HomeMy Public PortalAbout20160603 Needs and Opportunities_Strategies Final Draft.pdf Tybee Island Master Plan
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Issues/Needs and Opportunities/Strategies
The issues/needs shown below are organized by the Master Plan element. These issues/needs
were identified by community members through the public survey, public meetings and the
Advisory Working Group. The draft opportunities/strategies were developed by the Advisory
Working Group to address these issues/needs and will be incorporated into the short term
work program.
IDENTIFIED ISSUES/NEEDS DRAFT OPPORTUNITIES/STRATEGIES
Land Use/Development Patterns
• Maintain height limits
• Growth limits
• Compatible
redevelopment with
adjacent areas
• Limit zoning variances
• Zoning ordinance update
• Impacts from downzoning
• Enforce existing height restrictions
• Incorporate the results of the carrying capacity
study into regulations to ensure growth does
not outpace resources and infrastructure
through the combination of continual upgrades
and improvements to infrastructure to
accommodate moderate growth
• Review current zoning ordinance to ensure
developments are required to be compatible
with the existing character, and density of
surrounding neighborhoods
• Allow upstairs residential in commercial areas
when commercial is the main use
• Discourage downzoning in commercial areas
• Increase minimum required square footage for
duplex or multi-family construction in R-2
Tybee Island Master Plan
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IDENTIFIED ISSUES DRAFT OPPORTUNITIES/STRATEGIES
Community Preservation
• Historic preservation and
zones
• Identification and
protection of historic
properties
• Maintaining unique Tybee
sense of place
• Need for a growth
management vision
• Protecting the interests of
full time residents
balanced with tourism
• Review and assess the current historic
preservation ordinance and update as needed
• Establish incentives for restoration projects
• Coordinate with appropriate agencies and
historic preservation groups to identify funding
for preservation projects
• Historic Preservation and zones
• Consider establishing architectural
standards for historic structures
• Protect the existing character of the island by
limiting the mass, scale, density and height
according to established ordinances
• Provide facilities and services needed by
tourists and residents while lessening the
impacts of tourism on permanent island
residents
• Incorporate the results of the carrying capacity
study into regulations to ensure growth does
not outpace resources and infrastructure
• Enforce existing rules through cart and beach
patrols with possible surveillance video in
problem areas
• Explore the potential for a multi-use parking
garage in C-1 to ease visitor intrusion into
residential neighborhoods, including an
assessment of recent traffic counts
• Explore the feasibility of Transfer of
Development Rights for the implementation of
a parking garage in exchange for public park or
greenspace
• Actively enforce existing ordinance violations
by warning for first offense and loss of license
for second offense (moved from Community:
Housing)
• Develop a master plan for Memorial Park,
including walking paths and shade trees
Tybee Island Master Plan
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IDENTIFIED ISSUES DRAFT OPPORTUNITIES/STRATEGIES
Sustainability
• Sustainable development
that does not outpace
resources and
infrastructure
• Beach and shoreline
protection
• Water supply and the
need for public education
• Wastewater plant
upgrades
• Businesses that serve year
round residents as well as
tourism
• Emergency/disaster
preparedness and
rebuilding planning
• Review results of the carrying capacity study
and implement recommendations as feasible
• Work with agencies on preservation of beach
and marshes
• Provide education for visitors on the fragile
ecosystem and appropriate actions and
activities
• Continue water conservation efforts and assess
needed upgrades to the system
• Develop educational materials on water
conservation techniques for visitors
• Develop a prioritized plan for implementing the
needed infrastructure improvements
• Fast track funding substructure for
water/sewer plant upgrades and new facilities
• Complete a peer review of other island
communities and the various approaches for
conserving/managing water resources
• Develop strategies focusing on the retention of
small businesses
• Provide incentives to encourage new
businesses to locate on Tybee
• Create policies to encourage off peak visitors
• Work with local, state and federal agencies to
develop a plan for dealing with disasters
Tybee Island Master Plan
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IDENTIFIED ISSUES DRAFT OPPORTUNITIES/STRATEGIES
Community: Housing
• Affordable/workforce
housing
• Adverse impacts on
housing options with
increasing conversion to
short term rental
properties
• Loss of year round
residents especially those
with children due to the
high cost of living
• Encourage a variety of housing types with a
range of costs
• Investigate the approaches of other
communities and develop incentive programs
for the provision of affordable housing
appropriate for Tybee
• Allow for multi-use upstairs rentals in
commercial areas that provide affordable year-
round housing
• Investigate the feasibility of a rent subsidy
program so critical city personnel (police, fire,
etc.) can live on the Island
• Review and assess the number of short-term
rental properties and impacts on adjacent
properties
• Require licensing for vacation rentals and
minimize adverse impacts on Island residents
• Investigate the need to provide services and
facilities for an older, retired population
• Identify needed services that are lacking for
year-round residents
Tybee Island Master Plan
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IDENTIFIED ISSUES DRAFT OPPORTUNITIES/STRATEGIES
Community: Transportation
• Improvements to US 80
• Improved bicycle and
pedestrian routes and
connections
• Parking
• Traffic/Seasonal traffic
• Work with the Coastal Region MPO and GDOT on
planned and future improvements, including the
exploration of alternative means of transportation
on and off the Island
• Document issues/events to substantiate funding
requests
• Establish active subcommittee of infrastructure
committee to investigate toll road to fund projects
• In coordination with GDOT, explore opportunities for
round-abouts at intersections, including US
80/McKenzie, US 80/Estill Hammock Rd, and
Butler/Tybrisa
• Explore various funding opportunities, such as grant
programs and the Transportation Alternatives
Program to leverage local funding for
implementation
• Identify areas in need of pedestrian facilities or in
need of upgrading existing pedestrian facilities and
strategies to address the identified needs
• Identify appropriate areas and types of additional
parking facilities, specifically in the North Beach area
• Explore the opportunity for a parking garage in
coordination with Chatham County
• Explore opportunities to incorporate mix of uses with
potential additional parking
• Develop an additional parking lot in C-2 on city
owned easement
• Lessen parking requirements for new businesses to
encourage commercial use of C-2 properties
• Develop a parking fee structure that maximizes
income opportunities based on peak season and
times.
• Coordinate with local officials and agencies to
provide assistance with seasonal traffic, particularly
during events
• Identify strategies to minimize traffic impacts on
residential streets
Tybee Island Master Plan
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IDENTIFIED ISSUES DRAFT OPPORTUNITIES/STRATEGIES
Intergovernmental Coordination/Government
• Better methods for
educating and informing
the public
• Litter control and trash
removal
• Regulatory enforcement
• Lack of public amenities
(ie bathrooms)
• Improve information dissemination through
enhancements to the City website
• Investigate opportunities to utilize social media
and smart phone apps for information sharing
• Develop programs for educating visitors and
residents on littering
• Identify issues with trash removal and work to
address those issues
• Provide brightly painted trash cans on the
beach between crossovers and explore the
opportunity for trash can sponsorships
• Develop programs to reduce the amount of
trash generated
• Assess current enforcement practices and
identify areas of needed improvement
• Assess number of staff needed and identify any
shortfalls
• Identify areas where additional permanent
public restrooms may be feasible
• Provide portable restrooms at public beach
crossovers in the summer
• Develop and implement informational signage
for visitors regarding amenities and their
locations
• Utilize a broad spectrum of information
dissemination, including traditional hard copy
(mailers, newsletters) as well as technology
based (website, social media) methods to reach
all members of the community