Item C: Mixed-Use Centers - Laserfiche WebLink

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Staff and the Planning Commission emerged from the/ND Overlay zoning process impressed with the urgent need for a marketing plan for the nodal development program. Discussions with the Commission revealed a need for a public education campaign and approach to program marketing that was attractively presented, comprehensive and compelling. The generic nature of the TransPlan map was identified as a barrier to effective communication of the concept because it visually conveyed the message that there was only one type of node. The Planning Commission determined that it would be necessary to differentiate between the types of mixed use (nodal) development areas if we were to be successful in explaining the program to the public. For instance, the TransPlan map makes no distinction between the Downtown, Willow Creek Employment and Rasor Park Neighborhood nodes even though these areas are clearly very different from one another, each would require a completely different approach to planning for mixed use development, and the outcome for each area would likely be unique. The TransPlan map simply did not convey the right message. Accordingly, the Planning Commission made the decision to reapply the descriptive terminology (Neighborhood Center, Employment Center, Commercial Center) that allows us to explain the differences between different types of mixed use areas. That decision was brought forward to the Council at the October 20, 2004 work session. The Council did not provide direction at that meeting to stop using the descriptive terminology. The implications of this change are not yet decided, although public comments referring to the mixed use program being a "one size fits all" approach to planning have diminished considerably. 15