Comprehensive Plan Subcommittee Evanston Plan Commission
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COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SUBCOMMITTEE EVANSTON PLAN COMMISSION Wednesday, April 3, 2013 7:30 A.M. Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Avenue, Room 2403 AGENDA 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. SLIDE PRESENTATION ON SUSTAINABLE URBAN DESIGN: LEED ND PRINCIPLES & WEST EVANSTON MASTER PLAN 3. CONTINUED DISCUSSION – MEMBER COMMENTS RE 2000 COMPREHENSIVE GENERAL PLAN 4. NEXT STEPS 5. ADJOURNMENT Order of agenda items are subject to change. Information about the Plan Commission is available online at: http://www.cityofevanston.org/plancommission. Questions can be directed to the Neighborhood Planner, Susan Guderley, at 847-448-8675 or by e-mail at [email protected]. The City of Evanston is committed to making all public meetings accessible to persons with disabilities. Any citizen needing mobility or communications access assistance should contact the Community and Economic Development Department 48 hours in advance of the scheduled meeting so that accommodations can be made at 847-448-8683 (Voice) or 847-448-8064 (TYY). MEETING NOTES COMP PLAN SUBCOMMITTEE Wednesday, December 12, 2012 7:30 A.M. Evanston Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Avenue, Council Chambers Members Present: Scott Peters, Richard Shure, David Galloway, Barbara Putta, Lenny Asaro Staff Present: Susan Guderley, Dennis Marino 1. CALL TO ORDER / DECLARATION OF QUORUM Member Peters called the meeting to order at 7:30 A.M. 2. CONTINUED DISCUSSION – MEMBER COMMENTS RE 2000 COMPREHENSIVE GENERAL PLAN Comments related to Chapter 1 – Land Use Members requested working definitions or bullet points of critical considerations, for: o Sustainability –how does this apply to land use o Livability – aspect of this are associated with LU, sidewalk design, walkability, etc. The meanings may be subjective, age-cohort related. Even with different points of emphasis, try to identify common or shared aspects. p. 16-17 - What are areas of the city that are good candidates for redevelopment? Chicago Avenue Corridor Recommendations Report and upcoming Main Street TOD study provide insights into that corridor. Central Street Plan– can there be any opportunities found in this corridor? Should this section only highly traditional residential/commercial development; what about industrial? Yes, highlight manufacturing areas, too. Map on page 18 – Review legend o Represents a ‘snap shot’ of the current zonng and the land use pattern it embodied? Comparison of old map vs. new map would be instructive/interesting o Comparison of old map vs. new map would be instructive/interesting Need to introduce the concept of Mixed-Use districts to an updated map; will be equivalent to mapping B&D districts where mixed uses permitted Map’s intent is to show generalized, schematic patterns of land uses. Need to add opportunity sites to this map. Consider mapping definitions, guiding principles, goals & objective of plan with overlays, transparencies? Reiterate or refer to earlier discussion of Density vs. Congestion (DG) – here or in the initial definitions or guiding principles section. Page 1 of 2 Comp Plan Subcommittee Notes New Plan document format needs to be shorter and more readable; graphics. Electronic document should include links to pertinent, on-line documents and allow for targeted searches for key terms and topics. Consider creating a summary plan brochure for public distribution; maybe also separate “modules” for marketing purposes on public facilities, with links to data, charts, chapters. Organization might also be organized in tiers: tier 1: basic stuff, Tier 2 – elaborates/describes Tier 1 stuff; Tier 3 – links to graphics? Comments related to Chapter 2 – Neighborhoods Is this chapter still necessary? – Can Plan take a city-wide perspective and still recognize presence of smaller geographic units. The concept of a neighborhood is not always commonly held. Some are: Dewey-Darrow Conference, Ridgeville. Maybe Evanston’s concept of neighborhoods is not geographic but a state of mind. Meaningful concept but difficult to map – re-reading the 2000 CGP discussion it avoids geographic aspects and mostly focuses on livability/quality of life aspects. Good verbiage – should keep most of this language. This chapter will tap into states of mind – translate all of the objectives we’ve defined and put it in context of livable neighborhoods. Livability is tied to a place or sense of place. There are many components of livability/neighborhood image. Will the plan attempt to define neighborhood boundaries? Can measures of livability be mapped? Is it the mission of the plan to define boundaries or break down boundaries? People should be concerned about all issues everywhere - i.e. Livability City-wide Refer to guiding principles, objectives, goals to make neighborhoods more livable. Not related to real estate markets – can be illegal if “steering”, most ads refer to proximity to lake, NU, transit, etc (not even schools) Sense of Place + Quality of Life = Neighborhood 3. NEXT STEPS NEXT MEETING – Wednesday, April 3, 7:30 a.m., Room 2403 4. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:00 A.M. Page 2 of 2 Comp Plan Subcommittee Notes Some Definitions of Sustainability that are Relevant to the Evanston Context – some notes and excerpts From Peters March 26, 2013 Excerpt from Christopher D. Stone, Deciphering "Sustainable Development" 69 Chicago Kent L. Rev. 977 (1994). Cites Omitted In 1996, Governor Cellucci issued Executive Order No. 385, "Planning for Growth," to manage state- sponsored growth. Admittedly, the Executive Order addresses sustainable development; however, the governor employed many of the same tools used to implement smart growth principles. Executive Order 385 provides that the State shall promote "sustainable economic development in the form of: a) economic activity and growth which is supported by adequate infrastructure and which does not result in, or contribute to, avoidable loss of environmental quality and resources, and b) infrastructure development designed to minimize the adverse environmental impact of economic activity." Moreover, "resource protection and sustainable development shall be pursued as much as possible through means other than new rules and regulations." (Exec. Order No. 385, (April 1996), "Planning for Growth," available at www.state.ma.us/envir/mepa/fourthlevelpages/eo385.htm (last visited November 11, 2002). Excerpt from Planning Advisory Report 479 Sustainable development is defined as a development process that promotes economic prosperity while enhancing social equity and protecting ecological integrity. Excerpt from A Constitutionally Valid Justification for the Enactment of No-Growth Ordinances: Integrating Concepts of Population Stabilization and Sustainability 19 Hawaii L.R. 93 (1999) While many definitions exist, the concept of sustainability is simple. The common goal of sustainability is to implement sustainable practices that are harmonious with nature such that both human and non-human life can be sustained indefinitely into the future. The basic premise is that unsustainable practices threaten not only nature but the future existence of humans as well. Hence, while sustainable practices endeavor to protect the environment by reducing pollution, preserving ecological diversity, and conserving renewable and nonrenewable resources, each of these endeavors is ultimately aimed at preserving human life. Christopher D. Stone, Deciphering "Sustainable Development" 69 Chicago Kent L. Rev. 977 (1994). The science of sustainability has as its mission identifying what practices are sustainable. Among other things, it seeks to determine the "carrying capacity" of the earth by considering both global and local factors. By determining carrying capacity, one can define the optimal ecological balance between human and non-human life. The carrying capacity of a given area will vary depending on a host of complex variables including: availability of nearby natural resources(e.g., energy, water, forests); sensitivity of the surrounding ecology; consumption habits of the people; land use, farming and industrial practices; and, the number of people in the area. By analyzing these variables, sustainable science attempts to determine whether a particular region or locale is above or below its carrying capacity. n170 Hence, where water is readily available, more intensive farming can take place without surpassing the carrying capacity. In contrast, where the surrounding ecology is more sensitive, less development can take place. Alternatively, where resource consumption is low, a given area may be more densely populated. Because a multitude of variables determine carrying capacity, a particular locale may be able to achieve sustainability by balancing one or several of these variables. For example, a region might implement water conservation measures so that its water supply can remain sustainable. Christopher D. Stone, Deciphering "Sustainable Development" 69 Chicago Kent L. Rev. 977 (1994). The above definitions are related to ecology, environment, and similar issues. However a second set of definitions is related to economic development and conditions that meet the basic needs of individuals adopts the idea of economic development that will last for generations – just as the above definitions adopt the idea of ecological and environmental conditions that permit people and other species of plants and animals continue to live on Earth for long periods. The ecological conception of sustainability tends to be used in the Northern developed countries while the definition