City Council

Agenda Request

Agenda Of:

01/02/07

Agenda Request No:

III A

Initiated By:

 

Kimberly Terrell, Parks Development manager

Responsible Department:

Parks and Recreation Department

Presented By:

Joe Chesser, Assistant Parks & Recreation Director *

Department Head:

 
 
Jim Browne,  Director of Parks & Recreation  

 

 

Additional Department. Head (s):

N/A

Subject / Proceeding:

pass to second reading of ordinance no. 1650  to update the hike and bike trails master plan as a component of the city of sugar land comprehensive plan

Exhibits:

ordinance No.1650, cosl Hike and Bike Trails master plan

Clearances

Approval

Legal:

Meredith Wilganowski,

Assistant City attorney

Executive Director:

N/A

Purchasing:

N/A

Asst. City Manager:

Karen H. Glynn  

Budget:

n/a

City Manager:

Allen Bogard/for AB

Budget

Expenditure Required:  $

N/A

Amount Budgeted/Reallocation:  $

N/A

Additional Appropriation:  $

N/A

Recommended Action

Pass to second reading of ordinance number 1650 to adopt the Hike and Bike Trails Master Plan Update as a part of the City’s Comprehensive Plan.

Executive Summary

Trails have been identified as a high priority in the City’s Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan and are identified as an objective in the City’s Comprehensive Plan. A Hike and Bike Trails Master Plan has been drafted that identifies off-street and on-street routes for utilization by bicyclists and pedestrians. The main goal of the Hike and Bike Trails Master Plan is to plan a connected system of routes for pedestrians and bicyclists for exercise, recreation and mobility. The plan focuses on linking portions of the City together as well as connecting neighborhoods to parks, other neighborhoods, schools, libraries, shopping areas and other areas of interest.

 

The process, which has been guided by Parks and Recreation Department staff and consultants from Halff Associates, includes input from all of the levee improvement districts in Sugar Land, many homeowners associations, and a Hike and Bike Task Force made up of Sugar Land residents. A public meeting with over 80 attendees was held in April to receive public input. Staff has also coordinated efforts with the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) and the Sugar Land Pedestrian/Bicyclist Special District Study that H-GAC and Public Works are conducting. 

 

The Master Plan is recommended to be a part of the City’s Comprehensive Plan.  Therefore, staff has followed the process of Public Hearings and Recommendations by the Parks Advisory Board and Planning and Zoning.  The Parks and Recreation Policy Advisory Board voted unanimously on September 11th to recommend the plan to City Council. The Planning and Zoning Commission also voted unanimously on October 9th to recommend the plan with the addition of a trail in Sugar Creek between Montclair and Fairway. This section of trail has been added to the Master Plan. A public hearing was advertised and held as part of the Planning & Zoning requirements for Master Plan approval, however there were no public comments.  Additionally, the Master Plan has been made available for review and comment by the public as part of the City Council public hearing process.

 

Staff presented the Hike and Bike Master Plan to City Council on November 20th to review the plan and provide input. In response to input received from Council, staff will provide follow up information on the items discussed and note additional public comment that has been received.

 

Proposed Schedule: 

City Council Public Hearing and First Reading of the Ordinance – December 18, 2007

City Council Second Reading of the Ordinance and Adoption – January 2, 2008

 

Exhibits

 

ORDINANCE NO. 1650

 

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SUGAR LAND, TEXAS, ADOPTING THE 2007 HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS MASTER PLAN AS A PART OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

 

            WHEREAS, chapter 213 of the Local Government Code authorizes the City to adopt a comprehensive plan for the long-range development of the City; and

 

            WHEREAS, the plan may:

 

(1) include provisions on land use, transportation, and public facilities;

 

(2) consist of a single plan or a coordinated set of plans organized by subject matter and geographic area; and

 

(3) be used to coordinate and guide the establishment of development regulations;  and

 

            WHEREAS, a comprehensive plan has been reviewed by the City’s planning and zoning commission as required by law; and

 

            WHEREAS, a hearing was held at which the public was given an opportunity to give testimony and present written evidence as required by law; and

 

            WHEREAS, the City wishes to revise the Hike and Bike Trails Master Plan to reflect the growth of the citywide system of continuous trails that link all parts of the City of Sugar Land; NOW, THEREFORE;

 

 

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL

OF THE CITY OF SUGAR LAND, TEXAS:

 

            Section 1.  That the 2007 Hike and Bike Trails Master Plan as shown in Exhibit A, attached to and made a part of this ordinance, is adopted as a part of the Comprehensive Plan.

 

           

            APPROVED on first consideration on __________________________, 2007.

 

            ADOPTED upon second consideration on _______________________, 2008.

 

 

 

                                                                        __________________________

                                                                        David G. Wallace, Mayor

 

 

 

ATTEST:

 

 

____________________________

Glenda Gundermann, City Secretary

 

Reviewed for Legal Compliance:

 

MRW signed 9/26/07

 

Exhibit A – 2007 Hike and Bike Trails Master Plan

 

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