PLANiTulsa (Comp Plan) Kick-Off Event

[AVERAGE JOE]

quote:Originally posted by Floyd

Somebody want to explain exactly what a Comprehensive Plan is?  Or, tell us what it isn't?

It's the overriding policy document for the city of Tulsa. It shapes a vision and direction for the city over the next decade or more. There are many facets to it -- transportation, economic development, land use, housing, social services, community and neighborhoods, amenities, etc.

Everything related to city government should flow from the Comprehensive Plan. For example, the zoning code is intended to be the rulebook shaping the city in the image of the Comp Plan. The language in the zoning code even reads "to achieve the objectives of the Comprehensive Plan." Capital improvements (infrastructure, public transport, etc) should be funded and prioritized based on the objectives of the comp plan. Economic development strategies, social service strategies, etc. should be developed to achieve the goals of the comp plan.

In short, the comp plan defines the desired destination for the community. The zoning code, capital improvements, neighborhood plans, etc. form the road map with detailed directions to get us to that destination.

[Rico]

^

Don't mean to be disrespectful Joe.... Your post contains some of the key issues I have with any comprehensive plan....



the zoning code is intended




should be developed to achieve the goals of the comp plan.




should be funded and prioritized based on the objectives of the comp plan.



should flow from the Comprehensive Plan.




These are just the sort of issues that make a living for Charles Norman and others.

The plans; seem to be bent and become something entirely different than when they were born.

mho.... the animation and movement of the tastes and desires of the affluent of a City... become the status quo. and therefore the footprint of an area.

solution= ?

[TheArtist]

quote:Originally posted by Rico


^

Don't mean to be disrespectful Joe.... Your post contains some of the key issues I have with any comprehensive plan....



the zoning code is intended




should be developed to achieve the goals of the comp plan.




should be funded and prioritized based on the objectives of the comp plan.



should flow from the Comprehensive Plan.




These are just the sort of issues that make a living for Charles Norman and others.

The plans; seem to be bent and become something entirely different than when they were born.

mho.... the animation and movement of the tastes and desires of the affluent of a City... become the status quo. and therefore the footprint of an area.

solution= ?

Solution?  Why a solution to that? Sounds GREAT![8D]

[AVERAGE JOE]

quote:Originally posted by Rico


^

Don't mean to be disrespectful Joe.... Your post contains some of the key issues I have with any comprehensive plan....



the zoning code is intended




should be developed to achieve the goals of the comp plan.




should be funded and prioritized based on the objectives of the comp plan.



should flow from the Comprehensive Plan.




These are just the sort of issues that make a living for Charles Norman and others.

The plans; seem to be bent and become something entirely different than when they were born.

mho.... the animation and movement of the tastes and desires of the affluent of a City... become the status quo. and therefore the footprint of an area.

solution= ?

You have accurately and keenly summed up one the most important aspects of any Comprehensive Planning effort -- the political will to stick to the plan and not deviate based on which way the wind blows. Once the community has expressed their will and their desires for the future of the city, it is incumbent upon the community to hold the city leadership's feet to the fire and insist they implement the plan.

The good news is that the very fact we're going through this process for the first time in over 30 years means the political will is strong in City Hall. Frankly, that was the easiest way to deviate from the old plan -- not update it for more than a generation. That status quo is out the window.

But I can't stress enough -- this is the community's plan. The public HAS to take ownership of both the development of the plan and the implementation of the plan. Communities who do that see results.

[Rico]

quote:Originally posted by AVERAGE JOE

quote:Originally posted by Rico


^

Don't mean to be disrespectful Joe.... Your post contains some of the key issues I have with any comprehensive plan....



the zoning code is intended




should be developed to achieve the goals of the comp plan.




should be funded and prioritized based on the objectives of the comp plan.



should flow from the Comprehensive Plan.




These are just the sort of issues that make a living for Charles Norman and others.

The plans; seem to be bent and become something entirely different than when they were born.

mho.... the animation and movement of the tastes and desires of the affluent of a City... become the status quo. and therefore the footprint of an area.

solution= ?

You have accurately and keenly summed up one the most important aspects of any Comprehensive Planning effort -- the political will to stick to the plan and not deviate based on which way the wind blows. Once the community has expressed their will and their desires for the future of the city, it is incumbent upon the community to hold the city leadership's feet to the fire and insist they implement the plan.

The good news is that the very fact we're going through this process for the first time in over 30 years means the political will is strong in City Hall. Frankly, that was the easiest way to deviate from the old plan -- not update it for more than a generation. That status quo is out the window.

But I can't stress enough -- this is the community's plan. The public HAS to take ownership of both the development of the plan and the implementation of the plan. Communities who do that see results.

^
"+ +"
 

[JoeMommaBlake]

Good Answer.

[RecycleMichael]

I'm going. I hope to impress upon the planners the need to think "green" when planning our future.

I want special emphasis place on density and walkability. I want them to consider the tree canopy and how to expand it, even when doing new construction. There are formulas on cost/benefit of trees and I think Tulsa has as much investment in trees as it has in some aspects of infrastructure.

I want LEED standards on all new government funded buildings and similar standards on new construction whenever possible.

I hope to speak tomorrow, but if not, plan to put my comments in writing as well.

[Double A]

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael

I'm going. I hope to impress upon the planners the need to think "green" when planning our future.

I want special emphasis place on density and walkability. I want them to consider the tree canopy and how to expand it, even when doing new construction. There are formulas on cost/benefit of trees and I think Tulsa has as much investment in trees as it has in some aspects of infrastructure.

I want LEED standards on all new government funded buildings and similar standards on new construction whenever possible.

I hope to speak tomorrow, but if not, plan to put my comments in writing as well.

I would support all those things in a new Comp plan.

[RecycleMichael]

What a turnout for the kickoff! I saw everybody (except for the fire marshall who would have had problems with that many people in the room). I counted 211 people at one time.

Every city councilor was there. Almost the entire Mayor's office was there. Most of the workers in the city planning department and INCOG were there. The presidents of the Metro Chamber, The Greenwood Chamber and the Hispanic Chamber were there. Two of the three county commissioners were there (odd that Randi Miller was not).

Most importantly, I counted 19 TulsaNow posters there.

[PonderInc]

Great presentation by John Fregonese!  How do we get a copy of it?

[LongtimeTulsan]

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael

What a turnout for the kickoff! I saw everybody (except for the fire marshall who would have had problems with that many people in the room). I counted 211 people at one time.

Every city councilor was there. Almost the entire Mayor's office was there. Most of the workers in the city planning department and INCOG were there. The presidents of the Metro Chamber, The Greenwood Chamber and the Hispanic Chamber were there. Two of the three county commissioners were there (odd that Randi Miller was not).

Most importantly, I counted 19 TulsaNow posters there.

Several neighborhood leaders were present and accounted. Preserve Midtown; at least 6 of the TMAPC board; Historic Preservation; COHN; Stop the Chop; variety of activists; Commissioner Miller was in Sand Springs at a prior commitment and then hosted a Town Hall meeting at the Fair Grounds at 7 pm.

In addition - many, many builders were there. Think they got a little nervous.

[PonderInc]

Maybe those builders learned something!

Sooner or later they're going to have to adapt to the needs of a changing world, and a changing population. (And the sooner they do it, the better for them!)

I was talking to a real estate agent yesterday who offices downtown.  She says that she gets calls every day from people who want to live downtown.  They want lofts, they want apartments, they want condos.  She says that they end up living elsewhere b/c they can't find what they really want, which is downtown living.

She said that whenever she talks to local developers and builders, they don't have a clue.  They don't understand the value of building downtown, and they don't want to even talk about it. (Presumably, it doesn't fit with their highly ingrained template for making a quick buck.)

This is fine with me, b/c the last thing we need downtown is cookie-cutter crapola that defines modern homebuilding.  We need real developers with real designs and real vision.  We're getting them --slowly, but surely-- in and near downtown.  Jamie Jameson's Village at Central Park, the Philtower Lofts, Sager's lofts that are going up in the old "Finales" restaurant building, the Mayo Hotel, Micha Alexander's projects at 3rd and Kenosha...

These are just a few examples.  I've heard that these projects are occupied as soon as they are built. So it won't be long before more people catch on.  Developers from across the country are eyeing downtown Tulsa.  And the NTHP has been working with local preservationists to educate developers about the many financial incentives available to restore old buildings.

I'm excited about the timing of the Comp Plan update...and the possibilities and opportunities for Tulsa.  And I encourage everyone to get involved in PLANiTULSA and make your voices heard!