2020 Budget Hearings Planning and Development Department Wilmington

2020 Budget Hearings Planning and Development Department Wilmington

2020 Budget Hearings Planning and Development Department Activities Planning Activities Wilmington 2028 Comprehensive Development Plan - Update Wilmington Bike Plan Update Wilmington Transportation Initiatives Capital Improvements Program / Budget Neighborhood Stabilization Initiative Zoning and Land Use Zoning Code Map/Text Amendments Land Use and Zoning Studies Commissions and Committees City Planning Commission Design Review & Preservation Commission WILMAPCO – TAC and Council Neighborhood Planning Council Leadership Access Wilmington Bike Wilmington Plan Reviews Subdivisions Waterfront Development Parking Lot Landscaping Curb Cuts Environmental Street Dedications and Removals Demolitions Historic Preservation Section 106 reviews Advise on National Register and Historic Preservation Tax Credits Heritage Tourism Outreach City Historic Districts and Neighborhood Conservation Districts 1

2020 Budget Hearings Planning and Development Department Wilmington Department Vision The mission of the Department of Planning and Development is to improve the quality of life for City residents by ensuring that physical, social, and economic development in the city occurs in a rational and comprehensive manner that addresses community needs and governmental priorities. 2

2020 Budget Hearings Planning and Development Department Wilmington Three Top Priorities • Complete/Implement the Comprehensive Plan Update. • Complete/Implement the Bike Plan Update. • Work with various City Departments on the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. 3

2020 Budget Hearings Planning and Development Department Wilmington Three Performance Measures • Track and finalize the update and begin implementation to the City’s Comprehensive Plan. • Track and finalize the update and begin implementation to the City’s Bike Plan. • Track improvements to healthy community indicators for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, e. g. , decrease numbers of vacant properties, crime, and related activities. 4

2020 Budget Hearings Planning and Development Department Wilmington Council Questions 5

Wilmington 2020 Budget Hearings Planning and Development Department 1. Provide an update on the capital funds available for each of the Neighborhood Planning Councils (per NPC, per capital budget). Funds available currently and funds allocated since FY 2000 District Funds Available 1 st $ 47, 139 (reflects $55, 000 pending charge for Speakman Park improvements) 5 th $ 98, 880 2 nd $ 111, 299 6 th $ 0 (reflects pending charges for park improvements: $55, 000 for Kosciuszko Park, $50, 000 for Eddie Michael Park) 3 rd $ 152, 284 7 th $ 94, 781 4 th $130, 913(reflects $35, 000 pending charge for pocket park improvements) 8 th $ 75, 463 (reflects $25, 000 pending charge for Lovering Ave island improvements) 11

2020 Budget Hearings Planning and Development Department Wilmington 2. Discuss any positions that were impacted by the biennial employee appeals process. • Senior Planner/Design Review, upgraded from an S-5 to a T-3 for a cost of $5, 965. • Planner II Upgraded to Senior Planner III, upgraded from Q-6 to S-3 for a cost of $2, 010. As noted by HR for both positions: “After reviewing the scope of responsibilities; required knowledge, skills and abilities; environment; and interpersonal contacts, it has been determined that your position should be upgraded”. The Planning Director agreed for both positions. 6

2020 Budget Hearings Planning and Development Department Wilmington 3. Discuss the planned use of $250 K budgeted for Consultants, up $225 K over prior year’s budget, considering $167 K has been expended year to date, which a good portion has been expended on ADA. • For FY 19, we carried forward $167 K from FY 18 to pay for the Federally mandated ADA Self-Compliance plan ($125 K) which wasn’t started until FY 19 as well as for consultant services to assist with the preparation of our Bike Plan. • Funds for this year will be used for continued work on ADA Evaluation Plan($150 K) and for items to implement the City's Comprehensive Plan and continued staff training. 7

2020 Budget Hearings Planning and Development Department Wilmington 3. a). Specify the timeframe for implementation of the City’s ADA compliance self -evaluation and transition plan, as well as total cost. • The City is anticipating having the work completed for the FY 20 requested funds, that will be used to evaluate the City’s park system, by the end of November, 2019. • The final portion of the ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan will focus on the evaluation of the City’s sidewalks and right of ways. The timeframe for the completion of this portion of the ADA Self Evaluation and Transition Plan is dependent on a future funding request(s). The cost for this portion is estimated to be around $300 K. 7

2020 Budget Hearings Planning and Development Department Wilmington 3. b). Explain the coordinated effort with Planning & Public Works, as Public Works has $2 M capital budget program for FY 20 pertaining to ADA Curb Ramp and Sidewalk Compliance. According to the Department of Public Works this effort is the Street Paving and Reconstruction project and is for the installation of compliant ramps on streets that are being paved where they currently do not exist. The final phase of the ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan, when complete, will provide the Department of Public Works with guidance on all related street and sidewalk ADA barriers that need to be addressed citywide. 7

2020 Budget Hearings Planning and Development Department Wilmington 4. Discuss the planned use of ~$46 K budgeted in the Temporary Salaries account line. • These funds are for 80% local match for the City’s Historic Preservation Planner 10

2020 Budget Hearings Planning and Development Department Wilmington 5. Provide an update on the City-wide Comprehensive Development Plan. Expected Timeframe for Adoption: • Distribute final draft to Steering Committee and City Council April • Press Release and post on website April • Have City Planning Commission (CPC) recommend sending to the State’s Preliminary Land Use Service (PLUS) review process May • PLUS Review May o Work with the State to make necessary changes from the State review June • Return to CPC for approval to send to Council July • Council Process TBD o Introduction o Go before Community Development and Urban Planning Committee o Final before City Council o Governor’s Certification 8

2020 Budget Hearings Wilmington Planning and Development Department 6. Discuss the frequency for review and updates to the City’s Historic Districts (CHD). • Because the vetting process for creation of a district is so stringent and involves extensive public input, Planning has not been approached formally to change district boundaries on any district in the past. • As noted in City Code, Sec. 48 -413. Designation of historic districts. “This inventory and any recommendation to city council concerning the establishment, amendment, or deletion of historic districts shall first be submitted for comment to the state historic preservation officer, the Historical Society of Delaware, and any other interest groups for their review and recommendation”. 9

2020 Budget Hearings Planning and Development Department Wilmington 6. Discuss the frequency for review and updates to the City’s Historic Districts. The process for the creation of a City Historic District (CHD) is as follows: a) b) c) d) e) f) A request is made from a member of the Neighborhood to his/her City Council member This request is forwarded to the Planning Director asking that the Planning Department study the area to ascertain the historic attributes which make the area worthy of recognition both architecturally and in terms of non-tangibles, such as association with historic events or historic individuals/groups Planning staff studies the area to determine boundaries and degree of integrity architecturally and in terms of cultural resources Planning staff then hold multiple meetings with the residents of the proposed area to ascertain public enthusiasm and to explain to the area residents what being in a CHD means Once the community demonstrates they want the designation, the planning department then prepares a case analysis for the creation of the area and creates a parcel specific map The case analysis must be reviewed and accepted by • The Design Review and Preservation Commission • The City Planning Commission (Because it is a zoning action) • City Council (because it is a zoning action) 9

2020 Budget Hearings Planning and Development Department Wilmington 7. Provide FY 20 proposed organizational chart with the total number of employees (i. e. permanent, temporary, contract and vacancies). Director Planning Manager Administrative Assistant II Senior Planner Design and Review Planning Grant Coordinator Senior Planner III Senior Planner II Planner I Historic Preservation Planner 12

2020 Budget Hearings Planning and Development Department Wilmington 7. a. Outline specific duties of each employee. Planning Manager City Planning Commission, zoning code and map amendments, comprehensive and urban renewal planning, annual State reporting and certification requirements, annual Capital Budget/Program, annexation procedures, new land use and zoning policies, WILMAPCO and Neighborhood Stabilization Program support. Senior Planner Design Review and Preservation Commission, applications for work within city historic and conservation districts, demolition applications and annual Certified Local Government reporting and Neighborhood Stabilization Program support. Senior Planner III Major and minor subdivisions, site plan review, curb cuts, coordinator for improvement activities of the development review process, waterfront development reviews, street removals/dedications and parking lot landscaping and Neighborhood Stabilization Program support. Senior Planner II Planning Commission case work, neighborhood planning initiatives, zoning recommendations, site planning review functions, census data reports, requests for census data from citizens, governments and businesses and Neighborhood Stabilization Program support. Planning Grant Coordinator Grant monitoring and applications, Access Wilmington, FOIA, ADA regulations, Neighborhood Planning Councils, collection and analysis of data. 13

2020 Budget Hearings Planning and Development Department Wilmington 7. a. Outline specific duties of each employee. Planner II Environmental reviews for all federally funded or federally associated projects, Planning Commission case work, department budget monitoring and processing, and Bike Planning activities. Planner II Demolition requests and administrative reviews related to City Historic and Conservation Districts, supports Design Review and Preservation Commission and field work. Assists with research and analyses, special studies, proposed zoning code regulations related to historic preservation, demolition and vacancy issues and research. Planner I Staff support to the City Planning Commission, Design Review and Preservation Commission; departmental support on the South Wilmington Wetlands Project; department graphics, such as for logos, presentations flyers and the like , and Neighborhood Stabilization Program support. Historic Preservation Planner Responsible for historic property reviews (Section 106) for HUD projects and other federal projects; National Register nominations and architectural surveys; providing information on city history to constituents and city departments; and other related tasks. This position is funded in part with State funds and City Temporary Salary funds. 14

2020 Budget Hearings Planning and Development Department Wilmington Thank You 15