HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem II - Staff ReportPLAN COMMISSION STAFF REPORT MARCH 3, 2020
ITEM II: APPROVAL OF THE UPDATED SUSTAINABILITY PLAN
GENERAL INFORMATION
Applicant: Sustainability Advisory Board, Community Development Department
ACTION REQUESTED/BACKGROUND
The Sustainability Advisory Board (SAB) and staff request approval of the updated Sustainability Plan
which provides a series of revised chapters including updated goals, objectives and action items
regarding sustainable initiatives in the City of Oshkosh. The plan establishes background and context
for each sustainability issue. It examines ways to address each issue and potential partners. The Plan
was developed in consultation with the Sustainability Advisory Board.
The plan is meant as an Action Plan to guide the SAB's and City's efforts to advance sustainability
long-term in Oshkosh. The update process occurred over a year and an half period from 2017 to 2019.
Each SAB member reviewed and revised one or two chapters of the original 2012 Sustainability Plan.
After the revisions, the entire board had the opportunity to review each chapter at Plan Update
Workshops. The City has accomplished or advanced many goals from the 2012 plan, so the SAB saw
the update process as an opportunity to revise the Plan goals, account for advancements and create
new action items to advance sustainability.
ANALYSIS
The Sustainability Plan was updated and reformatted to make it more accessible for the SAB, City
staff and the public. Each chapter begins with an introduction to provide definition for each issue and
to give local context. Objectives are stated, followed by policy recommendations for each objective.
Many of the policies were included because the SAB believes that the City can undertake the policies.
The plan is a community plan, so the plan states where other entities (individuals or businesses)
should be involved. Recommendations are phrased as action statements. They suggest priorities and
directions for the City and residents.
The Sustainability Plan itself is laid out as follows:
Executive Summary
Introduction
1.) Atmosphere
2.) Economic Development
3.) Energy
4.) Environmental Conservation
5.) Government
6.) Land Use and Development
7.) Local Food
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8.) Managing Waste
9.) Safe and Healthy Community
10.)Transportation and Mobility
11.) Implementation
0 Glossary
The plan is formatted in a consistent, visually accessible manner. Photographs pertinent to the subject
matter are employed wherever possible. Readers should find the plan easier to review than
previously. The plan provides a glossary of terms so that readers can understand the terms and their
use in the document.
The updated Sustainability Plan is consistent with the goals of the recently adopted (2018)
Comprehensive Plan. Some of these goals include enhancing environmental quality, promoting
environmentally sensitive and responsible utilization of land, encouraging efficient and compact
utilization of land, increased economic prosperity and many goals listed in the Agricultural, Natural
and Cultural Resources chapter. The Sustainability Plan also has no conflicts with the City's Zoning
Ordinance.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Plan Commission approve the updated Sustainability Plan based on a finding
that it is not in conflict with the Comprehensive Plan.
ITEM[[ — Sustainability Plan Update
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