AGENDA DATE: 7/1/2020
TITLE:
Title
Long Range Planning Projects Update: Crozet Master Plan Update
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: : Staff will share a status update and public engagement update on the Crozet Master Plan for the Board’s information.
ITEM TYPE: Regular Information Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Walker, Filardo, Rapp, Falkenstein, Knuppel
PRESENTER (S): Rachel Falkenstein, Principal Planner
LEGAL REVIEW: Not Required
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: Staff began work on the Crozet Master Plan update in September 2019 when the Board adopted a Resolution of Intent to amend the Master Plan and endorsed the project Work & Engagement Plan. In collaboration with stakeholders, members of the public, and the Crozet Community Advisory Committee (CAC), staff completed the community visioning phase of the project and shared draft goals and guiding principles with the Board in December 2019. Currently, staff is working through “Phase 2” of the project to draft recommendations and design strategies that will support the goals and guiding principles. The original scope (Attachment A) and the Community Development Work Program anticipated completion of the Crozet Master Plan update in the fourth quarter of 2020.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Thriving Development Areas: Attract quality employment, commercial, and high density residential uses into development areas by providing services and infrastructure that encourage redevelopment and private investment while protecting the quality of neighborhoods.
DISCUSSION: Through the first half of 2020, staff planned to hold in-person monthly workshops and focus groups supported by online and digital engagement to develop recommendations for each chapter of the Master Plan. Before the governor’s stay at home order went in place, staff was able to complete the first two of the five planned workshops. After the County began observing restrictions on public events due to the coronavirus, staff had to revise the engagement methods to allow the project to proceed, while still ensuring adequate opportunities for community members to share feedback.
The revised Work & Engagement Plan (Attachment B) provides opportunities for remote engagement through virtual meetings with the Crozet CAC, which are open to members of the public, and online questionnaires to replace the in-person workshops. These online “workshops” are hosted through the Imagine Crozet <https://publicinput.com/6258/> community engagement hub and walk participants through a series of focused questions and mapping exercises on the topics of character/land use, connectivity, and conservation. Due to the delay in work caused by the coronavirus, staff’s revised work plan anticipates completion of the project in March of 2021.
As of this writing, participation through the Imagine Crozet site has been mixed, with 128 people participating in the bicycle and pedestrian connectivity workshop and 17 people completing the architecture and preservation planning workshop.
BUDGET IMPACT: Updating the Crozet Master Plan is part of Community Development’s work program and no additional budget impacts are expected.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
This item is provided to the Board as a status update for information. No action is required by the Board, though staff is open to any feedback members of the Board may have on the revised engagement approach.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Original 2020 Work & Engagement Plan - November 8, 2019
B - Revised 2020 Work & Engagement Plan - April 21, 2020