Comprehensive Planning and the Small Communities Planning Project

1. Comprehensive Planningand the Small Communities Planning Project Kirby Date, AICP Melissa Schneider, AICP The Countryside Program

10. Balancing Conservation and Development • Up front community vision and planning • Landowner planning and assistance • Effective zoning implementation • Good development projects

14. Comprehensive Planning: the Key to Balance • Sets development and conservation goals in an organized fashion • Plans for long-term financial stability • Resolves tradeoffs up-front • Provides for future logical, consistent decision making • Legal stability: logical justification of decisions • Sets a framework for implementation

18. Purpose of Comprehensive Planning • To protect the public health, safety and welfare • To ensure quality of life for future generations • To continue biological diversity and processes • To balance private needs with public good

19. Comprehensive Planning: Issues • Watershed protection, flooding and water quality • Environmental sensitivity priority areas • Cultural/visual resource priority sites, districts and corridors • Agricultural resources • Meaningful public participation • “Science through a community values filter” • Housing diversity and affordability • Transportation Diversity • Fiscal responsibility

20. Steps in Comprehensive Planning • Set up decision making process, including public involvement • Gather and organize data about existing conditions and trends for the future • Identify opportunities and constraints • Set goals and objectives for the future • Frame and evaluate alternative scenarios • Choose and develop preferred scenario • Develop implementation strategies

21. The Role of the Public

22. Inventory and Analysis: Existing Conditions and Trends • Economic Study • Demographic Study • Natural and physical environment • Land Uses • Infrastructure and Public Services • Cultural Resources

28. Setting Priorities

29. Elements of a Comprehensive Plan • Overall Vision, Goals and Objectives • Land Use • Resource Protection • Transportation • Community Facilities • Housing • Economic Development • Implementation Strategies

31. Example: Mission/Vision Statement • “Mission Statement: To protect and enhance watershed health in Portage County” • “Vision Statement: Well-planned and managed development, abundant farmland and greenspaces, a full range of housing opportunities, and economic prosperity”

32. Example: Goals • Broad Goals or Guiding Principles To protect and improve water quality • To encourage and enable sustainable development • To Protect natural areas • To encourage public involvement in watershed health and protection

33. Example: Objectives • “Target commercial growth rate at a maximum of .75 percent per year (measured as square footage” • “Develop two industrial parks” • “ Encourage a higher-density development pattern through zoning bonuses in Growth Areas – areas with adequate infrastructure” • “Incorporate Open Space Design into zoning regulations”

34. Riparian Setbacks Wetlands Setbacks Stormwater Management Erosion and Sediment control Conservation development Compact Development! Meadow Protection Source Water Protection Steep Slope Protection Woodland Protection Agricultural Lands Protection Historic Protection Scenic Protection Zoning Tools

35. Goals of the Small Communities Planning Initiative To create sustainable communities that balance conservation and development To empower the community to make better planning decisions in the future

36. Main Components of the Pilot Program • Attend a Training Workshop • Identify a 15 to 20 member Citizen’s Committee • Identify a 6 to 8 member Working Group • Collect and Analyze Data • Formulate Goals, Objectives, and Policies • Compile the Comprehensive Plan

37. Workshop Topics • Understanding the Planning Process • Public Participation and Citizen Committees • Data Collection, Analysis, and Goal Setting • Balancing Development and Conservation • How to Utilize Professional Technical Assistance

38. Citizen’s Committee • 15 to 20 members • Represents all facets of the community • Meets 4 – 6 times during the Planning Process • Reviews data • Solicits community input • Approves Plan components

39. Working Group • Part of Citizens’ Committee • 6 to 8 members divided into 4 smaller teams • Meets approximately bi-monthly • Collects Data and prepares Preliminary Analysis • Present findings to Citizen’s Committee • Sets agenda, takes minutes and publicizes meetings, findings, and recommendations

40. Professional Assistance • Guides planning process • Reviews data and analysis • Assists with forecasting • Makes connections to appropriate public agencies • Facilitates meetings

41. SAMPLE: Housing Component • Collect all available census data • Conduct field survey of housing conditions • Map existing housing conditions and plan recommendations • Formulate goals, objectives, and policies

42. Resources • Ohio Lake Erie Commission, Balanced Growth Program www.epa.state.oh.us/oleo • Ohio Planning Conference www.ohioplanning.org • Smart Growth Online www.smartgrowth.org • EcoCity Cleveland, www.ecocitycleveland.org • The Countryside Program, www.countrysideprogram.org • The Farmland Center of Northeast Ohio, www.centerforfarmlandpreservation.org

43. Resources Continued • Scenic America, www.scenic.org • Scenic Ohio, www.scenicohio.org • Downtown Ohio/Heritage Ohio www.downtownohio.org • Ohio Office of Historic Preservation www.ohiohistory.org • Wild Ones Natural Landscapers, www.for-wild.org • Ohio State University Extension, Land Use Team www.landuse.osu.edu

44. The Countryside Programwww.countrysideprogram.org Kirby Date, AICP, Coordinator216-687-5477 k.date@csuohio.edu Melissa Schneider, AICP, Project Manager 440-836-0044 mksconsulting@hotmail.com