Hampton Grounds for Appreciation Township
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HAMPTON TOWNSHIP GROUNDS FOR APPRECIATION 2021 IMPLEMENTABLE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 2021-04-28 DRAFT for adoption process ON THE COVER Left: Northward view of Route 8 from Talley-Cavey area Center Top: Depreciation Lands Museum, located at the corner of Route 8 and South Pioneer Road Center Bottom: A Hampton Township residential street Right: Crouse Run viewed from the Rachel Carson Trail, in the “exceptional value” natural area in Cold Valley, reached from a trailhead along Sample Road, east of Pine Creek TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary ...................................................................................................S1 Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................................................S5 Chapter One INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................1 What Propelled This Comprehensive Plan ................................................................................................... 1 Public Engagement ........................................................................................................................................ 4 The Key Issues .............................................................................................................................................. 11 Strategies for Making Change......................................................................................................................12 The Adoption Process and What’s Next ......................................................................................................12 Hampton Township’s Start-up To-Do List................................................................................................... 14 Chapter Two CONNECTIVITY AND TRAILS .......................................................................16 Vision, Overview, Background and Context ............................................................................................... 17 Looking Ahead ............................................................................................................................................. 19 High Priority Strategies ............................................................................................................................... 20 Other Strategies ........................................................................................................................................... 51 Chapter Three ROUTE 8 APPEARANCE AND LAND USE ........................................................56 Vision, Overview, Background and Context ............................................................................................... 57 Looking Ahead .............................................................................................................................................60 High Priority Strategies ............................................................................................................................... 61 Other Strategies ...........................................................................................................................................85 Chapter Four CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES ....................................................86 Vision, Overview, Background and Context ............................................................................................... 87 Looking Ahead .............................................................................................................................................90 High Priority Strategies ............................................................................................................................... 91 Other Strategies ......................................................................................................................................... 107 Chapter Five TOWNSHIP-COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS ..................................................110 Vision, Overview, Background and Context ............................................................................................. 111 Looking Ahead ........................................................................................................................................... 114 High Priority Strategies ............................................................................................................................. 115 Other Strategies ......................................................................................................................................... 121 Chapter Six ADDITIONAL TOPICS ..............................................................................122 Developing “The Heart” of the Community ............................................................................................. 124 Route 8 Transportation Issues ..................................................................................................................130 Public Transit..............................................................................................................................................134 Community Development Objectives .......................................................................................................136 Future Land Use .........................................................................................................................................138 Appendix ......................................................................... Companion Document 2021-04-28 DRAFT for adoption process A brief overview of Hampton Township’s Implementable Comprehensive Plan 2021-04-28 DRAFT for adoption process HAMPTON TOWNSHIP IMPLEMENTABLE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 2021EXECUTIVE SUMMARY How do we make a really good community even better? That is the goal of this Implementable Comprehensive Plan. We hope to achieve that through: y Listening to the community y Identifying Key Issues to address y Defining a Vision for the future y Providing step-by-step implementation strategies Listening to the community Hampton set a high bar at the beginning of this project, hoping to engage as many community members as possible in this planning process. Despite the challenges of Covid at the end of this process, lots of opportunities were provided for residents to speak their mind. y A large steering committee representing a variety of interests was formed to review the information developed and offer input. The committee met six times between July 2019 and August 2020, and had the opportunity to review every chapter of the draft plan. y At a “Coffee Conversation with the Manager” in June 2019, participants were asked for their views on planning for the future of the Township. y Information booths were set up at the July 3, 2019, Community Day event and at a Farmer’s Market. Intercept interviews were conducted at the Community Day event. y More than 900 people responded to a digital quality of life questionnaire. See the Introduction and Appendices of the report for more information on the issues residents said were important to them. S1 2021-04-28 DRAFT for adoption process EXECUTIVE SUMMARY y A public meeting was held at the Community Center. About 65 people attended on September 25, 2019. y Stakeholders in the Community were interviewed to provide additional clarity on the Key Issues facing the Township. y A Township Council update was provided in January 2020. y A Township Leadership workshop was held at the Hampton Middle School Library to brainstorm solutions to Key Issues in the community. y A second public meeting was held on February 1, 2020, at the Community Room in conjunction with the Township’s Winter Festival event. Identifying Key Issues Working with the Steering Committee, we looked at hundreds of ideas, combined similar thoughts resulting in four Key Issues emerging that needed to be addressed in this plan to make the Township even better. They were: y Connectivity and Trails y Route 8 Appearance y Conservation of Natural Resources y Township-Community Relationships Developing a Vision for Each Key Issue CONNECTIVITY AND TRAILS Vision: Hampton Township enhances the quality of life of existing residents and attracts new residents by providing a connected network of routes that link people to important natural, civic and commercial assets. ROUTE 8 APPEARANCE Vision: The Route 8 corridor through Hampton Township is a thriving commercial corridor offering a mix of businesses and services that add both value and convenience for area residents and that, through their appearance, contribute to Hampton Township pride. CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES Vision: Hampton Township conserves its natural resources for future generations while ensuring that residents today have access to natural areas with healthy ecosystems. This promotes community quality of life and supports community and individual health. TOWNSHIP-COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS Vision: Hampton Township interacts with residents, businesses, developers and other constituent groups in a timely, firm, fair and friendly way. S2 2021-04-28 DRAFT for adoption process HAMPTON TOWNSHIP IMPLEMENTABLE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Providing Step-by-Step Implementation Strategies There are many strategies developed in this plan to help “move the needle” in a positive direction for each of the Key Issues. The following are just a few examples to “whet your appetite.” Check out the full report for much more in-depth series