresight of possible hazard and critical environmental areas.  Conservation Place Type:  Properties acquired for the purpose of conservation: NC Coastal Land Trust, NHC, CFCC, State of NC, and DOT.  Marshlands and Open Water areas: Tidal Creeks, HOA open space and subdivision conservation areas adjacent to tidal creeks, Intracoastal Waterway, Cape Fear River and Northeast Cape Fear River, and non-buildable marshlands between Intracoastal Waterway and barrier islands and beach areas (Figure 8 Island).  Public Water Supply: CFPUA Well Head Area (Greenview Ranches)  Exceptional Resource Area Purpose:  Maintain CAMA Compliance  Bridge 2006 CAMA Land Classification Map and new Future Land Use Map  Recognize Valuable and sensitive Natural Resources  CAMA Areas of Environmental Concern (AEC)  CAMA Areas of Environmental Concern (AEC):  The Estuarine System  Public Trust Areas  The Ocean Hazard System and Flood Plains  Public Water Supply  Natural and Cultural Resource Areas  Significant Natural Heritage  Exceptional Resource Area Regulators:  Public Inland Waters (CAMA)  Public Coastal Waters (CAMA)  Outstanding Resource Waters (CAMA)  Flood Zones (FEMA)  Significant Natural Heritage Areas (CAMA)  Wetlands (Army Corps/Coastal Resource Commission)  Primary Aquifer Recharge Area (CAMA)  Story Map creation – Future Land Use Story Map and Exceptional Resource Areas:  Need online mapping component to allow multiple ways to access information when reviewing development projects  Collaboration with New Hanover County IT  Utilize ESRI Story Maps online interface  Next Steps: th  October 28 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Planning Board Work Session th  October 28 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.: Public Open House th  November 5: Planning Board Votes th  December 14: Board of Commissioners Vote  January: Chapter 5 and Chapter 6 Chairman Barfield thanked Long Range Planners Rigby and McDonnell for their presentation and opened the floor to general discussion. In response to questions about criteria for how an area in the northern portion would be classified as Urban Mixed Use, Long Range Planner McDonnell stated in the process of reviewing a particular area items such as major thoroughfares and how much of an existing corridor is present are considered. An existing example of Urban Mixed Use is Mayfaire Town Center. Analysis of current development patterns and anticipated/continual development of an area of interest is also taken into consideration of place type classification. Staff confirmed that the Board will be asked to adopt a land use map which will essentially be a guide for where certain things are wanted as a county. At this time the challenge for staff is to help the community understand the land use maps have nothing to do with zoning. With the exception of the conservation area, from a development or landowners perspective it lays out a map more of opportunities; things that are not currently eligible for one to try to achieve will now be attainable. It has been heard during the presentations about how difficult it is with the current zoning ordinance to administer through the planning side and maneuver through the development side. By adding the additional classifications, the process will be made easier as it will add an additional element into it such that the county can achieve mixed use development. NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 33 SPECIAL MEETING, OCTOBER 20, 2015 PAGE 400 In discussion of the development of a new zoning ordinance, Long Range Planner Rigby further explained that it takes two to three years to develop a zoning ordinance. It can be crafted in a way to address not only bringing the concept to life but ensure one step follows the other. There will be a time when there is an adopted future land use map that is not consistent with current zoning. Minor text amendments will need to be made to bridge the gaps until the zoning ordinance is fully developed. In response to questions about current City zoning being shown on the future land use map, Long Range Planner Rigby said that it is not currently shown but can be added. Staff does intend to work with the City but it was noted that the two will be unable to have the same zoning ordinance due to different legislative authorities. However, it is critical that the two zoning ordinances are consistent and have similar goals and there has been a great deal of coordination and will continue to be between the two groups. Staff confirmed that these maps are not enforceable as zoning maps but will set the framework for future zoning. It is not the intent to go into developed residential areas and reverse the zoning but rather, it is an effort to enhance and make an area compatible going forward. In regard to the Special Use Permit process, Planning and Inspections Director O’Keefe responded the process will be largely the same and he does not see it going away all together. Until the new ordinance is written the Special Use Permit process will remain with the findings used to help support evidence. The Board will still have to make findings but in terms of plan consistency, staff will be tying it to the new plan. In brief discussion on areas labeled “wetlands” it was noted that the County has no jurisdiction to declare or enforce wetlands as it is an U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) term. Planning and Inspections Director O’Keefe explained that while the area(s) on the map are not considered Army Corps of Engineers wetlands in that they are not jurisdictional, the areas are in the CAMA Land Use Plan. Notations are based on State criteria via the National Wetland Inventory used to allow identification of potential wetlands from a high level. Some Board members asked staff to change the term to “potential wetlands” to provide clarity and raise the awareness that it is not a definite delineated area and there would be a need to work with the Corps or DENR to determine such designation. Staff confirmed that the beach towns are not included in this plan; there will be 5 different plans; county and city staff have been working together in this effort. In response to questions about the City of Wilmington adopting its own CAMA Land Use Plan, Long Range Planner Rigby stated that CAMA has been changing its rules and regulations and initially, the City decided not to have its comprehensive plan CAMA compliant. However, due to the rules and regulations changes they are now considering having their comprehensive plan approved by the Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) to be CAMA compliant. Staff has spoken with CRC officials and confirmed that the County can move forward with or without the City and their endorsement. The Board generally agreed with staff’s direction and particularly for the northern area of the county. Due to these efforts the framework will be in place to assist the consultant in the review of the existing zoning ordinance and to develop the new ordinance. The Board thanked staff and citizens for their efforts to help the county work to achieve its goals. ADJOURNMENT There being no further discussion, Chairman Barfield adjourned the meeting at 3:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kymberleigh G. Crowell Deputy Clerk to the Board