Development projects that require a Zoning Change or Specific Use Permit will be reviewed under the Comprehensive Plan’s criteria. Applicants should review the resources below to determine:
- the property’s Future Land Use Category, Measurement Area, and Use Type;
- the information needed for staff to complete an analysis;
- if the proposal requires a justification of findings; and
- if an Expressway Corridor Environmental Health Analysis and potential mitigation are required.
Applicant ChecklistThe applicant is responsible for providing a Concept Plan that includes the necessary information in a site data table to conduct an analysis, such as:
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Analysis ResourcesStaff uses the following Comprehensive Plan elements, tools, and resources to analyze a development proposal's alignment with the Comprehensive Plan:
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Comprehensive Plan Analysis Tools
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ANALYSIS PROCESS
Steps | Process | Resource LInks | |
Future land use Category | The FLU Map is reviewed to determine the subject property’s Future Land Use category. | ||
FUTURE LAND USE | Each FLU Dashboard includes a general description, list of priorities, mix of uses chart, and table of desirable character defining elements. Staff will use all aspects of the Dashboard to review the proposed zoning change. | ||
Current LUHI Classification | The LUHI Data Tool is reviewed to determine what land use type the property is currently classified as listed in the Mix of Uses, the location's measurement area, the estimated acreage, and the number of dwelling units (if applicable). | ||
Mix of Uses Analysis | Using the LUHI Data Tool, staff conducts a LUHI analysis to determine how the proposal impacts or measures up to the recommended Mix of Uses in the associated Future Land Use Dashboard. | ||
Desirable Character Defining Elements | The Desirable Character Defining Elements section of the Dashboard provides recommendations about the general form and design of the various land use categories. See the How to Read the Dashboards section of the Plan for more detail on the Desirable Character Defining Elements. | ||
Other Comprehensive plan policies | The FLU Map and Dashboards are only one component of the Comprehensive Plan. Staff reviews the Plan’s other maps, policies, and actions to determine if the development is appropriate. | ||
Findings Policy | Staff determines if a proposal conforms to the Comprehensive Plan criteria. Zoning change requests that do not conform to the mix of uses, density, and building heights as described in the Dashboards are disfavored and require a justification of findings. |
Review the Preliminary Analysis Form for a more detailed overview of the Comprehensive Plan analysis process.
Land Use & Housing InventoryThe Land Use & Housing Inventory is a citywide, database of existing land uses and housing units, separated into categories:
This new tool allows for zoning change requests to be reviewed for consistency with the recommended Mix of Uses in the Future Land Use Dashboards. Because land uses change over time, the inventory will be routinely monitored and updated on a quarterly basis to match existing conditions. |
Findings PolicyAccording to the Redevelopment & Growth Management Policy's Action RGM1, zoning change requests that do not conform to the mix of uses, density, and building heights as described in the Dashboards are disfavored. Requests that do not conform to these criteria may be occasionally allowed when found:
To enact RGM1, City Council adopted a Findings Policy that requires the Planning & Zoning Commission and City Council make a set of findings that explain what the request was approved under these circumstances. These findings represent a "higher bar" for approval of such requests than zoning petitions that meet the associated criteria. |