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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02162017 ZPC Agenda Item 4 NOTE:Further proposed edits arrived at through the January 12 ZPC meeting have yellow highlighting. APPENDIX D-COMPREHENSIVE PLAN NOTE: To be updated to reflect new adoption. As adopted by City of West University Place Ordinance No. 1641, passed on second and final reading May 8, 2000 (no amendments through June 1, 2003) [no amendments through November 2005] Article I. -PURPOSE Section 1.01. - Introduction. The Comprehensive Plan, hereafter referred to as the "Plan," is designed to promote the general health, safety, and public welfare of the citizens of West University Place. Its purpose is to guide the long- range development of the City and good government. The Plan is a policy document to be used as a framework for implementing community goals and objectives and a guide for decisions involving capital improvements, zoning and subdivision matters, neighborhood safety, community appearance, regulatory issues and other matters of similar importance. Unless otherwise specified by the City Charter, the relationship between this Plan and the City's various development regulations is defined by separate ordinance. That ordinance, which is codified in Chapter 1 of the City's Code of Ordinances, also provides standards for determining the consistency required between this Plan and development regulations and establishes procedures for adopting and amending a comprehensive plan. Section 1.02. - Mission Statement. Inasmuch as the City is almost completely developed and most of its land area is devoted to single- family residential uses, the Plan's goal is to maintain and encourage the traditional residential character of West University Place as a friendly, safe, economically stable, and attractive community. It is also intended to minimize any adverse effects of non-residential development and uses. Maintaining a strong sense of neighborhood and community are fundamental priorities, as is preserving the mature tree canopy that is a signature element of the community's character and image. Crime prevention and residential security should remain a prime focus of municipal government. To the extent it can, the City also should safeguard the community against external factors that can affect residents' quality of life, such as intensive development and redevelopment in adjacent jurisdictions, major street and infrastructure projects by other public agencies, and lingering blight removal and revitalization needs in the vicinity of West University Place. Article II.-HISTORICAL West University was created from an area of swamp land west of Rice University off Old Spanish Trail. In 1912, the governor of Tennessee, Ben Hooper, bought 750 acres for a community of country homes outside the City of Houston. The area was advertised as an exclusive neighborhood, but it was not initially popular. Most of the first citizens were families who moved to Houston so the men could work at Rice University as professors. Many publications advertised West University Place as an attractive cozy neighborhood. Development began in the early 1920's. The area was described by many as a virtual treeless prairie. In the Second Addition of West University Place, the builder tried to make the area seem more prestigious by naming the streets after colleges and universities. Many of the original homes were two-story structures, small cottages, and bungalows. A rural-like atmosphere derived from numerous fruit, flower and vegetable gardens. West University Place was incorporated in 1924 with approximately 40 families. Incorporation brought higher taxes, a city hall, fire station, street improvements with curbs and gutters, and organized police and fire protection. As a Home Rule Charter city, the municipality has a Council-Manager form of government. Since the 1980's, West University Place has experienced significant private urban development. Many of the original bungalows and cottages have been replaced with large two-story custom-built homes. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly two-thirds of current homes in 2015 had been built since 1980. Nearly the entire balance of the housing stock was from before 1950, with only a small percentage of homes remaining from the 1960's and 1970's. >>>WORKING DRAFT FOR REVIEW(01.24.17)«< Page 1 of 6 NOTE:Further proposed edits arrived at through the January 12 ZPC meeting have yellow highlighting. Article III. -DEMOGRAPHICS I (a) The population of West University Place was greatest in the 1950's when the count peaked a bit over 17,000. A low of 12,010 was reached in the 1980's. In 1999, the population was estimated to be 13,200 living in 5,600 homes. The last census count in 2010 showed 14,787 residents and 5,548 housing units. The population in 2015 was approximately 15,400 based on an average of estimates from federal, state and regional agencies. The corresponding median age was 42.4 years, compared to 39.3 in 2000. The proportion of residents age 19 or younger was 30.9 percent, little changed from 31.2 percent in 2000; however the senior population age 65 or older had increased from 7.6 percent in 2000 to 11 percent in 2015. (b) This Plan recognizes that, as a largely built-out community, West University Place will not show any significant gains in population or housing units in the years ahead. In fact, there could be fewer single-family homes in the future if more buyers choose to purchase and consolidate adjacent lots for additional space and yard area. Census 2010 reported 5,548 housing units in the city, and as of October 2016, the City showed approximately 5,500 active residential water accounts. As part of its regional growth forecast through 2040, the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC), the regional planning agency for the Houston metropolitan area, projects that West University Place will have 15,588 residents in 2020, relative to a 2015 estimate of 15,400 residents as indicated in the Existing City Report for this Plan. For the later decades; H-GAC projects that West University Place will just surpass the 16,000 mark in 2030 (16,012), as part of the ongoing growth trajectory of the entire Houston area, but will then fall back to nearly 15,000 by 2040 (15,034). If the housing quantity in the city varies little, as expected, then a key indicator to watch will be persons per household to account for the relatively minor fluctuations in total population. Related factors behind such variations can include ebbs and flows in the rate of family formation, family sizes, turnover in two-person senior households and one-person widower households over time, and the extent of young adults and/or seniors living for a time with other family. Article IV. -LAND USE Section 4.01. -Single Family Residential. (a) As the community's first generation single-family detached garage residences become a smaller share of the housing stock, the City should encourage the preservation, maintenance and, where possible, the enhancement of such homes through targeted ordinance provisions that provide reasonable relief from typical zoning standards without compromising protection of adjacent residential properties. (b) The City should continuously monitor the density, placement, quality and nature of any new residences, replacement residences and additions to insure consistency and compatibility to existing development and to preserve existing mature trees and pervious land surfaces on lots as prescribed by the City's development regulations. (c) Single-family residential districts must be protected from commercial and non-single family uses. Buffering visual screening and noise control should be required between residential districts and both non single-family residential and commercial land use. (d) Ingress and egress to higher intensity land uses should be designed so that non-local traffic will be discouraged from passing directly through single-family residential districts. (e) No areas zoned for single-family residential development should be rezoned for any other use or type of redevelopment. Section 4.02. - Non Single-Family Residential. (a) Non single-family residential development, in the form of medium to higher density cluster development, may only be permitted on the periphery of the City or in areas properly zoned. >>>WORKING DRAFT FOR REVIEW(01.24.17)«< Page 2 of 6 NOTE:Further proposed edits arrived at through the January 12 ZPC meeting have yellow highlighting. (b) The general orientation of non single-family residential land use should recognize the sensitive relationship to its abutting residential district. (c) All uses adjacent to single-family residential districts must be properly buffered, screened and regulated as to parking, height and density. Section 4.03. - Parks and Open Space. The City parks and recreation areas contribute greatly to the health, safety, and well-being of the citizens. The City should continue to adhere to its newest adopted Parks and Open Space Master Plan along with an ongoing maintenance plan that serves the needs of the citizens. The City should evaluate future opportunities to acquire additional land within the city limits as it becomes available.- Among the priority considerations for the Traffic portion of this Plan should be safety enhancements for children and adults who cross major streets to go to and from City parks. Section 4.04. -Zoning Ordinance. (a) The City's zoning ordinance shall serve as the regulatory resource for the development of all land use and other general physical development considerations. By careful and consistent application of the zoning ordinance, the City shall seek to preserve and enhance property values while preserving the traditional character of the community and quality of life for its residents. (b) The existing zoning ordinance should be periodically reviewed and amended as necessary. (c) Zoning ordinances shall be complementary to the building code standards. (d) Unless otherwise specified in the City Charter, the relationship between this Plan and the City's various development regulations, including the zoning ordinance, is defined by separate ordinance. See Section 1.01, above. Article V. -PERIPHERAL DEVELOPMENT Section 5.01. -General. (a) The City should encourage the maintenance and upgrading of existing structures and high quality compatible development and redevelopment in peripheral areas of the City as elaborated in item (b), below. The periphery of the City not located on major thoroughfares (as well as Bissonnet Ave. within the City) is zoned for single-family use and should remain as such. (b) The peripheral area zoned for non single-family, commercial use should not be expanded. Commercial uses which are compatible with close proximity to single-family residential neighborhoods and are appropriately buffered, screened and regulated as to parking, height, density and noise control may be allowed. Signs and lighting should be restricted to prevent visual pollution. Zoning procedures, such as planned development districts, should be considered as a tool to encourage redevelopment. Factors relevant to a peripheral property should include: major thoroughfare traffic characteristics, historic use, adjacent residential properties, size, ingress and egress, the nature of the existing development on the major thoroughfare, and all other factors that might negatively impact single-family residential uses. (c) The City should consider ways to encourage and support the redevelopment of peripheral areas.-. It should also coordinate with the Cities of Houston and Southside Place regarding the major thoroughfares within those jurisdictions. Section 5.02. -Signs. I (a) The City's boundaries should continue to be clearly identified with distinctive street signs to visually distinguish the City of West University Place from the cities of Houston, Bellaire, and Southside Place. (b) All signs should be strictly regulated to prevent visual pollution. >>>WORKING DRAFT FOR REVIEW(01.24.17)«< Page 3 of 6 NOTE:Further proposed edits arrived at through the January 12 ZPC meeting have yellow highlighting. Article VI. -TRAFFIC Section 6.01. -General. West University Place experiences local traffic, congestion and safety issues that stem, in part, from its position as an enclave City amid the increasingly populous and intensively developed central area of Houston. The City should continue to encourage the separation of pedestrian and vehicular traffic in the existing roadway system and safe walking and biking practices. Since new roadways are unlikely, the City should monitor, assess and make recommendations relating to traffic flow including pedestrian, bicycle and related--and safety issues, especially in Town Center with the peak morning/afternoon traffic conditions around West University Elementary, as well as other key streets and intersections across the community. Section 6.02. - Maintenance. Street and road maintenance and repair should have constant high priority. Repairs should be done efficiently, with a minimum of discomfort and inconvenience to residents, and coordinated with management of infrastructure projects. Article VII. - PUBLIC UTILITIES& FACILITIES Section 7.01. -General. As an enclave City, West University Place has only partial control of its storm water management, which ultimately depends on the downstream capacity of drainage channels and receiving waters managed by other public agencies. Within the city limits, the City should closely monitor drainage matters to encourage the efficient evacuation of storm water so as not to affect neighboring lots. No new development should be allowed within the City unless the required public utilities needed to support such proposed development are in place. The City is encouraged to explore innovative ways to conceal, as in dthe case of personal wireless service facilities, and relocate utilities underground where feasible so as to minimize impact upon City streetscape and public ways. In all aspects of its capital projects and maintenance programs, the City should consider "green infrastructure" design methods and Low Impact Development practices where appropriate and cost effective. Section 7.02. - Lighting. The City should evaluate the existing street lighting plan and take steps to implement appropriate additional lighting. Focus should be on safety, security, and safer vehicular and pedestrian movement. Section 7.03. -Sidewalks. The City completed_the Sidewalk M_ aster Plan which installed sidewalks throughout the community to create a more pedestrian-friendly environment. Maintenance of this investment remains the focus going forward. Section 7.04. - Facilities The City should continue to utilize and maintain its municipal land and facilities in accordance with its most recently adopted Facilities Master Plan to ensure efficient operations and flexibility for future adjustments or expansion. Article VIII. -TOWN CENTER Section 8.01. -General. (a) Approximately a 25-acre area which includes West University Elementary, the City's administration building and related facilities, West University Baptist Church, Harris County Library Branch, West >>>WORKING DRAFT FOR REVIEW(01.24.17)«< Page 4 of 6 NOTE:Further proposed edits arrived at through the January 12 ZPC meeting have yellow highlighting. University Methodist Church and the retail area on Edloe constitute the Town Center. Most interaction between citizens occurs in this area through municipal functions, educational activities, shopping, religious activities/programs and youth sports. Much of the small town atmosphere so prized by citizens of the City derives from the interactions in the Town Center. The Town Center is a mixed use area, containing government, education, religious, recreation and retail uses. The Town Center and its existing uses should be preserved and enhanced, especially the valued green space and athletic fields around West University Elementary given their importance to community interaction and Town Center aesthetics. Expansion should be allowed only where appropriate so as to preserve a positive impact on the residential area, based upon an individual consideration of the particular expansion. As part of enhancing Town Center as a community focal point, opportunities for more public art installations within Town Center should be pursued as appropriate. >>>WORKING DRAFT FOR REVIEW(01.24.17)«< Page 5 of 6 NOTE:Further proposed edits arrived at through the January 12 ZPC meeting have yellow highlighting. Section 8.02. -Town Center CommercialRetail.District. (a) The economic viability of the Town Center Retail District on Edloe should be preserved to benefit City residents. The land in this area should be restricted to compatible commercial and other uses and should be consistent with close proximity to single-family residential neighborhoods. These areas must be buffered, screened, and regulated as to parking, height and density so as to minimize any detrimental effects. Renovation, redevelopment and beautification of the area should be encouraged. Techniques to encourage and support redevelopment should be explored. Input from the business owners and operators is needed in developing new regulations. [Unedited 2000 version.] (a) This Plan recognizes the consternation that has marked community debates of recent years about the best path forward for managing uses and redevelopment needs within the Town Center Commercial District on Edloe. This Plan also assumes that the District will remain a part of Town Center for the foreseeable future, encompassing the current properties in commercial use or some smaller footprint, but no larger. Therefore, it is in the best interests of the City and its citizens that the District remains viable and well maintained for as long as it exists, and not succumb to any lingering vacancy or blight The land in this area should be restricted to relatively small-scale and low-intensity retail and service uses that primarily serve a West University Place clientele given the willingness of residents to travel outside the city for their major shopping, service and entertainment needs. Such uses should be of a scale and design that is compatible and consistent with close proximity to single- family residential neighborhoods. These areas must be buffered, screened, and regulated as to parking, height and density so as to minimize any detrimental effects. Renovation of existing properties and beautification of the area should be encouraged. City regulations and standards should ensure that any private reinvestment will address the community desire to see upgraded buildings and architecture in the District that matches the quality of newer single-family home construction in the vicinity. Ideally, any such redevelopment would occur in a coordinated versus disjointed fashion. Any further potential adjustments to the Town Center zoning framework should be preceded by community discussion and extensive input opportunities for all interested parties, including all citizens, nearby homeowners, other property owners, business owners and operators, and institutional representatives. (b) The City should make necessary capital improvements to support and upgrade the Town Center Commercial District with specific emphasis on sidewalks, bicycle lanes, pedestrian crosswalks, lighting, signs and parking. Article IX.-LOCAL INSTITUTIONS&PLACES OF WORSHIP Section 9.01. -General. (a) Residents of the City support and enjoy many local institutions and places of worship. Official City policies should recognize the value and benefits. Needed upgrades to aging buildings should be encouraged while avoiding residential encroachment and adverse effects on nearby homes. Section 9.02. - Education Facilities. Due to its size and location in the Town Center, and its popularity with citizens and as a draw for prospective residents, the City should encourage the enhancement of West University Elementary in both its physical facilities and quality of educational experience. The City should exercise all possible efforts to encourage H.I.S.D. to maximize resource allocation to West University Elementary. Article X. -RECYCLING & ENERGY As a community that prides itself on aggressive recycling and energy conservation program efforts, the City should continue to encourage and facilitate the systematic collection of renewable materials and maintain and improve its central recycling facilities. The City should establish policies to implement environmental measures. >>>WORKING DRAFT FOR REVIEW(01.24.17)«< Page 6 of 6 NOTE:Further proposed edits arrived at through the January 12 ZPC meeting have yellow highlighting. APPENDIX D-COMPREHENSIVE PLAN NOTE: To be updated to reflect new adoption. As adopted by City of West University Place Ordinance No. 1641, passed on second and final reading May 8, 2000 (no amendments through June 1, 2003) [no amendments through November 2005] Article I. -PURPOSE Section 1.01. - Introduction. The Comprehensive Plan, hereafter referred to as the "Plan," is designed to promote the general health, safety, and public welfare of the citizens (homeowners) of West University Place. Its purpose is to I guide the long-range development of the City and good government. The Plan is a policy document to be used as a framework for implementing (aspirational) community goals and objectives and a guide for decisions involving capital improvements, zoning and subdivision matters, neighborhood safety, community appearance, regulatory issues and other matters of similar importance. Unless otherwise specified by the City Charter, the relationship between this Plan and the City's various development regulations is defined by separate ordinance. That ordinance, which is codified in Chapter 1 of the City's Code of Ordinances, also provides standards for determining the consistency required between this Plan and development regulations and establishes procedures for adopting and amending a comprehensive plan. Section 1.02. - Mission Statement. Inasmuch as the City is almost completely developed and most of its land area is devoted to single- family residential uses, the Plan's goal is to maintain and encourage the traditional (single family) residential character of West University Place as a friendly, safe, economically stable (growing), and attractive community. It is also intended to minimize any adverse effects of non-residential development and uses.2. Maintainirtge strong sense of neighborhood and community are fundamental priorities, as is preserving the mature tree canopy that is a signature,element of the community's character and image. 1.Crime prevention and residential security should remain a prime focus of municipal government. To the extent it can the City (Should)also <should> safeguard,the community against external factors that can affect resideftts' quality of life, such as intensive development and redevelopment in adjacent jurisdictions, majpr'street and infrastructure projects by other public agencies, and lingering blight removal and revitalization needs in the vicinity of West Univrsity,.Place. Article II. -HISTORICAL West University was created from an area of swamp land west of Rice University off Old Spanish Trail. In 1912, the governor of Tennessee, Ben Hooper, bought 750 acres for a community of country homes outside the City of Houston.The area was advertised as an exclusive neighborhood, but it was not initially popular. Most of the first citizens were families who moved to Houston so the men could work at Rice University as professors. Many publications advertised West University Place as an attractive cozy neighborhood. Development began in the early 1920's. The area was described by many as a virtual treeless prairie. In the Second Addition of West University Place, the builder tried to make the area seem more prestigious by naming the streets after colleges and universities. Many of the original homes were two-story structures, small cottages, and bungalows. A rural-like atmosphere derived from numerous fruit, flower and vegetable gardens. West University Place was incorporated in 1924 with approximately 40 families. Incorporation brought higher taxes, a city hall, fire station, street improvements with curbs and gutters, and organized police and fire protection. As a Home Rule Charter city, the municipality has a Council-Manager form of government. Since the 1980's, West University Place has experienced significant private urban development. Many of the original bungalows and cottages have been replaced with large two-story custom-built homes. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly two-thirds of current homes in 2015 had been built since 1980. Nearly the entire balance of the housing stock was from before 1950, with only a small percentage of homes remaining from the 1960's and 1970's., >>>WORKING DRAFT FOR REVIEW(01.24.17)«< Page 1 of 6 NOTE:Further proposed edits arrived at through the January 12 ZPC meeting have yellow highlighting. Article III. -DEMOGRAPHICS (a)_-_The population of West University Place was greatest in the 1950's when the count peaked a bit over 17,000. A low of 12,010 was reached in the 1980's. In 1999, the population was estimated to be 13,200 living in 5,600 homes. The last census count in 2010 showed 14,787 residents and 5,548 housing units. The population in 2015 was approximately 15,400 based on an average of estimates from federal, state and regional agencies. The corresponding median age was 42.4 years, compared to 39.3 in 2000. The proportion of residents age 19 or younger was 30.9 percent, little changed from 31.2 percent in 2000; however the senior population age 65 or older had increased from 7.6 percent in 2000 to 11 percent in 2015. ( make a grid) (b) This (Comprehensive) Plan recognizes that, as a largely Wilt-out community, West University Place will not show any significant gains in population or housing_units in the years ahead. In fact, there could be fewer single-family homes in the future if more buyers choose to purchase and consolidate adjacent lots for additional space and yard area. Census 2010-reported 5,548 housing units in the city, and as of October 2016, the City showed approximately 5,500 active residential water accounts. As part of its regional growth forecast through 2040, the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC), the regional planning agency for the Houston Metropolitan area, projects,tlat West University Place will have 15,588 residents in 2020, relative to a 2015 estimate of 15,400 residents as indicated in the Existing City Report for this Plan. For the later decades, H-GAC projects that 1,IWet,University Place will just surpass the 16,000 mark in 2030 (16,012), as part of the ongoing growth trajectory of the entire Houston area, but will then fallback to nearly 15,000 by 2040 (15,034). If the housing quantity in the city varies little, as expected then.a key indicator to watch will be persons per household to account for the relatively minor fluctuations in total population.;Related factors behind such variations can include ebbs and flows in the rate of family formation, family sizes, turnover in two-person senior households and one-person widower households over time, and the extent of young adults and/or seniors living for a time with other family. Article IV. -LAND USE Section 4.01. -Single Family Residential. (a) OMIT ALL of(a.) As the community's first generation single-family detached garage residences become 3 smaller share of the housing stock. the City should encourage the preservation, maintenance and, where possible, the enhancement of such homes through targeted ordinance provisions that provide reasonable relief from typical zoning standards without compromising protection of adjacent residential properties. (b) (a.) The City should continuously monitor the density, placement, quality and nature of any new residences, replacement residences and additions to insure consistency and compatibility to existing development and to preserve existing mature trees and pervious land surfaces on lots as prescribed by the City's development regulations. (c)(b ) Single-family residential districts must be ( preferred and) protected from commercial and non- single family uses. Buffering, visual screening and noise control should be required between residential districts and both non single-family residential and commercial land use. (d) (: t Ingress and egress to higher intensity land uses should be designed so that non-local traffic will be discouraged from passing directly through single-family residential districts. (e)(d.) No areas zoned for single-family residential development should be rezoned for any other use or type of redevelopment. (Where possible non-SFresidential development should be re-zoned to SF) Section 4.02. - Non Single-Family Residential. (a) ( Non single-family residential development, in the form of medium to higher density cluster development, may only be permitted on the periphery of the City or in areas properly zoned. >>>WORKING DRAFT FOR REVIEW(01.24.17)«< Page 2 of 6 NOTE:Further proposed edits arrived at through the January 12 ZPC meeting have yellow highlighting. (b) The general orientation of non single-family residential land use should recognize the sensitive relationship to its abutting residential district. (c) All uses adjacent to single-family residential districts must be properly buffered, screened and regulated as to parking, height and density. Section 4.03. - Parks and Open Space. The City parks and recreation areas contribute greatly to the health, safety, and well-being of the citizens. The City should continue to adhere to its newest adopted Parks and Open Space Master Plan along with anongoino maintenance plan that serves the needs of the citizens. The City should evaluate future opportunities to acquire additional land within the city limits as it becomes available.- Among the priority considerations for the Traffic portion of this Plan should be safety enhancements for children and adults who cross major streets to go to and from City parks. Section 4.04. -Zoning Ordinance. (a) The City's zoning ordinance shall serve as the regulatory resource for the development of all land use and other general physical development considerations. By careful and consistent application of the zoning ordinance, the City shall seek to preserve and enhance property values while preserving the traditional 4 sii character of the community and quality of life for its residents. (b) The existing zoning ordinance should be periodically,reviewed and amended as necessary. (c) Zoning ordinances shall be complementary to the building code standards. (d) Unless otherwise specified in the City Charter, the relationship between this Plan and the City's various development regulations, including the zoning ordinance, is defined by separate ordinance. See Section 1.01, above. Article V. -PERIPHERAL DEVELOPMENT Section 5.01. - General. (a) The City should encourage the maintenance and upgrading of existing structures and high quality compatible development and redevelopment in peripheral areas of the City as elaborated in item (b), below. The periphery of the City not located on major thoroughfares (as well as Bissonnet Ave. within the City) is zoned for single-family use and should remain as such. (b) The peripheral area zoned for non single-family, commercial use should not be expanded. Commercial uses which are compatible with close proximity to single-family residential neighborhoods and are appropriately buffered, screened and regulated as to parking, height, density and noise} control may be allowed. Signs and lighting should be restricted to prevent visual pollution. Zoning procedures, such as planned development districts, should be considered as a tool to encourage redevelopment. Factors relevant to a peripheral property should include: major thoroughfare traffic characteristics, historic use, adjacent residential properties, size, ingress and egress, the nature of the existing development on the major thoroughfare;_and all other factors that might negatively impact singlefa m_tiy_residential uses. (c) The City should consider ways to encourage and support the redevelopment of peripheral areas..-. It should also coordinate with the Cities of Houston and Southside Place regarding the major thoroughfares within those jurisdictions. Section 5.02. -Signs. I (a) The City's boundaries should continue to be clearly identified with distinctive street signs to visually distinguish the City of West University Place from the cities of Houston, Bellaire, and Southside Place. (b) All signs should be strictly regulated to prevent visual pollution. >>>WORKING DRAFT FOR REVIEW(01.24.17)«< Page 3 of 6 NOTE:Further proposed edits arrived at through the January 12 ZPC meeting have yellow highlighting. Article VI. -TRAFFIC Section 6.01. - General. West University Place experiences local traffic, congestion and (personal) safety issues that stem, in part, from its position as an enclave City amid the increasingly populous and intensively developed central area of Houston. The City should continue to encourage the separation of pedestrian and vehicular traffic in the existing roadway system and ( enforcement of) safe walking and biking practices. Since new roadways are unlikely, the City should monitor, assess and make recommendations relating to traffic flow including pedestrian, bicycle and related-and safety issues, especially in Town Center < OMIT with the peak morning/afternoon traffic conditions > around West University Elementary,< OMIT as well as other key streets and intersections across the community>. Section 6.02. - Maintenance. Street and road maintenance and repair should have constant high priority. Repairs should be done efficiently, with a minimum of discomfort and inconvenience to residents, and coordinated with management of infrastructure projects. Article VII. - PUBLIC UTILITIES& FACILITIES Section 7.01. - General. As an enclave City, West University Place has only partial control of its stc management, which ultimately depends on the downstream capacity of drainage channel: ring waters managed by other public agencies. Within the city limits, the City should closely monitor drainage matters to encourage the efficient evacuation of storm water so as not to affect neighboring lots. No new development should be allowed within the City unless the required public utilities needed to support such proposed development are in place. The City is encouraged to explore innovative ways to conceal, as in d the case of personal wireless service facilities, and relocate utilities underground where feasible so as to minimize impact upon City streetscape and public ways. In all aspects of its capital projects and maintenance programs, the City should consider "green infra_structure" design methods and Low Impact Development practices where appropriate and cost effective. Section 7.02.-Lighting. The City should evaluate the existing street lighting plan and take steps to implement appropriate additional lighting. Focus should be on safety, security, and safer OMITvehicular and= pedestrian movement. Section 7.03. -Sidewalks. The City completed theSidewalk Master Plan which installed sidewalks throughout the community to create a more pedestrian-friendly environment. Maintenance. to promote usage. of this investment remains the focus going forward. Section 7.04. - Facilities The City should continue to utilize and maintain its municipal land and facilities in accordance with its most recently adopted Facilities Master Plan to ensure efficient operations and flexibility for future adjustments or expansion. Article VIII. -TOWN CENTER Section 8.01. -General. >>>WORKING DRAFT FOR REVIEW(01.24.17) «< Page 4 of 6 NOTed through the (a) Approximately a 25-acre area which includes West University Elementary, the City's administration building and related facilities, West University Baptist Church, Harris County Library Branch, West University Methodist Church and the retail area on Edloe constitute the Town Center. OMiTMost interaction between citizens occurs in this area through municipal functions, educational activities, shopping, religious activities/programs and youth sports>. Much of the small town atmosphere so prized by citizens of the City derives from the interactions in the Town Center. The Town Center is a mixed use area, containing government, education, religious, recreation and retail uses. The Town Center and its existing uses should be preserved and enhanced, especially the valued green space and athletic fields around West.__UniversityElementary given their importance to community interaction and Town Ce Expansion should be allowed only where appropriate so as to preserve a positive impact on the residential area, based up n an individual consideration of the particular expansion._< OMITAs part of enhancing Town der as a community focal point, opportunities for more public art installations within Town C� - °4. Id be pursued as appropriate>. Via. a f gyp„ M o. S. �` 34 d, x rr i >>>WORKING DRAFT FOR REVIEW(01.24.17)«< Page 5 of 6 NOTE:Further proposed edits arrived at through the January 12 ZPC meeting have yellow highlighting. Section 8.02. -Town Center CommercialRetail District. (a) The economic viability of the Town Center Retail District on Edloe should be preserved to benefit City residents. The land in this area should be restricted to compatible commercial and other uses and should be consistent with close proximity to single-family residential neighborhoods. These areas must be buffered, screened, and regulated as to parking, height and density so as to minimize any detrimental effects. Renovation, redevelopment and beautification of the area should be encouraged. Techniques to encourage and support redevelopment should be explored. Input from the business owners and operators is needed in developing new regulations. [Unedited 2000 version.] (a) This Plan recognizes the consternation that has marked community debates of recent years about the best path forward for managing uses and redevelopment needs within the Town Center Commercial District on Edloe. This Plan also assumes that th i;District will remain a part of Town Center for the foreseeable future, encompassing the current properties in commercial use or some smaller footprint, but no larger. Therefore, it is in the best interests of the City and its citizens that the District remains viable and well maintained for as long as it exists, and not succumb to any lingering vacancy or blight The land in this area should be restricted to relatively small-scale and low-intensity retail and service uses that primarily serve a West University Place clientele given the willingness of residents to travel outside the city for their major shopping_ service and entertainment needs. Such uses should be of a scale and design that is compatible and consistent with close proximity to single- family residential neighborhoods. These areas must be buffered, screened, and regulated as to parking, height and density so as to minimize any detrimental effects. Renovation of existing properties and beautification of the area should be encouraged. City regulations and standards should ensure that any private reinvestment will address the community desire see upgraded buildings and architecture in the District that matches the quality of newer single-family home construction in the vicinity. Ideally, any such redevelopment would occur in a coordinated versus disjointed fashion. Any further potential adjustments to the Town tenter zoning framework should be preceded by community discussion and extensive input opportunities for all interested parties, including all citizens, nearby,homeowners, other property owners, business owners and operators, and institutional representatives. (b) The City should make necessary capital improvements to support and upgrade the Town Center Con nit rciai District with specific emphasis on sidewalks, bicycle lanes, pedestrian crosswalks, lighting, signs and parking. Article IX.-LOCAL INSTITUTIONS&PLACES OF WORSHIP Section 9.01. -General. (a) Residents of the City support and enjoy many local institutions and places of worship. Official City policies should recognize the value and benefits. Needed upgrades to aging buildings should be encour ged while avo ding residential encroachment and adverse effects on nearby homes. Section 9.02. - Education Facilities. Due to its size and location in the Town Center, and its popularity with citizens and as a draw for prospective residents, the City should encourage the enhancement of West University Elementary in both its physical facilities and quality of educational experience. The City should exercise all possible efforts to encourage H.I.S.D. to maximize resource allocation to West University Elementary. Article X. -RECYCLING & ENERGY As a community that prides itself on aggressive recycling and energy conservation program efforts, the City should continue to encourage and facilitate the systematic collection of renewable materials and maintain and improve its central recycling facilities. The City should establish policies to implement environmental measures. >>>WORKING DRAFT FOR REVIEW(01.24.17)«< Page 6 of 6 Section 8.02 —Town Center Commercial Zoning District (a) It is expected that businesses in the Town Center Commercial Zoning District (TCC) will continue to provide services to the local market for the foreseeable future. Property owners will be able to continue operation under the Prior Nonconforming Use Exception or redevelop in accordance with the latest zoning regulations. The current zoning regulations restrict where parking and structures may be placed on any building site in the TCC, and establish height, parking, use, light, noise, construction, and materials requirements. These regulations are designed to limit the full future build out to approximately the same area of construction that currently exists. The City should monitor land uses, business operations, and parking patterns in the TCC and periodically evaluate the positive and/or negative impacts of the TCC on residential property values in the City in order to determine whether further amendments to the zoning regulations applicable to the TCC are warranted. (b) The City should make usual and necessary capital improvements to support incremental or complete redevelopment in the TCC. Section 8.02—Town Center Commercial Zoning District (a) It is expected that businesses in the Town Center Commercial Zoning District (TCC)will continue to provide services to the local market for the foreseeable future. Property owners will be able to continue operation under the Prior Nonconforming Use Exceptions subject t u ate R t Gun bb_p,,gable (Formatted:Font color:Accent 1 , , finance. or may redevelop in accordance with the latest zoning regulation < - e• •e Format 9 Font color:Dark Red, _ - _ _ __ _- _ _ Formatted: ou h may be placed on any building site in the TCC, and establish height, parking, use, light, noise, construction, and materials requirements. These regulations are designed to limit the full future build out to approximately the same area of construction that currently exists>. The City should monitor land uses, business Formatted:Font color:Dark Red operations, and parking patterns in the TCC and periodically evaluate the positive and/or negative impacts of the TCC on residential property values in the City in order to determine whether further amendments to the zoning regulations applicable to the TCC are warranted. (b)The City should make usual and necessary capital improvements to support incremental or complete redevelopment in the TCC.