1. APA OPC Planning Workshop Southington Township Comprehensive Plan: Vision 2060 November 18, 2011

2. Southington Township In Trumbull County, Ohio, near Warren “A Small Town With A Big Heart” Founded 1805 Population 2010: 3717 Intersection of three main US/State Routes Mostly agriculture/residential No sewer or water right now

3. Southington Location – Trumbull County

4. Existing Land Use

6. Why Our Plan Now? Outdated zoning code Prepare for sewer and water, or none Incorporate community members’ voice and vision New school

7. Partners in the Process Trustees and Zoning Commission Core Working Group: eight members, including trustees and zoning commission members, longtime residents, school board representative, and business owners Citizens Advisory Committee: CSU Center for Community Planning and Development

8. Timeline Administrative Organization & Plan Kick-off: March 2010 Phase 1: Data Collection & Analysis: April-October 2010 Phase 2: Visioning & Goal Setting: Nov. 2010-Jan. 2011 Phase 3: Action Strategies: February-May 2011 Phase 4: Plan Preparation: June-September 2011 123456789 101112131415 161718192021222324 25262728

9. Planning Elements and Work Group Assignments Population Land Use Housing Economics Infrastructure Transportation Agriculture Natural Resources Community Facilities Historical, Cultural, & Scenic Resources

10. PHASE 1: Data Collection and Analysis Existing Conditions and Trends

11. Collecting and Analyzing Data Data Sources: walk arounds, web, personal knowledge, County Key Questions: Toolkit Mapping: CSU Assets and Challenges: discussion, Community Meetings (Sept and Nov 2010) Questionnaire (October 2010)

12. Existing Zoning Extensive unused commercial and industrial areas No distinction of rural character and historic areas Limited commercial along 422

13. Example Maps – Community Facilities and Services

14. Example Maps – Ground Cover and Surface Water Resources

15. Key Assets Small community with strong history and identity Steady, stable population since 1960’s Room for growth and development Close to transportation Facilities such as sports complex, new school Historic resources and century homes Rural character and open spaces New Amish community

16. Key Challenges Large portion of land zoned for commercial/industrial Zoning needs updating Aging housing stock Lack of water/sewer, poor soils for septic limit new construction Need for (some) senior housing, social services, day care Need for bike trails, recreation

17. Community Open House #1 Reviewed Planning Process and Timeline Presented Existing Conditions Presented Assets and Challenges

18. Community Open House #1 WHAT SHOULD STAY THE SAME? Small Town Feel Agricultural opportunities Keep a strong school system in our community Our town center Keep it small town community without industrial commotion Keep the country area. This isn’t the city.

19. Community Open House #1 WHAT SHOULD CHANGE? Work to attract young families / small neighborhoods Work to attract small business Township dump should be a park Get a senior center Get federal funding for sewer and water out on 422

20. Community Questionnaire – October 2010 200 responses received, mostly longtime residents Excellent/good rating: EMS/safety, housing, small town atmosphere, schools, appearance Fair/poor rating: jobs, shopping, water/sewer, recreation Needs: jobs, water/sewer, shopping, conveniences, restaurants

21. Creating a Community Vision PHASE 2: Visioning & Goal Setting

22. Community Open House #2 November 8th Reviewed Community Vision Presented Planning Goals and Objectives MAJOR QUESTION: What can happen without water and sanitary sewer?

23. VISION STATEMENT  Preserve and enhance Southington Township’s character as a safe and friendly place to grow up, live well, raise and educate children, and retire.  Create a unique area within northeastern Ohio that will enhance our quality of life, increase our property values, leverage our regional location and access, while maintaining a small town feel with manageable growth.  Southington Township will be a community rich in history, with a developed core area, preserved agriculture and open space, stronger planning and connectivity among all decision-makers, strong schools, increased jobs, and relatively low congestion.

24. GOAL 1: Maintain the small town feel of Southington, while allowing manageable, focused growth and development aligned with the Community's expressed desires Develop Community Core with desired shopping and services along 422 Establish Historic Center at 305/534 and old school Maintain rural character, scenic vistas and open space outside “triangle”

26. Potential Land Use Patterns

27. Goal 2: Bring Water and Sewer Service to Southington to accommodate managed, long- term growth and improve current conditions Water and Sewer Board to continue their work Explore use of Chalker School sewer plant

28. Goal 3: Maintain and improve community facilities and services Conduct quarterly meetings of all interested decisionmakers, community members, and groups Work on improving VFD facilities, sheriff and state patrols, and community watch

29. Goal 4: Maintain population and grow population in a manageable, focused manner Develop a mix of housing types Leverage excellent location to attract new residents and businesses Reduce and focus quantity of land zoned for commercial and industrial

30. Goal 5: Improve Recreational and Community Gathering Opportunities Create bike paths Redevelop Chalker School for cultural/recreational use Create a pedestrian friendly area in Community Core

31. Existing and Proposed Transportation

32. Prioritization & Implementation PHASE 3: Developing Action Strategies

33. Selected Action Strategies Create a Southington Civic Group to assist in implementing the plan Contact Heritage Ohio about creating and implementing the Historic Core Consider Conservation Development and Stream Setbacks in rural character area Create a well-planned system of trails and parkland Improve circulation within and between the new school site, community core, and historic core

34. Conservation Development and Common Access Drives

35. What if no sewer/water? Selected Objectives Historic Core exploration Zoning code update Southington Civic Group and joint meetings Stream setbacks/resource protection Network of recreational trails with landowners Improve safety

36. PHASE 4: Plan Preparation

37. Pulling It All Together Mapping – with CSU Writing – Core Group members Draft Review Process – with CSU and County Adoption – planned for January 2012? Publicizing the Plan – through community web site (ongoing)