2020 Plan Update Process Phase 2: Analysis Plan Element Review Current Conditions Data This Packet contains all the current Plan Elements with Staff Commentary and Current Condition Maps. This documents is meant for use by the Rockford 2020 Plan Update Task Force ROCKFORD 2020 PLAN: 2014 Review Current Conditions Data Issues & Opportunities Plan Element 1: Issues and Opportunities Community Vision The “vision” of this plan is to contribute to the realization of the mission statement generated in the “Blueprint for Rockford’s Future” — to strengthen and focus this community’s commitment to improve the lives of all its’ people. While many of the focal points are the same as those in Blueprint — linkages, access and neighborhoods — the emphasis is different. Here, in the 2020 Plan, the emphasis is on the use of the land and on physical facilities; in Blueprint, the emphasis leaned more towards solving problems through partnerships. What is needed for success is a combination of the two approaches. Community Goals and Principles • Land Use: Guide Rockford’s development through the 2020 Plan, Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Ordinance and Building Code, following the principles of Smart Growth, Staff Commentary: Sustainable Growth and New Urbanism have emerged as recognized planning and design methods since the 2004 plan adoption. • Transportation: Improve transportation infrastructure, services and networks (Airport, transit, roadways, and pathways) to provide efficient and accessible movement of all Rockford residents and goods throughout the community. Staff Commentary: Passenger and freight rail transit is not included in the 2004 plan. • Community facilities: Develop and provide easy access for all Rockford residents to the quality and types of resources and services people need to improve their quality of life, and to develop to their fullest potential. • Telecommunications: Ensure that all Rockford citizens and businesses have access to the latest telecommunications services. • Housing: Ensure that all Rockford residents have a decent and affordable home and a suitable living environment. • Economic development: Bring businesses, the community and other resources together for the entire community of Rockford to attain a robust and diverse economic environment. • Neighborhoods: Ensure that all Rockford residents live in neighborhoods that are safe and that are at least either stable or improving. Page 1 of 2 ROCKFORD 2020 PLAN: 2014 Review Current Conditions Data Issues & Opportunities • Natural resources: Safeguard and improve environmental features as a means of promoting sustainable urban development, revitalization and a good quality of life in Rockford. • Historic preservation: Identify, protect and preserve Rockford’s historic resources in order to enhance the quality of life and economic wellbeing of current and future generations. • Community design: Improve the aesthetics and enhance the identity of Rockford as whole as well as constituent neighborhoods, major road corridors and gateways, and the riverfront. • Public participation: Engage the public through community outreach, consensus building and public education. • Monitoring and Evaluation: Ensure that the 2020 Plan remains viable while still consistent with its original evaluation principles through a regular review and amendment process. Page 2 of 2 ROCKFORD 2020 PLAN: 2014 Review Current Conditions Data Land Use Plan Element 2: Land Use The development and use of land is the result of a complex process involving legal, social, economic and environmental aspects. This plan is just one component of the City’s regulatory role in that process. As Rockford’s official comprehensive land use plan, it provides a general framework to guide future long-term land development decisions and actions by both the public and private sectors. Other elements are the City’s zoning, subdivision and building regulations, as well as incentives offered through various Economic Development and housing programs. Each of these plays a separate part in the process with each of the regulatory codes addressing a different level of development, going from the very general (land use plan) to the very specific (building code). Land Use Plan Provides a generalized map of the community showing where broad types of uses should be allowed, with more specific guidance in the accompanying text; establishes corridors for the construction of new streets and roads. Subdivision Ordinance Governs the division of land and establishes minimum requirements for improvements such as streets, sidewalks and drainage detention areas; used for review of developments up to 1½ miles beyond the city limits. Staff Commentary: Current ordinance adopted in 2007 Zoning Ordinance Governs the site-specific designation of allowed uses on individual parcels of land, as well as parking and landscaping requirements, location of buildings, location and size of signs, traffic circulation and access; current ordinance adopted in 1993, updated in 1997. Ordinance is based on the concept of performance zoning which allows maximum flexibility for the developer while at the same time resulting in the most specific designation of what is allowed on a particularly parcel. In addition, incorporating performance requirements into the overall mix of zoning requirements can make seemingly incompatible uses compatible. Staff Commentary: • Current ordinance adopted in 2008; updated regularly as per state statutes. • The zoning ordinance is adopted for the purposes of: o protecting and promoting the public health, safety and general welfare; o implementing adopted plans and policies o enhancing residents’ quality of life o protecting the character of established residential neighborhoods o maintaining economically vibrant as well as visually attractive business and commercial areas o retaining and expanding the city’s business and employment base o promoting mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented development patterns o accommodating pedestrian, bicycle, and transit use Page 1 of 19 ROCKFORD 2020 PLAN: 2014 Review Current Conditions Data Land Use o maintaining orderly and compatible development patterns that promote an appropriate mix of land uses and protect and conserve property values o ensuring adequate light, air, privacy and access to property o promoting environmentally responsible development practices o promoting rehabilitation and reuse of older buildings o maintaining a range of housing choices and options Building Code Governs construction and/or renovation of structures; the City adopts the most recent editions of BOCA and International Codes for Building, One and Two Family Dwellings, Electrical, Mechanical, Fire Prevention, and Property Maintenance with local amendments; and the Illinois Plumbing Code and Illinois Accessibility Code. The efficient functioning of each of these regulations requires the cooperative efforts of several departments of city government. This is something the City has worked very hard to achieve and plans to improve in the years ahead, partly with the aid of technology. Development of a computerized geographic information system (GIS) will enable all departments to share information, thus minimizing the chances of their working at cross purposes because of conflicting information. This should not only improve staff efficiency, but also provide developers with a more direct path through the regulatory maze. The following pages describe how the land use planning decisions were made in preparing this plan, as well as further steps that will need to be taken to implement the plan. Staff Commentary: • Development of a computerized geographic information system (WINGIS) and sharing information through ROCKSTAT has enabled all departments to share information, thus minimizing the chances of their working at cross purposes because of conflicting information. Basic Concepts The land use section of the original Year 2000 Plan begins by alluding to the complexity of the development process, concluding with the statement that “. our land use pattern did not come about by accident; it is the result of public decisions — plans, laws and expenditures — coupled with private investment choices.” Making land use decisions hasn’t gotten any easier in the 15-20 years; if anything, it’s gotten even more complex. Now, in addition to all the standard land use issues planners have always faced, we also need to incorporate recent decisions and trends ranging from such things as brownfields and riverfront development to big box retailers and the need for affordable housing and vacant storefronts will keep moving outward. The same forces affecting older parts of Rockford will affect what is now the fringe area a generation or two later. In other words, today’s winners will become tomorrow’s losers. We also need to consider plans that are being made by other jurisdictions near Rockford or that include Rockford, such as the Rock River Reclamation District (while they need to take our plans into consideration as well). This is done to a certain extent within the regional transportation planning process, but needs to be expanded to cover all land use issues. All of these things came into play in the creation of this plan and the map that goes with it. Page 2 of 19 ROCKFORD 2020 PLAN: 2014 Review Current Conditions Data Land Use Staff Commentary: • Development of a computerized geographic information system (WINGIS) and sharing information through ROCKSTAT has enabled all departments to share information, thus minimizing the chances of