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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/29/2000 Study Session MinutesII. III. IV. PLACE AND DATE Marana Town Hall, August 29, 2000 CALL TO ORDER By Mayor Sutton at 6:22 P.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Led by Mayor Sutton ROLL CALL · COUNCIL Bobby Sutton, Jr. Ora M. FIarn Ed Honea Herb Kal Jim Blake Roxanne Ziegler Mayor Council Member Council Member Council Member Council Member Council Member Present Present Present Present Present Present STAFF Michael Hein Michael Reuwsaat Jocelyn Entz Jim DeGrood Joel Shapiro Brad DeSpain CALL TO THE PUBLIC Town Manager Assistant Town Manager Town Clerk Development Services Administrator Planning and Zoning Director Utilities Director There were no speakers. GENERAL ORDER OF BUSINESS A. COUNCIL ACTION 1. Update of the Northwest Marana General Plan Amendments Process a. Town Center b. Community Design Jim DeGrood spoke regarding the progress made since the last study session on July 25, 2000. 1 : : MINUTES OF COUNCIL sTUDY SESSION : ~ MARANATOWN CoUNcILI Maria Masque from The Planning Center led off the study session with a presentation on Town core concepts and community design. A copy of this presentation is a permanent part of this record. Points of review included the identification of the community entryway and ways in which to integrate the existing architecture with the proposed design plans. The primary goals of the community design plan were as follows: 1. Establish a strong sense of community character 2. Preserve, protect, and promote the agricultural and rural heritage 3. Boost economic development addressing specific needs of each planning area (airport, agribusiness, rodeo, commercial) 4. Develop appropriate design standards for stormwater management facilities 5. Provide appropriate recreational facilities, open space, and interconnectivity 6. Develop an efficient transportation system 7. Develop a land use concept consistent with the Town's capabilities to provide needed infrastructure Ms. Masque continued by explaining that the planning vision from the beginning had been to obtain a distinctive sense of community identity throughout the five main planning areas within Northwest Marana. These identified areas were the Town Center, the Urban Southeast, the Northwest Regional Airport/Agribusiness, the Rural Northwest, and the Interstate East. Large open spaces as well as the rural character of this region motivated the choices of landscape and architectural design guidelines. The architectural themes being considered include Western Territorial, Spanish Colonial and Mission, Old Pueblo and Mission, and Southwest Traditional. Plans will be contemporary representations and variations of these themes. Another goal for the community design was establishing a quality urban landscape that embraced the rural heritage of the area. Council Member Ham inquired about the proposed design concepts for the Town core center and community entryway. She mentioned that adoption of a set architectural style would compel the existing commercial and residential areas to conform to the 2 ~ MINUTES OF COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MARANA TOWN COUNCIL AUGUST 29, 2000 design theme. She said that methods for providing assistance and funding for business to acquire these upgrades were available. Mayor Sutton asked if funding sources were known to the Town or 'if the Town had to seek these sources in order to assist businesses with design conformance. Mr. Hein stated that the intent of this meeting was to update the Council on the progress of the plan and not to endorse any particular design or style. He said that overall community design was to be the focus at this point and certain specific areas would be dealt with in the next several meetings. Mr. DeGrood added that transportation would be the topic of discussion at a study session on September 26, 2000. Open spaces, energy efficiency, irrigation practices, drainage and incentives were topics also planned for future discussions. He emphasized that the goal of the planners was to encourage development patterns that would, in turn, encourage strong pedestrian and neighborhood links. This planning concept ensured that a cohesive community emerged as opposed to a series of walled enclaves and fractionalized neighborhoods. Council Member Harn asked where the Colonia design style would fit into this plan. Mr. Hein answered that the Colonia style was set aside for a separate program designated for work on the municipal water system and the wastewater infrastructure. He said that the Town had been working with Pima County to enhance the sewer capacity and, specifically, to provide sewer to the under-served areas such as Honea Heights and Berry Acres. These two areas are primarily on septic systems. He added that there was the potential for infrastructure financing through rural development but pointed out that those funding sources had to serve certain population segments of low and moderate income. Mayor Sutton declared that he wanted to make sure incentives were provided to the developers in order to ensure that such outcomes as water-wise landscaping and energy efficiency in both residential and commercial structures were guaranteed. 3 MINUTES OF COUNCIL STUDY SESSION : MARANA T0~ COUNCIL Mr. DeGrood explained that additional elements would be identified and upcoming schedules of meetings would be available to the Council. He added that some items such as transportation would demand a more in-depth study. He pointed out that a specific architectural study should be performed in the core area and that the Town should begin looking at styles and making recommendations with respect for the heritage of Northwest Marana. Council Member Honea commented that the informational handout was vague and asked if complete details would be available to the Council such as landscaping requirements per lot and street widths. Further, he inquired about adding specific language in the overall design plan that would mandate certain amounts of trails and parks to be completed in conjunction with a certain level of development. Mr. Shapiro said that the intent of the Northwest Marana General Plan was to create a document that conveyed the character that the Town envisioned. He said that there would be standards and guidelines included in the plan but that the document was not intended to supercede zoning or development regulations already in place such as impact fees. Mr. Hein explained that this plan would not be as detailed as a specific plan but would include diagrams for varying setbacks, streetscape standards, community themes and public rights-of- ways. He pointed out that this approach would present the developers a clear impression of Marana's goals as well as be consistent with the general plan and the land use plan. He added that it would provide Marana with market flexibility and room for development innovations as well as function as a tool for the Council for use in avoiding lengthy negotiations from the dais. The Northwest Marana area would have a common flavor and a sense of community that embraced its heritage while each individual subdivision was allowed to have a completely different character than a subdivision a half mile away. These architectural diversities would not be visible from the main Town core. He added that this flexibility and guidance would combine market forces with community standards and goals. 4 MINUTES OF COUNCIL STUDY SESSION ~ MARANA TOWN COUNCIL AUGUST 29; 2000 Council Member Ziegler commented that the Council should not have to legislate minute details such as lot sizes, etc. as have been debated in the past. She encouraged the Council to allow the Town planners to make the development process as hassle-free as possible by setting clear standards and guidelines. Mr. Shapiro commented that he was trying to instill within the plan the consensus of all stakeholders involved. He said that this plan would allow the Town staff to convey the Town's minimum expectations to the developer at the very first conceptual stage of the development process. Mayor Sutton stated that the direction from the Town to the development community had not been clear in the past. He said that the Northwest Marana General Plan would provide the developers with set standards and guidelines yet would allow for their creativity within their respective subdivisions. Mr. Hein agreed with the Mayor. He said that, in conjunction with the Marana Land Use Plan, the Northwest Marana General Plan provided the community, its residents and investors a reasonable expectation of an outcome. He stated that the Town had to ensure that if open space was required, then through the platting and zoning process the Town must acquire the right-of-ways needed to maintain these standards. Mayor Sutton said that the implementation of this document would allow the Planning and Zoning Commission to function properly as well as ease their responsibilities. Council Member Honea stated that growth and development needed to be looked at and dealt with in a manner in which the development community would profit but not at the expense of the residential quality of life. He said that although he wanted the developers to be successful he would not allow unreasonable housing densities in order to achieve that profit. He asked that the Council learn from the past mistakes made in the Continental Ranch area. He advised that the Council either impose an impact fee or mandate a permitting schedule deadline for parks and walkway provisions within future development projects. He said that he wanted the guidelines to be specific and concise so that the 5 MINUTEs OF COUNCIL STUDy SESSION AUGUST 29,2000 ~ developers knew precisely what the requirements were before investing in properties. Mayor Sutton remarked that this plan removed a majority of the pitfalls that previous Councils had faced and would allow the sitting Council to provide specific guidance to developers as well as the Town staff in shaping Marana. He added that the Town would be able to avoid having to go back and fix things after the fact such as the transportation dilemma at Cortaro Road and Interstate 10. Council Member Ziegler said that the full blame for the past development errors could not be placed on the development community. She commented that the Town Councils have become smarter over the years and have matured enough to understand the needs of the community as well as those of the developers. Council Member Harn said that she viewed the plan as a tool for the staff that would, in turn, alleviates the necessity for the Council to deal in-depth with the developer. She pointed out that the majority of the decisions shaping a project would be in place when the project was presented to the Council. Council Member Honea said that he did not want to see the development of northern Marana with wall to wall high-density housing, no parks, and inadequate roadways. He said that he was not interested in after the fact fix-up projects that upset businesses with road closures during widening or repair. He emphasized the importance of doing the right thing first. Mayor Sutton said that the Town was in a better financial position to negotiate than in the past when inappropriate development took place. Mr. DeGrood encouraged the Council to forward any additional comments or ideas to him for incorporation into the plan. Council Member Harn said that working hard on the core area of Northwest Marana would have wonderful results for the community for a long time. She also said that she wanted to go on record in support of funding assistance to the small businesses in the Town core with their design conformance. MINUTES OF COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MARANA TOWN COUNCIL ~ AUGUST 29, 2000 Mayor Sutton asked if there were any calls from the public. Bill Schisler, resident, commented that he was proud of the Council for the progress made regarding the development of Northwest Marana. He pointed out that many other towns had made the mistake of not reserving enough land for full expansion of their town cores and eventually outgrew their downtown areas. In order to avoid facing lack of parking availability and poor access to municipal buildings, he urged the Council to reserve plenty of land for the anticipated expansion of this region. VI. . ADJOURNMENT Upon motion by Council Member Harn, seconded by Council Member Blake, adjournment of the study session was unanimously approved. The time was 7:25 p.m. CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are the true and correct minutes of the Marana Town Council Study Session held on August 29, 2000. I further certify that a quorum was present. ~oCelyn (~Entz, Towr~ Cl~r~'/ MARANA TOWN COI/'NCIL M'EET/NG Public Attendees Address_