Advance Plans Committee: 2003-4 Comprehensive Plan Update

Summary of Meeting #9
7:30 am, February 5, 2003
Attendance
Committee Members: 	Morris Dunlap, Bud Hentzen, John McKay, M.S. Mitchell
MAPD staff: 		Dave Barber, Nalini Johnson, Stephen Banks, Scott Wadle	
Other:	Janet Miller, Fancisco Banuelos, Bob Pickens, Cathy Landwehr, 
Randy Allen, Greg Stuever, Carolyn McGinn, Gennelly Pacholski

Discussion Summary

Midtown Neighborhood Plan Review Comments:
The Committee offered the following comments on the latest draft of the Midtown Plan:

?	There was confusion about the timeline for projects and a worry that the timeline 
called for many projects to be completed at the same time.  This confusion was 
alleviated when it was shown that the table only offers the latest time at which the 
projects should begin. 

?	Grants and other materials need to accomplish the projects will need to be decided 
upon after the adoption of the plan specifying the need for the project(s).

?	Some Committee members expressed the feeling that the area businesses might 
not have been offered enough opportunities to become involved.  Staff reported 
that George Lay Signs met with those preparing the plan, flyers had been 
distributed announcing the area meetings, and a survey of local businesses had 
been completed for the plan.    

?	Staff explained that the City of Wichita does not anticipate purchasing the 
property that Apex is currently using, nor does the City propose disrupting the 
business's operations with the addition of the greenway.  A map was presented 
showing the areas of land that the City is interested in purchasing for the 
greenway.

?	Rezoning of the Midtown Neighborhood was discussed, with members of the 
Committee recommending that the rezoning not be included as a part of the plan.  
Both the Advance Plans Committee and the Midtown Neighborhood Plan 
Steering Committee agreed that the neighborhood rezoning initiative will not be 
included as a component of the Plan, but will be presented as a separate plan 
implementation initiative for the MAPC to approve following adoption of the 
Plan.

o	One aspect of the proposed rezoning discussion was the inclusion of 
multi-family town homes in the proposed rezoning.   Members of the 
Committee and the Midtown Neighborhood Plan Steering Committee 
agreed that the inclusion of these land uses would be a good thing.

?	Advance Plans Committee members recommended that the other MAPC 
members be given two weeks to review the plan before the plan is brought before 
the MAPC for briefing and setting a public hearing date.  Furthermore, the 
Committee also recommended that the Midtown Plan presentation to the MAPC 
should at 12:30 pm on March 11th.  The members of the Midtown Neighborhood 
Plan Steering Committee were also encouraged to attend the MAPC meeting 
when the plan is presented, so that they are able to answer any questions that 
might arise.  

?	Other neighborhood plans were also discussed, with both Advance Plans 
Committee members and staff commenting that the Planeview and Hilltop plans 
need to be revisited.

?	The schedule of new neighborhood planning initiatives was also discussed, with 
North East Millar/Matlock Heights being identified as the next priority for the 
creation of a neighborhood plan.  Advance Plans Committee members also 
commented on the need for a College Hill Neighborhood Plan, as the area is re-
gentrifying.  

?	A motion was made, seconded and a vote taken regarding recommendation of 
approval to MAPC for the Midtown Neighborhood Plan.  The vote was 
unanimous to recommend adoption of the Midtown Neighborhood plan to the 
MAPC.

The next Advanced Plans meeting will be on March 11th at 7:30 am.