Hi All-- I would appreciate hearing a summary of how this meeting went and
what Frank sees as the next steps. Gunnar: can you please add it to the
agenda if it is not already?
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-... 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*
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