Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Planning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves contract to prepare planned-action EIS for downtown waterfront
Summary
Council authorized a roughly $300,000, two-year contract with consultant OTAC (OTEC in transcript) to develop a programmatic environmental impact statement and a planned-action ordinance for the downtown waterfront master planned area to streamline future development review.
The Mount Vernon City Council on April 9 authorized the mayor to sign a draft contract with the city’s comprehensive-plan consultant to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS) and a planned-action ordinance for the downtown waterfront master planned area.
Development Services Director Stacy Pachner presented the proposed two-year scope and an estimated $300,000 budget to fund analysis that would allow expedited environmental review for development proposals that fall within the planned action’s scope. Pachner said the process responds to a tool identified in the city’s 2008 downtown waterfront master plan to spur economic development by pre-analyzing environmental impacts and regulatory mitigations.
Mandy Roberts, principal with the consultant (referenced as OTAC/OTEC), attended the meeting. Council member Andrew moved to approve the contract and Edith seconded; the motion passed on voice vote.
Pachner said the planned-action process would result in an environmental analysis that, if adopted, shortens permit review for future projects consistent with the studied scope. The contract and scope were the product of work since January and refinements in February and March, Pachner said. Council voted to authorize the mayor to sign the contract at the meeting.
