Putting the Action into General Plans: Cincinnati’s

Comprehensive PlanAPA Annual Conference

April 15, 2012

2Cincinnati’s Planning History

• In 1925, Cincinnati was the first city in the United States to have a comprehensive plan approved by City Council

• Only two Plans since – 1948 and in 1980

3The Planning Process

• Involve our residents, businesses and stakeholders in an open dialogue

• Develop a vision, goals, and concrete short, medium, and long-range strategies

• Set out a plan of action to implement the plan, define our partners

• Review and measure our progress on a regular basis

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Progress to Date

• 20+ meetings of Steering Committee

• Initial visits to all Community Councils

• 4 public kickoff meetings

• 2 Neighborhood Summits (2010 and 2011) fully dedicated to development of Plan Cincinnati

• 24 Working Group meetings to develop goals and action steps

• Two public Open Houses

• Youth Activity - “Planting the Future”

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The Plan Cincinnati Vision

Thriving Re-Urbanization

• The vision for the future of Cincinnati is focused on an unapologetic drive to create and sustain a thriving inclusive urban community, where engaged people and memorable places are paramount, where creativity and innovation thrive, and where local pride and confidence is contagious.

6Five Initiative Areas

Compete: Be the pivotal economic force of the

region

Live: Strengthen our magnetic City with energized

people

Connect: Bring people and places together

Sustain: Steward resources and ensure long-term

viability

Collaborate: Partner to reach our common goals

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The Guiding Geographic Principles

8The Guiding Geographic Principles

• Focus revitalization on existing centers of activity.

• Link centers with effective transportation for maximum accessibility.

• Create new centers of activity where appropriate.

• Maximize industrial reinvestment in existing industrial areas.

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10Focus revitalization on existing centers of activity.

• Centers of activity are more than just commercial areas – civic infrastructure as well.

• Invest in our existing infrastructure.

• Put additional resources into existing centers of activity.

• Leveraging existing assets to create quality urban places

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12Link centers with transportation for maximum accessibility

• 22% of our housing units have no vehicle available – no choice but to walk, bike, ride transit.

• Allow people to access centers on foot, by bike, or on public transportation.

13Create new centers of activity where appropriate.

• Do this sparingly – where there is a residential population with needs that are not met.

• Consider the locations where centers of activity are few or scattered.

• Do not put resources into creating centers of activity in places that are already served.

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Determining new centers of activity

• Define any residential populations that are not being adequately served by existing centers.

• Identify areas where some services are clustered and determine if that is an area that could be expanded. Consider access to transportation.

• Currently, there are large under-served areas on the west side of the City.

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Industrial reinvestment in existing industrial areas.

• Focus on the Mill Creek.

• In order for our economic base to grow, industrial uses are needed.

• We need to designate where future industrial uses belong.

• Not all industrial development needs to be heavy industry (can be clean technology).

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Partnerships

• Some things in the Plan are pivotal to the City but we can’t do it alone – need partners

• Each Action Step will list partners necessary for implementation

City may not always be the lead agency but will always have a role

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Next Steps for Plan Cincinnati

• Draft plan currently available at www.plancincinnati.org

• April 20, 2012 – accepting public feedback on draft plan

• Summer, 2012– City Planning Commission review

• Fall, 2012 – City Council review

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Implementation

• Action Steps divided into Short, Mid, Long range steps.

• Review annually in conjunction with the Budget. Newly restructured

Priority-Based Budgeting Process. 

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Implementation

• Revisit Plan annually and update every 5 years to assess progress and adjust strategies if necessary.

• Planning consistency policy to ensure that the Plan is implemented uniformly regardless of change in leadership or administrative staff.

• Immediate implementation of Planning’s primary responsibility – the Land Development Code.

21City of Cincinnati Community Challenge Grant Award

• Cincinnati awarded $2.4 million (over 3 years) for development of Land Development Code (LDC)

• $68 million total awarded by HUD and DOT through the Office of Sustainable Communities

• Cincinnati received the 4th Largest award overall

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LDC Objectives

• Meet Livability Principles and Plan Cincinnati goals

• Expand tool box:

Consolidate existing zoning and subdivision regulations and building and environmental codes

Create new community oriented regulations that allow for development that promotes social, economic, and environmental benefits

Streamline processes and procedures for review and approval of development and improvement projects – without excluding the public review process

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Project Tools

• Consolidate Development Regulations

• Form-Based Codes

• Inclusionary Zoning

• Incentive Zoning

• Transit-Oriented Development

• Complete Streets

• Transfer of Development Rights

• CPTED

• Site Plan review/Streamlined permitting process

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Next Steps

• Existing Zoning Code diagnostic review

• Assess existing regulations and plan policies

• Strategic Framework for LDC

• White Papers for New Tools

• Stakeholder Interviews and workshops

• Form Based Code Charrette (April 28 – May 2)

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PLANBUILDLIVE