Neighborhood Planning state college neighborhood plan focus group workshop Unity Church of Christ May 14, 2013

Agenda Welcome from Planning Commission Staff Update Neighborhood Planning Process SWOT Analysis Input Break-out Groups Neighborhoods’ Planning priorities Brainstorm Action Items Neighborhood Boundaries Wrap Up & Next Steps

Planning Process Nov-Dec 2012: Citizen Planning Workbook; begin neighborhood inventories Jan-March: Neighborhood SWOT Meetings May-June: Continue updating neighborhood inventory/analysis and collecting neighborhood workbook activities; begin developing recommendations through series of neighborhood planning meetings June-July: Develop Community Asset Map; continue inventory/analysis Aug-Oct: Community Asset Map; Develop Plan Draft Sept: Review Draft of Plan Oct-Nov: Implementation Workshops Dec: Plan Completed

SC Neighborhood Plan

SWOT Analysis Input

Strengths Historic roots, quality architecture, pedestrian/neighborhood scale “arboretum” feel, lack of high rise apartments Proximity to downtown, Penn State, public and private schools, churches Accessibility of daily amenities, parks and open spaces Walkable, bikeable, ADA access and alleys for accessibility Resident diversity, sense of community in neighborhood, freedom from fear Weaknesses Through traffic (both pedestrian and vehicular), speeding, not many traffic control measures in neighborhood Urban Village- lack of maintenance for public infrastructure, quality of housing, and basic amenities to make area attractive for families Property maintenance and renter behavior, education of renters on local ordinances Lack of knowledge on and consistency in Borough ordinances SWOT Analysis Input

Opportunities Make neighborhood attractive for reinvestment as Centre Region grows More bike/ped connections, green space, community spaces, neighborhood retail Redevelopment of W. College Ave, the Urban Village, former train station & OW Houts sites Traffic calming, pedestrian-scale lighting, neighborhood gateways Change perception of long-term residents toward students and renters Improve communications with Borough Threats Losing neighborhood amenities, SCASD Schools, Community Field, parks & bike paths Aging housing stock, absentee landlords and local historic district without authority Perception that all renters are students Terraced Streetscape District/other development along W. College that doesn’t take neighborhood context into consideration Stalled planning for the Urban Village SWOT Analysis Input

SWOT Analysis Summary Common Themes Diversity of Borough’s neighborhoods are a strength, as long as stable & well-maintained Access to parks and recreation, proximity to public and private amenities, accessibility via most modes of transportation Attract more residents to our neighborhoods– families, young professionals, work-force housing Opportunities for implementing/updating programs or policies that promote and protect homeownership Protect & reinvest in Borough’s neighborhoods as growth in the Centre Region continues

SWOT Analysis Summary Common Themes Collaboration & consistency among regulations and agencies enforcing them Increased communications & record-keeping among government officials, landlords and neighborhood residents More opportunity for community dialogue on issues affecting neighborhoods Continue to improve relationships between student & non- student neighbors Establishing neighborhood boundaries

Planning Process Do our strategies encompass all of the SWOT’s identified by our neighborhoods? Expanded Work with neighborhoods to answer the question, “How do we turn these strategies into actions?” Development of recommendations (using focus group input) Determine each neighborhoods’ priorities Begin thinking about the question, “How will we achieve these recommendations?” Inventory resources available to us; determine missing links

Planning Strategies Neighborhood Facilities & Appearance Maintain neighborhoods’ aesthetics, high quality housing stock and cultural and historic resources Protect existing neighborhood activity, social and commercial centers; enhance these in order to serve the neighborhoods’ residents Explore opportunities for increasing environmental sustainability Address neighborhood-scale vehicular safety and efficiency Improve non-vehicular connections among neighborhoods and Borough/Campus amenities

Planning Strategies Balancing Owner & Renter Occupied Housing Maintain a high level of service for enforcement of Borough Ordinances and policies Create programs and partnerships for improving management of rental housing Increase homeownership and programs that help major employers find appropriate housing for employees Consider impacts on neighborhood sustainability as growth occurs in the Centre Region

Planning Strategies Improving Neighbor to Neighbor relations Maintain and expand diversity(generational, occupation, income, family status) of neighborhood residents and improve relations between student and non-student neighbors Improve communications between neighborhood leaders and Borough Council and staff Improve communications with surrounding municipalities in order to discuss impacts of new developments Market the positive benefits of living in the Borough’s neighborhoods

From SWOT to Actions Many unique, neighborhood-specific issues + Several overarching themes = Recommendations that address Borough-wide opportunities with flexibility to work with neighborhoods on specific action items

Planning Efforts Downtown Master Plan Recommends extension of downtown bike network and connections to University via Gill Street bike path extension Ideas for traffic calming that could be implemented in conjunction with redevelopment in the West End Recommends coordination with Ferguson Township Streetscape elements in a similar vocabulary to downtown Suggested land uses and redevelopment targeted at graduate student, faculty and family-oriented housing and neighborhood-scale commercial Address concerns with quality of housing stock and amenities in the Urban Village Suggest redevelopment opportunities for the train station & other properties along campus edge

Planning Efforts Downtown Master Plan- Bicycle Network

Planning Efforts Downtown Master Plan- Traffic Calming

Planning Efforts Downtown Master Plan- Streetscapes & Open Spaces

Planning Efforts Downtown Master Plan- Redevelopment Opportunities

Break Out Groups Join your neighbors at the table designated for your neighborhood 1.Review SWOT Analysis Comments & Planning Strategies 2.Identify priorities for your neighborhood 3.Brainstorm actions to address these priorities 4.Who should have a key role in achieving these actions? 5.Share with the group If time permits, discuss neighborhood boundaries using the maps at your table.

Break Out Groups Example

Break Out Groups Join your neighbors at the table designated for your neighborhood 1.Review SWOT Analysis Comments & Planning Strategies 2.Identify priorities for your neighborhood 3.Brainstorm actions to address these priorities 4.Who should have a key role in achieving these actions? 5.Share with the group If time permits, discuss neighborhood boundaries using the maps at your table.

More info on

Thank you for attending and providing Planning Commission with your comments and feedback! What’s Next? Work sessions with Planning Commission during summer to draft plan elements Future neighborhood meetings as plan elements are drafted How to stay engaged? Neighborhood Planning Website Neighborhood Planning Workbook Social Media Facebook: State College Neighborhoods Twitter: SCB_Nghbrhoods Thank you to Our Lady of Victory for hosting this meeting! Wrap Up