Unified Development Ordinance & Design Guidelines - Update Process
January 17, 2012
The City of Olathe is updating its Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and Design Guidelines to implement PlanOlathe – its recently adopted citywide comprehensive plan. PlanOlathe establishes the City’s fundamental policies for land development throughout the City. It is principally a statement of policy, and is not a regulatory document. As such, the City needs to put implementation tools in place to transform those policies into reality.
The UDO regulates development in the City through zoning, subdivision, and design regulations. A companion document – the City’s Design Guidelines – assist in implementing the UDO by creating ways to physically design new development that is compatible with City land use policy. Because the UDO is the regulatory bridge between PlanOlathe and new development or redevelopment, it is one of the City’s most important tools to implement the plan.
The City has established an 18-month schedule for this project, beginning in November 2011 and culminating in April 2013. The UDO Update includes an analysis stage, an outline stage, a drafting stage, and an adoption stage. The analysis and outline stages involve focus groups and several workshops to collect information from stakeholders, provide feedback and dialogue with the City and the consultant team, and to begin shaping the document.
Public involvement is an important factor of the update process. Citizens and stakeholders can participate in the UDO update by participating in public/developer’s workshops. The first public workshops will be held at City Hall on February 29th in the City Council Chambers, 100 East Santa Fe. The workshop times and agendas will be provided at a later date on the Planning Division Homepage: http://www.olatheks.org/Development.
Olathe City Council Adopts the Comprehensive Plan
October 6, 2010
The Olathe Governing Body adopted the Comprehensive Plan at the October 5th City Council meeting. The Plan documents the community's vision for how Olathe will grow and develop today and in the future, and influences policies that have a direct bearing on the quality of life that citizens enjoy in Olathe. The adopted Plan is available online at www.planolathe.org. Contact the City of Olathe's Planning Division at 913-971-8750 with questions or comments concerning the Comprehensive Plan.
The Planning Department focuses on:
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Growth and its impacts on the physical character of the community
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Enforcement of codes for the health, safety, and welfare of Olathe’s citizens
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Helping the community achieve its desired future through implementation of the City’s Comprehensive Plan
The Planning Services Division helps Olathe to identify and achieve its desired future. This work includes both a future-oriented, long-range planning component and a current planning component that reviews specific proposals for development.
Downtown
Responsibilities include promoting and coordinating the Envision Olathe Downtown Plan, a comprehensive plan for the revitalization of downtown Olathe through the next 20 years. The plan is built on the vision of downtown as a memorable place to live, work, and enjoy the highest quality of life. Staff also works to facilitate and implement public and private redevelopment in downtown Olathe.
Current Planning
Responsibilities include review of re-zoning requests, site development plans, special use permits, and plats. Staff processes these applications and makes recommendations to the Planning Commission. Staff also provides information to the public about land use issues.
Long Range Planning
Responsibilities include implementing the goals and policies of the Comprehensive Plan and facilitating the preparation and update of future land use plans, corridor plans, and other specific plans. Staff also processes annexation requests and creates and maintains community profile information.
Neighborhood Planning
Responsibilities include fostering neighborhood alliances, preserving and enhancing older developed neighborhoods, empowering neighbors and partnering with residents for the improvement of their area. Other responsibilities include historic preservation, neighborhood revitalization and facilitating neighborhood communication.
Signs
Includes the review of sign permit applications for compliance with the Unified Development Ordinance, including sign height, size, materials, placement and method of illumination. This includes temporary signs, banners, and inflatable advertising devices.
