BUDA 2030 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Preserving Our Heritage | Sustaining Our Future
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september 2011 BUDA 2030 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN preserving our heritage | sustaining our future Prepared for The City of Buda by Halff Associates, Inc. September 2011 DISCLAIMER: This product is for informational purposes and may not have been prepared for or be suitable for legal, engineering, or surveying purposes. It does not represent an on-the-ground survey and represents only the approximate relative location of property boundaries. Gov. C. §2501.102. The user is encouraged to independently verify all information contained in this product. The City of Buda makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of this product or to its fi tness for a particular purpose. The user: (1) accepts the product AS IS, WITH ALL FAULTS; (2) assumes all responsibility for the use thereof; and (3) releases the City of Buda from any damage, loss, or liability arising from such use. August 24, 2011 Kenneth Williams City Manager City of Buda 121 Main Street Buda, TX 78610 Reference: Buda 2030 Comprehensive Plan: Preserving our Heritage, Sustaining our Future Halff Associates, Inc. is pleased to submit the draft master plan report, Buda 2030 Comprehensive Plan: Preserving our Heritage, Sustaining our Future. This document is the culmination of an extensive planning process over the past year involving key stakeholders, members of an advisory committee, City staff, commission offi cials, and most importantly, the citizens of Buda. The plan’s recommendations seek to achieve a sustainable future for Buda that preserves the historic heritage and culture of the community. The citizens of Buda envision a community that refl ects its historic heritage, has a unique identity that everyone can relate to, and makes smart decisions about housing, neighborhoods, transportation, recreation, the environment, development, and economy in order to meet the needs of future generations. These are the building blocks of a city, and they are all intimately related. In order to achieve this vision and recognize the comprehensive nature of the City, six guiding values are established that permeate every element and recommendation of the Buda 2030 Comprehensive Plan: * Community Character - protecting the unique and small town character of Buda * Environmental Protection - being stewards of the environment * Responsible Planning - planning for civic infrastructure and services in advance of growth * Economic Stability - diversifying the tax base so the city is fi scally sound * Unique Identity - creating a distinct identify for Buda that sets it apart from surrounding communities * Livability for All - ensuring that someone can live his or her entire life in Buda This document identifi es opportunities and actions to fulfi ll this vision for Buda and make it a truly livable, sustainable, and unique community in Central Texas. We greatly appreciate the opportunity to have worked with you, your staff, and the citizens of Buda. Sincerely, Halff Associates, Inc. Jim Carrillo, ASLA, AICP Vice President, Director of Planning TABLE OFCONTENTS TABLE TABLE OF CONTENTS PLAN OVERVIEW .......................X 5 RECOMMENDATIONS ............65 Organization of Goals, Objectives, and Actions ............................................................... 65 1 INTRODUCTION .....................1 Summary of Element Goals & Objectives ..66 Why Plan? ...........................................................1 Economic Growth & Sustainability ............... 71 What is a Comprehensive Plan? .....................2 Transportation .................................................. 91 City Planning & Regulatory Authority in Parks, Recreation, & Open Space .............109 Texas .....................................................................3 Housing & Neighborhoods ..........................125 How Buda 2030 was Created ........................4 Community Identity .......................................143 Buda 2030 Study Area ....................................5 Civic Facilities & Programs ..........................147 How to Use this Plan ..........................................6 Public Safety ..................................................159 Downtown Buda .............................................163 Historic Preservation .....................................185 2 COMMUNITY PROFILE ...........9 Historical Context ...............................................9 Regional Context .............................................10 6 FUTURE LAND DEVELOPMENT Existing Plan Documents & Studies ...............11 Population Trends & Projections ................... 18 PLAN .................................191 Demographic Information ..............................23 General Land Development Policies ..........192 Existing Regulatory Framework ....................30 Character Districts .........................................195 Built Environment ..............................................38 Mixed-Use Nodes .........................................205 Environmental Resources ................................ 42 Appropriate Land Use Types ......................212 3 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT .........45 7 IMPLEMENTATION Stakeholder Input to Set the Stage ............. 46 STRATEGY ......................... 215 Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee ..47 Public Investment Priorities ..........................215 2010 Comprehensive Plan Citizen Survey .48 Partnerships ....................................................218 Public Workshops ............................................56 Funding Mechanisms .....................................219 Regulatory Mechanisms ...............................225 Monitoring Progress ......................................228 4 VISION & GOALS ................. 61 Buda’s Vision for Tomorrow ...........................61 Guiding Values ................................................62 BUDA 2030 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN preserving our heritage | sustaining our future vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We’d like to recognize the many individuals who put in a signifi cant amount of their time and energy to make Buda’s comprehensive plan a unique document that refl ects the values of the residents of Buda. This plan for Buda’s future would not have been possible without the input, feedback, and support provided by Buda’s citizens and members of City staff who provided information and technical answers relating to this master plan. CITY COUNCIL HAYS EMERGENCY SERVICES Sarah Mangham, Mayor ISTRICTS Ron Fletcher, Place 1 D Chief Jim Hollis, Emergency Service District #2 Todd Ruge, Place 2 Chief Clay Huckaby, Emergency Service District #8 Sandra Tenorio, Place 3 Cathy Chilcote, Place 4 Dawn Schaeffer, Place 5 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ADVISORY Scott Dodd, Place 6 COMMITTEE The following are former council members who oversaw much of Eileen Altmiller Robert Gomez the planning process: Nancy Brinkley Beth Hagan Bobby Lane, Former Mayor Richard Carey Andy Ivener Thomas Crouse, Place 5, Former Council member Karyn Collins Tommy Poer Paul Goeke John Sanford ITY OF UDA John Dulski Jes Taylor C B Ron Fletcher Kenneth Williams, City Manager Brian LaBorde, AICP, Assistant City Manager Chance Sparks, AICP, Director of Planning Stanley Fees, PE, City Engineer PLANNING TEAM Mike Beggs, Director of Public Works Jim Carrillo, AICP, ASLA, Project Manager, Halff Associates Jack Jones, Director of Parks and Recreation Meghan McCarthy, AICP, Lead Planner, Halff Associates Melinda Hodges, Director of Buda Public Library Ray Turco, Turco Associates Chief Bo Kidd, Buda Police Department Alisha Burrow, Director of Tourism BUDA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Warren Ketteman, Director BUDA 2030 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN preserving our heritage | sustaining our future ix PLAN OVERVIEW The Buda Comprehensive Plan includes seven chapters. The fi rst Plan Elements chapter lays out the need for a comprehensive plan and its use The plan is comprised of 9 elements, each with an element goal in municipal government. and organized into objectives and actions. A summary of each plan element is included below. Chapters 2 and 3 set the background and framework that guided direction of the plan. Chapter 2 reviews the existing ECONOMIC GROWTH & SUSTAINABILITY – This element community profi le and conditions, including existing studies focuses on creating a stable tax revenue base and a PLAN OVERVIEW and plans, existing population characteristics, and potential strong local job market. Key actions include encouraging population growth. Chapter 3 summarizes input received from redevelopment of key properties in Buda, establishing an stakeholders, commissions, and citizens through various meetings Economic Development Strategy, and identifying opportunities and surveys during the planning process. to make infrastructure improvements supporting development along the IH 35 corridor. The remaining chapters discuss the future direction for Buda. Chapters 4 and 5 establish the vision, guiding values, goals, TRANSPORTATION – The goal for transportation is to provide objectives, and recommendations of the Comprehensive Plan. a system that meets current needs and anticipated growth, that Chapter 6 specifi cally discusses the future land development balances transportation options (driving, walking, bicycling, and plan used to guide decisions with regards to development. transit), and is designed in a manner that respects and enhances Finally, Chapter 7 discusses the implementation strategy through the character of Buda. Key actions include adopting policies public investment, partnerships, various funding mechanisms, for complete streets and context