Jennings County Comprehensive Plan December 2012 Jennings County Comprehensive Plan December 2012 Approved by: Jennings County Economic Development Commission December 20, 2012 Jennings County Area Plan Commission Expected February 2013 Jennings County Board of Commissioners Expected February 2013 North Vernon City Council Expected March 2013 Vernon Town Council Expected March 2013 Prepared by: Strategic Development Group, Inc. 2901 N. Walnut Street Bloomington, IN 47404 T: (812) 331-1282 F: (812) 331-1285 www.sdg.us HWC Engineering Indianapolis Office 151 N. Delaware Street, Suite 800 Indianapolis, IN 46204 T: (317) 347-3663 F: (317) 347-3664 www.hwcengineering.com ii Jennings County Comprehensive Plan Table of Contents Table of Contents Chapter 1. Acknowledgments ...............................................................................1 Chapter 2. Introduction .........................................................................................3 OrIgIns Of The PlAn ................................................................................................................................ 4 The PlAnnIng PrOCess............................................................................................................................ 5 UsIng The COmPrehensIve PlAn ........................................................................................................ 5 What hAPPens nexT? .............................................................................................................................. 6 Chapter 3. vision and Plan summary ..................................................................7 Key fIndIngs ................................................................................................................................................ 9 develOPmenT PrInCIPles ...................................................................................................................10 recommendations .................................................................................................................................11 nexT StePs ..................................................................................................................................................14 Chapter 4. Community Character ......................................................................17 hIstory And ChAracter ......................................................................................................................18 history .................................................................................................................................................................... 18 Character .............................................................................................................................................................. 18 Cultural resources ........................................................................................................................................... 19 education ............................................................................................................................................................... 19 healthcare ............................................................................................................................................................ 20 law enforcement ............................................................................................................................................... 20 Parks and recreation ....................................................................................................................................... 20 economic development Organizations ..................................................................................................... 21 Public Buildings and Institutions .............................................................................................................. 21 Churches ................................................................................................................................................................ 23 demOgrAPhIC PrOfIle ..........................................................................................................................24 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 24 Population ............................................................................................................................................................ 24 Age ............................................................................................................................................................................ 27 educational Attainment ................................................................................................................................. 27 Poverty ................................................................................................................................................................... 29 iv Jennings County Comprehensive Plan Table of Contents Income ...................................................................................................................................................................... 29 employment .......................................................................................................................................................... 31 Commuting ............................................................................................................................................................. 33 housing ................................................................................................................................................................... 34 Critical Sub Area: Code Enforcement .......................................................36 Critical Sub Area: Town of Vernon ...........................................................43 Chapter 5. land Use .................................................................................................47 InTrOdUCTIOn ...........................................................................................................................................48 exIsTIng COndITIOns .............................................................................................................................49 geological Conditions ..................................................................................................................................... 49 existing land Use ............................................................................................................................................... 49 lAnd Use Trends......................................................................................................................................49 Agricultural ........................................................................................................................................................ 49 Industrial .............................................................................................................................................................. 51 Commercial ............................................................................................................................................................ 51 residential ........................................................................................................................................................... 51 exIsTIng ZOnIng mAP .............................................................................................................................53 fUTUre lAnd Use mAP ...........................................................................................................................53 development Principles .................................................................................................................................. 55 long Term growth Areas ................................................................................................................................ 56 gUIdelInes fOr fUTUre deCIsIOn mAKIng ..................................................................................59 Future Decisions: Confined Animal Feeding Operations ...................................................60 Commercial Design Standards .............................................................62 Industrial Design Standards ................................................................64 Residential Design Standards ...............................................................65 Capital Improvement Plan ....................................................................66 ZOnIng And sUBdIvIsIOn OrdInAnCes revIeW ..........................................................................67 review of Both Ordinances ........................................................................................................................... 67 Zoning Ordinance ............................................................................................................................................... 68 subdivision Ordinance ..................................................................................................................................... 70 moving from the Comprehensive Plan to Zoning Ordinances ........................................................ 72 What to