Bird Houk proposes 10-month master plan revision; service will not be affected, says transit authority

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by Miles Jung-Kilbreath

Reporter

Streetsboro -- The updating of the city's zoning master plan could take 10 months, according to Bird Houk's proposal to the city.

If current negotiations lead the city to sign a contract, the company has proposed the timeline and services shown below for the project. Planning Director Jeff Pritchard said final details on the process are subject to change based on negotiations.

If negotiations with Bird Houk do not go well, the city may begin negotiations with MSI Design, its backup.

Phase One

According to the proposal, the Bird Houk would start with a project initiation and data collection phase over a two-month period that would include touring Streetsboro, and setting up the finalized meeting schedule and public participation plan.

The firm would then collect and review all existing land and structure maps and city land plans, including the 2004 Streetsboro Land Use Plan, the 2005 Streetsboro Natural Inventory Report, and the 2007 Streetsboro Parks Master Plan.

While reviewing the material, the firm would also conduct up to 10 interviews with community stakeholders identified by the city, which could include county regional planning commissions; the county soil and water conservation district, and the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Phase Two

After the interviews and review, the second phase of analysis and plan development would take around two months as the firm takes a more detailed inventory of existing city features, including natural features, infrastructure, roadway systems, community facilities, and zoning and development standards. The firm would also identify which sections of the city feature non-buildable land and land that is most suitable for future development.

The firm would research master plans of cities with similar development, watershed and ecosystems to see if anything could apply to Streetsboro. At the same time, the firm would study recent growth patterns by sector, including the housing, office, retail, industrial, and institutional sectors.

With the analysis done, the firm would draft a land use and development plan, recommending areas for residential, office, retail or civil land use. This draft would be an early plan and subject to change as the project progresses.

A stakeholders group and public workshop that would allow for discussion of the proposed land use plan.

Phase Three

The firm would spend around two months on phase three of the project, including tests of alternative layouts and land use configurations for the city. Using the first land use draft, the firm would create two or three alternative plans and analyze the pros and cons of each. The drafts would include sketches and photography that would help illustrate the differences between each alternative.

The phase would end with another public workshop during which the alternatives would be discussed with residents and stakeholders. The ideas discussed would help craft the basis for the first draft of the master plan.

Phase Four

The fourth phase would have the firm draft a proposed master plan that would include land use; transportation infrastructure; watersheds and wastewatersheds; stormwater management; open space areas; community facilities and services; and a regulatory framework that addresses zoning, density and design guidelines.

Once the draft is completed, a third public workshop would take place and the community would be able to comment and share opinions of the draft which could be reflected in the final draft.

Phase Five

After the last public workshop, the firm would take around two months to create the final master plan maps and components. The final plan would be presented to the public in a meeting and then must be accepted by the planning and zoning commission, Council, and the city administration before it can take effect.

E-mail:
mjung-kilbreath@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3942