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APA OPC Planning Workshop Southington Township Comprehensive Plan: Vision 2060. November 18, 2011. Southington Township. I n Trumbull County, Ohio, near Warren “A Small Town With A Big Heart” Founded 1805 Population 2010: 3717 Intersection of three main US/State Routes
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APA OPC Planning WorkshopSouthington Township Comprehensive Plan: Vision 2060 November 18, 2011
Southington Township • In Trumbull County, Ohio, near Warren • “A Small Town With A Big Heart” • Founded 1805 • Population 2010: 3717 • Intersection of three main US/State Routes • Mostly agriculture/residential • No sewer or water right now
Why Our Plan Now? • Outdated zoning code • Prepare for sewer and water, or none • Incorporate community members’ voice and vision • New school
Partners in the Process • Trustees and Zoning Commission • Core Working Group: eight members, including trustees and zoning commission members, longtime residents, school board representative, and business owners • Citizens Advisory Committee: • CSU Center for Community Planning and Development
Timeline Administrative Organization & Plan Kick-off: March 2010 Phase 1: Data Collection & Analysis: April-October 2010 Phase 2: Visioning & Goal Setting: Nov. 2010-Jan. 2011 Phase 3: Action Strategies: February-May 2011 Phase 4: Plan Preparation: June-September 2011 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 25 26 27 28
Planning Elements and Work Group Assignments • Population • Land Use • Housing • Economics • Infrastructure • Transportation • Agriculture • Natural Resources • Community Facilities • Historical, Cultural, & Scenic Resources
PHASE 1:Data Collection and Analysis Existing Conditions and Trends
Collecting and Analyzing Data • Data Sources: walk arounds, web, personal knowledge, County • Key Questions: Toolkit • Mapping: CSU • Assets and Challenges: discussion, Community Meetings (Sept and Nov 2010) • Questionnaire (October 2010)
ExistingZoning Extensive unused commercial and industrial areas No distinction of rural character and historic areas Limited commercial along 422
Key Assets • Small community with strong history and identity • Steady, stable population since 1960’s • Room for growth and development • Close to transportation • Facilities such as sports complex, new school • Historic resources and century homes • Rural character and open spaces • New Amish community
Key Challenges • Large portion of land zoned for commercial/industrial • Zoning needs updating • Aging housing stock • Lack of water/sewer , poor soils for septic limit new construction • Need for (some) senior housing, social services, day care • Need for bike trails, recreation
Community Open House #1 • Reviewed Planning Process and Timeline • Presented Existing Conditions • Presented Assets and Challenges
Community Open House #1 WHAT SHOULD STAY THE SAME? • Small Town Feel • Agricultural opportunities • Keep a strong school system in our community • Our town center • Keep it small town community without industrial commotion • Keep the country area. This isn’t the city.
Community Open House #1 WHAT SHOULD CHANGE? • Work to attract young families / small neighborhoods • Work to attract small business • Township dump should be a park • Get a senior center • Get federal funding for sewer and water out on 422
Community Questionnaire – October 2010 • 200 responses received, mostly longtime residents • Excellent/good rating: EMS/safety, housing, small town atmosphere, schools, appearance • Fair/poor rating: jobs, shopping, water/sewer, recreation • Needs: jobs, water/sewer, shopping, conveniences, restaurants
PHASE 2:Visioning & Goal Setting Creating a Community Vision
Community Open House #2November 8th • Reviewed Community Vision • Presented Planning Goals and Objectives • MAJOR QUESTION: What can happen without water and sanitary sewer?
VISION STATEMENT Preserve and enhance Southington Township’s character as a safe and friendly place to grow up, live well, raise and educate children, and retire. Create a unique area within northeastern Ohio that will enhance our quality of life, increase our property values, leverage our regional location and access, while maintaining a small town feel with manageable growth. Southington Township will be a community rich in history, with a developed core area, preserved agriculture and open space, stronger planning and connectivity among all decision-makers, strong schools, increased jobs, and relatively low congestion.
GOAL 1: Maintain the small town feel of Southington, while allowing manageable, focused growth and development aligned with the Community's expressed desires • Develop Community Core with desired shopping and services along 422 • Establish Historic Center at 305/534 and old school • Maintain rural character, scenic vistas and open space outside “triangle”
Goal 2: Bring Water and Sewer Service to Southington to accommodate managed, long-term growth and improve current conditions • Water and Sewer Board to continue their work • Explore use of Chalker School sewer plant
Goal 3: Maintain and improve community facilities and services • Conduct quarterly meetings of all interested decisionmakers, community members, and groups • Work on improving VFD facilities, sheriff and state patrols, and community watch
Goal 4: Maintain population and grow population in a manageable, focused manner • Develop a mix of housing types • Leverage excellent location to attract new residents and businesses • Reduce and focus quantity of land zoned for commercial and industrial
Goal 5: Improve Recreational and Community Gathering Opportunities • Create bike paths • Redevelop Chalker School for cultural/recreational use • Create a pedestrian friendly area in Community Core
PHASE 3: Developing Action Strategies Prioritization & Implementation
Selected Action Strategies • Create a Southington Civic Group to assist in implementing the plan • Contact Heritage Ohio about creating and implementing the Historic Core • Consider Conservation Development and Stream Setbacks in rural character area • Create a well-planned system of trails and parkland • Improve circulation within and between the new school site, community core, and historic core
What if no sewer/water? Selected Objectives • Historic Core exploration • Zoning code update • Southington Civic Group and joint meetings • Stream setbacks/resource protection • Network of recreational trails with landowners • Improve safety
Pulling It All Together • Mapping – with CSU • Writing – Core Group members • Draft Review Process – with CSU and County • Adoption – planned for January 2012? • Publicizing the Plan – through community web site (ongoing)