January 14, 2003 - Scenario Workshop

Public Input Summary

 
 
Overview:
The purpose of the January 14, 2003 workshop was to provide residents with the opportunity to comment on planning issues and major themes that have been identified during the City's planning process, and to provide an opportunity for participants to contribute toward the prioritization of their issues. About one hundred sixty-five people were in attendance for the Scenario Workshop of the Athens Comprehensive Plan, including planners from Poggemeyer Design Group (PDG), local government officials, and interested citizens.

 

In addition to commenting on the themes and options in each subject area, workshop participants shared their views of the importance of each of the themes by voting with stickers.All participants in this workshop were given 14 stickers.Of these 14, 7 were red and 7 were blue.Red stickers represented the highest priority and blue stickers represented the secondary priority. The only constraint was that a workshop participant could not place more than one sticker on a theme.The dots were weighted.The red ones received 2 points and blue dots were 1 point. Points were tallied and the themes with the highest total point score have been identified as the highest priorities by the participants of the workshop.
 
 

The following pages summarize the voting results and subsequent priority rankings of the themes.Additional comments made at the workshop have been summarized under each subheading.

General Comments:

One participant e-mailed the following comment along with some suggestions included in the following text.

I want to commend you all for all the hard work that went into what I think is a great draft land use plan for Athens.I appreciate the entire document especially the emphasis against developing slopes and floodplains.I also was impressed at the vast semblance of various city challenges and how each were addressed.Very well done, in my estimation.Thank you.

Housing / Neighborhoods

Voting Results:
The highest ranking theme was the Loss of Owner-Occupied Housing with 137 points, followed closely by Lack of Appropriate Codes and Code Enforcement with 120 points.The third highest priority ranking in this subject was Pedestrian-Friendly Neighborhoods with 97 points. Very close fourth and fifth ranked priorities were placed on Housing Unit Conservation & Neighborhood Stability (74 points) and External Costs of Enrollment Growth at OU (73 points).Historic Preservation of Residential Neighborhoods (56 points), Organizational Tools (48 points), and Housing Choices (42 points) were all identified as the lower priority themes in this subject category.

 
 
 
 
Subject 
No. 
Theme Name 
Score
Housing and Neighborhoods
HN-01
Loss of Owner-Occupied Housing
137
HN-05
Lack of Appropriate Codes and Code Enforcement
120
HN-02
Pedestrian-Friendly Neighborhoods
97
HN-04
Housing Unit Conservation & Neighborhood Stability
74
HN-07
External Costs of Enrollment Growth at OU
73
HN-06
Historic Preservation of Residential Neighborhoods
56
HN-03
Organizational Tools
48
HN-08
Housing Choices
42
 
Comments:

Participants’ comments varied across the different themes in this subject, and many of them overlap with themes and topics discussed in other subjects.Participants voiced concerns about traffic speeds along neighborhood streets, and stated a desire for traffic calming techniques, such as speed bumps.Columbia Ave. was specifically noted as dangerous.Complaints were also made about a continuous disappearance of street signs and traffic signs.One participant stated support for increased low-moderate income (LMI) housing, while another suggested a mixture of housing types throughout neighborhoods that put LMI, senior, student, and family housing together.Senior citizen retention was noted as a possible new theme.Participants stated that under this theme, senior housing, healthcare, financial assistance, and opportunities for community participation were of interest.There was mention of concern regarding a lack of “community space” in neighborhoods.One suggestion requested organizational support for the purpose of encouraging community organizations and volunteerism for neighborhood trash pickups and similar activities.Code enforcement issues were commented on by multiple participants.Suggestions were made regarding the implementation of a financial incentive/ penalty structure to enforce nuisance violations with both renters and landlords subject to the policies.Nuisances particularly noted were excessively loud car stereos and litter.
 

Housing / Neighborhoods

 

 
 
 

E-mailed Comments:
 
 

Additionally, another participant e-mailed comments about the workshop in general and stated that it was “hugely successful and extremely well organized,” it was also noted that, “The turn-out was excellent (major community people too)!”This participant also wrote in regards to the issues surrounding senior citizens and the absence of these issues in the plan,
 

“[I] Was really disappointed though that there was no mention of addressing the housing/healthcare needs of the elderly population that we keep losing. As you know we think it is essential to the long term health and balance of the city, and that Athens is ideal for a retirement community.I would hope in the final plan there would be mention of this need. “
 

Economic / Downtown Development

 

 
 
 

Voting Results:
 

The highest ranking priority theme within this category was Development of Unique Local Businesses with 106 points, followed closely by OU & Community Partnerships for Economic Development with 81 points.The third highest priority ranking in this subject was Improving Parking Downtown with 72 Heritage Tourism Development with 50 points and Sites for Industrial / Business Development with 26 points were identified as the lower priority themes in this subject category.
 
 

Subject 
No. 
Theme Name 
Score
Economic/ Downtown 
Development 
EDDT-04
Development of Unique Local Businesses
106
EDDT-02
OU & Community Partnerships for Economic Development
81
EDDT-03
Improve Parking Downtown
72
EDDT-05
Heritage Tourism Development
50
EDDT-01 
Sites for Industrial / Business Development
26
 
 
Comments:
Participants suggested Creation of a Sustainable Local Economy as an additional theme to this subject category.Under this proposed theme, it was asserted that businesses need assistance in adopting more environmentally friendly practices, and that support should be built in the community to “buy locally.”

In regards to Uptown Athens, it was suggested that Court Street be converted to a more pedestrian oriented design that features parking garages instead of lots, a farmers’ market, a public square, and increased open space.
 

E-mailed Comments:
 

One participant stated, “I would like to see language that more strongly promotes development along the 33/50 corridor to Albany and away from the 50/32 corridor that follows the Hocking River. Allowing floodplain development to continue down the Hocking threatens our neighbors downstream and up. This development is occurring before the infrastructure is in place to handle it. Diverting large scale industrial and business growth toward Albany boasts flatter and less slip prone land, less floodplain, sewers, and a well established four lane highway. Let's protect our river valley.”

Environment and Open Space

 
Voting Results:
The highest-ranking priorities in this category were the dual themes of Preserving Environmentally Sensitive Areas - Regulatory/ Acquisition with 192 points received.The second highest priority ranking in this subject was to Protection of View Sheds and Vistas with 87 points.Monitor Environmental Quality and Sustainability (69 points) was identified as the lower priority theme in this subject category.

 
 
Subject 
No. 
Theme Name 
Score
Environment and Open Space 
EOS-01
Preserving Environmentally Sensitive Areas - Regulatory Approaches
192
EOS-02
Preserving Environmentally Sensitive Areas - Acquisition Approaches
EOS-04
Protection of View Sheds and Vistas
87
EOS-03
Monitor Environmental Quality and Sustainability
69
 
Comments:
It was suggested by one participant that the entrances into the City be preserved as open space.Another suggestion was to include “The Ridges” in the proposed greenbelt much like Strouds Run.A few participants commented that further residential development along hilltops be restricted in order to preserve view sheds and vistas per theme EOS-04 (i.e., “ . . . the eyesore beside the Farmer’s Market at University Mall”).

 

Emailed Comments:

One participant stated, “I appreciate the emphasis on limiting signage and other strategies that protect our "views" in this section. I'd like to see this plan also recognize the potential for re-vegetating slopes and bottoms along the thoroughfares that lead into and out of Athens (State, County, Township roads). [This should be carried out], as well as what the City is doing by planting roadside trees and beautifying the valley. If vegetation along the roads leading [to Athens] continues to be decimated, we will be unable to create the sense of place that is stated so clearly in this plan.With this in mind, it will be important to collaborate and educate the surrounding areas' road management agencies, ODOT, County and Townships.Properly managed roadway vegetation is very important in that it filters road pollutants, absorbs stormwater, breaks wind and snow, and adds color and beauty to our road systems.Yet more and more of Athens County's roads are being denuded of trees and other vegetation, which impacts the City visually and environmentally. It would be nice to be able to use this plan in and beyond the 3 mile limit where so much of this occurs.”
 

Urban Design / Landscaping / Gateways / Signage

 
Voting Results:
 
Within this category, the highest ranking priority theme was the Urban Design Standards with 128 points.The next highest ranked priority was Urban Density and Mixed Use Concepts with 66 points.Very close third and fourth ranked priorities were placed on Landscaping Standards & Steep Slope Development (50 points) and Signage Control along E. State St. (49 points). Gateways (15 points) was identified as the lowest priority theme in this subject category.

 
 
 
Subject 
No. 
Theme Name 
Score
Urban Design/Landscaping/ Gateways
UD-01
Urban Design Standards
128
UD-05
Urban Density and Mixed Use Concepts
66
UD-02
Landscaping Standards & Steep Slope Development
50
UD-04
Signage Control along E. State St.
49
UD-03
Gateways
15
 
 
Comments:
There were many comments in regards to this subject.Participants felt strongly about many of the issues discussed in the themes.One participant suggested the prohibition of soil disturbing projects within the City (e.g., next to the University Mall) in order to avoid the movement of soil on steep slopes.Improvements were recommended for the Hocking River and Dow Lake, although nothing specific was mentioned.One participant suggested that the City conduct “greenhouse education.”Participants stated a need for coordination of design standards and direction between the City of Athens and Ohio University.Once again participants voiced concern in regards to enforcement of existing laws.Various other suggestions were made specifically toward topics of urban design including: burying power lines along E. State St., creating community/ neighborhood gardens, promoting a human scale to design standards, and preserving the City’s small town character.One participant noted that the possible benchmarks in this category “seemed weak.”
 

Additionally, another theme was suggested under this subject category: Urban Forestry. The participant that made this suggestion brought the proposed ideas to the workshop in a format much like the established themes. The following page contains the suggestions and comments made by this participant for the proposed theme of Urban Forestry.
 

Participant Suggested Theme: Urban Forestry

 
Context:
 

A strong and healthy urban forestry program can add to Athens image as a sustainable city.The City of Athens has (fill in the blank) street trees for approximately 5 miles of streets (excluding alleys), and currently has 27% tree cover.The City last did a street tree inventory in 1990.A calculation may show that Athens should be planting between 100 and 200 trees per year just to maintain the street tree inventory.Instead, only some three dozen have been planted per year.Trees are important in the urban environment, providing the following services:

Passive cooling through shade
Active cooling through transpiration
Pollution control through particulate capture
Flood run-off control through stormwater capture and slowing of water flow
Slope stabilization and soil retention through root growth
Wildlife food, shelter and nesting habitat
Mitigation of wind velocities in the urban environment
Aesthetics
Firewood and chipmulch (and/or lumber) when trimmed and removed
(also often seen as a liability, but actually a producing capacity)
Options and Scenarios:
 Find funding and establish structure for a more extensive and stronger urban forestry program.
 Perform a new street tree inventory and maintain an ongoing street tree inventory database as trees are removed and planted,
 with field update every two or several years
 Seek to retain brick streets and provide for permeable pavements wherever possible to encourage street tree health
 Encourage more tree plantings in yards, parks, at the fairgrounds, and at Ohio University
 Enforce and revise as necessary current landscaping ordinances
 Create a program to retro-plant existing parking lots, especially the really large, really, really ugly parking lots such  as:
  Athens Shopping Plaza
  Athens Mall
  Kroger
  University Mall
  TS Trim