Please watch the Realize Rowlett 2020 Phase I and Phase II Recap Video.
Realize Rowlett 2020 Phase I Recap:
Realize Rowlett 2020 Phase I created a collaborative vision of Rowlett’s future involving residents, business owners, and other stakeholders. Through this effort, the City’s Comprehensive Plan was reviewed and updated, providing direction for future decisions on land use, economic development and public capital investments. The project defined a few important catalyst areas using market research. It is important to note that this is not zoning, it is a high level overview and the first step toward proactive planning Rowlett's future. After a number of meetings involving the Planning and Zoning Commission, City Council and the general public, the Realize Rowlett 2020 Comprehensive Plan was adopted by City Council on September 20, 2011.
It is important to note that a Comprehensive Plan does not establish zoning regulations or zoning boundaries. It is a high level overview that establishes a vision and provides implementation strategies that are used to create zoning regulations and boundaries in the future. Those zoning regulation help to protect the vision established under the plan. The Realize Rowlett 2020 Plan will provide a measure of predictability and clarity in the primary step of the development process. It is the first step in proactive planning for the next phase of the City’s future.
Realize Rowlett 2020 Phase II Recap:
Phase II of Realize Rowlett 2020 continued the work completed in Phase I by focusing on four priority planning areas. The priority areas included Area B-2 (Woodside Living), Area D-1 (Healthy Living), Area E-1 (Signature Gateway), and Area E-4 (Old Town). Phase II included education, detailed economic analysis of the four priority planning areas, the creation of citywide development standards, the creation of general concept plans for the top priority areas, and ultimately Form-Based Code zoning standards adopted for each of the priority areas. Throughout this process, stakeholder input and public outreach were of the utmost importance.
Realize Rowlett Phase II resulted in the adoption of a new Form-Based Code was adopted and the four subject areas were rezoned on November 6, 2012. This was a intense and fast-paced process that included mini-charrettes, extensive public input, and many hours on the part of City Council, the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Advisory Committee and the Downtown Task Force.