Elements of an Effective Local Comprehensive Plan

Transcription

1 Elements of an Effective Local Comprehensive Plan Prepared By: Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments February, 2006

2 Elements of an Effective Local Comprehensive Plan Table of contents Page PURPOSE INTRODUCTION PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS... 4 DATA AND ANALYSIS. 5 GOALS OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES. 6 LEVEL OF SERVICE MANAGEMENT 7 GENERAL PLANNING ELEMENTS. 9 Transportation 9 Housing 13 Public Facilities and Services Infrastructure 17 Public and Private School Facilities 20 Recreation and Open Space. 23 Other Community Facilities. 25 Information Technology Natural Systems 29 Economic Development Intergovernmental Coordination Capital Improvements Land Use PLAN IMPLEMENTATION...44 MONITORING AND EVALUATION 45 DEFINITIONS. 47 Elements of an Effective Local Comprehensive Plan Updated: 2/28/2006 i

3 ELEMENTS OF AN EFFECTIVE LOCAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Purpose Planning is an orderly, open approach to reaching specific community-wide goals. Planning helps a community examine where it has been, where it wants to go and how to get there. Community-wide planning enables taxpayers and the private sector to anticipate the timing, location and capacity of public services and infrastructure which affect opportunities for development. Planning and equitable regulations and incentives create certainty or predictability for taxpayers, property owners and businesses. Taxpayers should expect their substantial infrastructure investments to be tied to a plan and to a budget. Planning for development or redevelopment allows communities to determine what type of improvements they want to see and when and where they should happen. Planning aims to preserve, protect and enhance the value of real estate and the public interest by taking into consideration the effects of land uses on surrounding properties. Effective planning depends on a broad-based constituency that includes citizens, businesses, government leaders, community organizations, special interests and many others. The value of a consensus-driven, widely supported plan can be significant savings for taxpayers and consumers. The fundamental tool used for community planning is the comprehensive plan. Comprehensive plans can facilitate the most appropriate and efficient use of land, water, and resources, consistent with the public interest. They can ensure the adequacy of transportation, water, sewage, schools, parks, recreation, housing, and other services. Planning for the needs of a community, instead of reacting to them, can eliminate chronic problems, save taxpayer dollars, and reduce the duplication of services. The is determined to stretch scarce taxpayer dollars as far as possible. OKI is the agency responsible for determining how federal transportation dollars are spent in the tri-state region composed of Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren counties in Ohio; Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties in Kentucky; and Dearborn County, Indiana. The OKI Board of Trustees is composed primarily of local elected officials from the more than 180 local governments in this region, who spent over three years wrestling with the issue of how to link long-range region-wide transportation planning and budgeting with land use planning, which is conducted at the local level. In April, 2005 after extensive review by dozens of experts and broad-based public participation throughout the region, OKI s board adopted a strategic regional policy plan. The OKI plan encourages consistent local comprehensive planning and rewarding it with additional consideration in the funding for transportation projects. This report is intended as an optional tool for local government comprehensive planning. It should be adapted to local circumstances, and comprehensive plans should be implemented at the sole discretion of the community. Elements of an Effective Local Comprehensive Plan 1

4 Introduction An effective comprehensive plan should be scaled to local circumstances, resources, level of government and authority. It can be completed by competent, experienced planners using the best available existing data, unless the jurisdiction desires original data or special studies. Its successful completion should not require specialized services such as transportation modeling, laboratory work, or services obtained from specialists such as fiscal consultants or utility engineers. The following is intended to be a detailed model for preparing comprehensive plans at village, municipal, township, and county levels of government. The use of this model will increase the likelihood of local governments adopting and maintaining effective and consistent plans that acknowledge the existence of adjacent communities and multiple levels of government. The recommended components and standards in this model are not a basic level of comprehensive planning. The standards for inventories, analysis, goals and objectives and implementation policies are extensive and therefore useful in selecting a basic level of comprehensive planning. This document is meant to assist communities in establishing and expressing a vision for the future. The elements of this document are not mandatory. The elements are intended to be flexible to meet the needs and special circumstances of a community. Some local communities have partial plans, or elements of a comprehensive plan, as separate documents (land use plan, thoroughfare plan, sanitary sewer plan, capital improvement plan). The separation of planning functions among various authorities is a challenge for communities who want to create a truly comprehensive plan. It is important to recognize the relationships among these authorities and to plan accordingly. This document encourages the incorporation of existing data, cooperation between governmental agencies or quasi-governmental agencies and integration of planning documents completed by authorities other than the planning commission into the comprehensive plan. A comprehensive plan is the only public document that describes the community as a whole in terms of its complex and mutually-supporting physical systems. A comprehensive plan may also address economic and social systems e.g. culture and recreation, education, environment, public safety, governance, health and human services. Existing conditions and trends are described and analyzed for each of the plan s chapters or elements. The plan also provides both a broad perspective and a guide for short-term community decisions. It depicts land use, infrastructure and capital improvements policies through future-conditions maps. Charts and graphs are also useful tools to illustrate patterns. A comprehensive plan should achieve several things at minimum, including: Addressing the community s key physical elements; Providing long-term (20 years) guidance for the timing and location of development and redevelopment; Providing for development and redevelopment choices as the community grows; Providing a basis for defensible zoning and subdivision decisions; and Providing for routine evaluation and updating every 5 years. Elements of an Effective Local Comprehensive Plan 2

5 The real value of a comprehensive plan is that it provides for the timing and location of development or redevelopment -- something that zoning or subdivision regulations by themselves do not. Although this guidance deals only with the elements of an effective local government comprehensive plan, zoning and subdivision regulations should be consistent with the comprehensive plan in order to carry out the community s vision and to avoid needless public expenditures. Just as important, the comprehensive plan can be a tool to prevent the degradation of natural resources and historic buildings, to maintain the commercial and economic base, to provide adequate public facilities or maintain housing stock. It can provide such guidance through several chapters or elements : Land Use Transportation Public Facilities/Infrastructure Natural Systems Housing Economic Development Intergovernmental Coordination Capital Improvements This document should be seen as an optimal strategy for local governments to use when formulating their own comprehensive plans. The content of this document includes guidelines for comprehensive plan components (inventories, analysis, goals and objectives, and implementation policies) for each of the eight elements listed above. Certain elements may be more prominent or important to achieving the vision in some communities than in others. The basic guidelines laid out in this document, however, are those that will lead to a comprehensive plan that successfully guides development within a given jurisdiction. The final product of the planning process should be a financially feasible comprehensive plan that is determined locally. The plan should not commit a local government to expenditures or programs for which there is no currently available revenue source. For example, if a comprehensive plan policy provides for a need to be addressed through local participation in a state grant program, and a grant is not awarded, the local government should not be obligated by the absence of the state grant to address the need through another currently available revenue source. To do so, could place unintended burdens on taxpayers. For the local government to be so obligated in this example, the comprehensive plan should be formally amended. Similarly, the plan should not address goals or objectives which are unattainable in the planning timeframe, or capital improvements for which no funding will be available during the initial fiveyear increment of the planning timeframe. This document attempts to account for three very different state enabling acts for planning and zoning within the region (Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana). Elements included in this document will meet the requirements of those statutes, and in most cases go beyond the minimum requirements. Elements of an Effective Local Comprehensive Plan 3

6 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS Public participation is a necessary foundation for a comprehensive plan. Public participation builds public support and creates a unified vision on which goals and policies can be based. Strong public participation assists elected officials to be fully aware of the public s desires. To make the plan effective, public participation should occur during every phase of the process, as well as during consideration of amendments to the comprehensive plan and during periodic evaluations of the plan. Local governing bodies and local planning agencies should adopt procedures to provide for and encourage public participation in the planning process that might include the following: 1. Assuring that property owners are put on notice of actions that may affect their property newspaper articles or other methods. 2. Providing notice to keep the general public informed, usually including the following: a. Legal notices, at least 14 days in advance of any public meetings and 30 days before public hearings, placed in the largest circulation daily newspaper and major minority newspaper. b. Press releases to major newspapers and community papers. c. Notice to adjacent jurisdictions. d. Placement on local government websites. e. Placement at local gathering places. f. announcements to individuals and organizations, or list-serves. g. Questionnaires distributed via utility bills or other mass mailings. 3. Using steering committees as part of the creation of the comprehensive plan to establish a vision and as part of its implementation to create accountability. 4. Using structured interviews with key community leaders. 5. Conducting a visioning process to engage citizens and elected officials in the process. 6. Assuring that there are opportunities for the public to provide written comments 7. Assuring that public hearings are held, and that the following issues are taken into account: a. Meetings are held in locations that are easily accessible to a variety of participants. b. Meetings are advertised to reach a diverse population. c. Meetings are designed to promote discussion and open communication. d. Meetings are timed so that comment can be considered prior to final decision making. 8. Assuring that consideration of and response to public comment is made. 9. Assuring that adequate consideration is given to the issues within each legislative body or jurisdiction, if the planning area includes more than one jurisdiction. 10. Providing executive summaries to the general public, and releasing information at regular intervals to keep citizens apprised of planning activities while the planning process is ongoing. 11. Assuring that input is secured from environmental justice target groups such as minority, foreign speaking, low income and senior citizens. The use of facilities, transportation options, and outreach methods that facilitate their involvement should be provided. Elements of an Effective Local Comprehensive Plan 4

7 DATA AND ANALYSES Data and analyses of existing conditions are essential foundations for a local government comprehensive plan. Analyzing baseline data for each of the plan s elements is necessary to establish a well-grounded plan. All findings, conclusions, goals, objectives, and policies within the comprehensive plan and its support documents, and within plan amendments and their support documents, should be based upon relevant and appropriate data and analyses applicable to each element. Data and analyses should look at community facility needs and projections; natural resources; and existing land uses and current development patterns. To be based on data is to react to available data in an appropriate way and to the extent necessary, at the time of adoption of the plan or plan amendment at issue. Data on existing population, population projections and population studies are important for the foundation of all other elements. An effective comprehensive plan does not necessarily require original data collection, but should be the best data from professionally accepted existing sources, such as information from the United States Census, the State Data Center and affiliate agencies, the State University Systems, Planning Commissions, and the. Topics should include existing and future trends for: land use and land consumption, community facilities, population, economics and employment, tax base, housing, transportation patterns, natural systems and other elements unique to the jurisdiction. If other planning documents merit inclusion into the comprehensive plan, they should be adopted by reference in the plan, including the title, author, and the edition of the document. Where data augmentation, updates, or special studies or surveys are deemed necessary by the jurisdiction, appropriate methodologies should be clearly described or referenced and should meet professionally accepted standards for such methodologies. Elements of an Effective Local Comprehensive Plan 5

8 GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES Goals, objectives and policies, together with a community s future land use map, are integral and vital operational components of each element of the comprehensive plan. Goals, objectives and policies should be based on the relevant data and analyses in each element. Goals, objectives and policy statements set forth the long-term, intermediate and measurable short-term ends toward which a community s programs or activities are ultimately directed. They identify a community s desired future conditions or results to be obtained for each of the plan s elements, and define the actions and measures necessary to meet those conditions or results. The elements of the comprehensive plan containing goals, objectives, and policies should describe how the local government's programs, activities, and land development regulations will be initiated, modified or continued to implement the comprehensive plan in a consistent manner. Goals, objectives and policies should establish meaningful and predictable standards for the use and development of land and provide meaningful guidelines for the content of more detailed land development and use regulations. These goals, objectives, and policy statements should reflect the purposes that they serve. A goal is the long-term end toward which programs or activities are ultimately directed. It is something general that one strives to achieve. An objective is a specific, measurable, intermediate end that is achievable and marks progress toward a goal. A policy is describes the way in which programs and activities are conducted to achieve an identified goal. A policy statement often addresses how a goal or objective will be implemented. Examples of a goal, an objective and a policy are: Goal Example: XYZ City will promote a productive business climate by maintaining adequate public facilities and services. Objective Example: By July 1, 2010, XYZ City will eliminate two at grade railroad crossings on roadways serving vacant and underutilized commercial and industrial properties identified for redevelopment. Policy Example: XYZ City will work with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) to secure funding through the Rail Grade Separation Program to eliminate the at grade crossings. Elements of an Effective Local Comprehensive Plan 6

9 LEVEL OF SERVICE MANAGEMENT Level of service (LOS) standards can be useful guideposts for the maintenance of adequate public facilities and services in a jurisdiction. LOS should be considered during the development review process so that adequate public facilities and services are available when the impacts of proposed development occur. The necessary public facilities and services may be phased, the development may be phased, or the time-certain construction of the necessary public facilities and services may be guaranteed with an enforceable instrument (such as conditional development approvals, or development agreements). Level of service standards should be established by each local government for the public facilities located within its boundary. Level of service standards should be set for each individual facility or facility type and not on a system wide basis. For example, different standards may be set for arterial and collector roadways. Identification of the appropriate level of service standards may be based on accepted standards (such as state transportation agency standards or National Recreation and Park Association standards), or based on specific conditions or needs within the community. No local LOS management system should mandate the creation, limitation, or elimination of regulatory authority for other agencies nor should it require the repeal of any rules, criteria, or standards of any local, regional, or state agency. Level of service standards usually address those services which are typically most influenced by new development. These are likely to include roads, water supply, wastewater treatment, parks and recreation, and schools. The General Planning Elements contained within this document outline inventories and analyses that will assist in establishing level of service standards for these facilities and services. Level of service standards should be based on adequacy of existing service and careful consideration of the community's desired development patterns; in other words, are the service levels adequate and can they be maintained? A jurisdiction s development patterns and areas planned for new growth, as depicted on the future land use map, should coincide with the availability of adequate public facilities and services, and should be reflected within the goals, objectives and policies for those services. A local government may establish service areas, or districts where a uniform level of service (e.g., classroom space per student, maximum daily traffic volume on roadways) may be maintained. The community's desired development patterns should be reflected in the delineation of such service area boundaries. The LOS management system should address: The maintenance of the adopted level of service standards for roads, sanitary sewer, solid waste, drainage, potable water, parks and recreation, and public transit, if applicable. The inclusion, in the Capital Improvements Element of the comprehensive plan, of a financially feasible schedule of capital improvements (or capital Elements of an Effective Local Comprehensive Plan 7

10 improvements plan) which demonstrates that the adopted level of service standards will be achieved and maintained. A system for monitoring and ensuring adherence to the adopted level of service standards, the schedule of capital improvements, and the availability of public facility capacity. Guidelines for interpreting and considering level of service standards when applications for development permits are reviewed. A process for assessing, receiving, and applying a fair share of the cost of providing the public facilities and services necessary to serve the proposed development. The assessment should have a reasonable relationship to the impact that is generated by the proposed development. Elements of an Effective Local Comprehensive Plan 8

11 GENERAL PLANNING ELEMENTS Each element of the comprehensive plan as contained in this document follows a basic outline including: 1) description, including, as appropriate, mapping of existing conditions, 2) analyses of data, 3) goals, objectives and policies, and, if appropriate 4) future conditions mapping, and 5) implementation processes. I. TRANSPORTATION Purpose: To establish the desired and projected transportation system, and to plan for future motorized and non-motorized traffic circulation systems and related facilities. A. An inventory and description of existing roadways and multi modal facilities and existing transportation map(s) should be created including the following features. Roadway functional classifications from the appropriate state transportation agencies should be used. 1. Collector roads. 2. Arterial roads. 3. Limited access facilities. 4. Bridges. 5. Identification of the number of traffic lanes for each roadway. 6. Designated local and regional transportation facilities, critical to evacuation in the case of emergency. 7. Park and ride facilities. 8. Ports, airports, rail lines and related facilities. 9. Significant pedestrian and bicycle ways. 10. Public transit system, routes or service areas, terminals and transfer stations, public transit rights of way and exclusive public transit corridors. 11. The major trip generators and attractors based upon the existing land use map(s). 12. Existing peak hour, peak direction levels of service for roads and public transit facilities and corridors or routes. B. Analyses should address all modes of transportation as follows: 1. Analysis of existing traffic circulation levels of service and system needs based on the following. This analysis should address the need for new facilities, or expansions to provide safe and efficient operating conditions on the transportation network. a) Existing design capacity. b) Most recently available estimates for average daily trips. c) Accident frequency data. d) Existing public transit facilities, including ridership by route, peak hour capacities and headways. Elements of an Effective Local Comprehensive Plan 9

12 e) Population characteristics, specifically the transportation disadvantaged. f) The existing characteristics of the major trip generators and attractors within the community. 2. Analysis of the growth trends and travel patterns and interactions between land use and transportation, and the compatibility between the Future Land Use and Transportation elements. 3. Analysis of the projected traffic circulation levels of service and system needs based on future land uses shown on the future land use map(s), addressing the need for new facilities, or expansions to provide safe and efficient operating conditions on the transportation network. 4. Analysis should also consider adopted level of service standards, improvements, expansions and new facilities planned for in the appropriate state transportation agency planning process and the plans of the metropolitan planning organization (MPO). 5. Analysis of existing and projected intermodal deficiencies and needs such as terminals, connections, high occupancy vehicle lanes, park and ride lots and other facilities. 6. Analysis of the projected public transit levels of service and system needs based upon future land uses as shown on the future land use map or map series; major trip generators and attractors; percent of auto ownership; and projected population characteristics, including size, income, age and special needs. 7. Analysis of public transit should consider the adopted level of service standards, improvements, expansions, or new facilities planned for in the appropriate state transportation agency plan and the plans of the appropriate MPO and should, to the maximum extent feasible as determined by the local government, be compatible with the policies and guidelines of such plans. C. Transportation Goals, Objectives and Policies 1. One or more goal statements should be created for establishing the long term end toward which transportation programs and activities are ultimately directed. 2. When forming objectives, consideration should be given to the following topics: a) Providing for a safe, convenient and efficient motorized and nonmotorized transportation system. b) Coordinating the traffic circulation system with the future land uses shown on the future land use map(s). c) Coordinating with the plans and programs of the appropriate MPO, any public transportation authority, and any state transportation agency plan. Elements of an Effective Local Comprehensive Plan 10

13 d) Providing for the protection of existing and future rights-of-way from building encroachment. e) Addressing the provision of efficient public transit services. f) Coordinating the siting of new, or expansion of existing river ports, airports, or related facilities with the future land use map. g) Coordinating surface transportation access to river ports, airports, or related facilities. h) Providing for a safe, comfortable and attractive pedestrian environment with convenient interconnection to public transportation. 3. Policies for each objective should be created to address specific implementation activities including: a) Establishment of level of service standards at peak hour for all roads and public transit facilities within the local government s jurisdiction. For facilities on the Interstate or intrastate highway system, the level of service standards established by the state transportation agency should be adopted. b) Control of the connections and access points of driveways and roads to roadways. c) Provision of safe and convenient on-site traffic flow, considering needed motorized and non-motorized vehicle parking. d) Establishment of measures for the acquisition and preservation on existing and future rights-of-way and exclusive public transit corridors. e) Establishment of strategies to improve system efficiency and enhance safety. f) Consideration and inclusion of bicycle and pedestrian ways in the planning of transportation facilities and land use strategies. g) Establishment of land use, site and building design guidelines for development in exclusive public transit corridors to assure the accessibility of new development to public transit. h) Establishment of a consistent policy with the future land use element to encourage land uses that promote public transportation in appropriate areas. i) Providing an interconnected network of streets and related facilities to promote walking and bicycling that is coordinated with land uses and other community design features and ensuring convenient access to public transportation. j) Establishing measures for the use of innovative street design in conjunction with compact development to enhance or preserve community character, where such street design can be implemented safely and with balanced consideration of capacity needs for vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians. Elements of an Effective Local Comprehensive Plan 11

14 D. Future transportation map(s) should be created showing the general location of the following proposed features. Roadway functional classifications from the state transportation agency should be used. 1. Collector roads. 2. Arterial roads. 3. Limited access facilities. 4. Bridges. 5. Identification of the number of proposed traffic lanes for each roadway. 6. Designated local and regional transportation facilities, critical to evacuation in the case of emergency. 7. Park and ride facilities. 8. Ports, airports, rail lines and related facilities. 9. Significant pedestrian and bicycle ways. 10. Public transit system, routes or service areas, terminals and transfer stations, public transit rights of way and exclusive public transit corridors. 11. The major public transit trip generators and attractors based upon the future land use map(s). Elements of an Effective Local Comprehensive Plan 12

15 II. HOUSING Purpose: To provide guidance in the development of plans and policies, deemed appropriate by the local government, to meet identified or projected deficits in the supply of housing (including moderate income, low income, and very low-income households; group homes; and households with special housing needs, including rural and senior housing). These plans and policies should address government activities, as well as provide direction and assistance to the efforts of the private sector. It is important that the private sector be made a partner in the development of housing plans and policies. This partnership recognizes the preeminence of the market in building and transferring ownership of housing. A. Inventory (based on the latest decennial United States Census or more recent estimates): 1. Number and distribution of dwelling unit by type, tenure, age, rent, value, monthly cost of owner occupied units, and rent or cost to income ratio. 2. Number of dwelling units in each of the following categories: lacking complete plumbing; lacking complete kitchen facilities; lacking central heating; and overcrowded. 3. Determine local definitions of standard and substandard housing conditions with an estimate of the structural condition of housing within the jurisdiction by number and general location of units both standard and substandard. Include methodology used to estimate condition of housing. 4. Renter occupied housing developments currently using federal, state or local subsidies (indicate subsidy program and number of units for each development listed). 5. Existing programs that encourage investment in residential properties, such as homeownership programs and owner/investor occupied programs. 6. Group homes licensed by the state, including the type, number, generalized location and capacity. 7. Existing licensed mobile home or manufactured home parks and mobile home condominiums, cooperatives, and subdivisions including the generalized location and capacity. 8. Historically significant housing listed on the states list, National Register of Historic Places or designated as historically significant by or in accordance with a local ordinance, and their generalized location. 9. Amount of housing construction activity affecting changes in the number of housing units within each local government s jurisdiction based on new construction, conversions, manufactured housing placements and removals, in number of units for the years since the latest decennial United States Census. B. Analyses 1. Derive projection of the anticipated number of households by size and income from population projections. Elements of an Effective Local Comprehensive Plan 13

16 2. Project the housing need of the current and anticipated future residents in the jurisdiction, including estimates of need for rural and senior households, by number, type, cost or rent, tenure, and any other special housing needs, and including estimates for the replacement of housing units removed and for the maintenance of an adequate vacancy rate. 3. Determine the land requirements for the total estimated housing need. This can be based on current trends or alternative land development techniques. 4. Determine the portion of the housing need which can be projected to be met by the private sector within current market conditions. The housing expected to be supplied should be shown by type, tenure, cost or rent, and income range of households served. 5. Determine the existing housing delivery system including the private sector housing delivery process, with regard to land, services, financing, regulations and administrative roles of government agencies to identify problems and opportunities. 6. Determine the means for accomplishment of each of the following: a) The provision of housing with supporting infrastructure for all current and anticipated future residents of the jurisdiction, with particular emphasis on the creation or preservation of affordable housing to minimize the need for additional local services, and to avoid the concentration of affordable housing units only in specific areas of the jurisdiction. b) The elimination of substandard housing conditions and for the structural and aesthetic improvement of housing. c) The provision of adequate sites for housing for very-low-income, low-income and moderate-income households, and for manufactured homes. d) The provision of adequate sites in residential areas or areas of residential character for group homes licensed or funded by the state. e) The provision of conservation, rehabilitation or demolition activities, and historically significant housing or neighborhoods. 7. Determine opportunities for infill development. C. Housing Goals, Objectives and Policies 1. One or more goal statements should be created for establishing the long term end toward which housing programs and activities are ultimately directed. 2. When forming objectives, consideration should be given to the following topics: a) Creation and/or preservation of affordable housing for all current and anticipated future residents of the jurisdiction, and households with special housing needs including rural and senior housing. b) The elimination of substandard housing conditions and for the structural and aesthetic improvement of existing housing. Elements of an Effective Local Comprehensive Plan 14

17 c) Adequate sites and distribution for housing, including very-lowincome, low-income and moderate-income households, and for manufactured homes. d) Adequate sites in residential areas or areas of residential character for group homes licensed or funded by the state. e) Conservation, rehabilitation or demolition activities. f) Historically significant housing. g) Relocation housing. h) The formulation of housing implementation programs. i) Consideration of housing in the context of transportation, land use, including mixed use developments, economic development, public facilities (including schools), natural systems, recreation, intergovernmental coordination, and capital improvements. j) Consideration of using job training, job creation and economic solutions to address affordable housing concerns. 3. Policies for each objective should be created to address specific implementation activities including: a) Involving local government with the private and non-profit sectors through public/private partnerships to improve coordination in housing production. b) Specific programs and actions to streamline the permitting process and minimize costs and delays for housing, especially affordable housing. c) Establishment of standards addressing the quality of housing, stabilization of neighborhoods and identification and improvement of historically significant housing. d) Establishment of principles to guide conservation, rehabilitation and demolition program techniques and strategies. e) Establishment of principles and criteria guiding the location of housing, including units for very-low-income, low-income and moderate-income households, manufactured homes, group homes and households with special needs including rural and senior households, and including supporting infrastructure and public facilities. f) Establishment of principles and criteria guiding the location of group homes licensed or funded by the State that foster nondiscrimination, and encouraging the development of community residential alternatives to institutionalization including supporting infrastructure and public facilities. g) Utilization of federal, state and local subsidy programs. h) Establishment of homeownership or owner/investor occupied type programs. i) Provision of relocation housing. Elements of an Effective Local Comprehensive Plan 15

18 j) Designation of sufficient sites at sufficient densities to accommodate the need for affordable housing over the planning timeframe. k) Examination of opportunities to improve the balance of jobs and housing in order to reduce commutes and enable people to live close to work. l) Providing for increased housing densities near transit stops and neighborhood business centers, where appropriate. m) Coordination with local schools on growth and development patterns and school capacities. n) Provisions for infill housing, including appropriate compatibility standards. Elements of an Effective Local Comprehensive Plan 16

19 III. PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES Purpose: To provide for a local community s necessary public facilities and services correlated to future land use projections. This element should address wastewater facilities and services; solid waste services; stormwater management; potable water facilities and services; educational systems and facilities; public health systems and facilities; communication and information technology systems; gas and electric power facilities; correctional facilities, public safety systems and facilities; historic and cultural facilities; and other government facilities such as libraries, post offices and courthouses. This element includes five separate sections that are related and similar in nature. The Infrastructure section includes major facilities that provide service within a local government that are structural in nature. Public and private schools are a component because of the interrelationship between land use and school locations and enrollment. There are, however, unique challenges and opportunities that may arise when researching and implementing the Schools section. Recreation and Open Space is also distinctive in that it involves unique planning, land acquisition, and maintenance responsibilities for local governments. The Other Community Facilities section addresses other public service types that may impact transportation and land use planning. Finally, Information Technology focuses specifically on telecommunication facilities, and other information technology systems that provide service within the local government jurisdiction and that may impact land use, transportation, utilities, economic development and other community facilities. A. INFRASTRUCTURE 1. Inventory (addressing public facilities and services within the local government jurisdiction.) a) Identify public and private sanitary sewer facilities, solid waste facilities, drainage facilities, and potable water facilities. b) For shared facilities, the proportional capacity of the systems allocated to serve the jurisdiction(s) should be indicated. c) The following data should be included for the facilities identified above: (1) Entity with operational responsibility for the facility. (2) Geographic service area of the facility and the predominant types of land uses served. (3) Design capacity. (4) Current demand on the facility capacity. (5) Level of service. d) Major natural drainage features and groundwater aquifer recharge areas should be identified. e) Significant potential hazards. Elements of an Effective Local Comprehensive Plan 17

20 2. An analysis should be completed to identify existing and projected needs for sanitary sewer, solid waste, drainage and potable water facilities based on: a) A facility capacity analysis, by geographic service area, indicating capacity surpluses and deficiencies for: (1) Existing conditions, based on the facility design capacity and the current demand on the facility capacity. (2) The initial increment of the planning period, at least five years in length, based on the projected demand at the current local level of service standards for the facility that are resulting from: (a) development permitted by local government, (b) the projected population, (c) land use distributions as indicated in the future land use (d) element, and available surplus capacity identified in the existing conditions capacity analysis. (3) The remaining increment of the planning period, in the same manner as the initial incremental capacity analysis, using the appropriate projected population and future land use distributions for the increment, and any available surplus capacity identified in the initial five-year incremental capacity analysis. b) The general performance of existing facilities, based on best available data, evaluating: (1) The adequacy of the current level of service provided by the facilities. (2) The general condition and expected life of the facilities. (3) The impact of the facilities upon adjacent natural resources. c) Analysis of the problems and opportunities for sanitary sewers, solid waste, drainage and potable water facilities replacement, expansion and new facility siting. d) Analysis of soil surveys for areas served by septic tanks and an explanation of suitability of those soils for such facilities, based on best available data from the US Dept. of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service. e) Regulations and programs that govern land use and development of natural drainage features and groundwater recharge areas, or portions thereof, should be identified and assessed, including the strengths and deficiencies in those regulations and programs in maintaining the functions of the natural drainage features and groundwater recharge areas. f) Analysis of risk from potential hazards. 3. Infrastructure Goals, Objectives and Policies a) One or more goal statements should be created for each of the facilities or resources addressed in this element that establish the long term end toward which programs and activities are ultimately directed. Elements of an Effective Local Comprehensive Plan 18

21 b) When forming objectives, consideration should be given to the following topics: (1) Correcting existing facility deficiencies. (2) Coordination of the extension of, or increase in the capacity of, facilities to meet future needs. (3) Maximizing the use of existing facilities and discouraging sprawl (defined as the scattered, unplanned and unchecked expansion of a city or suburb into the surrounding countryside that typically has adverse impacts on public and private investments and/or the environment). (4) Conserving potable water resources. (5) Protecting the functions of natural groundwater recharge areas and natural drainage features. (6) Encouraging coordination with and among water and sewer providers and stormwater management authorities. c) Policies for each objective should be created to address specific implementation activities including: (1) Establishing priorities for replacement, correcting existing facility deficiencies and providing for future facility needs. (2) Establishing and using level of service standards provided by facilities such as: (a) Average and peak flow design capacity for sanitary sewer facilities. (b) Design capacity for solid waste facilities. (c) Design storm return frequency for stormwater facilities capacity. (d) Minimum design flow, storage capacity, and pressure for potable water facilities. (e) Minimum fire flows. (3) Establishing and utilizing potable water conservation strategies and techniques. (4) Regulating or providing incentives for land use and development to protect the functions of natural drainage features and natural groundwater aquifer recharge areas. (5) Establishing water quality standards for stormwater discharge. (6) Establishment of policies, programs and activities for emergency preparedness. Elements of an Effective Local Comprehensive Plan 19

22 B. PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOL FACILITIES 1. Inventory a) For each school facility: the existing enrollment, existing capacity or other measure of capacity; surplus capacity based on site size requirements contained within Department of Education design criteria, and existing level of service. 2. Analyses a) For each school facility: the projected enrollment by year for the initial five years of the planning period, and projected enrollment district-wide by school type for the end of the long range planning period, based on projected population. b) Existing and projected school facility surpluses and deficiencies by district for the planning period based on projected enrollment. c) An analysis of the adequacy of the existing level of service conditions for each school facility in order to develop appropriate level of service standards. d) School facilities needed for each district to accommodate projected enrollment at the adopted level of service standard for the planning period, including ancillary plants and land area requirements. e) Analysis of problems and opportunities with existing school facilities and projected school facilities planned in the adopted district facilities plan, including location, supporting infrastructure, and overcrowding in relation to achieving and maintaining level of service standards for the planning period, including: (1) Opportunities and problems in co-locating existing projected school facilities with other facilities such as parks, libraries and community centers. (2) The need for supporting infrastructure, including, water, sewer, roads, drainage, sidewalks and bus stops for existing and projected school facilities. (3) Analysis of opportunities to locate school facilities to serve as community focal points. f) Existing revenue sources and funding mechanisms available for school capital improvement financing; the estimated cost of addressing existing deficiencies and future needs for the planning period. 3. Public and Private School Facilities Goals, Objectives and Policies a) One or more goal statements should be created that establish the long term end toward which school programs and activities are ultimately directed. b) When forming objectives, consideration should be given to the following topics: (1) Correcting existing school facility deficiencies and facilities needed to meet future needs. Elements of an Effective Local Comprehensive Plan 20

23 (2) Ensure adequate school facility capacity consistent with the adopted level of service standard for the planning period. (3) Ensure the inclusion in the five-year schedule of capital improvements of projects necessary to address existing deficiencies, and to meet future needs based upon achieving and maintaining the adopted level of service standards for the five-year planning period. (4) Coordinate the location of schools with the future land use map(s) of the relevant jurisdiction to ensure that existing and proposed school facilities are located consistent with the existing and proposed residential areas they serve and are proximate to appropriate existing and future land uses. The use of schools to serve as community focal points should also be addressed. (5) Coordinate existing and planned school facilities with the plans for supporting infrastructure. (6) Coordinate location of school facilities relative to the location of other facilities such as parks, libraries and community centers to the extent possible. c) Policies for each objective should be created to address specific implementation activities including: (1) Coordination of an annual review of this element with the applicable school board(s), the county and applicable municipalities; coordination of annual review of school enrollment projections, and establishing the procedures for the annual update process. (2) Coordination of school site selection, permitting, and collocation of school sites with other facilities such as parks, libraries and community centers. (3) Provision of supporting infrastructure such as water and sewer, roads, drainage, sidewalks and bus stops for existing and projected school facilities; and measures to ensure compatibility and close integration between school facilities and surrounding land uses. (4) Coordination of any long range school facility map with the local government s comprehensive plan, including the future land use map. (5) Establishing level of service standards for school facilities that can be achieved and maintained throughout the five-year planning period. (6) Establishing how development will proceed if the level of service standard is exceeded for a project. (7) Establishing measures to ensure compatibility of school sites and surrounding land uses. (8) Coordination with adjacent local governments and the school district on emergency preparedness. Elements of an Effective Local Comprehensive Plan 21

24 (9) Enabling new schools to be located in walkable neighborhoods, considering a rehab-first policy, and supporting walk-to-school and safe-routes-to-school programs. (10) Establishing policies that account for the relationship between schools and housing demand. 4. The element should include the following maps: a) Map(s) depicting existing location of school facilities by type. b) Future conditions map(s) depicting the planned general location of school facilities. c) Map(s) depicting the school district service areas. Elements of an Effective Local Comprehensive Plan 22

25 C. RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE 1. The types of use for each of the following sites should be indicated; such as activity based or resource based, and the types of recreation facilities provided (community center, ballfields, etc). a) Public and private recreation sites b) Open space available to the public c) Natural reservations d) Parks e) Playgrounds f) Parkways g) Waterfront 2. Analyses a) The current needs for recreation sites based on estimated recreation demand and the availability to the public and adequacy of existing recreation sites and facilities. b) Projected future needs for recreation sites, open space and recreation facilities based on recreation demands and availability to the public. c) Future recreational uses depicted, within generalized service area boundaries, and on the future land use map(s). d) Locations where natural resources and recreational uses may be linked to create greenways. 3. Recreation and Open Space Goals, Objectives and Policies a) One or more goal statements should be created for establishing the long term end toward which recreation and open space programs and activities are ultimately directed. b) When forming objectives, consideration should be given to the following topics: (1) Ensuring public access to identified recreation sites (2) Coordinating public and private resources to meet recreation demands. (3) Ensuring that parks and recreation facilities are adequately and efficiently provided. (4) Ensuring the provision of open space by public agencies and private enterprise. (c) Policies for each objective should be created to address specific implementation activities including: (1) Specifying open space definitions and standards in local land development regulations. (2) Identifying programs to pool public and private resources for funding and providing recreation, such as land set-asides or land banking as part of the development process. (3) Designating or acquiring open space and natural reservations. Elements of an Effective Local Comprehensive Plan 23