By Jennifer Wilson - Jackson’s proposed Circulation Element and Draft Land Use Element were presented to the City Council Monday night. City Planner Susan Peters and ACTC Director Charles Field gave an overview of the most recent changes to both documents. The Circulation Element, which is responsible for developing “a comprehensive circulation plan for all travel modes within the Jackson area, and to provide a strategy for financing preferred transportation improvements,” had some “noteworthy” changes. Field explained to the council that Highway 49/88 through Jackson is now a threshold of Level of Service D, which is congested traffic. All other areas of the city remain LOS C. On a scale from A to F, A is free-flowing traffic, while F represents multiple delays and stops. Another important change in the Circulation Element is the addition of implementation measures requiring the development of new Traffic Impact Study guidelines. This change also includes the formation of an NEV Plan, which is a plan to establish Neighborhood Electric Vehicle routes through and around the city. The Draft Land Use Element, which serves to “establish a framework to direct the physical development of the City and to form the organization of the City’s environment,” had some moderate revisions. One key change was the elimination of a 25 percent limitation on Residential Single Family, or RSF, lots that can have an exemption from the 8000 square foot minimum. As written, the Draft Land Use Element has changed the minimum square footage for RSF from 6,000 to 8,000 square feet, but developers will have the option to reduce it back to 6000 with the Planning Commission’s approval, and if certain criteria apply. Overall, public reaction to the two documents focused mainly on questions regarding land use designations, traffic impacts, spheres of influence, and infrastructure needs, such as water and fire services. Jackson property owner Jim Lawton got up to point out his problem with an overlay affecting his property near Fuller Road. “This bothers me. I just want to get it on record that (I have an issue with this).” Peters assured Lawton that she would look into the issue and work with him on any problems. After receiving public comment, the council decided to continue the public hearing to their next meeting in order to give city staff time to make final revisions.
Wednesday, 29 October 2008 02:38
Jackson Continues Work on General Plan Documents
By Jennifer Wilson - Jackson’s proposed Circulation Element and Draft Land Use Element were presented to the City Council Monday night. City Planner Susan Peters and ACTC Director Charles Field gave an overview of the most recent changes to both documents. The Circulation Element, which is responsible for developing “a comprehensive circulation plan for all travel modes within the Jackson area, and to provide a strategy for financing preferred transportation improvements,” had some “noteworthy” changes. Field explained to the council that Highway 49/88 through Jackson is now a threshold of Level of Service D, which is congested traffic. All other areas of the city remain LOS C. On a scale from A to F, A is free-flowing traffic, while F represents multiple delays and stops. Another important change in the Circulation Element is the addition of implementation measures requiring the development of new Traffic Impact Study guidelines. This change also includes the formation of an NEV Plan, which is a plan to establish Neighborhood Electric Vehicle routes through and around the city. The Draft Land Use Element, which serves to “establish a framework to direct the physical development of the City and to form the organization of the City’s environment,” had some moderate revisions. One key change was the elimination of a 25 percent limitation on Residential Single Family, or RSF, lots that can have an exemption from the 8000 square foot minimum. As written, the Draft Land Use Element has changed the minimum square footage for RSF from 6,000 to 8,000 square feet, but developers will have the option to reduce it back to 6000 with the Planning Commission’s approval, and if certain criteria apply. Overall, public reaction to the two documents focused mainly on questions regarding land use designations, traffic impacts, spheres of influence, and infrastructure needs, such as water and fire services. Jackson property owner Jim Lawton got up to point out his problem with an overlay affecting his property near Fuller Road. “This bothers me. I just want to get it on record that (I have an issue with this).” Peters assured Lawton that she would look into the issue and work with him on any problems. After receiving public comment, the council decided to continue the public hearing to their next meeting in order to give city staff time to make final revisions.
