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Approve a Contract Amendment for a Planning Systems Evaluation. (added 9/13/22)
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Staff:
Department:
Dwight Bassett, Director
Economic Development & Parking Services
Colleen Willger, AICP, Director
Planning
Overview: In February 2021, the Chapel Hill Town Council demonstrated unanimous support for a comprehensive assessment of the Town's current planning functions to be led by an independent consultant and guided by a Council subcommittee, now known as the Mayor's Planning Steering Committee.
The overall purpose of this assessment is to improve the efficiency and outcomes in all aspects of land use planning and project review by learning lessons from our past and considering best practices being used in other communities.
Recommendation(s):
That the Council adopt the attached resolution declaring its intent to amend the existing contract with The Keesmaat Group to conduct a Planning Systems Evaluation to achieve better outcomes in our planning processes and land use decisions.
Key Issues:
* The assessment must reflect a solid understanding of the limitations and challenges faced by North Carolina cities and towns since we are a Dillon's Rule state and should address the following interests:
o Achieving a stronger long-term planning culture to realize town goals and create complete neighborhoods, with infrastructure to support them;
o Creating a shared understanding across the organization and with Council of the goals and outcomes we want to achieve through the planning and review processes;
o Determining ways in which our planning processes can arrive at these outcomes in more efficient and effective ways than previously;
o Ensuring that our processes create solid connections between town policies and outcomes and that they support our interest in maximizing community benefits from our land use decisions;
o Identifying best practices for applying various lenses such as equity and environment to our work; and
o Helping us think about how our p...
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