City Council Presentation Summary - City of Heath, Texas

City of Heath 

2008 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 

City Council 

June 3 rd , 2008 

CONSULTANT TEAM: 

Freese & Nichols (The Sefko Planning Group) Townscape, Inc. 

2008 Comprehensive Plan – Public Hearing City Council – June 3 rd , 2008

Special Thanks to 

The Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee (CPAC) 

Brad Adams 

George Hargrave 

Rich Karuse 

Gene Lamberth 

Alma Howard, Chairperson 

Bob Hille, Vice-Chair 

John Main 

Melita Pechal 

Gini Seely 

Mitchell Smartt 


What is unique about this Plan? 

It focuses on the following concepts: 

• Connectivity between uses and 

developments 

• Pedestrian orientation 

• Mixed use development 

• Creating & improving quality neighborhoods 

• Transportation improvements 

It contains specific policies to support 

these concepts. 

It contains specific implementation 

strategies and priorities. 


The Planning Process & Plan Organization 

Has lasted approximately 18 months 

CPAC meetings occurred 1 to 2 times per month 

Included a community workshop, and all CPAC meetings 

were public 

Foundation/Background 

1. Snapshot of the City 

Vision for the Future 

2. Visioning→Goals & Objectives 

Steps to Realize the Vision 

3. Implementation Strategy 

Strategies to Address the Future 

4. Livability Strategy 

5. Land Use Strategy 

6. Town Center Concept 

7. Transportation Strategy 


The Snapshot of the City 

Chapter 1 

Purpose: Provide analysis of 

existing characteristics - 

demographic, socio-economic, 

and physical 

Documentation includes: 

• Population growth and estimate 

– 6,896 people (for 2007) 

• Demographic characteristics 

• Existing land use analysis 

• Local development patterns 

8,000 

6,000 

4,000 

2,000 

0 

6,896 

4,149 

520 

1,459 

2,108 

1970 1980 1990 2000 2007 


The Snapshot of the City 

Chapter 1 

Existing land use analysis 

• Almost 74% of developed land is singlefamily 

• Percentage of nonresidential uses is low 

– Office, retail and commercial combined 

account for 2.1% of developed acreage 

– Retail acres per 100 persons is 0.1 (average 

is 0.5) 

• Approx 46% vacant 

Local development patterns 

• Over 53% of residential lots have been 

developed since 1990 

• Residential building permits decreased in 2007 


Visioning→Goals & Objectives 

Chapter 2 

Purpose: Provide a shared vision of what 

Heath should be as it grows into a mature 

City 

Included: 

• Several CPAC Meetings 

• A Community Workshop 

• A Visual Character Survey 

• A Questionnaire 

– Satisfaction With Heath’s 

Quality of Life 



Chapter 2 

Community Workshop 

• Approximately 85 citizens 

• Visual Character Survey 

• Issue Groups 

Goals & Objectives 

were established for 

each Comprehensive 

Plan chapter subject 

Culminated in a Vision 

Statement 

Highest rated images from the VCS 

People in Heath generally desire: 

• Low density, single-family homes 

• Access to the Lake and to creeks 

• Maintenance of the rural, small-town feel 

• An improved roadway network 

• More public spaces and open space 

• More pedestrian amenities 

• A City center 



Chapter 2 

Vision Statement 

A lakeside community of premiere 

neighborhoods with open green spaces, 

parks and trails, cultural amenities, an 

exemplary educational system, and 

distinctive economic development in 

order to provide the highest level of 

public services – a place to call home for 

a lifetime. 


Implementation Strategy 

Chapter 3 

The Plan should be a flexible guide for daily 

decision-making - should be kept up-to-date with: 

• Amendments 

• Regular reviews 

Outlines numerous techniques for implementing 

plan policies, including: 

• Zoning regulations 

• Subdivision regulations 

• Capital improvements 

• Annual budgeting 

• City leadership & staff actions 

• Development review 

• Engineering studies 


Implementation Strategy-TABLES 

Chapter 3 

Three tables outline Plan priorities – Top Ten, 

Short-Term, & On-Going/Long-Term 

Each priority is shown along with: 

• Recognition of whether it 

was supported by the 

Not specifically addressed 

during visioning process 

Visioning process 

• Specific Goals and Objectives (from Chapter 2) 

• Mechanism for implementation 

Supported by visioning process 


Implementation Strategy–TOP TEN 

In No Order of Priority 

Chapter 3 

1) Require retail development to be pedestrianoriented 

and close to the street. 

2) Ensure that the subdivision and development 

process includes consideration of the way in which 

residential lots relate to parks and open space. 

3) Require each development to provide properties 

with a certain number of unique amenities. 

4) Require uniqueness in the layout of each 

development. 

5) Require retail development to be designed with 

characteristics that will provide sustainability. 


Implementation Strategy–TOP TEN 

In No Order of Priority 

Chapter 3 

6) Ensure the continued sustainability of existing 

neighborhoods. 

7) Continue to pursue a Town Center for Heath. 

8) Program and fund capital improvements, including 

the purchase of property, that would assist in the 

creation of the Town Center. 

9) Work with the property owner and developers 

familiar with the market for town center 

development. 

10) Establish unique gateways at key locations to help 

enhance Heath’s identity. 


Livability Strategy 

Chapter 4 

Establishes policies that address: 

• The physical design of the community 

• The long term desirability of Heath as a place 

to live, work, play and do business 

• Ensuring that the City accommodates 

a person’s full life cycle 

• The City maintains a sustainable 

quality of life and tax base over the 

long term 

• Being a safe and friendly community 

where people know their neighbors 


Livability Strategy –POLICIES 

Chapter 4 

Make retail areas part of the 

surrounding neighborhood area 

(4.2) 

Ensure that all flood plains are 

preserved and form the core of 

the open space and trail system 

(4.6) 

Require lots to be platted a certain 

distance from the edge of local 

creeks (4.7) 

Ensure that new public buildings 

are designed to project a positive 

image of Heath (4.9) 


Land Use Strategy 

Chapter 5 

Retains Heath’s low density, rural 

character 

Recommends new land use categories 

that allow for integrated development 

• Mixed Use Residential 

• Mixed Use Nonresidential 

Provides population projections – 

approx. 16,650 people in Heath in 20 

years 

Calculates Ultimate Population for 

planning purposes 

• 19,296 people in City and ETJ 


Land Use Strategy –POLICIES 

Chapter 5 

Use the Map as a guide for the amount 

and location of future retail uses (5.2) 

Allow for housing types other than 

single-family on a limited basis (5.3) 

Carefully consider options for the 

development of the Mixed Use Park 

area (5.8) 

Proactively pursue opportunities along 

the Lake to create, improve, and 

protect access for Heath citizens (5.9) 


Town Center Concept 

Chapter 6 

Recommends two different options for the Town Center site 

Alternative 

Site #1 

Alternative 

Site #2 


Town Center Concept –POLICIES 

Chapter 6 

NOTE: Several policies made 

the Top Ten in the 

Implementation Strategy 

Consider various financing 

mechanisms to help create the 

Town Center (6.3) 

Amend the current Town Center 

zoning district to conform to the 

new concepts provided for the 

chosen site (6.4) 


Transportation Strategy 

NOTE: Lee Engineering greatly 

contributed to this chapter 

Stresses that aspects other than the 

street itself should be considered 

Considers other cities’ plans as well 

as Rockwall County 

Provides measured and projected 

traffic volumes 

Recommends altered roadway 

cross sections to address context 

sensitive design concepts 

Chapter 7 

If we can develop and 

design streets so that 

they are wonderful, 

fulfilling places to be, 

community-building 

places, attractive public 

places…then we will 

have successfully 

designed about onethird 

of the city directly 

and will have had an 

immense impact on the 

rest. 

•Source: Allan B. Jacobs – Great 

Streets, Introduction, page 6 


Transportation Strategy –POLICIES 

Chapter 7 

Integrate streetscape enhancements to 

project a positive image of Heath. (7.2) 

Make specific, prioritized roadway 

improvements in the near future to 

enhance Heath’s roadway system. (7.4) 

Continue to secure rights-of-way as 

development occurs. (7.6) 

Construct trails alongside all new or 

improved roadways. (7.9) 


In Conclusion 

CONCEPTS 

Connectivity between uses and developments 

Pedestrian orientation 

Mixed use development 

Creating & improving quality neighborhoods 

Transportation improvements 

IMPLEMENTATION 

Specific policies to support these concepts. 

Specific implementation strategies and priorities. 


Following this Presentation: 

Ask questions about any aspect of the Plan 

Hold the Public Hearing 

Suggest any changes or additions to the Plan 

Adopt the Plan so that it becomes the City’s 

long-range planning guide 


City of Heath 

2008 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 

City Council 

June 3 rd , 2008 

CONSULTANT TEAM: 

Freese & Nichols (The Sefko Planning Group) Townscape, Inc.

City Council Presentation Summary - City of Heath, Texas

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