PLANNING DEPARTMENT

 

Additional information about the Planning Department may be obtained by calling Jeff Ulma, Planning Director, at (919) 319-4580, through e-mail at jeff.ulma@townofcary.org or by visiting the Town’s Web site at www.townofcary.org.

 

 

TOWN OF CARY GOALS AND INITIATIVES

Town Focus Areas

Focus Area I:

Community Planning

Focus Area II:  Infrastructure

Focus Area III:  Financial Condition

Focus Area IV:  Municipal Services

Town Goals

Achieve a well-planned community using innovative and proactive planning approaches and techniques.

Ensure that roads, water and wastewater facilities, parks, and other infrastructure exists for the existing citizens and for the future needs identified in the comprehensive plan.

Achieve a stable and strong financial position by accurately estimating, prudently allocating, and managing financial resources.

Achieve a high level of service to the citizens in a prompt, reliable, responsive, and cost-effective manner.

Town Initiatives

(pages 2 and 3 of this document contain full descriptions of each Town Initiative)

Growth Management

  Long Range Water Resources

Housing Program

Comprehensive Planning

Land Use Plan

Environmental Concerns

Infrastructure and Level of Service Standards

Fiscal Plan

Water, Wastewater, Transportation Infrastructure

Broad Band Technology Services

Long Term Financial Plan

Performance Measurement

Short Term Financial Planning

Review Operations

Cost Consciousness and Sustained Service Provision

Public Involvement

Departmental Goals and Initiatives

1,5,14, 15,

27,

 

13

1, 6

6,

13

9, 12

 

 

7, 12

 

3, 8

 

3

17,

19,

20,

21,

22,

23,

24,

25

 

2, 4

 

DEPARTMENTAL GOALS AND INITIATIVES

Administration

1.       Coordinate all activities regarding growth management, land use planning, zoning administration, code enforcement, transportation planning, and plan review.

2.       Process staff reports, legal advertising, and notification letters related to ordinance amendments, annexations, major special uses and development plan applications.

3.       Oversee budget and personnel.

4.       Handle monthly preparation, printing, Web publishing, presentations and distribution of agendas and supporting materials for the Town Council, Planning & Zoning Board, and the Board of Adjustment.

5.       Complete and Implement a Department Strategic Plan.

Long Range Planning Section

6.       Manage the development of town-initiated Mixed Use Sketch Plans as requested by citizens or directed by Council.

7.       Coordinate activities related to downtown redevelopment.

8.       Coordinate the development and updates of all elements of the Comprehensive Plan with other divisions and departments.

9.       Develop Department Capital Improvement Program requests.

10.    Develop official population forecasts based on current development. 

11.    Employment, and development estimates and forecasts; track historical data.

12.    Address environmental and historic resources planning issues.

13.    Administer the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and affordable housing programs.

14.    Manage multi-modal transportation system components (pedestrian, thoroughfares, transit, and bicycle).

15.    Participate in the administration of the open space and historic resources plan.

Current Planning Section

16.    Administer, review, and make recommendations regarding rezoning and planned development district applications.

17.    Manage overall Land Development Ordinance amendment process, including review, prepare, and present proposed amendments to the Land Development Ordinance, both text and digital versions.

18.    Inspect the approved site and subdivision plans during and after construction.

19.    Enforce approved development plans and all zoning regulations within the Land Development Ordinance.

20.    Review applications for sign permits, uniform sign plans, zoning verification letters, temporary uses, and accessory uses.

21.    Administer Board of Adjustment cases including appeals, variances, and interpretations.

22.    Review Special Uses for Town Council consideration.

23.    Review and process proposed plans for subdivisions, shopping centers, office and industrial developments and any other physical development of properties within the Town limits and its Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) to ensure compliance with relative ordinances, policies and standards.

24.     Process all citizen-initiated annexations of properties associated with rezonings, development plans, or individual residential lots.

25.    Maintain and apply design guidelines and appearance manuals associated with development plans.

26.    Prepare policies and procedures for land use regulations.

27.    Maintain database of all development plans, rezonings and related data, and prepare monthly reports of development activity.

(Please note that the Transit program is included in a separate section, but is part of the Planning Department.)

 

FY 2008 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

·         Managed the relocation of the Waldo Rood house.

·         Developed Chatham-Cary Joint Land Use Plan.

·         Completion of a Parking Implementation Plan for Downtown.

·         Participated in the preparation of the Downtown Streetscape design plans.

·         Completion and adoption of Round 8 9, LDO Amendments.

·         Completed Ordinance amendment to allow for on-site issuance of citations for zoning violations.

·         Implemented wireless access to approved plans and zoning data for zoning compliance officers in the field.

·         Implemented electronic plan submittal and review software.

·         Implemented software to facilitate/track citizen comments on development applications and planning projects.

·         Updated Planning Department’s Web page to include ability to view and download Site and Subdivision Plans.

 

 
KEY PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES

·         Increase the community participation rate (defined as the percentage of affected citizens who participate) at plan public meetings.

·         Ensure that 100% of development plan reviews are delivered according to published schedule.

·         Ensure that 100% of the initial development plans receive site visits.

·         Ensure that the GIS database is maintained at a minimum 95% accuracy level.

·         Increase the efficiency of employees to access data and information needed to meet department objectives.

·         Establish specifications for the submittal of digital maps related to rezonings, planned developments, and site plans.

 

KEY PERFORMANCE MEASURES


Performance Measure

Actual
FY 2007

Estimated
FY 2008

Projected
FY 2009

% of plans reviewed on schedule

98%

100%

100%

% of accuracy  of GIS Data Bases

97%

97%

97%

% of development plans receiving a site visit

80%

  85%

  100%

% of Annual Work Program Projects completed according to schedule

90%

90%

90%

 

KEY WORKLOAD INDICATORS


Workload Indicators

Actual
FY 2007

Estimated
 FY2008

Projected
FY 2009

Number of zoning violation cases

         70     

  254

  279

Number of site inspections (associated w/development plans)

3,768   

6,316

6,947

Number of Board of Adjustment variances and administrative appeals

       3

  8

  9

Zoning citations

       10

  22

  24

Commercial Tenant Fitups

         330

  912

  1,003

Number of accessory use permits

    304

  296

  325

Number of sign permits issued

606

  692

  761

Number of temporary use permits issued

    246

  212

  233

Number of zoning verification letters issued

   192

  184

  202

Acres Annexed

466

1,780

1,978

Annexation Petitions processed

     20

  32

  35

Number of rezonings (including PDDs)

55

  45

  45

Number of development plan reviews

320

  370

  370    

Number of residents who participated in a comprehensive planning effort or project

350

400

400

Number of miles of striped bicycle lanes

14

15

15

Number of GIS tables maintained

     43

45

45

Number of data audits

10

10

10

Number of GIS analysis projects completed

     52

  54

60

 

 

ACTIVITY HISTORY

Fund Number:  10-5505


Activity

 

Actual
FY 2005

Actual
FY 2006

Actual
FY 2007

Estimated  FY 2008

Budget
FY 2009

Personnel Services

$1,663,526

$1,668,174

$1972463

$2,266,972

$2,346,477

Operations and Maintenance

 

$349,994

$285,529

$322697

$835,173

$656,258

Capital Outlay

 

0

0

0

0

0

Total

 

$2,013,520

$1,953,703

$2,295,160

$3,102,145

$3,002,735

Authorized FTEs

28

28

30

30

30

 

SIGNIFICANT BUDGET AND SERVICE LEVEL CHANGES BEYOND CURRENT LEVELS

·         Several key technology-related requests are to increase our service levels and to assist Council and others in making decisions on development-related items.  These requests include a town-wide FTP site, a public computer terminal, and various software packages to assist with the illustration of development related proposals.

·         Funding is also requested to hire consultants to update the affordable housing plan, prepare a Historic Resources Master Plan, update the land use element, implement the Comprehensive Annexation Program and to develop design standards for site plan layout.

·         Funds for a projector and laptop computer have been requested to facilitate more effective use of digital data and plans at meetings with applicants, staff and citizens.

·         Funding for training/professional development for staff has increased to learn about emerging design standards and techniques; expand customer service capabilities; and maintain professional certifications.