City Council Agenda and Packet 2006 09 26 SP

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fP5J@[%@u COUNCIL COMMUNICATION TO: MA YOR AND CITY COUNCIL FHOM: WILLIAM A. SIMMONS, CITY MANAGER DATE: September 19,2006 SUBJECT: Motion to Approve Winston and Associates contract for Professional Services and Scope of Work. ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT: Planning Hl'tllU.'st: Authorization of a Contract for Professional Services and a Scope of Work fOl" Winston alld Associates for the 3D IVlodeling of Highway 42 lVIixed Use Zoning and Design Guidelines. The project is funded for $20,000 and has heen budgeted out of the US EPA Brownfjelcls Grant rccei"l.'d in 2003. In [\'1 arch 2004, after an open bid process, Clarion and Associates (a Denver based land use consulting firlll) was contracted with to draft new Mixed Use Zoning Regulations and accompanying Design Standards and Guidelines. At the outset of Clarion's work on the project, they conducted focus group illkrviews with selected parties to determine a recommended format for the new zoning regulations, From those interviews, it was determined that tbe zoning code amendments should have some level of certainty, but also allow for flexibility in development applications. The interviews also confirmed the illlpOilatKC of buffering and providing transitions to existing residential areas. The project working group composed oft\\o members of City Council and two members of the Planning COll1mission also reviewed early drafts oftbe proposed zoning regulations and provided comments. Based on that input nnd relying heavily on the principles and policies stated in the adopted Subarea Comprehensive Plan, Clarion has prepared zoning code amendments for Planning Commission and City Council cons i d erat ion. The dran Zoning and Design Guidelines were presented at the December 8,2005 Planning Commission meeting. At lhc meeting the Planning Commissioners voiced concems over the overall height being allowed tlJr buildings in the downtown area, They believed that heights of 55 and (is feet were going to have a negative impact on the existing character and scale cUITcntly present in the Old Town commercial area, Staff explained that in mixed-use districts allowing increased height provides incentives fl)r developers to provide a mixed-use development that includes commercial, otTice and residential. Following the December 8, 2005 meeting, the Planning Division determined that a 3D modeling project \vould provide the needed visualization tool that will assist Planning Commission, City Council and the Revitalization Committee in reviewing the proposed design guidelines. The consultant will use the c\iSli!lg built environment as the base for (he modeling project and will use the draft Zoning and Design Guidelines to provide several alternatives that might better explain what choices can be had and how height incentives, and new development, wiIJ look in the built environment. IE SUBJECT Authorization of a Contract for Professional AGENDA ITEM Services and a Scope of Work for Winston and Associates for the 3D Modeling of Highway 42 Mixed Use Zoning and Design Guidelines