Council and developers want to change the mobility plan again?

[urbaknight]

I hate that these "public" input meetings are always at times that are inconvenient for the majority of the public.  I hate not being able to have a voice at a lot of these meetings.

There's a reason for that.

[Jumpinjack]

The meeting room was full this morning. Council members present were Bishop, chairing the meeting, Boyer, Lumb, Anderson, Gulliford, Yarborough, Redman. Others present: Burney, Robinson, Hardin, Herzberg, Hainline, Hart, planning department staff, bicycle advocates and others.

Bishop led the council members through a short explanation of how the current mobility plan works. Council members asked questions about the reason for mobility projects given priority, how the fee was used to fund projects, how council can reorder projects, etc. Boyer chimed in from time to time to explain things and so did Hardin, Hainline, and Burney.

Thoughtful questions from Anderson who wants real life examples of projects in the plan which have been completed by developers.

Several council members spoke about the waste of 300 feet of sidewalk in front of a project going nowhere.

Bishop said that only large projects will affect funding of projects in the mobility plan. Due to economic downturn many of those projects failed to happen. Plan was based on the fulfillment of those larger projects to correct mobility deficits.

Boyer working on an amendment (to the amendment? or as replacement?) with Hardin and Hertzberg. Wants to assure that projects not on list would raise the mobility score or maintain it.

No public comments. Short meeting.

[thelakelander]

Several council members spoke about the waste of 300 feet of sidewalk in front of a project going nowhere.

What is this in reference too? The mobility plan's bike/ped projects or how things have been typically done in Jax?

[edjax]

I see the 569 mega Davis development announced also.

[edjax]

^^oops. Sorry about that did not scroll up far enough.

[edjax]

Can someone start a change.org petition for,this one? 

[Jumpinjack]

Several council members spoke about the waste of 300 feet of sidewalk in front of a project going nowhere.

What is this in reference too? The mobility plan's bike/ped projects or how things have been typically done in Jax?

typical jax

[Bridges]

Bishop said that only large projects will affect funding of projects in the mobility plan. Due to economic downturn many of those projects failed to happen. Plan was based on the fulfillment of those larger projects to correct mobility deficits.

I know Bishop was on the original plan committee, but this seems a bit...disingenuous. Sure large projects would contribute more, but smaller projects also have impacts.  During the last round of "moratorium" talks, small projects were trotted out as being the driving force behind the moratorium.  Quite a bit of discussion was had about small gas stations, or restaurants and buildings paying. 

This also is in the same line of thinking as "magic silver bullet" answers.  One of the biggest problems we have is sticking to a damn plan.  When you stick to a plan, small incremental payments add up.

EDIT: Thanks JumpinJack for the summary and being there.

[tufsu1]

I know Bishop was on the original plan committee, but this seems a bit...disingenuous. Sure large projects would contribute more, but smaller projects also have impacts.  During the last round of "moratorium" talks, small projects were trotted out as being the driving force behind the moratorium.  Quite a bit of discussion was had about small gas stations, or restaurants and buildings paying. 

I think his point is that only larger projects would be eligible to substitute their mobility fee for a specific mobility improvement.  Smaller projects would still pay the fee

[thelakelander]

I know Bishop was on the original plan committee

^CM Bishop replaced Art Graham, as the city council's representative on the taskforce when Graham stepped down in July 2010.  It's been four years since the initial taskforce was assembled to review the draft that had been developed in 2009.  If anyone is interested in reviewing or reading the meeting minutes from those days, here's a link:

http://www.coj.net/departments/planning-and-development/community-planning-division/mobility-plan-task-force.aspx