Title
Consider Issuance of Requests for Proposals for Downtown Master Plans and updates to Chapters 16 and 18 of the County Code, and Budget Revision 2020-16
Recommended Action
I move that Council approve that staff proceed with the finalization of the RFPs for the Downtown Master Plan and Updates to Chapters 16 and 18 of the County Code and issue those RFPs for consulting services as required under County Procurement Procedures. I further move that Council approve Budget Revision 2020-16 as summarized on Attachment C and that the attachment be made a part of the minutes of this meeting.
Body
Background
Development interest in the County, particularly within the downtown has significantly increased over the past few months and is expected to stay particularly active for the foreseeable future. Multiple expressions of interest in various parcels in the downtown area have included proposals for high density housing and mixed use. The Downtown Master Plan that was drafted in the mid-2000s was never adopted by County Council and is significantly outdated for use today as a guiding document for new development and re-development of strategic parcels. As such, staff believe that there is a need for a strategic planning framework for the downtown areas in order to approrpriately and proactively respond to these development proposals coming into the County.
Chapter 16 is the Development Code for Los Alamos County and while it has been updated in sections over the years, it has not had a significant update in decades. It is generally viewed as difficult to work with, particularly from the developer perspective, but also by the general public and by staff as well.
Given the above current situations, Community Development staff are proposing to move forward on the development of Downtown Master Plans for both the townsite and White Rock Town Center and to update Chapter 16 of the County Code. The process would be completed in two phases, starting with the Downtown Plans and ending with the update of Chapter 16. The draft RFP for the Downtown Master Plans and Chapter 16 Update is included in Attachment A.
Both the Comprehensive Plan (2016) and the Housing Analysis (2019) recommend various strategies that will support smart development and housing in the downtown districts, mixed use zones and infill parcels throughout the County. Both documents strongly recommend focusing planning efforts in the downtown, in tandem with transportation planning, exploring potential increased densities and more flexible parking requirements in the downtown areas as well as updating the development code in support of those efforts.
The Community Development Advisory Board (CDAB) was formed in 2018 in response to resident concerns about the County's enforcement of the provisions in Chapter 18 of the County Code (Environment). Since its inception the CDAB has reviewed the code and identified various inconsistencies and ambiguities within it. In addition, through outreach efforts the CDAB has identified three areas of common code compliance issues that the committee believes should be focused on and addressed via a code revision process. These three areas include: weeds, outdoor storage, and inoperable vehicles. The proposed scope of work for consulting services (Attachment B) provides for a structure under which Chapter 18 can be updated, focusing on the three primary areas of concern while including a public outreach process.
1. Downtown Master Plan(s) and Chapter 16 Update
Downtown Master Plan (Phase I)
What it is: A Downtown Master Plan establishes a vision with specific details providing guidance for the future development of the County’s two downtown areas. A Downtown Master Plan, for both Los Alamos Town Site and the White Rock Town Center, would directly influence and guide the anticipated Chapter 16 Code Update, established as Phase II of this project. This plan also helps determine the best approach to the topics of parking, density, form/layout, mobility/connectivity, building height, and maximizing the public transit system. The overall draft RFP for the Downtown Master Plan and Chapter 16 Update is attached as Attachment A and the scope of work begins on page 3.
What County gets for cost (Budget Revision Request $150,000):
1. Delivery of a complete Downtown Master Plan for Los Alamos Town Site.
2. Delivery of a complete Downtown Master Plan for White Rock.
3. A vision and guidance for the update of the Chapter 16 Development Code.
4. A framework/preliminary plan by July 2020 to be utilized in the kick-off a Chapter 16 Development Code update.
5. Public and key stakeholder outreach to better inform and guide the Master Plan.
6. Detailed consideration of the topics of parking, density, form/layout, mobility/connectivity, building height, and maximizing the public transit system.
7. Alignment of the Downtown Master Plans with the Comprehensive Plan, Council Goals, Economic Vitality Plan, MRA and MainStreet Revitalization Plans, Tourism Plan, and the development of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park.
8. Presentation of the Downtown Master Plan during Planning and Zoning Commission and County Council public hearings for recommendation and approval.
9. Consultants, by taking on the bulk of the project (with a limited support role by County staff), free up County staff to continue to provide day-to-day services and ensures on-time project deliverables.
What the County gets when complete: A Los Alamos Town Site and White Rock Downtown Master Plan shall help the County guide the future development of the downtown areas and address the unique planning challenges of the community, such as a lack of developable land, when considering our unique geographical and topographical conditions.
Chapter 16 Development Code Update (Phase II)
What it is: The County’s Chapter 16 Development Code defines the processes, establishes zoning districts, and associated development standards for land use development in the County.
What County gets for cost (Budget Revision Request $150,000):
1. Delivery of a complete update of the Chapter 16 Development Code that enables development to take place as a mixture of uses rather than large areas of single land use for infill.
2. Clarify code, build efficiency and cross-references into the code.
3. Facilitate interpretation and implementation process for all affected land development projects/initiatives/goals.
4. A code that provides for the implementation of the vision of the Downtown Master Plans.
5. Consultants conduct all public and key stakeholder outreach to better inform and guide the new Chapter 16 Development Code
6. Alignment of the new Chapter 16 Development Code with the Downtown Master Plans, Comprehensive Plan, Council Goals, Economic Vitality Plan, MRA Revitalization Plans, Tourism Plan, and the development of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park.
7. Presentation of the new Chapter 16 Development Code to Planning and Zoning Commission and Council public hearings for recommendation and approval.
8. Consultants, by taking on the bulk of the project (with a limited support role by County staff), free up County staff to continue to provide day-to-day services and ensures on-time project deliverables.
What County gets when complete: An updated Chapter 16 Development Code will allow the County to realize the visions defined in the Comprehensive Plan and Downtown Master Plans with updated processes and development standards. In addition, greater clarity and efficiency will be built into the development process.
2. Chapter 18 Update (Environment)
What it is: The County’s Chapter 18 Environment Code defines the standards and compliance processes governing the minimum conditions and the responsibilities of persons for maintenance of structures, including all existing residential and nonresidential structures, premises, and exterior property. This update would provide a process by which the CDAB, the general public and other stakeholders to weigh in on the update of this section of the code in order to make it easier to understand and enforce, and also to have a better application to existing conditions and constraints that currently exist in the various Los Alamos neighborhoods. The draft scope of work for the Chapter 18 Update is attached as Attachment B.
What County gets for cost (Budget Revision Request $50,000):
1. A review and analysis of three property violation types which have received most public attention - weeds, outdoor storage, and inoperable vehicles.
2. A general clean-up of Chapter 18 code subsections.
3. Identify any language which is unclear, inconsistent within or between code sections, including duplication and redundancies.
4. Provide user-friendly language as needed for compliance requirements, procedures, standards, and definitions. Include code cross-referencing and jurisdictional responsibilities, and comprehensive index, within a logical framework with format conducive to inserting amendments.
5. Recommendations for innovative and best practice methods for achieving code compliance. Practical user information on how to meet compliance. Comparative analysis of other communities’ compliance programs including clean and lien programs for vacant properties, successes and lessons learned.
What County gets when complete: An updated Chapter 18, informed by the input received from the general community and the CDAB, with a focus on the three areas of concern: weeds, outdoor storage, and inoperable vehicles. The update will also provide clearer language that plainly describes minimum property maintenance standards so that residents are better able to understand how to comply with code. In addition, the update will address the county’s processes for code compliance and appropriately codify those improvements already completed and those that are deemed necessary through the project's outreach process.
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal and staff impact is described in the attachments and the Budget Adjustment Summary is contained in Attachment C.
Attachments
A - Draft RFP for Downtown Master Plan and Chapter 16 Update
B - Draft Scope of Work for Chapter 18 Update
C - Budget Revision 2020-16