York Planning Committee Report

March 18, 2008

Submitted by committee chair, Anne Mackie

 

Accomplishments:

The Planning Survey was completed in January; attached is the report submitted to The Yorker newsletter for publication later this month.  The committee met in January, February, and March.  All the subgroups are meeting regularly, with the exception of Land Use, which will start up this month.  Subsections of the Plan are being drafted by the subgroups.

 

A letter drafted by Nick Hartrich, and reviewed by the Planning Committee, was submitted to the City regarding development possibilities for the Wilsons’ Motors property.  No response has been received as of March 18.

 

Discussion of ADUs:
Chris Koch (City Planner) will meet with the board April 16 to present information on ADUs.  The Planning Committee felt that a presentation to the whole board was better than just to the committee.

 

Planning calendar:  Please see the calendar at the end of the attached article. 

 

 

York Survey Results

By Anne Mackie, Planning Committee Chair

 

Over a period of several months, York’s Planning Committee conducted a survey to gather input for the Neighborhood Plan Update project.  Printed surveys were distributed to every home and business in the neighborhood; responses could be submitted online or on paper. 162 responses were received.

 

The survey gathered neighbors’ opinions to help guide our planning for the future. (Keep in mind that several questions allowed more than one answer, so percentages can add up to more than 100% for some questions.)

 

Respondents were 56% home owners; 34% renters; 10% business owners; 9% landlords. 

Top reasons given to live in York:  like the area, close to downtown; affordable.

Neighborhood conditions were rated by the majority as “average” for walkway lighting, parks/recreational areas/trails/open space; parking; sidewalks; traffic control; and property upkeep. 

 

Problems Rated:

Big Problem

Small Problem

Not a Problem

Other

Crime

18%

52%

26%

4%

Dilapidated houses or buildings

16%

54%

27%

3%

Parking

23%

47%

28%

2%

Party houses/noise

22%

48%

24%

5%

Poor upkeep of properties

22%

53%

22%

2%

Traffic speed/congestion

23%

41%

34%

2%

Transients and homeless

11%

53%

30%

7%

 

Enforcement of City Municipal Codes for noise, property maintenance, garbage, housing rules, zoning, etc.: 

            Not adequately enforced = 40%

            Well enforced = 32%

            No opinion = 28%

 

Integrating and reconnecting the neighborhood’s geographic divisions ranked “very” or “somewhat” important in the following order: 

  • Add a pedestrian crossing on Lakeway between I-5 and Ellis/Holly intersection (91%)
  • Improve trails/open space/parks (88%)
  • Better street lighting (83%)
  • Crosswalks and/or bike paths on arterials (83%)
  • Sidewalks on all blocks (79%)
  • More neighborhood businesses to serve pedestrian traffic (66%)

 

York’s historic character ranked as “strongly” or “somewhat” agree:

  • York should become an Historic District (92%)
  • New construction should have design standards to fit in with historic character (91%)
  • Protect historic homes from bulldozers (92%)
  • Historic character is not important (10%)

 

To best accommodate future population growth, York should consider:

 

 

Support

Oppose

Rooming houses

40%

60%

Single-family homes

90%

10%

Affordable housing

82%

18%

Apartments

23%

77%

Attached Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)

53%

47%

Detached ADUs

47%

53%

Condos

18%

82%

Cooperative housing

56%

44%

Cottage housing

66%

34%

Townhouses

35%

34%

Urban villages

56%

45%

 

What will make York a better place to live:

  1. Planned parks, open spaces and trails (93%)
  2. Pedestrian crossings and other safety features (88%)
  3. Bike paths on arterial roads (78%)
  4. Enforcement of City codes for noise, garbage, housing, zoning (76%)
  5. Devices to slow traffic (69%)
  6. Encourage a mix of housing and businesses (51%)
  7. Parking for residents only (43%)
  8. More businesses throughout the neighborhood (33%)

 

Proactive planning by neighborhood stakeholders is important; 70% strongly agreed.

93% thought York a “neighborly” neighborhood!

 

Thanks to everyone who participated in the survey.  A more detailed report of the survey will be available on the York website at www.yorkneighborhood.org.

 

If you are interested in helping on the York Neighborhood Plan Update project contact Anne Mackie, 738-0542.