Community Plan Implementation
Program Summary
On December 10, 2007, three years of public input and policy discussion culminated in the adoption of the 2007 Dublin Community Plan. As a result of its completion, efforts have shifted toward implementation of the many components that are contained within the planning document. In particular, two major areas will be pursued as part of a comprehensive implementation and education program:
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Effective completion of the various policy directives through the utilization of strategies denoted within the plan; and
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Continued focus on public education and awareness of the Community Plan and related efforts to conduct long range planning activities for the benefit of the community.
Education and Public Relations
Since completion of the Community Plan, the Long Range Planning Team has shifted efforts toward facilitating general education and awareness of the Plan. In conjunction with other City departments, various methods will be concentrated upon to provide comprehensive and ongoing discussion about the Plan, major planning topics of interest and other awareness opportunities, as well as the status of implementation efforts:
A. Community Plan Publishing/Distribution
Following adoption of the Community Plan, a six-month process to complete final edits, proofing and publishing culminated in the distribution of the new document during June 2008. Completion of the plan was highlighted by a press release, reception for City Council, Board and Commission members who participated in the plan and a proclamation by the Mayor designating an entire week in June as Community Plan Week in the City of Dublin. In addition to hard copy versions, CDs were published and distributed to all registered HOAs within the city.
B. Community Plan Award Submission Program
As part of the significant efforts placed into the design and publishing of the 2007 Dublin Community Plan, the Long Range Team is in the ongoing process of submitting applications for various planning, landscape architecture, communications and design awards.
C. Community Plan Summary Document
As a user-friendly summary of the 2007 Dublin Community Plan, From Suburban to Sustainable is being prepared around a theme of the Plan’s support of long-term sustainability. The document will highlight major planning and policy initiatives that are expressed throughout the Plan. Printing of the summary document is expected during mid-2009.
D. Community Plan Interactive Website
As an extension of the 2007 Dublin Community Plan, efforts are underway to complete a website that will focus on the many important policies, goals and design directives of the Plan. Completion of the website will include a more interactive way to search for information and to see updates to the Plan since its last publish date. RFPs for consulting firms selected as finalists are currently being reviewed, with selection expected during December 2008. Completion of the website is planned for the third quarter of 2009.
E. Special Presentations & Display Opportunities
To further communicate the importance of the Community Plan, additional opportunities to display information should be emphasized. Events with large target groups will be focused, and different topics and components of the implementation and education program will be emphasized. Presentations and/or displays have been provided at events such as the Memorial Tournament and for various neighborhood meetings and will be further encouraged in the future.
F. Professional Display Opportunities
In addition to municipal opportunities to advertise and educate about the Community Plan, other functions addressing a larger professional-based audience will be targeted. In particular, multi-jurisdictional functions and professional conferences will allow for greater exposure of the plan in technical and professional circles. Examples include brown bag presentations for the Central Ohio Section of the Ohio Planning Conference (OPC) and a trade show display at the Mid Ohio Regional Planning Commission’s (MORPC) Sustainability Summit. Additional opportunities are expected in the future.
G. Board/Commission Training Opportunities
An ongoing effort will be maintained to explain major concepts, policies and design expectations expressed in the Community Plan for new and current members of applicable Boards and Commissions:
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Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC)
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Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA)
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Architectural Review Board (ARB)
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Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission (PRAC)
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Community Services Advisory Commission (CSAC)
H. Planning Tours and Educational Sessions
Continued learning and education are important at all levels of City government to facilitate discussions and decision-making that is grounded in basic planning knowledge and the awareness of recent trends. Mobile tours and workshops will be encouraged on a yearly basis to evaluate progress and to consider new methods that could be successfully integrated into future development proposals. Such educational sessions should be covered by articles in the local media to increase the public’s awareness of Dublin’s efforts to provide effective and up-to-date planning practices.
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Post-construction review of Dublin projects to evaluate the success/failure of various site planning and design techniques
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Regional or non-local travel to look at important development projects that address important planning topics relevant to current trends and the intent/implementation needs of the Community Plan
I. Annual Updates and Coordination Meetings
The Community Plan is a “living” document that should not be reconsidered every ten years. The purpose of pursuing a Community Plan website is to not only provide interactive knowledge about the plan, but to facilitate formats by which the plan can continually evolve over time. As part of implementation, the Plan’s status and efforts to achieve established goals should be monitored on an on-going basis. Where possible, local media coverage should apprise the public of current discussion topics and potential changes discussed in yearly work sessions.
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Council’s yearly goals-setting retreat should include a distinct component on the Community Plan to identify areas of needed policy discussion/clarification, critical prioritization and staff direction and potential areas of further study/update
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An annual Community Plan Joint Work Shop should be established to provide a yearly opportunity to update City Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission on the status of implementation efforts, achievements/accomplishments and to discuss future revisions to the Plan to be considered in the upcoming year
J. Citizen Planner Webpage
As a means to develop public awareness of comprehensive planning and zoning-related matters, efforts will be given to the development of a planning website that will provide the opportunity for broad-based learning opportunities. Similar to other programs around the country, the website can provide the ability for people of various backgrounds to learn about applicable planning issues in Dublin. Development of the webage will also provide the capability to encourage regional-scale planning cooperation and teaching opportunities, as well as integration and potential support from educational institutions interested in the sharing of planning and zoning-related knowledge.
K. Other Planning Projects
As part of the work program for the Long Range Planning Team, various tasks will involve additional work relating to further refinement and/or implementation of the Community Plan. Related projects will provide an opportunity to (1) cover the applicability and importance of the Community Plan; (2) increase public awareness of long range planning activities and the Plan’s importance to quality of life; and (3) keep the public informed of current planning and zoning activities and its relationship to Plan implementation. Examples include, but are not limited to the following:
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Dublin Zoning Code Revisions
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Hyland-Croy Corridor Plan
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Bridge Street/SR 161 Corridor Plan
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Bikeway Plan Update
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Zoning Requests and Development Applications
L. Other Public Relations Opportunities
Additional efforts should be utilized through the cooperation of Community Relations and the local media to apprise the public of the Community Plan’s general purpose, efforts to implement policies, and education on specific planning topics of interest. Relevant examples may include but are not limited to: (1) the difference between zoning and planning, (2) the purpose of area plans, (3) roadway character and designations, (4) defining mixed residential land use classifications, and (5) mixed use centers.
Policy Implementation
Chapter 10 of the Community Plan summarizes key components that are necessary to carry out successful implementation of the Plan. In particular, the following major elements should be consistent with and reflective of the overall policy direction as expressed by the Plan:
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Annual work programs and budgets
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Public and private development approvals
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Capital Improvement Plans
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Economic incentives to businesses
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Private development decisions
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Future interpretation of the Plan
The chapter further provides some basic objectives and strategies that are intended to assist in the implementation of planning and policy-related goals expressed in the Community Plan. In particular, individuals at every level should ensure that day-to-day decisions are consistent with the goals, policies and direction of the Plan as established through the following:
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Establishment of key tasks and areas of responsibility for each department by key management staff;
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Establishment of clear prioritization by City Council of the Plan’s many policy directives;
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Identification by City Council of key boards, commissions or other groups responsible for assisting in the attainment various objectives; and
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Creation of goals, work programs and budgets by each department to achieve established priorities and address other applicable implementation items.