PRESENTER: Presenter
Christopher J. Looney, AICP, Planning & Development Services Director
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SUBJECT: Title
Update on the creation of the Unified Development Code
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DEPARTMENT: Planning & Development Services
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: All
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On August 23, 2021, City Council approved a Professional Services Agreement with Clarion Associates, Inc. to assist the City of New Braunfels with a public process to draft and prepare a functional, practical, reasonable and responsible Unified Development Code (UDC). The project includes overhauling, consolidating and updating the existing development-related ordinances into a single, easy-to-use document housed in a single chapter of the New Braunfels Code of Ordinances.
The UDC, branded to be known as New Braunfels Land Development Ordinance, will serve as one of the city’s tools to implement Envision New Braunfels, the community’s comprehensive plan. The award-winning Envision New Braunfels focuses on how to accommodate and manage the tremendous growth the region is experiencing, while maintaining New Braunfels’ exceptional quality of life sustained through its history, cultural identity, environment, geography, architecture, and natural resources.
Adopting a new consolidated set of land development ordinances meets 32 specific goals and strategies in Envision New Braunfels. The Comprehensive Plan very specifically calls for a UDC that modernizes the rules for the built environment to encourage great urban design for existing and future centers through flexible and innovative development standards, alternatives and regulatory incentives.
ISSUE:
The current development-related ordinances, including but not limited to the Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 144), Subdivision Platting Ordinance (Chapter 118), Sign Ordinance (Chapter 106), and Historic Preservation Ordinance (Chapter 66), were written separately and at different times in New Braunfels’ history. The outdated standards, criteria, and limited development alternatives create barriers to implementation of Envision New Braunfels, as well as other adopted City plans and policies. Additionally, the ordinances’ locations in different chapters in the Code of Ordinances result in time-consuming cross-referencing, missed requirements and development delays.
Public outreach and engagement for the Land Development Ordinance will build upon the robust public input gathered for Envision New Braunfels, with a goal to ensure as much input can be gathered as possible. A Citizens Advisory Committee and a staff Technical Advisory Team have also been formed to assist in reviewing and editing drafts of the new code.
The project has been divided into Tasks beginning with the Kick-Off, which occurred the week between Wurstfest and Thanksgiving. During the Kick-Off, the consultants toured various developments in the community to see the current ordinances at work. They saw issues resulting from narrow lots with wide driveways, lack of wall signage regulation, and no by-right allowance for multiple single-family dwellings on one lot. They also saw creative mixed-use developments where a Planned Development District was put to use, and good examples of signage standards resulting from development agreements. They met with the Citizens Advisory Committee and the Technical Advisory Team to hear about issues in detail. And they held one-on-one interviews with key stakeholders.
The consultants are currently analyzing the codes to prepare an assessment of their status and effectiveness in meeting the goals established by City Council and Envision New Braunfels. This assessment will be presented and discussed with City Council and the Planning Commission at a joint workshop in February, 2022. Staff is currently working with the consultants to issue two initial surveys to gather broader input for the assessment, and a draft webpage has been developed and will go live very shortly.
FISCAL IMPACT:
N/A
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
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