The purpose of this task is to facilitate collaboration between the Design Team (CPL) and the City's Zoning Advisory Committee to ensure a comprehensive and effective update of the zoning code. This involves organizing initial and ongoing meetings to review services, gather relevant information, and discuss public outreach strategies. Regular meetings will be scheduled to provide progress updates and prepare for public engagement activities. This collaborative approach aims to create a zoning code that reflects the community's needs and planning goals.

The Design Team will develop a community participation plan to engage the public and gather input on key issues throughout the process. Initially focusing on specific stakeholders who regularly use zoning regulations, the plan will also include opportunities for broader community input at key milestones. The plan involves an internal kickoff meeting with city officials, one-on-one discussions with department heads, and stakeholder interviews with groups like real estate agents and developers. These discussions will identify code deficiencies and gather diverse perspectives. Public engagement will include informational meetings, surveys, and a dedicated project website to keep the community informed and involved. Regular updates and public meetings will ensure transparency and maximize community input throughout the project.

The review will cover overall code structure, district breakdowns, site development standards, enforcement processes, readability, consistency, definitions, Smart Growth principles, and outdated land uses. Existing documentation and studies will be collected and reviewed. The findings will be compiled into a final report outlining code challenges and proposed solutions, based on observations and stakeholder discussions. The Design Team will work with the City to prioritize high-priority elements for immediate attention, recognizing that land use regulation updates are ongoing and some tasks may be addressed later.

Building on the Assessment in Task 3, the Design Team will update the code, prioritizing critical elements first. The City’s recent updates, including new districts for Waterfront Mixed-Use and Community Facilities, and revisions to the C-2 Central Business District, will be incorporated. Other sections will be updated incrementally, simplifying the review process with the Zoning Advisory Committee. The updates will cover code restructuring, district definitions, use and bulk tables, use-specific regulations, site design regulations, form-based standards, enforcement, administration, and definitions. A thorough review of other City ordinances will ensure consistency. Incremental drafts will be refined and combined into a final document, presented to the public for feedback and during the required public hearing.

The Design Team will present and review the draft regulations with City Council in a workshop, providing a summary of the amendments, addressing questions, and gathering feedback. The team will assist the City in completing an environmental review to ensure SEQRA compliance, including all necessary correspondence, notifications, and filings. A Long Form Environmental Assessment Form (LEAF) will be prepared, along with supporting information and comments from involved agencies.

Concurrent with Task 5, the Design Team will finalize the code amendment and coordinate all adoption activities with the City Council. This includes organizing a public hearing before adoption and assisting the attorney and clerk with necessary documentation. The Design Team will also provide any materials requested by the City Council for the hearing.

As the City has received funding from the NYS Department of State's Smart Growth Community Planning and Zoning Grant Program and applied for additional funding from Erie County, quarterly and biannual reporting is required. The Design Team will assist the City and grant administrators in completing the necessary forms to meet these requirements. Additionally, the team will help with the final summary report and provide supporting information for payment requests and project audits.