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Planning & Zoning Commission 2030 Plan Workshop / January 7, 2008 Page 1 of 3
City of Georgetown, Texas
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting
Minutes
Monday January 7, 2008 at 6:00 PM
Council Chambers
101 E. Seventh Street, Georgetown, Texas 78626
Members Present: Harry Gibbs, Chair; Jennifer Ratlift, Vice Chair; Will Moore, Secretary; Sarah Milburn;
Marlene McMichael; Patrick Lawson and Don Padfield.
Members Absent:
Staff Present: Elizabeth Cook, Interim Director, Ed Polasek; Jordan Maddox, Planner; David Munk, City
Engineer; Trish Carls, City Attorney; Karen Frost, Administrative Supervisor and Stephanie McNickle,
Recording Secretary.
Chair Gibbs convened the Special workshop meeting at 5:52p.m.
1. Public Hearing and possible action to recommend the 2030 Comprehensive Plan: Executive Summary;
Introduction; Plan Framework; Plan Elements: Land Use Element; Procedures for Plan Administration,
Implementation, Monitoring and Updates; and Appendices, to replace the Century Plan: Policy Plan,
Development Plan, and Future Land Use Plan.
Staff report given by Ed Polasek.. The Joint Workshop with the Planning and Zoning Commission
marks the conclusion of the public hearing process which began at the December 4, 2007, Planning
and Zoning Commission Meeting.
THE 2030 PLAN: City Staff, the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee and the consulting firm
of Wallace, Roberts, & Todd, LLC, have been working through a detailed planning process to create
the 2030 Comprehensive Plan, to replace the Century Plan - Policy Plan, Century Plan – Development
Plan, and Century Plan – Future Land Use Plan. The new planning document was started as part of
the 5-year major revision process called for in the Century Plan - Policy Plan.
The 2030 Comprehensive Plan provides a framework by which the City can achieve the charter required
“comprehensive planning as a continuous and ongoing governmental function.’’ The Charter further
defines the “Comprehensive Plan” as to contain the City’s “policies for growth, development and
beautification of the land within the corporate limits and the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City, or
for geographic portions thereof including neighborhood, community or area-wide plans. The
Comprehensive Plan should include but not be limited to:
a) A future land use element;
b) A traffic circulation and public transit element;
c) A wastewater, electric, solid waste, drainage and potable water element;
d) A conservation and environmental resources element;
e) A recreation and open space element;
f) A housing element;
g) A public services and facilities element, which shall include but not be limited to a capital
improvement program;
h) A public buildings and related facilities element;
i) An economic element for commercial and industrial development and redevelopment;
Planning & Zoning Commission 2030 Plan Workshop / January 7, 2008 Page 2 of 3
j) Health and human services element;
k) Historic preservation element;
l) Citizen participation element;
m) Urban design element; and
n) Public safety element. (Section 1.08, Home Rule Charter)
2030 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ELEMENTS
The 2030 Comprehensive Plan provides the framework to complete the Charter requirements in the
following manner:
Introduction; Provides an overview of the regional framework, history and planning process
followed to create the 2030 Comprehensive Plan.
Plan Framework; Creates the Vision which the City of Georgetown wishes to achieve in the adoption
of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan. The Vision Statement addresses Quality of Life, Quality Growth,
Balanced Transportation/Efficient Mobility, and Effective Governance. As specific elements of the
Comprehensive Plan are adopted they will create Goals, Policies, and Actions to achieve the Vision
Statement. The Land Use Element Goals, Policies and Actions are included in this draft.
Plan Elements: Land Use Element; The Land Use Element is the first element included in this chapter
of the 2030 Plan. The other charter required elements will be included as they are addressed in the
future. The Parks and Open Space is currently under development, and the Housing Element is open
for consultant selection at this time.
The Land Use Element marks a significant change from the Century Plan Development Plan and Century
Plan Future Land Use Plan. The Intensity Model has been replaced by the Growth Tier System and
discussion of and adequate public facilities ordinance. This allows the City to plan for the efficient
extension of utilities, provide greater density/mix of development potential, without the artificial
constraints of utility model that was not accurately portraying utility capacity. The Future Land Use
Map has been significantly modified to remove parcel boundaries, allow greater diversity/latitude in
making land use decisions, and to identify more areas of potential employment to protect and
diversify Georgetown’s future land use mix. The Land Use categories them-self have changed to
reflect that diversity.
The growth management framework also for the first time establishes some limits on the future
expansion of Georgetown. Since the adoption of the Century Plan, the City’s ETJ has grown to a 2-
mile buffer, and adjacent communities have grown toward Georgetown. The ultimate city limit
boundary for the first time addresses the fact that Georgetown is growing as part of the regional
metropolitan area with potential limits on future annexations.
Procedures for Plan Administration, Implementation, Monitoring and Updates; Creates the tools
by which the plan may be amended and method to adopt future elements of the comprehensive plan.
In general, plan amendments will be considered on an annual basis much like the UDC amendment
process. However, map and text amendments can be made more often by a super majority of City
Council, in the same method they are currently approved.
Future elements may be adopted after review by the appropriate Board or Commission, in most cases
this will be the Planning and Zoning Commission. A Style Guide is created so that future elements
can be incorporated into Chapter Three: Plan Elements.
Staff will create advertising and notice requirements for plan amendments consistent with State Law
and the UDC advertising and notice requirements. Staff will present the Planning and Zoning
Planning & Zoning Commission 2030 Plan Workshop / January 7, 2008 Page 3 of 3
Commission a report within six months of adoption, on methods and potential calendar for future
element adoption, beyond the Land Use, Park and Open Space and Housing elements adopted or in
process at this time.
The Annual Budget has been removed as an element of the comprehensive plan. The City Council
may set annual budget goals and priorities, consistent with Vision Statement, and Goals, Policies and
Actions from adopted elements of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan.
COMMENTS: The 2030 Comprehensive Plan was created with significant opportunities for public
review and comment. Three series of community meetings were held throughout the planning
process. At the final Steering Committee Meeting, the Committee addressed the final round of public
comment received during and after the October 4th and 5th Community Forums. Those comments and
specific actions taken are included as an attachment to this package. At the December 4th Planning
and Zoning Commission Meeting, no additional public comment was received concerning specific
comments to the draft 2030 Comprehensive Plan. Since the December 4th Planning and Zoning
Commission Meeting, no additional specific comments have been received.
At this time Ed Polasek introduced John Fernsler and Sylvia Vargus from Wallace, Roberts, & Todd,
LLC. who gave a PowerPoint presentation.
After the presentation Commissioners discussed and asked staff questions.
Motion by Ratlift to Recommend approval to City Council for the 2030 Comprehensive Plan:
Executive Summary; Introduction; Plan Framework; Plan Elements: Land Use Element; Procedures
for Plan Administration, Implementation, Monitoring and Updates; and Appendices, to replace the
Century Plan: Policy Plan, Development Plan, and Future Land Use Plan, with the following
modification: 1) Redraft Chapter 1 to include more specific dates of approval and update list of Century
Plan elements adopted. Second by Moore. Approved. (7-0)
2. Comments from the Director: None
3. Comments from the Commissioners: None
Motion to adjourn at 6:33p.m.
_______________________________ __________________________________
Approved, Harry Gibbs, Chair Attested, Will Moore, Secretary
Certificate of Posting
I, Sandra D. Lee, City Secretary for the City of Georgetown, Texas, do hereby certify that this Notice of
Meeting was posted at City Hall, 113 E. Eighth Street, a place readily accessible to the general public at all
times, on the ______ day of __________________, 2007, at __________, and remained so posted for at least
72 continuous hours preceding the scheduled time of said meeting.
____________________________________
Sandra D. Lee, City Secretary