Fch Audit Presentation

8/3/2019 Fch Audit Presentation

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City of Falls ChurchSmart Growth Audit

Review of the Comprehensive Plan 2005

Chapter 1 to Chapter 4

UAP 5194 Spring 2011Paola Reyes


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Smart Growth Audit:

Charlotte-Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

Chapter 1

Visionof the Cityof Falls Church

Chapter 2

Demographics

Chapter 3

CommunityCharacter,Appearance andDesign

Chapter 4

Land Use andEconomicDevelopment

A. Planning Capacity and Quality

1. Anticipating and providing development andgrowth

2. Long-term comprehensive planwith adequate landsupply

B. Urban Form

3. Compact development

4. Protectionofnatural resources5. Substantial public openspace

6. Infill development

7. Variety ofhousing

8. Mix-use, walkable neighborhoods

C. Infrastructure

9. Balanced multi-modal transportation10. Minimizing existinginfrastructure

11. Timely provision andfair fundingofnewinfrastructure

D. Supportive development decision making process

12. Reasonable, predictable and efficient plan review process

13. Supportingfiscal policies

14. Ability tointegrate land use transportation, andinfrastructure

Source: LDR International, Inc. and Freilich, Leiter & Carlisle 1999


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Planning Capacity and Quality

1. Anticipatinggrowth andplanningneeds

General visionofdesirefuture for the City

Designguidelines (*)

Create a sense ofplace

Projectionsof populationand employment growth

Households

Housing prices andvalues (*)

Demographic patterns

Issues:

Unclear projectionsofacreage neededfor various

land uses


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Planning Capacity and Quality

2. Long-term planwith adequatelandsupply Plan to a 20-30 years

Includesimplementation time forsome projects

Include goals andstrategies

Review plan every 5 years Amendments by Planning

Commission All new projectsin conformance

with the comprehensive plan

Issues: Weak usage andimplementationof

thisdocument by all planningdivisions.

Lack of trackingsystem to evaluateplanning results


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Urban Form3. Compact development

Almost no landin the city is vacant.

Future growth will focuson redevelopmentopportunities and the development ofinfill parcels.

Clustering techniques to encourage compactdevelopment

Base residential and commercial density ondwellingunits per acre andfloor area ratios rather thanonminimum lot sizes, buildingsetbacks, lot coverageand number ofstories.

Create distinctive commercial corridors (Washington

St and Broad St) with a variety ofdensities, stylesand heights to reflect the various type of businesses

Develop higher density in commercial areasin theCity Center (downtown) andGordon Road Area (westend)

Well documentedidentificationof redevelopment andopportunity areas (maps and charts)


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Urban Form3. Compact development (cont.)

Different housing types to accommodate specialneeds (*) Low to medium density areas (4 to 6 units per acre) Medium density areas (1 to 10 units per acre) High density areas (16 to 31 units per acre)

Transitional zoningdistrict to protect residentialneighborhoodsfrom impact of commercial uses.

Consider principlesofsustainability and encourageeconomic development activities.

Interjurisdictional cooperationwith surroundingcounties; Arlington and Fairfax County

Issues Predominant development of low-density residential

zoning (map)

Minimum parcel size for development = 3 acres Need to establish a sequential phasing patternfor

future developments (i.e. City Center plan)

Lack ofinfill development strategies Weak marketing and businessdevelopment plan to

promote regional cooperation


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Existing Land Use Map


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Urban Form4. Mixed-use, walkable neighborhoods

Provisionof Mixed-Use Redevelopment (MUR) designatedoverlay areasin the zoning map (retail, offices, etc.) withpredominantly commercial character (map)

A minimum of two andone-halfacresis requiredforprojectsin MUR areas and minimum and maximum buildingheights and Floor Area Ratios exist for each of the three

MUR areas, all ofvaryingdensities.

Promotionofefficient use of landwithin the Cityscommercial corridors (multi-story structures, different uses,shared parking)

CreationofCity Center plan that focusonintegrationofpublic space with private development, improvingwalkability.

Provisionfor traffic calming measures, sidewalkrequirements and convenient access to City Center forpedestrians, vehicles, bikes (*)

Issues Unclear improvement techniquesfor redeveloped areas (*)

Weak accessibility and visual connectivity betweenopportunity areas (disconnection- superblocks) (*)

Automobile dependency isstill prevalent


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Future Land Use Map


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Land use Distribution


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Infrastructure5. Maximizing existinginfrastructure

Supports public infrastructure improvements:renovation and expansionofschools, library,streetscapes, andnew projects (City Center)

Interjurisdictional effortsfor the constructionofthe Falls Church Fire Station (Arlington County)

Joint of powers authority agreements; Arlington-Falls Church Ad Hoc Planning Committee(relocationof W&OD Trail)

Issues No plansfor school facility needs, future location

or access (* CIP)

Lack of planningor analysisfor relocationorconsolidationof Citys property yard (opportunityarea for redevelopment)

Lack of coordinationfor redevelopment of SouthWashington Street with Fairfax County


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Supportive development decision-

making process6. Reasonable and efficient plan review process

The Planis easily accessible (website)

Public participationin city planning-related activities

Supportive of many citizen boards, commissions, andnon-profit social groups

Land use andzoning mapsin conformance with The Plan

Use Citysfiscal impact model to analyze costs andrevenueswithin various business categories uponapplication

Issues

Not user-friendly public participation processes (publichearings, etc.)

Citys business license process to be more efficient

Weak communication between City departments,development boards, and planning commissions

No revisionoffiscal impactsof projects afterdevelopments have opened


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Smart Growth Relevant Principles

Fch Audit Presentation

Documents

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