Title
Discuss the IH-35E Corridor Vision Study including, but not limited to, results of public engagement completed to date, and preliminary recommendations for the IH-35E Corridor Vision Study.
Body
BACKGROUND:
The City’s 2020 Strategic Plan identifies the IH-35E Corridor Vision Study as a project to help fulfill C2 of the Strategic Plan: provide attractive, unique and connected spaces for community interaction. The vision study also aligns with City Council’s FY19-2020 Critical Business Outcome CBO1 which is implementing a vision for the central corridor. Once completed, the vision study will guide development within the IH-35E corridor for approximately the next 20 years and include recommended action items to leverage existing assets in order to increase property values and allow for higher quality land uses within the corridor. This is an optimal time to conduct the study as the IH-35E highway infrastructure will be widened in the near future, further impacting properties particularly along the west side of the highway.
The corridor study area includes approximately 463 net acres of land on the east and west sides of the IH-35E right-of-way. The study area is bounded by the City of Dallas to the south; City of Carrollton to the north; the Madill Railroad (also referred to as the BNSF Railroad, now owned by DART) on the west; and generally the eastern boundary of PD-70, PD-86, and PD-32.
On November 12, 2019 City Council approved a Professional Services Agreement with Interface Studio LLC for completion of the study. Interface Studio LLC serves as the primary consultant, with Ninigret Partners and WGI acting as sub-consultants.
This is the fourth, and last, anticipated steering committee meeting in support of the IH-35E Corridor Vision Study, and the first update to City Council since the Corridor Vision Study began in December 2019. The Planning and Zoning Commission has served as the steering committee for the study. At the Joint City Council/Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on October 12, 2020 the consultant team will:
• Present the results and analysis of engagement completed to date.
• Present preliminary ideas proposed for the IH-35E corridor public realm.
• Present preliminary direction proposed for four identified target areas within the corridor including: constraints; analysis; and ideas moving forward.
• Outline next steps for the development of the draft IH-35E Corridor Vision Study document and approval process.
The purpose of this meeting is to provide an opportunity for the Council and Commission to ask questions, and provide input on the direction and ideas presented. The attached presentation includes the information described in the aforementioned bulleted items listed above. The consultant team and staff will use feedback from this meeting as input moving forward towards the compilation of a draft document for public consumption and formal consideration (including a public hearing process) by the Commission and Council during late 2020/early 2021 respectively.
ACTION:
Staff recommends the Planning and Zoning Commission/Steering Committee and City Council provide feedback related to the public engagement results and vision study recommendations presented.
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Information memorandum
2. Consultant presentation