Planning Commission Short Course

1. Planning CommissionShort Course Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development Division of Community and Regional Affairs September 2009

2. INTRODUCTION TO PLANNING

3. What is Planning? Everyoneplans. Planning is an activity that touches just about every aspect of life. Individual’s plan their day, friends plan hunting trips, families plan for major purchases, businesses plan pricing, etc. The common thread that runs through these seemingly different activities is the time, effort, and expense that is saved in the future by thinking ahead and plotting a course of action today.

4. The Planning Process

5. The Planning Process

6. Community Benefits • Shapes the future • Identifies local issues • Identifies public values • Ties programs together • Promotes public involvement • Attracts appropriate development Planning benefits communities in the following ways: • Increases certainty • Protects natural resources • Improves public service efficiency • Minimizes land use conflicts • Promotes good design

7. Planning saves money. Planning establishes ground rules. Planning can support economic development. Planning provides a forum for community consensus. Planning can promote community design. Planning can protect property and property values. Planning can reduce environmental damage and conserve resources. Why do Communities Need to Plan?

8. Planning Characteristics • Creates order and predictability: • Land use plan guides development policies and public investment in infrastructure. • Coastal management plan prioritizes coastal use. • City budget forecasts revenue collection and spending. • Promotes efficient use of resources: • Locates new developments near existing utilities. • Anticipates problems before they become crises. • Coordinates and schedules capital improvements. • Reserves scarce waterfront for water-dependent resources.

9. Planning Characteristics (continued) • Identifies alternatives and procedures: • Evaluates, accepts or rejects courses of action. • Identifies steps that lead to plan realization. • Combines vision with community needs. • Promotes community health and future viability: • Inventories resources and analyzes planning alternatives. • Community actively meets old goals and identifies new goals. • Improved community leadership through enhanced knowledge, improved problem-solving skills, and critical analysis of alternatives.

10. Planning Characteristics • Creates order and predictability • Promotes efficient use of resources • Identifies alternatives and procedures • Promotes community health and future viability

11. The Opposite of Planning • Disorganization • Confusion • Redundancy • Lack of priorities • Poor decisions • Waste of time, money, land, and resources

12. Planning is NOT Magic Planning Cannot: • Produce miracles • Exclude newcomers • Succeed without implementing planned policies • Restore economic health overnight • Succeed without balance • Work to the benefit of your community unless you want it to

13. Planned Cities: Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. Alaska examples: Anchorage, Palmer, Skagway “Community design” vs. “community planning” Ambler Reality v. City of Euclid (1926) set legal precedent for enforcing zoning Standard City Planning Enabling Act (1928) impetus for land subdivision control AS Title 29 establishes provisions for comprehensive planning, platting, and zoning Brief History of Planning and Zoning

14. THE PLANNING COMMISSION

15. Welcome to the Planning Commission An Effective Planning Commissioner Knows: • Planning commission authority and duties • How a planning commission operates • Standards for commission decision-making • Legal aspects of commission conduct • Comprehensive and other types of planning • Zoning, platting, and land-use regulation

16. What is a Planning Commission? • Is an advisory group to the governing body on issues and activities related to planning, platting, land use regulation, and community development. • Has limited decision-making power, but can have considerable influence. • Is responsible for keeping planning and land use related issues in perspective for the community.

17. Planning Commission Authority • AS 29.40.020 and local charters or ordinances define the authority and responsibilities of commission members. Sec. 29.40.020. Planning commission. (a) Each first and second class borough shall establish a planning commission consisting of five residents unless a greater number is required by ordinance. Commission membership shall be apportioned so that the number of members from home rule and first class cities reflects the proportion of borough population residing in home rule and first class cities located in the borough.

18. Planning Commission Authority AS 29.40.020. Planning commission (continued). (a) … A member shall be appointed by the borough mayor for a term of three years subject to confirmation by the assembly, except that a member from a home rule or first class city shall be selected from a list of recommendations submitted by the council. Members first appointed shall draw lots for one, two, and three year terms. Appointments to fill vacancies are for the unexpired term. The compensation and expenses of the planning commission and its staff are paid as directed by the assembly.

19. Delegation of Authority AS 29.40.010 authorizes first and second class boroughs to delegate planning, platting and land use regulation authority. Sec. 29.40.010. Planning, platting, and land use regulation. (a) A first or second class borough shall provide for planning, platting, and land use regulation on an areawide basis. (b) If a city in a borough consents by ordinance, the assembly may by ordinance delegate any of its powers and duties under this chapter to the city. The assembly may by ordinance, without first obtaining the consent of the city, revoke any power or duty delegated under this section.

20. Delegation of Authority FromKenai Peninsula Borough Comprehensive Plan: Borough has delegated authority to enact and enforce zoning and land use regulations (zoning powers) to cities of Homer, Kenai, Seldovia, Seward and Soldotna for land within their boundaries. Borough has not delegated planning powers to cities.

21. Delegation of Authority FromKenai Peninsula Borough Comprehensive Plan: Borough has delegated authority to enact and enforce zoning and land use regulations (zoning powers) to cities of Homer, Kenai, Seldovia, Seward and Soldotna for land within their boundaries. Borough has not delegated planning powers to cities.

22. Delegation of Authority Cities within Borough have also assumed authority to provide various other services to city residents, as provided in Title 29 of State Statutes and municipal ordinances, including: road construction and maintenance port and harbor authority, police and fire protection utilities parks and recreation, animal control.

23. Planning Commission Authority • Commission duties vary from community to community depending on factors including support for planning, community growth rate, prospective infrastructure development, and responsibilities prescribed by ordinance. • Seldovia has a city planning commission and an adopted city comprehensive plan. After adoption by the City, comprehensive plan is forwarded to the Kenai Peninsula Borough for adoption by ordinance.

24. Planning Commission Authority(continued) Seldovia Municipal Code (18.04.030) • Planning Commission Powers and Duties • Advisory to City Council and Borough. • Administer Borough ordinances • Administer of City Ordinances • Prepare, and amend overall plan for the City

25. Planning Commission Authority(continued) • Carry out investigations for recommendations to the Council. • Prepare and present to City Council proposed ordinances or programs relating to building and land use. • Adopt rules and regulations to carry out duties. • Employ personnel necessary for commission work and be reimbursed through city treasury for necessary expenses.

26. Planning Commission Composition Each city or borough with a planning commission must pass an ordinance identifying: • Membership quantity • Member qualifications • Commission duties • Procedure for filling-vacancies • Regular meeting frequency • Dedicated staff person • General operating procedures

27. Planning Commission Composition City of Seldovia’s Ordinance: Chapter 18.04 (Title 18) of Seldovia Municipal Code • 18.04.010 Created-Officers. • 18.04.020 Terms of members. • 18.04.030 Powers and duties.

28. Planning Commission Duties • Prepare a comprehensive plan • Act as the platting authority • Review and recommend land use regulations • Review and recommend property rezones • Act on variances and conditional use permits • Review land acquisitions and disposals • Hear appeals from administrative decisions • Review and recommend capital improvements

29. Typical Planning Commission Duties • Review annual planning budget • Approve planning department’s annual work program • Initiate planning projects • Coordinate with other agencies’ plans • Conduct public meetings and hearings • Other duties as authorized by ordinance

30. Balanced Skilled Understands community Understands public process Committed to planning Maintains objectivity Declared conflict of interests Balanced special interests Characteristics of an “Ideal” Planning Commission

31. Having motivated and responsible members on the commission can be critical to its success as a productive and respected group. Characteristics of an “Ideal” Planning Commission Planning Commission

32. HOW A PLANNING COMMISSION OPERATES

33. Planning Commission Roles It is [or should be] a panel with knowledge of community character, local regulations, and community development practice. • Advisory Role - Advises the council or assembly. • Regulatory Role - Administers local land use regulations including zoning and subdivision ordinances. • Procedural Role - Conducts fair meetings and makes fair decisions.

34. The Commission’s Relationship with Staff and Elected Officials The most important aspect of the relationship between the planning commission and the governing body is the is the planning commission’s advisory role. The city council or borough assembly has the authority to approve, deny, or change commission recommendations. A commission that has a good working relationship with the council can play a key role in keeping the council informed and educated about planning and community development issues.

35. THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

36. What is a Comprehensive Plan? • A blueprint for guiding community development. • A flexible document, not a uniform template. • A visionary document attempting to anticipate future events and needs. • A statement of policies, goals, and standards. Comprehensive Plan

37. What is a Comprehensive Plan? (continued) • Provides a policy framework for decision-making regarding land use, transportation, housing, public facilities, and economic development. • Includes information on the many facets of a community including demographics, physical conditions, land use, environment, transportation, legal matters, and fiscal conditions. Reflects the vision and direction of residents!

38. AS 29.40.030. Comprehensive plan. (a) The comprehensive plan is a compilation of policy statements, goals, standards, and maps for guiding the physical, social, and economic development, both private and public, of the first or second class borough, and may include, but is not limited to, the following: (1) statements of policies, goals, and standards; (2) a land use plan; (3) a community facilities plan; (4) a transportation plan; and (5) recommendations for implementation of the comprehensive plan.

39. AS 29.40.030. Comprehensive plan. (b) With the recommendations of the planning commission, the assembly shall adopt by ordinance a comprehensive plan. The assembly shall, after receiving the recommendations of the planning commission, periodically undertake an overall review of the comprehensive plan and update the plan as necessary.

40. Comprehensive Plans Include: • General statement of goals and objectives • Background Report - regional needs, local resources, population trends, existing facilities • Land Use Plan • Community Facilities Plan • Other Plans - parks/recreation, flood mitigation, coastal management, transportation, open space, housing, annexation

41. Comprehensive Plans Include: (continued) • Recommendations for implementation – principles, policies, standards • Plans from other agencies and communities • Strategies for improving the local economy

42. A High-Quality Comprehensive Plan Includes: • A systematic and comprehensive collection and analysis of data • Clear and comprehensive goals • Specific action-oriented policies for implementation • Local official support • Local community support • Current data and policies

43. Fulfills legal obligation Meets grant eligibility requirements Guides community and economic development Guides decision-making Establishes basis for regulation Coordinates policy Provides “blueprint” for growth Represents future vision Why Have a Comprehensive Plan?

44. IMPORTANT! Clean Water! The comprehensive plan can work for your community only if you are committed to its success and invest time and effort in its preparation and implementation. Listen to your community.

45. City of Seldovia’s Comprehensive Plan

46. City of Seldovia’s Comprehensive Plan Community Vision: Building on Seldovia’s heritage, beautiful natural setting, and strategic location, our community vision includes: • An attractive, healthy, vibrant and safe community. • A process for orderly growth. • City government and local tribal organizations that work cooperatively while facilitating investments in infrastructure, economic development, training and other issues that affect our community.

47. Setting Goals and Establishing Objectives Goals are relatively broad statements about the results the community wishes to achieve. Goal:To achieve and maintain a high level of water quality in the surface waters, wetlands, groundwater and marine waters of the City. Objectives are specific actions that can be taken to achieve a goal. Objective1:Continue to pursue funding and assistance to help map the locations and improve understanding of the ecological functions of wetlands. Objective 2:To minimize negative impacts to water quality from dredging, filling, and grading in water bodies, wetlands, and intertidal areas.

48. Easy to understand Specific Uses simple words Realistic Makes sense Feasible Relates to decisions Identifies a responsible party May identify timeframes What is a Good Policy? A well-written policy is easy to understand, is achievable within the means of the city, is specific without being too detailed, and is well-related to the goals and inventory data of the plan.

49. Vague Confusing Hard to understand Contains awkward sentences Uses uncommon words Too broad Unrealistic assumptions or outcomes Unfeasible Does not make sense What is a Bad Policy? A poorly-written policy is open to interpretation, is not realistic to achieve, is vaguely or broadly worded, and is poorly linked to the plan’s goals and inventory data.

50. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION