Specific Issue/District Plan
A
specific issue or district plan is a document that is developed to address a
defined geographic area, development proposal, the coordination of the
extension of public services, or infrastructures as part of a unilateral annexation,
or land use issue that does not clearly fall in one of the other plan
categories.
In
the hierarchy of plans, a specific issue/district plan falls under “special
area” plans. The level of detail in this
plan is concentrated on specific subject based on the study issues identified. This type of plan could take 6 to 12 months.
When is a specific issue or district plan
appropriate? Examples where these types of plan are useful are:
- When the study of a
sub-area of a neighborhood is needed to evaluate a rise in housing types
[rental housing vs. owner-occupied]
- When there is
significant redevelopment in an established neighborhood
- When there is a
request for a predominate change in land use
- When a major
redevelopment plan is proposed
- When there is a conflict
of land use and zoning
- Where there is
concern that an area is underserved by parks or other public facilities
Purpose or reasons to use a specific
issue or district plan are to:
- Provide guidance on
matters of land use, development and site layout to possible area
residents or investors.
- Provide
implementation recommendations for coordination of development with
adequate public facility’s goals.
- Provide information
regarding the area’s needs, priorities, and proposed projects.
- Determine if development
proposals and land use changes are in accordance with the community’s long
term vision.
- Provide a shared
vision for area’s residents/owners and local government entities.
- Provide a framework
to guide an area’s development efforts and track development trends and
progress.
Typical Process
The
typical process of a specific issue/district plan and
the plan its self could include any of the following:
- Identify the study
area boundary
- Identify key
stakeholders
- Public meetings
- Inventory survey and
data analysis
- Goals, visions,
policies, and objectives
- Plan drafts
- Adoption process
- Maps of existing and
proposed