Minutes of the Centerville City Council Work Session held Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. in the Centerville City Council Chambers, 250 North Main, Centerville, Utah.

MEMBERS PRESENT

Mayor:                                Ronald G. Russell

Council Members:          Justin Y. Allen
                                            Ken Averett
                                            Sherri Lyn Lindstrom
                                            Lawrence Wright

MEMBERS ABSENT

                                            Paul A. Cutler

STAFF PRESENT             Steve Thacker, City Manager
                                            Blaine Lutz, Finance Director/Assistant City Manager
                                            Cory Snyder, Community Development Director
                                            Lisa Romney, City Attorney
                                             Kathy Streadbeck, Recording Secretary

VISITORS                           Susie Petheram, CRSA
 
SOUTH MAIN STREET CORRIDOR (SMSC)

Cory Snyder, Community Development Director, reported that over the past five (5) months staff has been in the process of preparing a plan for the South Main Street Corridor (SMSC) from Parrish Lane to Pages Lane. This plan requires amendments to the General Plan (SMSC Plan) and the Zoning Code (SMSC Overlay Zone). The SMSC Plan is a planning document with long-range goals (20-30 years) and the SMSC Overlay Zone establishes those things that need to take place now in order for the long-range goals to come to fruition. Mr. Snyder explained that things will change as time goes on requiring additional amendments in order to continue moving toward those long-range goals.

The SMSC Plan consists of 9 goals and 70+ objectives and focuses on land use, mobility, setting, and building environment. The SMSC Plan also divides the corridor into six (6) districts: the North Gateway/Mixed Use District; Civic/Cultural District; Core Area Main Street District; Traditional Main Street District; Residential Boulevard; and Pages Lane Mixed-Use District. Mr. Snyder explained that the entire corridor will maintain some uniformity, but each district also has individual uses, goals and objectives.

The SMSC Overlay Zone allows underlying zones to remain active while providing additional uses in some areas, creating greater diversity. The SMSC Overlay Zone allows for more flexibility in building placement and design. These changes will increase the intensity of use of individual properties in some areas. The SMSC Overlay Zone will also introduce some congestion, encouraging people to park and walk. Parking will be encouraged at the rear of buildings or at a nearby parking lot or structure. The SMSC will likely become multi-modal in the future (i.e., mass transit, walking, and biking).

Mr. Snyder said that many of the goals set forth in the SMSC Plan will have to be coordinated with UDOT (the owner of Main Street). UDOT is aware that the City is working on a plan that reflects Centerville’s desires for this area. This plan should help drive some of the decisions made by UDOT with regard to Main Street. He reviewed several possible right-of-way schematics with regard to mass transit, stating the desire to keep any mass transit within the current right-of-way. It is the City’s hope to work with UDOT in producing the desired outcome of the SMSC Plan.

Mr. Snyder said the Planning Commission has reviewed the draft documents and recommends approval to the City Council. The Planning Commission also recommends the City Council look at the possibility of a strategic planning process to start looking at public space standards and amenities (i.e., sidewalk, bike lanes, benches, trash receptacles, lighting, etc.). A strategic plan will also help in coordinating with UDOT. 

Mr. Snyder said the Planning Commission did struggle with the setbacks in each district. He said they walked Main Street, measuring setback distances as they went. He said the Planning Commission agreed to increase the setbacks in several of the districts. In most of the districts they recommend increasing the setback 2 to 5 feet, and in the North Gateway/Mixed Use district they recommend increasing the setback 10 to 20 feet.

Mayor Russell said there were several property owners involved in the planning process. He said some of them were skeptical at first, but soon realized that this plan gave them greater flexibility and marketability with their properties.

The Council discussed the need to establish a strategic plan. Several Council members discussed their desires to incorporate appropriate public space standards. Susie Petheram, CRSA, said the more proactive the City becomes in establishing public space standards, the more likely UDOT will follow those standards. Council members expressed their desires to keep moving forward and a strategic plan seems the next logical step.      
 
 Mr. Snyder said the City Council is expected to conduct a formal public hearing on the proposed SMSC Plan and the proposed SMSC Overlay Zone this evening. After public comment is taken the public hearing may be closed or continued. The Council may discuss the amendment, give direction to staff, and determine whether to adopt the proposed amendments as written, make any desired modifications, or table to a subsequent meeting for further discussion. 

The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.