Important Planning Meeting Held on November 4

The Gilbert City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission held a joint session on November 4, 2002, to meet with Sue Costner and Gary Reiners of the Public Management Resource Group (PMRG). 

Sue and Gary have been working for several months, in a consulting capacity, to develop a comprehensive plan for Gilbert. They have met often with Gilbert officials and citizens during that time. At Monday's meeting, they presented charts, maps, and aerial photos and summarized the highlights of their research. They also elicited feedback to provide direction in completing the plan. 

Sue and Gary presented presented an outline of topics to be covered (see below) at the joint meeting; however, there was a lot of material to cover, and only a portion of it was actually discussed. The material will be addressed again at future meetings. Eventually, the Gazette editor will provide either a summary or analysis of the November 4 meeting. In the meantime, persons interested in the future of Gilbert and the surrounding area would be well advised to read the outline and talk with Gilbert's elected officials and planning and zoning commissioners.

City of Gilbert
Comprehensive Plan
Joint City Council / Planning Commission Meeting
November 4, 2002

Gilbert Census Data

• Analysis and Conclusions     (Graphs)

Strategic Development Factors - significant constraints and issues that need to be addressed within the context of the comprehensive development plan

• County/Ames Fringe Development (County Base Map)

• Development trends in the fringe area
• Fringe area agreements 
• Conclusions

• Major Arterial Access

• Better access from south than east/west
• Current industrial zoning isolated from arterial access
• No paved access to north

• Railroad Bisects City Center
    
• Water Supply & Wastewater Treatment

• Both production and storage capacity are issues
• Adequate supply critical for commercial / industrial development
• Residential development also dependent 

• Storm Drainage

• Difficult issue in older section of town
• Key "quality of life" factor
• Easier to fix in conjunction with new development

• Inadequate Commercial/Industrial Base

• Historic loss of service commercial
• Demographics could support campus R&D

Downtown / City Center Issues

• Current Conditions - # of businesses, # of vacancies, not convenient to new residential development (Chart)
• Constraints - railroad and public safety, conflicting land uses, commercial storage and residential
• Future Options - existing site, eastward movement, government/retail bifurcation (side issue: where do you place?)
• Downtown Development Corporation, major community investment

Discussion of Smart Growth Principles

• Engaging the Urban Frame / Intergovernmental Cooperation (Map)
• Avoiding Sprawl through Consideration of Compact Development Strategies
• Growth Rate Factors - infrastructure, intergovernmental cooperation
• Phasing of Growth (Future growth areas map)
• Recreation / Environmental Amenities
• Varied Housing (type) Opportunities
• Conclusions

Application of Smart Growth Principles

• Future Land Use Designation - urban reserve designation
• Fringe Area Agreements
• Annexation
• Development Policies - use of tax increment financing, targeted tax abatement, adaptive use (re-use) ordinance / standards, conditional use permits, planned unit developments (mixed use), downtown design guidelines, downtown revitalization incentives, among others

Next Steps & Schedule

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world — indeed it's the only thing that ever has!"     Margaret Mead, American anthropologist

c2002 The Gilbert Gazette Group
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