VisionVision 20202020 ComprehensiveComprehensive PlanPlan Adopted: November 22, 2010 Doug Echols, Mayor John A. Black, III Susie B. Hinton, Mayor Pro-Tem Osbey Roddey Kathy Pender Jim Reno Kevin Sutton Thomas B. Roper, Chair Sherry Easley Randy Graham, Vice Chair Jeff Greene Duane Christopher Charles Smalls Bettye Crockette Gathings Z Tom Roper, Chairman, Rock Hill Z Frank Myers, Council of Neighborhoods Planning Commission Z Rev. James Thomas Barber, Boyd Hill Z Warren Norman, Warren Norman, Inc Baptist Church Z Tim Baldwin , York County Natural Gas Z David Pettine, York County Authority Z Mary Cline, Piedmont Medical Center Z Melvin Poole, Rock Hill Neighborhoods Z Jenifer Crawford, Commission on Z Chris Ruh, Williams & Fudge Youth and Children / Number One Z Joe Sherrill, Main Streets of Old Town Question Committee Z Robert Copeland, Clinton Junior Z David Shook, PRT Commission/Rock College Hill Accommodations Tax/Tourism Commission Z Sherry Easley, Rock Hill Planning Z Chad Simpson, Apple Tree Commission Contractors Z Lillian Gilmore, Rock Hill Weed and Z Leane Skroban, Rock Hill Seed Committee Neighborhoods Z Luanne Kokolis, Rock Hill Schools Z Michael Smith, Arts Council of York County Z David LeGrande, York Technical Z Lud Vaughn, Rock Hill Economic College Development Corporation Z Brien Lewis, Winthrop University Z Norris Williams, Community at Large Z Glenn McFadden , Comporium Z Wayne Wingate, York County Communications Chamber of Commerce !! !"#$# "!"#$# $%$&! &# !' #%#! David Vehaun, City Manager Gerry Schapiro, Deputy City Manager Jimmy Bagley, Assistant City Manager Carey Smith, former City Manager "!(() !(($ *"$!$ ! #% ,%%!'$"!#- . ") #+#" %#! Mike Caudill / Michael Moore, Fire Bill Meyer Tom Glenn, Hometown Security Frances Thomas John Gregory / Brad Redfearn, Police Christine Fisher Eric Ramsdell, Airport David Hooper Bobby Banks / Jason Tinkler / David Will Deaton Young, Public Works Leigh Welch Scott Motsinger / Scott Turner / Bill Curtis Bridges Yetman / Billie Hardison / Melissa Davis / Mike Jolly, Utilities *"$(( Ed Thompson / John Taylor / Stan Lyn Garris Senn, Parks, Recreation & Tourism Max Watson Steven Gibson / Monica Croskey, Katie Quinn Administrative Services - Budget Ray Koterba, Housing & Neighborhood Services Stephen Turner, Economic & Urban Development Roger Waldon, Clarion Associates Leigh Anne King, Clarion Associates Greg Dale, McBride Dale Clarion Emily Crow, McBride Dale Clarion Frank Warren, Warren & Associates Jamie Greene, ACP Visioning + Planning A special thanks to the many citizens and stakeholders of Rock Hill who participated throughout the planning process. VISION 2020: THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA TABLE OF CONTENTS PLANNING PROCESS OVERVIEW ....................................................... 1 VISION 2020 PLAN SUMMARY........................................................... 5 POPULATION ELEMENT ...................................................................I-i COMMUNITY FACILITIES ELEMENT ................................................. II-i TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT......................................................... III-i HOUSING ELEMENT......................................................................IV-i NATURAL RESOURCES ELEMENT ..................................................... V-i CULTURAL RESOURCES ELEMENT...................................................VI-i ECONOMIC CONDITIONS ELEMENT................................................VII-i LAND USE ELEMENT .................................................................. VIII-i PRIORITY INVESTMENT ELEMENT...................................................IX-i GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND ACRONYMS ............................................G-i APPENDIX A: RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES ............................... A-i Under Separate Volume APPENDIX B: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SUMMARY .............................. B-i Vision 2020: The Comprehensive Plan for Rock Hill 11/22/2010 i Planning Process Overview Vision 2020: The Comprehensive Plan for Rock Hill, South Carolina Planning Process Overview Over the last two years, the City of Rock Hill has developed one of its most important plans for the future. The Vision 2020 Comprehensive Plan reflects the community’s vision as determined through extensive public outreach and participation. The citizen-driven planning initiative charts Rock Hill’s future for the next ten years and the actions necessary to proactively address the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. The comprehensive plan is an adopted policy document that examines general community trends and existing conditions to determine existing and future needs. It also provides recommendations, based on community input, on how to meet the identified needs through efficient and effective management of city resources and service provision. Finally, it establishes priorities and directions for achieving the City’s vision for the future to ensure orderly growth and development. Pursuant to the South Carolina Local Government Comprehensive Planning Enabling Act of 1994 (Planning Code of Laws, Title 6, /#0#& "#%#! Chapter 29, Article 3), all local governments are required to prepare, Z "! review, and update a comprehensive plan containing a minimum of Z %%!'$"!# nine elements. Each element must include an inventory of existing Z !! Z conditions, a statement of needs and goals, and implementation Z !"#$# strategies with timeframes for accomplishing the objectives. They Z "!"#$# must be designed to promote public health, safety, morals, Z $%$&! convenience, prosperity or the general welfare as well as the Z &# efficiency and economy of each element’s area of concern. Z !'+#!%#! PLAN DEVELOPMENT Process In July 2008, City staff began a 30-month planning process to prepare a 10-year update to the General Plan 2000-2010, A Comprehensive Plan for Rock Hill, South Carolina. During the first four months, staff set out to Plan the Plan – or develop a work plan, schedule, and public participation strategy. The second step to Initiate the Plan included a kick-off of the public participation events and visioning. Meanwhile, staff worked with citizen/stakeholder groups to Analyze/Review the Plan by conducting research, analyzing trends, identifying needs, and developing a draft plan while considering community input. The final step to Finalize/Adopt the Plan involved a comprehensive open house, public hearings with the Planning Commission and City Council, Planning Commission recommendation by resolution, and City Council adoption by ordinance. See Appendix A for resolution and ordinance. Vision 2020: The Comprehensive Plan for Rock Hill 11/22/2010 1 Planning Process Overview Public Participation Public participation is an essential component of the City’s 2020 Comprehensive Plan update. Many opportunities were provided for the community to actively get involved in various phases of the planning process. Steering Committee In early 2009, City Council appointed a 25-member Steering Committee comprised of citizen and community stakeholders to oversee the 2020 Comprehensive Plan update process. Members represented a cross-section of community leaders and representatives of major local organizations. Their primary role was to act as “Ambassadors” of the community and serve as a sounding board for ideas and recommendations that evolve through the planning process. The Committee was responsible for promoting public participation, attending meetings, providing guidance and feedback on the draft elements, and reviewing and recommending the final Draft Plan to Planning Commission and City Council. Focus Groups Several Focus Groups were assembled throughout the planning process to assist staff with their technical expertise and share their practical knowledge of the various element topics. These 10-15 member task-force/work-groups, facilitated by city staff over several months, provided input on the existing conditions, helped prepare needs assessments, assisted in preparing recommendations and reported their findings to the Steering Committee. Focus Groups were formed for the following Elements: Housing, Transportation, Natural Resources, Cultural Resources, Economic Conditions, and Land Use. Staff work groups assisted with the Population, Community Facilities, and Priority Investment Elements. Public Meetings A variety of public meetings were held throughout the planning process to gather community input as well as share information. A significant public outreach effort was undertaken to spread the word about public meetings and input opportunities. Methods of outreach included flyers, posters, utility bill inserts, television reports, radio interviews, City website, newspaper articles and advertisements in The Herald, e-mail notifications, phone calls, committees and boards, neighborhood associations, promotion at other City events, and word of mouth. Appendix B includes some of the marketing materials and comment forms prepared for the public events as well as summaries of community feedback. The public input process began with a kick-off event on March 19, 2009 at City Hall to explain the 2020 Comprehensive Plan update planning process and encourage the community to get involved. Four open house sessions were held in different locations within the City during March and April 2009, providing an opportunity for the community to meet with City staff and share ideas on their future vision for Rock Hill. The Community Choices Studio was a 3-day