Advanced Plans Committee

Advance Plans Committee Summary of Meeting Thursday, October 3, 2019 MAPD Conference Room Attendance AP Committee Members: Mike Greene, (Chair) Chuck Warren, Bob Dool; Members Absent: John McKay, Rob Hartman, Schane Gross and Joe Johnson; MAPD staff: Scott Knebel, Mary M. Hunt, Dave Yearout, Matt Williams, Jim Schiffelbein, and Stephen Banks; Other: None Discussion Summary 1. Advance Plans Committee Chair, Mike Green called the meeting to order at 10:30 am; 2. Due to lack of quorum, the Advance Plans Committee was unable to approve the meeting summary of September 5, 2019. This will be taken up at a later meeting. 3. Stephen Banks, Senior Planner presented information regarding the Urban Area of Influence, illustrated by the growth area map for Sedgwick County. Various cities throughout the County are notified and are asked to provide comment regarding zoning and other development cases that occur within their Areas of Influence and if these areas need to change. The County Commission has directed staff to contact these communities to review and update the boundaries of the areas of influence and provide a reason why the boundary should change. Staff will ask cities to review their building permit activity and their ability to provide services to the area. A letter will be sent requesting a response by mid-November 2019. Staff will initiate and facilitate discussion between cities adjacent to one another. 4. Scott Knebel, Planning Manager with MAPD provided an update on the Riverfront Legacy Plan. Two public meetings have occurred thus far. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 17, 2019 at 5:30 pm at Century II. The Plan area includes more than just the Century II building. The existing plan area has buildings with their back (service areas) to the river, rather than connecting to the Arkansas River. Access to the river is difficult, resulting in an isolated place. In total, 1200+ comments, excluding social media have come forth thus far. The response indicates a desire to activate the river area and needs to be accessible to people of all ages. More park space is desired in addition to the linear design available today. The Century II building cannot be adapted as a modern performing arts center. The structure is too big to repurpose for other uses and capture the $2M required for operating expenses. Consultants conducted a long-term analysis of the history of the area, going back to the 1880’s, where a large active area existed that related to the river. Over time the original grid system was replaced with large buildings and parking lots that we have today. The result is a Advanced Plans Committee Meeting Summary – October 3, 2019 1  superblock format with little walkability. The consulting team will prepare three scenarios by mid-November and present to various community groups to gather input. An opposing group called Save Century II does not want the Century II building removed. They meet again on October 22, 2019. 5. Mary Hunt, Principal Planner provided an overview of the possible Food System Master Plan. Councilperson Tuttle is sponsoring the development of the Plan using grant funding of $25,000 the YMCA received from the Kansas Health Foundation. The Plan is in the very early stages with the intention it would be completed by December 2020. The Plan will have a ten-year time horizon for implementation. The Planning Department would be responsible for writing the Plan. Most Food Plans would be crafted and managed by a Health Department. Since the City does not have a health department, it has fallen to the Planning Department. The County Health Department is not interested in participating in this process beyond offering limited feedback and support. The Planning Department has a connection with these issues as they pertain to the zoning code; they are 1) There are restrictions on Farmer’s Markets including where, when and content sold; 2) Combining Community Gardens with Farmer’s Markets in neighborhoods; and, 3) The re-use of food product. The Advance Plans Committee members expressed concern about the Planning Department devoting resources to a Plan that has not been cleared through the City Council and whether the City Council has taken action to move the grant from the Kansas Health Foundation to the City. Concerns were also expressed about the level of expertise on such matters being within the scope of the Planning staff. Ms. Hunt will convey the concerns at the next meeting of the Food Policy Committee. 6. Matt Williams, Associate Planner updated the Committee regarding the South Central Plan Update. The Planning Commission will hear the case in November 2019. The City Council will hear the case in December 2019, followed by the Board of County Commissioners in January, 2020. 7. Mary Hunt, Principal Planner updated the Committee about Wichita: Places for People Plan. The City Manager has convened an Advisory Team of department directors. The team will participate in a Policy Charrette on October 15, 2019. The zoning code is being reviewed and a draft of the Land Bank is complete. A sub-group of the Advisory Team is reviewing the Purpose and Policies of the Land Bank. Staff is compiling information on approximately 30 node locations as a means of ranking the nodes in their suitability for redevelopment. 8. The next regular meeting of the Advance Plans Committee is Thursday, November 7, 2019 beginning at 10:30 am in the Director’s conference room of MAPD. 9. With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:35 am. Advanced Plans Committee Meeting Summary – October 3, 2019 2