City Council Study Session Agenda and Packet 2011 12 13

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PAGE THREE SUBJECT: UPDATE /DISCUSSION - COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 2012 REVIEW DATE: OCTOBER 25, 2011 corridors age and as infill residential rehabilitation pressures grow in established residential neighborhoods. b. Regional traffic and City transportation policy – As new development continues in surrounding areas, Louisville will likely experience a decreasing share of local traffic on its street network. Future transportation investments in the City will be challenged to accommodate demands for regional traffic mobility and at the same time address livability and economic viability concerns. The City's current transportation policies and regulations reflect those of a community continuing to expand; they are not consistent with the realities of a community that is landlocked and redeveloping. The City's current transportation regulations are aligned with regional mobility concerns and are designed to accommodate vehicular traffic, roadway capacity, and safety features for higher speeds. A redeveloping City's transportation priorities are typically aligned with multimodal transportation, roadway efficiency, property access, and safety features for slower speed environments. Thus, the Comprehensive Plan Update should translate the Community's Vision of transportation to effectively guide future investments by recognizing the inherent conflicts between regional mobility needs and local access and quality of life requirements. c. The economy and realities of retail growth – The downturn in the economy since 2008 and the realities of regional retail competition, access /visibility of retail sites, and new retailing practices require more specific guidance than the current Comprehensive Plan provides. The current Plan states, Not only has revenue generating retail development moved into adjacent communities such as Broomfield and Superior, future growth trends suggest a more dramatic regional shift in retail away from Louisville, particularly toward communities along the 1 -25 North corridor." To address this shift of retail away from Louisville, we need to understand (1) how certain locations may facilitate or undermine the success of retail activities, as well as (2) the probability of retail selecting —and succeeding — in a particular Louisville location among all the alternatives available in the area — and the region. Using this understanding to formulate guiding policies is critical to the City's future economic health. d. Neighborhood issues and concerns – The current Comprehensive Plan is silent on neighborhood issues and concerns. The City's residential housing stock is aging and rehabilitation issues within residential areas challenge the Planning and Building Safety Department on a daily basis. Outside of Old Town, the City's residential areas are governed by independent PUDs. While these PUDs are comprehensive, they are not equipped to assist the City in providing coherent neighborhood plans and strategies for issues such as: 69