Prairie Township 2007 Comprehensive Plan Update
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2007 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Table of Content Executive Summary ............................................page 4 Introduction .........................................................page 6 Planning Foundation ......................................................page 6 Plan Structure ................................................................page 8 Community Character & Land Use ...................page 9 Existing Urbanized: Redevelopment & Infill .......... page 12 Town Center: Innovative & Sustainable ................. page 17 Rural: Conservation & Preservation ...................... page 19 Community Character & Land Use Policies .......... page 21 Environment ......................................................page 23 Environmental Planning Themes ............................... page 24 Environmental Character of the Area ..................... page 24 Soils ............................................................................... page 24 Vegetation .................................................................... page 29 Slopes ........................................................................... page 30 Stream Corridors ....................................................... page 31 Environment Policies .................................................. page 36 Public Facilities ..................................................page 39 Parks and Recreation ................................................. page 40 Roads and Other Transportation ............................. page 40 Addressing the Needs of Schools ............................ page 43 Public Facilities Policies .............................................. page 44 Economic & Commercial Development .........page 47 Utilities ......................................................................... page 48 Incentives for Economic Development ................... page 48 Economic & Commercial Development Policies ... page 50 Executive Summary Prairie Township is a growing community whose future development will be influenced by both the community will and increasingly strong regional interest in the area. In order to respond to the changes on the horizon for Prairie Township, it is critical to have an up to date comprehensive plan. This document is the 2007 update to the Prairie Township Comprehensive Plan. Originally adopted in 2003 the Prairie Township Comprehensive Plan has served as the voice for the community in both local and regional development issues and has provided a strong voice for Prairie Township. This update is built upon that plan but incorporates the recommendations of the Big Darby Accord Watershed Master Plan. The resulting update is contemporary and able Existing Rural Character of Prairie Township to adequately address the impending development in the community in a manner reflective of both Prairie Township and the Big Darby Accord. Big Darby Accord Prairie Township adopted the Big Darby Accord Watershed Master Plan in September 2006. The major recommendations of the Big Darby Accord Watershed Master Plan include a development strategy that prescribes future development location, pattern and intensity to reduce the impact on the water quality. Secondly, the plan recommends strategies to preserve land in the watershed according to its relative importance to water quality. The plan also provides mechanisms for revenue generation to purchase land for conservation, a utility allocation strategy, and the creation of a panel of local representatives to oversee the implementation of the plan. Darby Dan Farm Community Character & Land Use The 2007 update to the Prairie Township Comprehensive Plan recommends four major categories of future land use The town center was envisioned as a critical part of the Big each with specific policies based on the recommendations Darby Accord. Development in the watershed is intended of the Big Darby Accord. to be concentrated in a town center bisecting Prairie and Brown Townships. This development was not previously • Existing Urbanized defined for Prairie Township so this update clearly defines • Suburban Edge the expectations of a quality town center for the township. • Town Center It should include a mix of land uses, higher densities, • Rural walkable streets, quality architecture and materials, and strong neighborhoods. Strategies encouraging quality infill and redevelopment are the focus for the existing urbanized portion of the Conservation development was recommended in 2003 for township. Appropriate site design and quality architecture the rural portions of the township. For this update the are also recommended to ensure the quality of existing recommended locations and patterns have changed slightly urbanized portion of township is maintained or improved. to respond to the Big Darby Accord Watershed Master 4 Plan. However, the conservation development pattern remains the means to protect environmental features and the rural character of this portion of the township through the preservation of quality open space, clustered home sites and a reduction in infrastructure. Environmental Protection This update to the comprehensive plan also incorporates the Big Darby Accord recommendations for environmental protections measures. One of the highest priorities for all development within Prairie Township is to mitigate the impacts on the water quality of the Big Darby Creek. The recommended land use pattern is one vehicle for this mitigation, however the following tools should be used in all development to further address the impacts of development on the water quality: • Open space conservation • Employ Green Buildings techniques • Protection of riparian corridors • Preservation/mitigation of wetlands • Use of Best Management Practices (BMPs) • Use of appropriate wastewater utility technologies • Establishment of trails and greenways One of the most critical elements to protecting the water quality of the Big Darby will be to preserve the riparian corridors for all streams and tributaries from the encroachment of development. This update supports that priority. Recreation Activities at the Big Darby Creek Public Facilities The recommendations for public facilities improvements benefit from the development of the town center. The for Prairie Township did not change significantly from the township will continue to encourage quality development 2003 Comprehensive Plan. The policies of the township within the township that provides an economic benefit to related to provision of parks and recreation as well as the the community. roadway improvements were not significantly changed by the adoption of the Big Darby Accord. The focus remains providing adequate parks, roadways and school services for the residents of Prairie Township. Economic & Commercial Development One of the most critical issues for economic development in Prairie Township is the allocation of water and sewer utilities. As a result of the Big Darby Accord process the City of Columbus agreed to extend lines into Prairie Township without requiring annexation. As part of a revenue sharing agreement the township will be able to 5 Introduction This document is an update to the 2003 Prairie Township The 2007 update maintains much of the language from the Comprehensive Plan. It is based on the foundations of 2003 plan with some significant changes to the Community the 2003 plan and expanded by the adoption of the 2006 Character and Land Use Chapter as well as some additions Big Darby Accord Watershed Master Plan. The Big Darby to the Environment Chapter. Additional strategies have Accord Watershed Master Plan was a multi-jurisdictional been included to aid in the implementation of the Big Darby planning process focused on planning for development in Accord in Prairie Township. the Big Darby Watershed that would protect the water quality of the creek. Prairie Township was a key player in Some of the changes to the Community Character and the Big Darby Accord planning process and adopted the Land Use Chapter are a result of the recent decision by plan in September of 2006. Therefore, the 2003 Prairie the City of Columbus to extend centralized services to Township Comprehensive Plan is being updated for 2007 to the townships without requiring annexation. In 2003 the incorporate the information and recommendations included availability of centralized services for development was in the Big Darby Accord. undecided, therefore that plan provided recommendations for both a high growth scenario that assumed centralized services and a second low growth scenario that assumed centralized services would not be available. The Big Darby Accord concentrated development into a town center that will straddle Prairie Township and Brown Township. The City of Columbus agreed to allow the town center to remain in the township but provide centralized services without requiring annexation. This 2007 update includes an Environmental Chapter that deals with the conservation strategies recommended by the Big Darby Accord. Planning Foundation 2003 Prairie Township Comprehensive Plan In 2003 Prairie Township adopted its first Comprehensive Plan. That effort was led by the Prairie Township Comprehensive Steering Committee (PTSC). The PTSC used potential population growth based upon various build-out assumptions as a basis for defining and selecting potential development options. Build-out Big Darby Creek source: The Nature Conservancy projections were based upon growth assumptions related to various wastewater treatment strategies, as well as to environmental constraints