2006 Comp Plan Update_Objective RevisionPlanning Services Department
City Hall
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864
(563) 589-4210 office
(563) 589-4221 fax
(563) 690-6678 TDD
planning@cityofdubuque.org
www.cityofdubuque.org
The Honorable Mayor and City Council
City of Dubuque
50 W. 13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
THE CITY OF ~ ,. ~1
a~ `>~ a/
March 20, 2007
RE: 2006 Comprehensive Plan Update -- Revised Goals and Objectives for Land Use
and Urban Design Element
Dear Mayor and City Council Members:
Introduction
This letter transmits the Long Range Planning Advisory Commission's recommendations
regarding the revised Goals and Objectives for Land Use and Urban Design Element for
the 2006 Comprehensive Plan Update. The revised Element is enclosed.
Background
The Long Range Planning Advisory Commission has facilitated the 2006 update of the
Dubuque Comprehensive Plan. The Commission held a series of public meetings, open
houses, and public hearings on the Future Land Use Map and the 14 Elements of the
Comprehensive Plan on a monthly basis from February 2006 to January 2007. The
Commission submitted periodic reports to the City Council in 2006 on recommendations for
updating the Future Land Use Map and the Policy Statements, Goals and Objectives of the
14 Elements based on input from the public, City staff, and key stakeholders.
Discussion
The Long Range Planning Advisory Commission has reviewed the discussion at the March
5, 2007 City Council work session regarding the proposed Land Use and Urban Design
Element's Goals and Objectives.
The Commission discussed the City Council's recommended changes to the Land Use and
Urban Design Element's Goals and Objectives. The Commission feels there were a
significant number of deletions made to these goals and objectives. The Commission
would like to review with the City Council that the goals and objectives are the product of a
substantial amount of public and staff input throughout the course of the update process.
Service People Integrity Responsibility Innovation Teamwork
Revised Goals and Objectives for Land Use and Urban Design Element page 2
The Commission understands that the most deletions were made because a particular
objective was too subjective or regulatory in nature, in which case it was more appropriate
for an ordinance. The Commission strongly feels the deleted objectives serve a purpose
and have a place in the Land Use and Urban Design Element. The Commission
understands City Council's concerns; however, we feel that the deleted objectives were
important to the Land Use and Urban Design Element. The Commission would like to
discuss whether language could perhaps be reworded to address the concerns of the City
Council as well as the Commission. The Commission feels it is important that the City
Council reconsider the deleted objectives and work with the Commission towards language
that would address the Council's concerns while preserving the intent of the objective.
At the work session, the City Council requested that the Commission reword Objective 9.8
to use layperson's terms rather than technical terms. The current objective reads,
"Compliment the human scale and historic bulk in mass of existing structures when
designing new or redeveloped structures." The Commission discussed that the City
Council felt the objective was overly technical and would like the Comprehensive Plan to
be a readable document to the general public.
Recommendation
By consensus, the Long Range Planning Advisory Commission respectfully requests that
the City Council continue to work with the Commission to find common ground between the
City Council and the Commission on the reasoning behind and the wording of the deleted
objectives in the Land Use and Urban Design Element.
By a vote of 6 to 0, the Long Range Planning Advisory Commission recommends revising
Objective 9.8 to read, "Strive to create and redevelop buildings which compliment the size
and style of surrounding buildings."
Sincerely,
~. ~-in~-wuv~ ~~
Dr. Charles Winterwood, Chairperson
Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
Enclosure
Cc Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
Policy Statement:
LAND USE AND URBAN DESIGN GOALS must address interrelated factors affecting the
physical development of a city, including the satisfaction of human needs, the vitality of the local
economy, the protection and enhancement of the natural and built environment and the efficiency
of public infrastructure and service provision. Urban design establishes a context for
development in response to the community's desired image. While new development is
encouraged, short term benefits must be weighed against long term impacts to the community's
quality of life. Land use and urban design decisions will always affect the future in significant,
and sometimes irreversible, ways. It is incumbent that a land use plan balances the need for
growth with the protection of existing community assets.
Goal 1. To protect and enhance the viability, livability and affordability of the city's
residential neighborhoods while integrating multifamily development throughout
the community.
Objectives:
1.1 Promote inclusive and economically integrated neighborhoods that allow a diverse mix of
residents and housing types.
1.2 Provide a range of housing options throughout the community.
1.3 Connect and interrelate neighborhoods with greenbelts or other pathways, commercial
nodes or public facilities.
1.4 Preserve historic and aesthetic character and function of established neighborhoods.
1.5 Protect existing residential areas from encroachment by incompatible development.
1.6 Provide neighborhood amenities throughout the community in an equitable manner.
1.7 Encourage neighborhood identity, planning and pride of place.
1.8 Preserve the environmental quality of residential areas and buffer from noxious or
nuisance impacts.
1.9 Protect historic neighborhoods from inappropriate development, inconsistent with
existing historic development.
1.10 Continue to promote affordable housing for those who would like to purchase a home,
but do not qualify for assistance.
1.11 Implement the Port of Dubuque Master Plan, which includes residential, commercial,
entertainment and recreational uses, as a catalyst for growth in the Old Main area.
1.12 Provide opportunities for downtown apartments and warehouse lofts.
Goa12. Ensure that opportunities for convenient and concentrated commercial
development are provided to support both the local and regional market.
Objectives:
2.1 Protect downtown commercial core and encourage continued reinvestment and
redevelopment.
2.2 Encourage expansion of commercial opportunities in existing commercial corridors or
nodes where infrastructure can support growth.
2.3 Provide opportunities for neighborhood commercial centers that assure compatibility
with residential property.
2.4 Preserve historic and aesthetic character and function of established commercial districts.
2.5 Encourage mixed use development in the downtown area.
2.6 Promote retail and service-oriented businesses on first floor to keep streets active, with
non-service/office uses on second floor, and residential uses on upper floors in the
downtown area.
Goa13. Provide sufficient opportunities for industrial development sites within the
community.
Objectives:
3.1 Promote the retention and expansion of existing, and attraction of new, industrial
development opportunities in suitable locations, including airport environs.
3.2 Protect existing industrial and airport development from encroachment by incompatible
development.
3.3 Encourage annexation of land suitable for industrial usage if necessary.
3.4 Lessen negative impacts to residential areas which are located near industrial areas.
3.5 Provide areas for locally unwanted land uses (LULU'S), such as scrap reprocessing, junk
and salvage yards, quarries, recycling industries, and concrete batch plants, to relocate
and expand in the near future, while not reducing the marketability of adjoining sites and
while getting the appropriate return on the significant City investments.
Goa14. To balance open space and environmental preservation with the community's
development needs.
Objectives:
4.1 Protect and preserve existing open space and park land to meet the community's needs.
4.2 Encourage expansion of urban green spaces in suitable locations to encourage livability
and enhance aesthetics.
4.3 Provide and encourage eperrspae~ parks, green space, trails and similar park/open space
uses easily accessible to residents at neighborhood level.
4.4 Ir;eerpe~e Encourage and develop incentives for providing common open/green space
and landscaping inte all new development wherever possible.
4.5 t Manage development along bluff lines and protect scenic vistas.
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4.7 Protect undeveloped and underdeveloped remaining land along bluff-lines and riverfront.
4.8 Protect and enhance riverfront and related wetlands, waterway corridors and other
sensitive land areas.
4.9 Encourage the State of Iowa to acquire open space/agricultural preserve around the Mines
of Spain State Recreation Area as a buffer to protect the park's natural and historical
features and the Mississippi River blufflands.
Goa15. Encourage that the physical character and form of the city reflects its historic
setting and that the built environment is compatible with the city's natural
environment.
Objectives:
5.1 Define and enhance city gateways and focal points to create a sense of place.
5.2 Protect and preserve the city's historic buildings, urban pattern and natural environment.
5.4 Promote quality in the design and construction of new public and private development.
5.5 Maintain Dubuque's status as a `Masterpiece on the Mississippi' with design standards to
protect significant landscapes and structures.
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Goa16. Encourage the concept of mixed use development to create diverse and self-
sufficient neighborhoods.
Objectives:
6.1 Promote a compatible mix of land uses that create a diversified urban environment that
mixes shopping, employment, recreation and residential opportunities where appropriate.
6.2 Buffer and protect incompatible uses from each other.
6.3 Limit sprawl and aggregate travel time through use of mixed use developments.
6.4 Provide incentives to bring mixed use to the downtown and warehouse districts.
6.5 e Encourage amixed-use of residential, commercial and retail uses
for new developments that does not demarcate boundaries between residential and those
commercial/retail uses that provide less intense, basic services for the neighborhood.
6.6 Use design review to address how mixed use developments are treated and to require
quality development so they become more acceptable to developers and business owners
and more sensitive to neighborhood concerns/impacts.
6.7 Involve developers in creating mixed use developments and mixed use regulations,
including architectural designs for new commercial uses (buildings, signs, parking) that
° ~a:°*~~°~~~^''^'''° ~ ^~ ^ ~a:.,,. °°^~a°~*~^' ~ ° ;don't allow franchises to dictate
architecture, signs, and parking lot designs.
Goa17. To encourage redevelopment opportunities within the city in an effort to revitalize
unused or underused property while promoting the preservation of viable and
affordable housing stock.
Objectives:
7.1 Encourage redevelopment or adaptive reuse of vacant or underutilized buildings and
sites.
7.2 Promote in fill development, where appropriate, to encourage more compact urban form
and avoid needless and costly sprawl while providing appropriate parking levels.
7.3 Promote redevelopment that maximizes existing infrastructure.
7.4 Strive to eliminate slum and blight.
7.5 Promote affordable commercial space for small start-up, new or growing businesses.
7.6 Provide incentives to utilize, promote, and protect appropriate development in the
warehouse district.
7.7 Provide incentives to maximize existing infrastructure.
7.8 Encourage reinvestment in our existing neighborhoods (i.e., smart growth).
Goa18. To provide physical accessibility throughout the city.
Objectives:
8.1 Encourage and facilitate urban accessibility by walking, cycling and/or public transit as
well as by auto.
8.2 Encourage new development concepts that by design enable people to walk to work,
school, day care, shopping and recreation.
8.3 Facilitate, where possible, enhanced accessibility within existing development.
8.4 Encourage the development of pathways that link the community together in a cohesive
manner.
8.5 ly~Eeurage Promote assurance with the provision of access to persons with disabilities.
Goa19. To promote principles of good urban design as part of all development.
Objectives:
9.1 Enhance the aesthetics of new and existing development -- design, landscaping, parking,
signage -- with special sensitivity to the historic character and building materials found in
the community.
9.3 Encourage environmentally compatible and sensitive design that fits the development
site.
9.4 Promote energy conservation efforts in building design, materials and orientation.
9.5 Reflect land conservation practices in density and building patterns to encourage compact
urban form versus sprawl.
9.6 Provide for flexible development that promotes commercial development to meet
community design standards instead of developers dictating design.
9.7 Adapt land use controls to fit the various historic development patterns and
neighborhoods that reflect urban, suburban and rural characteristics.
9.8 Compliment the human scale and historic bulk and mass of existing structures when
designing new or redeveloped structures.
Strive to create and redevelop buildings which compliment the size and style of
surrounding buildings.
Goa110. To plan for the city's future and orderly development within a regional context.
Objectives:
10.1 Consider the community's regional setting and economy when assessing the opportunities
and constraints for land development.
10.2 Encourage intergovernmental partnerships to minimize the negative impact of city-
county urban fringe development on regional watersheds, ecosystems and rural
infrastructure through compact and contiguous development with storm water
management.
10.3 Encourage e~t3` intergovernmental cooperation to develop policies for
development of fringe areas, to enhance development and avoid unregulated sprawl.
10.4 Bring corridors of green into the city along natural and roadway corridors.
10.5 Encourage cooperative regional planning with all levels of government, to develop a
strategic plan for fringe area development that may include annexation.
10.7 Recognize that transportation and land use are directly related and encourage land use
and transportation planning appropriately.
F:\USERS\DjohnsonU.RPAC\Work Session Comp Plan\City Council Comments\Land Use & Urban Design