CONNECT Clark County Comprehensive Plan Forward
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COMPREHENSIVE PLAN March 2018 placeholder for adopting ordinance / resolution CONNECT Clark County was prepared in partnership with: planning NEXT Burgess & Niple Randall Gross / Development Economics For questions regarding this plan, contact: Cory Lynn Golden Transportation Planner Clark County - Springfield TCC 937-521-2131 [email protected] cover photo credit: Greater Springfield CVB / Rod Hatfield ii Clark County, Ohio | Comprehensive Plan A MESSAGE TO THE COMMUNITY On behalf of the Clark County-Springfield Transportation Coordinating Committee, the Board of Clark County Commissioners, the City of Springfield, and the CONNECT Clark County Steering Committee, we are pleased to present ideas and recommendations for the future of Clark County. CONNECT Clark County represents the first time in over twenty years that a plan has been developed to proactively embrace opportunities and address pressing challenges countywide. This document has been created in collaboration with many different entities and individuals with a stake and interest in ensuring that Clark County reaches its full potential for residents, workers, businesses and visitors. Over a 16-month process, with leadership from our Steering Committee, we’ve engaged dozens of stakeholder groups and thousands of individuals to ensure that Clark County will continue to evolve into a great place for many generations to come. At three critical moments in the planning process, participants came together for interactive forums through which they expressed their hopes, concerns and aspirations. These sessions—held throughout the entire County—were supplemented by targeted meetings with key stakeholders and broadly promoted online opportunities for engagement. The input gathered through these forums offered insight that directly shaped the plan. At the heart of our work is a spirit of collaboration. We know that we will only be successful if we work across jurisdictions, between different interest groups, and within a complex and multifaceted web of relationships. This document is testimony to our willingness to break down barriers and plan together for everything we want Clark County to be. Cooperation is essential to all aspects of the plan, from ensuring that businesses are well-positioned to thrive, to promoting and protecting agriculture, to ensuring a robust transportation network, to providing cultural, recreational, educational, entertainment and other opportunities that improve quality of life. The planning process has resulted in a set of actions that are both visionary and implementable. Equally important, it has laid a foundation of interest, excitement and commitment from key leaders and the community-at-large to seeing the plan’s recommendations turned into reality. We’ve also benefitted from support and encouragement from elected officials throughout the County who have recognized the inherent value in our work. We look forward to our continued work to move the CONNECT Clark County comprehensive plan forward. Through leadership, through commitment and through partnership, we feel confident that Clark County will be well-positioned to thrive for many decades to come. Sincerely, Jennifer Hutchinson Jim Bodenmiller Scott Schmid County Administrator City Manager Transportation Director Board of Clark County City of Springfield Clark County-Springfield TCC Commissioners CONNECT Clark County iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The CONNECT Clark County Comprehensive Plan presents a shared vision for the future of Clark County that was developed through an open and collaborative process. Many individuals dedicated their time, energy and talents to shape the plan. Below are some of the key people whose efforts were especially critical to the planning process. Steering Committee Members Jo Anderson Clark County Planning Commission Michele Burns Tecumseh Land Trust Leann Castillo National Trail, Parks, and Recreation District Maureen Fagans United Senior Services Tom Franzen City of Springfield Robert Hill Springfield City Schools Mike McDorman The Chamber of Greater Springfield Charles Morris Springfield Township Planning Commission Pete Noonan Midland Properties Brian Nott Security National Bank Pete Scarff Scarff Nursery Larry Shaffer Clark County Combined Health District Advisors Cory Lynn Golden Clark County-Springfield Transportation Coordinating Committee Bryan Heck City of Springfield Horton Hobbs The Chamber of Greater Springfield Allan Neimayer Clark County Community and Economic Development Scott Schmid Clark County-Springfield Transportation Coordinating Committee Jennifer Tuttle Clark County Community and Economic Development iv Clark County, Ohio | Comprehensive Plan CONTENTS 1. Executive Summary ..........................................3 2. Introduction .................................................9 3. Ideas and Input ..............................................4 4. Conditions and Trends ......................................19 5. Development Framework ....................................31 6. Character and Land Use .....................................39 7. Goals, Objectives and Actions ............................... 55 8. Implementation Plan ....................................... 85 9. Appendices ...............................................101 Appendix A: CONNECT Clark County Economic Baseline Analysis and Target Industry Assessment Appendix B: Transportation Analysis, Current Transportation Summary Appendix C: CONNECT Clark County Strategic Recommendations CONNECT Clark County 1 “We need to know where we are going in order to get there.” — Community Choices Workshop Participant photo credit: Greater Springfield CVB / Rod Hatfield 2 Clark County, Ohio | Comprehensive Plan 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CONNECT Clark County was a year and a half process launched in the fall of 2016 to create a new comprehensive plan for Clark County - the first in nearly 20 years. At the core of the planning work was a robust public engagement process that addressed community needs, values and aspirations. Principles Process Timeline The CONNECT Clark County Comprehensive Three phases of public engagement (face-to-face Plan was developed in accordance with the and online) and 11 Steering Committee meetings following principles. These serve as the basis informed the plan's contents. for the creation of each goal and action. > Celebrate heritage Open Steering Focus on Community > Leverage assets Committee House the Future Choices and Meetings Workshops Workshops > Build off momentum Roadshow Analysis Plan Plan > Communicate clearly Development Finalization Oct '16 Jan '17 Apr Jul Oct Jan '18 CONNECT Clark County 3 A CALL TO ACTION One of the driving ideas behind CONNECT Clark County is that it should be both responsive to the community's vision and realistic. Many of the conditions and trends that have impacted the County over the past several decades present significant challenges. At the same time, community members have a proven track record of building off the County's strengths and making progress on critical issues. The plan takes both into consideration. Challenges to overcome > Population loss. The County's population > Limited connectivity. Physical divisions > Natural and recreational assets. The has been in decline for several decades. created by highways and natural features County offers a wide range of parks and > Median household income in decline. make it difficult for some residents to recreational amenities, including an Unlike many places that have experienced access community resources. excellent trail system. stabilization since the most recent > Lack of cooperation. Lack of resources, > Growing educational attainment. recession, Clark County has seen even operational structures, and in some cases Residents are acquiring high school steeper declines since 2009. lack of will, have limited communication diplomas and advanced degrees at higher > Funding challenges. Many public and collaboration between entities. rates than a decade ago. agencies are grappling with shrinking > Diverse economic base. A mix of budgets. Assets to build upon industries provide some economic stability > Underutilized land and weak > Strategic location. Despite local loss of and opportunity in the County. aesthetics in certain locations. population and jobs, the County's broader > Affordable housing. The prices of houses Development patterns have contributed commuter-shed is growing and gaining in in Clark County make homeownership to a deterioration in the quality of the built employment. attainable for many. environment in key places. > Agricultural heritage. A wealth of > Network of innovators. Many agencies > Poor housing stock. The County has an nutrient-rich soils provide prime farmland and organizations in the County are already aging housing stock and limited options in that is also linked to a strong cultural seeking out creative solutions to the housing types. identity. County's challenges. > Historic villages and neighborhoods. > Focused community. The very act of The County has several historic undertaking the comprehensive planning neighborhoods, of the kind that are seeing process demonstrates a commitment to increased demand at the national scale. improving the future. 4 Clark County, Ohio | Comprehensive Plan New Carlisle Mapping the Future 3 This plan sets forth a development Tremont City framework for the County in the form of an 1 Springfield Opportunities Map. The map is schematic in nature and establishes geographic focus areas throughout the County.235 Its