Community Agenda for the 2028 Comprehensive Plan

1. Community Agenda for the 2028 Comprehensive Plan Implementation Program

2. Community Agenda • Consists of the Following: • Future Policy Map • Identifies Character Areas • Establishes Policies for Future Growth • Future Land Use Map • Issues & Opportunities • Implementation Program

3. The Big Decisions • Strengthen City’s Capacity for Revitalization • Focus resources on Targeted Redevelopment Areas • Make Regulatory and Zoning Changes • Rethink Transportation • Pursue Additional Financial Resources

4. Implementation Program Components • Three Components: • Implementation Strategies • Citywide Policies • Short Term Work Program

5. Comprehensive Plan Goals • Community Revitalization • Quality Community Infrastructure • Balanced Transportation • Protection & Enhancement of the Natural Environment • Managing Impacts of Growth • Regional Coordination and Local Partnerships

6. Implementation Strategies

7. Example: Issue and Opportunities Goal: Community Revitalization • Opportunities • A-1 New Growth is Coming • A-2 Changing Demographics • A-3 Developable Land in In-town Neighborhoods • A-4 Preservation of Existing Housing Stock • A-5 Mixed-Use Development Opportunities • Issues • A-8 Effects of Continuing Current Growth Trends • A-10 Barriers to Redevelopment

8. Example: Implementation Strategies Matrix

9. Community Revitalization Implementation Strategies • Designate Targeted Redevelopment Areas (TRA’s) • Create a Mayor’s Council on Revitalization • Encourage in-town housing attractive for seniors and young adults • Organize a Council of Neighborhoods • Modify UDO for bonus density incentives for in-town development • Strengthen the Community Reinvestment Department • Prepare detailed Master Plans for TRA’s • Designate Quality Redevelopments within TRA’s • Increase funding for housing rehabilitation and neighborhood preservation • Prepare Zoning Overlay Districts for TRA’s

10. Quality Community Infrastructure Implementation Strategies • Establish Priority Growth Areas • Develop a Strong Capital Improvements Program • Consider Using Performance-based Land Use Controls • Upgrade Existing Infrastructure and Public Facilities in TRA’s • Incorporate Principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design in UDO • Develop Parks Services Master Plan that identifies level of service PRIORITY Capital Improvements funds LEVERAGE General Operating funds

11. Balanced Transportation Implementation Strategies • Prepare a Comprehensive Transportation Plan consistent with the 2020 Comp Plan • Continue coordination with Fort Benning on BRAC related transportation issues • Create a School Siting Master Plan for future school locations • Update Greenway Master Plan to connect neighborhoods with new and existing trails • Implement Transportation Systems Management techniques formalized policy • Address needs for transit service improvements • Initiate a Travel Demand Management to promote air quality and reduce congestion • Improve the connectivity of streets and sidewalks between neighborhoods, schools, and activity centers

12. Protection of the Environment Implementation Strategies • Increase trail connections between the Columbus Riverwalk and adjacent parks and neighborhoods • Prepare and adopt quality development corridor overlay districts along transportation corridors • Purchase sensitive lands for conservation and public recreation • Work with Fort Benning on noise reduction and mitigation • Strengthen existing tree ordinances • Encourage use of conservation subdivision development

13. Managing Impacts of Growth Implementation Strategies • Maintain salary study • Educate the public on potential funding mechanisms • Implement public marketing campaign • Work towards passing Tax Allocation Districts • Work toward renewal of Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax • Establish level of service measures for City facilities and services • Incorporate recommendations of Fiscal Impact Study

14. Regional Coordination and Partnerships Implementation Strategies • Work with Ft. Benning to monitor BRAC implementation as it evolves • Work across government lines to recruit more jobs • Work with neighboring jurisdictions to promote tourism • Engage in extensive coordinated planning with Muscogee County School District • Work with neighboring cities and counties to discourage sprawl • Combat the loss of young professionals • Continue to address the concerns of air quality • Work with Ft. Benning to mitigate noise impacts

15. Citywide Policies

16. Citywide Policies Community Revitalization • We will give priority to targeted revitalization areas when locating new and improved public facilities and services • We will seek opportunities for new economic generators that would build economic vitality of in-town neighborhoods • We will play an active role in preventing deterioration of housing stock and promoting rehabilitation of existing homes in in-town neighborhoods • We will help protect and encourage safety of neighborhoods through Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design • We will target code enforcement efforts in areas of the city where a cycle of disinvestment and deteriorating housing conditions makes them more vulnerable to vandalism, drug-use and other crimes

17. Citywide Policies Quality Community Infrastructure • We will minimize inefficient land consumption and encourage more compact urban development to help improve the cost-effectiveness of the provision of services and facilities • We will give top priority to repairs and reinvestment in existing infrastructure and facilities by fixing and maintaining what already exists • We will work with the Muscogee County School District to locate schools in-town in support of the Future Land Use Plan • We will invest in parks and open space to encourage private reinvestment in urban centers • We will protect existing infrastructure investments by encouraging infill, redevelopment, and compact development

18. Citywide Policies Balanced Transportation • We will provide a network of pedestrian pathways, greenway trails, bike paths and transit services to allow for an efficient multi-modal transportation network throughout the city • We will continue working with Fort Benning to identify traditional and innovative solutions to address their growing transportation needs • We will reduce congestion and promote air quality by encouraging alternative commute options for our staff and area businesses, including car pooling, transit, alternative work schedules and telecommuting

19. Citywide Policies Preserving and Enhancing the Natural Environment • We will promote the land use policies of the Future Land Use Plan • We will support the Comprehensive Plan by being consistent in making decisions regarding future land use • We will promote Quality Development Corridors • We will protect the tree canopy throughout the city • We will actively work towards linking the Columbus Riverwalk to neighborhoods, community centers, schools, shopping, etc through our own efforts and public private partnerships • We will develop incentives to encourage green and sustainable development

20. Citywide Policies Managing Impacts of Growth • We will promote ongoing education of the public regarding capital expenditures, potential new funding sources, and other funding sources • We will encourage infill development as a means to concentrate development and lower service costs • We will seek efficiency in all city operations to ensure the greatest return on the city’s tax dollars (Capital Improvement Program) • We will promote transparency in the budgeting process and funding of capital investments • We will seek ways for new growth to pay for itself

21. Citywide Policies Intergovernmental Coordination and Regional Partnerships We will engage in cooperative planning between Columbus Consolidated Government and the Muscogee County School District • We will work jointly with neighboring governments on developing solutions for shared regional issues • We will work collaboratively with surrounding governments to help address issues that may arise from BRAC related growth • We will support regional economic development efforts to promote the sustainability and growth of our economy

22. Short Term Work Program • Drawn from Implementation Strategies • Fine-tuned with Action Planning Workshop • Lists City’s Priority Projects for the first five years (2009-2014) Activity Time Frame Funding Responsible Department or Agency

23. Next Step Adopt the Comprehensive Plan by Ordinance • Establishes requirements for planning department to maintain document • Requires that UDO and Comprehensive Plan are coordinated • The city's capital improvement plan and its capital budget shall be consistent with the Plan • All land-use actions by any agency or board of this government body shall be consistent with the Plan, as well as amendments to the Plan