Yesterday, I attended a meeting called by Jeff Mikorski and attended by Jenny Selin, Chris Fletcher, Roy Nutter and Christiaan Abildso.  The primary purpose of the meeting was to improve communication among the Traffic Commission, City Manager, City Council and boards such as the BB and Ped Board.

Another topic on the agenda was, "Discuss the parts of the Bicycle Plan that were accepted into the Comprehensive Plan http://www.morgantownwv.gov/wp-content/uploads/MCP-Morgantown-Comprehensive-Plan-compressed.pdf that could be incorporated into the Zoning Ordinance for new and improved developments".  In preparation for the meeting, I reviewed the 62 actions in the Bicycle Plan and identified 6 that I thought might be able to be implemented through zoning ordinances.  After the meeting, I sent them to Chris and replied as you can see below.  He is very positive about moving these forward but may need some help from the BB.  

Please let Gunnar know if you want to discuss this at this Thursday's BB meeting.

Frank

Begin forwarded message:

From: Christopher Fletcher <cfletcher@cityofmorgantown.org>
Date: November 5, 2013 9:03:42 AM EST
To: Frank Gmeindl <fgmeindl@gmail.com>
Cc: Jeff Mikorski <jmikorski@cityofmorgantown.org>
Subject: Re: Bike Plan Actions for Zoning

Frank:

Good morning.  Thank you for your time and insight yesterday afternoon.  Please see my responses below in bold blue font.

I look forward to realizing our success in the matters at hand.

Respectfully,

Christopher M. Fletcher, AICP
Director of Development Services

From: "Frank Gmeindl" <fgmeindl@gmail.com>
To: "Chris Fletcher" <cfletcher@cityofmorgantown.org>
Sent: Monday, November 4, 2013 8:14:22 PM
Subject: Bike Plan Actions for Zoning

Hi Chris,

As I promised after our meeting tonight, following are the 6 actions from the bicycle plan that could be relevant to zoning.

Engineering 2.  Implement the Complete Streets policy established in 2007: all street resurfacing or other modifications will include a written Complete Street plan that is reviewed and commented on by the Bicycle Board before they can be implemented.  The most appropriate City Code location to address this policy objective...in terms of regulating new roadway construction that is privately funded...is in the Subdivision Regulations Ordinance.  I fully support this endeavor.  However, the entire Subdivision Regulations Ordinance needs to be modernized just as the Zoning Ordinance was in 2006 to address a number of deficiencies and include "new tools" provided in the State's Planning Enabling Law passed in 2004.  This will be a very consuming task that, under existing staffing levels, cannot be accomplished in-house.

Engineering 9. Advocate secure short-term bicycle parking within 100 feet of bicyclist destinations in commercial districts.  This can and should be addressed in the Zoning Ordinance...but I would suggest going further than "advocating" by stipulating minimum requirements/standards.  I would suggest first revisiting the "100 feet" principle and then look strategically at where these facilities should be developed to maximize visibility, presence, and utilization.

Engineering 10. Encourage weatherproof and vandal-proof long-term bicycle parking in every City owned or managed parking garage. Public/government entities are exempt from the City's Planning and Zoning Code.  However, there are other avenues to accomplish this objective and delivery appears to be heavily dependent upon funding over regulatory policy.  What is the level of success/usage of the existing facility at the Public Safety Building?

Engineering 11.  Coordinate with Mountain Line and WVU to establish reasonable bicycle parking at all bus and PRT stops.Public/government entities are exempt from the City's Planning and Zoning Code.  However, there are other avenues to accomplish this objective and delivery appears to be heavily dependent upon funding over regulatory policy.

Encouragement 8. Coordinate with the Morgantown Monongalia MPO to encourage WVU and other employers to provide bicycle parking, lockers and shower facilities for employees who chose to bicycle to work.  This is outside the scope of the City's Planning and Zoning Code in terms of public/government employers and existing employers.  However, we may be able to include minimum related requirements/standards for new construction/development are larger employment centers.

Encouragement 14. Review current implementation and consider expansion of the Planning and Zoning Code requiring developers of multi-family dwellings to provide bicycle parking and storage.  This can and should be addressed in the Zoning Ordinance by revisiting the existing standards for the B-4 District, revising them to provide greater design flexibility, and expanding them effect multi-family development where such development is permitted within the City.


As I said, I passed these through a wide filter selecting any action whose implementation might be facilitated through zoning.



Frank D. Gmeindl
LCI #1703
491 Wilson Avenue
Morgantown, WV 26501
304-376-0446
Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles