CCoommpprreehheennssiivvee PPllaann ffoorr tthhee TToowwnn ooff DDiillllssbboorroo IInnddiiaannaa SSpprriinngg 22000077 Bonar Group 6420 Castleway West Drive Indianapolis, IN 46250 317.570.6800 www.bonargroup.com i TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Introduction A. The Comprehensive Plan 2 • What does a Comprehensive Plan do? • How is a Comprehensive Plan Developed? • What is the value of a Comprehensive Plan? B. 2007 Comprehensive Plan 6 • Project Partners • Process II. Community Profile A. History 11 B. Location 17 C. Population 19 • Population Trends • Age Distribution • Race and Ethnicity • Disabilities D. Education 26 • Enrollment • Educational Attainment E. Employment and Income 29 • Employment by Industry • Employment by Occupation • Commuting Patterns • Mode of Transportation • Income and Poverty TABLE OF CONTENTS ii F. Housing 35 • Existing Housing • Costs G. Natural Resources 38 • Topography • Soils • Water Features • Woodlands I. Community Destinations 46 • Parks & Recreation • Historic Sites • Events • Municipal Government J. Local Services 51 • Utilities • Emergency Services • Healthcare • Childcare • Senior Services K. Community Outreach 58 • Civic Groups • Social Service Groups • Churches L. Transportation 60 • Vehicular Infrastructure • Pedestrian Infrastructure • Air and Rail • Alternative Modes of Transportation • Potential Infrastructure Improvements TABLE OF CONTENTS iii M. Land Use 65 • Existing Land Use • Existing Zoning • Potential Growth Areas • Future Land Use III. Public Participation A. Initial Dillsboro Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee eeting 75 B. Dillsboro Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Meetings 78 C. Dillsboro Elementary School Planner’s Day @ School Presentations 79 D. Dillsboro Community Workshop 84 V. Action Plan A. Goals and Objectives 95 • Community Involvement • Community Services • Economic Development • Land Use • Housing • Transportation • Collaboration • Community Character A. Plan Implementation 131 • What’s Next? • Using this Comprehensive Plan • Who should use the Comprehensive Plan? • Comprehensive Plan Updates TABLE OF CONTENTS iv Appendix A – Action Plan Matrix Appendix B – Steering Committee Attendance Sheets • September 12, 2006 • September 27, 2006 • October 23, 2006 • November 6, 2006 • November 27, 2006 • February 15, 2007 • February 20, 2007 • March 7, 2007 • March 13, 2007 • March 26, 2007 Appendix C – Elementary School Workshop • Public Participation S.W.A.T. Sheet Appendix D – Community Workshop • Attendance Sheet • Community Workshop Flier TABLE OF CONTENTS v We would like to extend our thanks to following people and organizations that helped to make the Dillsboro Comprehensive Planning process for the Town of Dillsboro a success. Many people contributed their time, commitment, and insight to make this a project of “action”. Local Representatives Scott Fortner, Town Manager Janice Sullivan, Clerk-Treasurer Dillsboro Town Council Dino Schmaltz, Utility Department Ryan Brandt, Chief of Police Residents of Dillsboro Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Scott Fortner – Dillsboro Town Manager Janice Sullivan – Dillsboro Clerk-Treasurer Jim Seward – Dillsboro Town Council Mary Lou Powers – Dillsboro Town Council Carolyn Robers – Dillsboro Town Council Veda Vertz – Resident and Business Owner Rev. Richard Kolaskey – Resident and Minister Paul Filter – Resident and Business Owner Cheryl Richwine – Resident and Business Owner Rick Fields - Resident and Business Owner Mary Fields – Resident and Business Owner Londalea Murray – Resident of Dillsboro Dillsboro Area Representatives Dillsboro Civic Club Businesses of the Greater Dillsboro Area Regional Representatives James F. West, Jr. – Dearborn County Economic Development Initiative Michael Rozow, Jr. – Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce, President Margaret Mizner – Dearborn County Planning & Zoning, GIS Coordinator Bonar Group Planning Services Area Team Pat Fahey, AICP – Director of Planning David Benefiel, MURP – Community Planner Chris Tallman – Digital Mapping Services Jennifer Loy – Administrative Assistant – Indianapolis Office ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS v We would like to extend our thanks to following people and organizations that helped to make the Dillsboro Comprehensive Planning process for the Town of Dillsboro a success. Many people contributed their time, commitment, and insight to make this a project of “action”. Local Representatives Scott Fortner, Town Manager Janice Sullivan, Clerk-Treasurer Dillsboro Town Council Dino Schmaltz, Utility Department Ryan Brandt, Chief of Police Residents of Dillsboro Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Scott Fortner – Dillsboro Town Manager Janice Sullivan – Dillsboro Clerk-Treasurer Jim Seward – Dillsboro Town Council Mary Lou Powers – Dillsboro Town Council Carolyn Robers – Dillsboro Town Council Veda Vertz – Resident and Business Owner Rev. Richard Kolaskey – Resident and Minister Paul Filter – Resident and Business Owner Cheryl Richwine – Resident and Business Owner Rick Fields - Resident and Business Owner Mary Fields – Resident and Business Owner Londalea Murray – Resident of Dillsboro Dillsboro Area Representatives Dillsboro Civic Club Businesses of the Greater Dillsboro Area Regional Representatives James F. West, Jr. – Dearborn County Economic Development Initiative Michael Rozow, Jr. – Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce, President Margaret Mizner – Dearborn County Planning & Zoning, GIS Coordinator Bonar Group Planning Services Area Team Pat Fahey, AICP – Director of Planning David Benefiel, MURP – Community Planner Chris Tallman – Digital Mapping Services Jennifer Loy – Administrative Assistant – Indianapolis Office ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Introduction 1 I. INTRODUCTION This comprehensive plan is a guide for the Town of Dillsboro’s future. The community seeks to improve the quality of life for its existing and future residents, focusing on the existing benefits within the community and developing a plan for future growth. As the Town of Dillsboro and other Indiana Communities within the Greater Cincinnati Metropolitan Area continue to grow during the next ten years, the community will experience changes in development, transportation, population, and in services such as parks, sewers, and public safety. All of these changes will have potential effects upon the quality of life of the residents of the Dillsboro Community. The future of Dillsboro will be dependent upon a balance of growth and the necessary public services and facilities that can support this growth. This will be accomplished through commitments to: • Sound Comprehensive Planning • Diligent Protection of Natural Resources and Agricultural Land • Maintaining a Long-Range View of the Public Interest When Evaluating Land Use Issues The final outcome of these planning efforts requires all to acknowledge that the public good is affected by private and community development. The individual actions of landowners, developers, and residents affect the whole community. Similarly, the actions taken by the Town through zoning and investments in infrastructure also contribute to the overall development of the Dillsboro Community. INTRODUCTION 2 A. The Comprehensive Plan A comprehensive plan is an official public document adopted by a local government to serve as a policy to guide decisions about the development of the community. As a policy guide, it must recognize the interdependence of land use decisions, resource management, the process of governing, and the physical infrastructure of the built environment. What does a Comprehensive Plan do? Because it is comprehensive, the plan provides guidance to the decision-making process of the Plan Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Town Manager, and Town Council. Officials within these groups have been empowered to protect community character and natural resources, ensure efficient expenditure of public funds, and promote the health, safety, and general welfare of those living within the Town of Dillsboro. A comprehensive plan is developed as a vision for the community’s future and a road map for community decision- making. How is a Comprehensive Plan Developed? A successful comprehensive plan relies upon resident participation to represent the voices of a wide range of citizens. Their input is an essential element to formulate the goals and objectives of the plan. These activities define a course of action that the Town of Dillsboro needs to undertake to maintain a vision for the future. It is critical that the document represents those individuals who have been active participants in the planning process and identifies the actual interests of area residents. Through community workshops, public hearings, and meetings with the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee and Town Council, the Comprehensive Plan is a statement about the Town’s future, by and for the people of the Dillsboro Community. INTRODUCTION 3 Indiana Code 36-7-4-201 specifies that comprehensive plans should “encourage units to improve the health, safety, convenience, and welfare of their citizens and to plan for the future development of their communities...” The “Goals and Objectives” section of this plan has been designed with the following general principles in mind, as specified in IC 36-7-4-201: • Carefully plan transportation systems. • Allow growth with adequate provisions for public ways, utilities, healthcare, educational opportunities, and recreational facilities. • Consider the needs of industry in future growth decisions. • Ensure that residential areas help to create