Public Input on the Expansion Plans
Nearly 150 residents gave extensive input during four meetings hosted by the nonprofit Tierra Contenta Corporation in April and November 2019. Notices for all meetings were put in ads, flyers, nextdoor.com, and local events calendars for all meetings.
In addition, two surveys were conducted
• Door-to-door in Tierra Contenta, October 2019
• An online survey, completed January 2020
Click these links to see the feedback from public meetings and feedback surveys conducted online and door-to-door in Tierra Contenta.
Report on public meetings input
Report on input from surveys
Appendix A: All detailed comments received from door-to-door survey
Appendix B: All detailed comments received from online survey
Summary of Public Input
Residents gave input at public meeting on April 11, 2019 at the Genoveva Chavez Center. A total of 45 residents attended, as well as Mayor Alan Webber, Councilor Roman “Tiger” Abeyta, Councilor Christopher Rivera, City staff members, and the Tierra Contenta Corporation (TCC) planning team. At that time, no plans had been drawn.
On November 6 and 9, 2019, TCC hosted three more public meetings at the Southside Library to review TCC’s first draft of the proposed changes to the Land Use Plan for expansion of Tierra Contenta into Phase 3A, a 228-acre tract lying southwest of Capital High School. The elected officials named above attended at least one of the meetings.
Outreach for the meetings consisted of paid newspaper ads, notices in nextdoor.com, flyers left at homes, and word of mouth via TC residents and elected officials.
In October, 2019 TCC completed a door-to-door survey of a random sample of over 119 residents of the completed parts of Tierra Contenta. Then from November 6, 2019 through January 31, 2020, TCC conducted an online survey open to all respondents. Fifty seven percent of respondents identified themselves as residents of Tierra Contenta, while the remaining participants resided in other parts of the city and its outskirts.
Top Concerns about TC Expansion
• Vehicle traffic, narrow streets
• Higher densities
• Big families in small houses
• Too many low-income residents
• Allowing apartments
• Spoiling view-sheds or existing vegetation
• Too many schools close together leading to traffic congestion
What Respondents Want to See in Phase 3B
• 77% endorsed parks and trails
• Wanted small parks added in
• 50% said some streets in TC are too narrow
• 85% agreed with TC’s affordable housing plan
• Plan calls for 40% of all homes to be price- and income restricted at 65% to 100% of AMI
• 65% of TC residents want a grocery store
Most Desirable Public Facilities (% endorsing)
• Community gardens (44%)
• Senior center (42%)
• Farmer’s market (40%)
• Rec centers for children and teens (38%)
• 65% of online respondents support a Master Property Owners Association
Land Use Plan Updates in Response to Public Input and City Staff Input
• Commercial land was added back, with the goal of creating a lively gathering place for Phase 3a, for example: grocery store, farmers market, rec centers
• Plans for the “Pedestrian Network” were refined and expanded to assure better walkability from and through all tracts
• Four general locations of easements were specified for external road connections to undeveloped residential land of the School for the Deaf