Agenda - Planning Commission - 01/05/2017

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I i[ r E a traditional presentation may be useful,but you should also consider preparing colorful handouts clearly illustrating the zoning map, a what can be built in certain districts,and r, H - what the development process looks like.Be prepared to clearly answer specific questions " about specific zoning districts,as attendees - might be curious about where they are on the N map and what this means for them. for New Planning Initiative m f N Plan ng I 'tiative At a Forum nra - v The first forum announcing a new planning in! ,s tiative may be crucial in establishing a base- � tine for your community.Whether this is a city- "" wide forum with a diverse set of stakeholders, or a"traveling roadshow"to various neighbor- - hood groups and organizations,discussing zoning atthis early stage can help educate the audience on some basic terminology and offer clear explanations of what is currently pos- your local code and maps can be an extraor- organizations may even repeatedly push back sible.Taking this step may ease complications dinarily useful primer for residents,elected on your office's proposals.If you believe this in later stages of the planning process where officials,developers,or other city staff. push back comes from a point of confusion you discuss changes.With enough time,you about zoning,then scheduling a stand-alone may be able to take a similar approach to the WHAT IS THE CONTEXT FOR A ZONING 101 meeting with these organizations may be of stand-alone meeting.This might include walk- PRESENTATION? help. ing your community through the local zoning Before putting together a Zoning sol presen- A one-or two-hour session can feature districts and where they are on a clear,color- tation,take some time to think about the discussion on why zoning exists,the range of ful,and well-defined map.If your planning context.At what stage of the planning process zoning districts in your town,a brief,jargon- process will have an advisory group or council, is it?Is it a part of the traditional planning free description(this is particularly important, this step is extraordinarily important.It is process at all?After all,this may be a stand- as it is possibly the source of community likely that members of this advisory group may alone meeting with a civic group,the first step confusion)of what is possible in those dis- have vastly different understandings of ton- in a visioning process,or may even come just tricts,and an overview of your local zoning ing.A transportation advocate may have little in advance of explicit zoning recommenda- map.Stakeholders in a specific neighborhood to no experience considering FAR.A housing tions from your planning office.The following may be more interested in how zoning affects association representative may have a very are a series of possible scenarios for a Zoning them personally rather than its impact com- Clear picture of her zoning district,but may be sol discussion,and how your approach might munitywide.Providing local context in your confused about mixed use building require- differ. presentation or discussion will be vital in both ments in a commercial district.A chamber of retaining your audience's attention and giv- commerce spokesperson might understand The Stand-Alone Neighborhood Meeting ing them actionable information.Obviously the value of increasing height limits,but You may decide that talking to your commu- nity about zoning independent of any project, plan,or proposal may be helpful.Typically,a stand-alone meeting will allow more time for presentation and discussion than other Zon- ing sol scenarios,making it easier to cover a wide range of topics.And holding the meeting F at a community center,branch library,or other neighborhood gathering spot may be ideal v, for civic groups,neighborhood associations, chambers of commerce,or community boards. - They may have participated in earlier planning exercises,either as representatives of their group or as private citizens,but perhaps never fully grasped what exactly zoning is and how •' it is used in planning.In some cases,these ZONINGPRACTICE 12.16 AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION I page 3