Canton comprehensive plan

Canton comprehensive planCOMMUNITY DISCUSSIONSczb llc., David Boehlke Community Building Partnership, Joel Owens, Brenda Turner & Maureen AustinJune, July 2015Cantons Comp Plan Process20 member Steering Committee (SC) directs czb consultantsSteering Committee (SC) worked for 8+ months every other weekDecisions, trade offs, our values set by Steering Committee, not consultants1st round of meetings last September, October 2014Robust web site to keep community informed: https://canton-comprehensive-plan.squarespace.comComp Plan includes much more than neighborhoods: transportation, infrastructure, economic development, community development, zoning, land use, parks, recreation, downtown, sewer and water-its COMPREHENSIVE & STRATEGIC

FAIR, SMART, BALANCED

Comprehensive PlanA general direction setting tool for communities.

A strong comprehensive plan is.. Community-Driven

Grounded in Reality

Built to be flexible

data driven

Settlement@ Risk FamilesOwner StandardsTax Delinquencies

competitive, diverse, right sized

Market StrengthPopulation DensitySchools + ChurchesCommunity AssetsComp Plan Future StepsThis Draft Plan will remain open for comments through July 2015

The PLANNING COMMISSION will review and likely hold additional hearings before approving and passing onto City Council

The CITY COUNCIL will review and approve if acceptable: likely after additional opportunities for comment

Stay Up-to date on activities on the Comprehensive Planinformationsite:General Plan information site:http://canton-comprehensive-plan.squarespace.com .

Content of todays meetingUpdate on planning activities since community meetings last fallReview of Plans Core Strategies & ElementsYour Opportunity to Clarify, Question and Answer, Comment

Your Input Will Make A Difference

The Numbers Are Serious- 2800 vacant houses- Loss of too many middle class households- Unprecedented numbers of families in poverty- Limited tax base but high service demand- Too much infrastructure serving fewer people- Too few employment opportunities

FOCUS: Too many vacant houses

Focus: Loss of PopulationFOCUS: Too Many Families Are Struggling1 in 4 families live in poverty1 in 3 families are classified as low incomeCanton houses more than twice its share of the countys poor individuals and families that have few choices. By 2012, the poverty rate reached 30.8%. A poverty rate of 20% is considered high and a poverty rate of 40% is considered extreme.Among 755 metropolitan areas in the country with at least 50,000 residents, Canton has the 27th highest poverty rate.

CompetitionOngoing competition makes it difficult to attract new owners and strong renters; Competition makes it difficult to grow and add new businesses and jobs. Repositioning Canton to CompeteProtect key assets: the hospitals, downtown, Hall of Fame Village and adjoining neighborhoodsManage excess property and landEncourage new commercial activityDevelop strategies to engage more residents and volunteersBring corporate sector in as full partnerCommit to sound zoning, codes, and infrastructureRethink provision of services: parks, police, schoolsThree Core StrategiesProtect, Grow, Connect Citys Core AssetsRepurpose Vacant Land with a focus on Quality of LifeMaintain and Stabilize the Citys Neighborhoods through strategic intervention and community organizingFOCUSED, asset-oriented, robust

DowntownGrow, Protect & Connect

DowntownGrow, Protect & Connect

Grow & Connect

Key AssetJob CreatorGrow & ConnectKey AssetJob Creator

Protect & ConnectKey AssetEmployerRegional

Protect & Connect

Key AssetEmployerRegional

Connect & Protect Other Assets

Divides Downtown from Mercy and HOF VillageConnect & Protect Other Assets

FOCUS ON QUALITY OF LIFE *conserve and repositionClean and Green then Repurpose

Clean and Green and Grow

Clean and Green and Grow

Land Assembly

Clean and Green and Repurpose and Grow

Clean and Green and Repurpose and Grow

Clean and Green and Beautify

Clean and Green and Expand

AREAS THAT ARE WORKING WELL

maintain

Landscape Contest Winners in West ParkNeighborhood Pride in Vassar Park

Residents and Art in The Boulevards

Addressing Problem Houses: Case Study

Addressing Problem Houses

Addressing Problem Houses

Canton Proud

Canton Proud

Canton Proud

Canton Proud

Canton Proud

Canton Proud

Canton ProudEncourage Commercial Investment

Encourage Commercial Development

Engage more residents and volunteers

Engage more residents and volunteers

Engage more residents and volunteers

Engage more residents and volunteers

More Ways to Reposition CantonExpand the role of corporations

Rethink zoning, codes, parks and services

Rethink provision of servicesBreak for QuestionsShared Responsibility58Success=Shared ResponsibilityRethinking about what can and cannot be done by local government and where capacity must be expanded.Coordinating the work of the foundations, educational and religious institutions, and community nonprofits to strengthen CantonCreating new ways in which corporations can partner and invest in CantonDeveloping innovative ways for citizens to be included in the decision-making and the work of neighborhood stabilization

What will it take to make this work?The city must add a planning office to coordinate city government work, to support the mayor and the city council in carrying out the comprehensive plan and to solicit new federal, state and other resources

What else will it take?Canton needs a significant community organization that gives the residents a much larger voice, that oversees the neighborhood initiatives, and that provides direct services like home purchase counseling, organizing self-help efforts, promoting community gardens, farms, and nurseries, etc.

And One More StepThe community must develop a public-private partnership to carry out critical development projects such as land acquisition, assistance to existing businesses to expand and outreach to new businesses, and to promote the city and the region

What will it take to make this work?The Planning Office The Community-Driven Nonprofit The Public-Private Development Corporation

Confidence in Our CityChoiceCompetitionConditionsCapacityCommunity100 YEARS AGO THIS YEAR.

Were Planning On a Better Canton!