Latest news with #ComprehensivePlan
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Columbia County invites residents to shape future growth plans
COLUMBIA COUNTY, Ga. (WJBF) – Columbia County held workshops Thursday for community members to be able to have a say in what they want the future of their town to look like. The workshop was held at the Columbia County Exhibition Center. The Foundations for the Future Comprehensive Plan will focus on recreation, sustainable growth in the community and more. They will look for feedback on not only traffic and housing but other things they might not have thought of as well. Scott Sterling, Planning Services Division Director for Columbia County, said 'The fact that we have 165,000 people out there that can give a different perspective perhaps, that'll help us figure out what exactly those goals and objectives need to be in the next 5 to 10 years that we can work on.' The community planning team for the Comprehensive Plan is Houseal Lavigne and members of the team were in attendance at the workshop. Co-Founder, John Houseal, said Columbia County has to keep up with the rapid growth that is happening. 'Columbia County is a remarkable place, a very unique place, so how do you grow and be a better version of who you are but not something else and the comprehensive plan begins to lay the foundation on how to do that,' said Houseal. They have already completed survey one with over 500 responses and are now on survey two. The project will last for about 15 months ending close to February of 2026. The next phase will be the community reacting to concepts and ideas that are put together based on the public input. 'We might have an open house and we'll say 'here are some of the ideas we have for new residential neighborhoods, where do they go; these are our thoughts on how to preserve environmental open space; repairing river corridors; connect these bike routes, what do you think about these ideas,'' Houseal said. If you wish to have a say in the Comprehensive Plan you can find the link to the survey here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Six Denver-Boulder metro governments sue Colorado, Polis for home rule control
DENVER (KDVR) — Six Colorado cities in the Denver metro area have filed a lawsuit against the state and Gov. Jared Polis, claiming the state has infringed upon home rule city controls. The city of Lafayette announced the legal action in a press release Monday and said that it aims to secure its constitutional right to control the manner and rate at which the community is growing, developing and managed. Lafayette is joining the cities of Aurora, Arvada, Glendale, Greenwood Village and Westminster, which are already part of the suit. This Denver metro suburb is among the fastest growing American cities: US Census Lafayette said the lawsuit against the state and Polis will 'advocate for jurisdictions who are dedicated to intentionally developing communities that reflect and uphold the unique characteristics and desires of their residents.' In a release announcing the municipality joining the lawsuit, Lafayette said it has approximately 30,000 residents and a Comprehensive Plan designed to create 'smart, integrated growth through 2040, weaving community character, environmental stewardship, a connected community, and a strong economy into a strategic planning framework.' 'This type of thoughtful development has long been a community priority,' Lafayette continued in its press release. 'Lafayette is the only municipality in the state to pass a resident-led Growth Management Initiative, first in 1996 and reaffirmed by voters in 2002, 2008, and 2017. However, in 2023, the City's ability to manage building permit allocations within their jurisdiction was abruptly preempted by HB23-1255, one of the first of now many overreaches by the state into home rule authority.' HB23-1255, 'regulating local housing growth restrictions,' preempts local growth restrictions that either limit the growth of the population in the municipality's jurisdiction or the number of development permits or building permit applications for residential development that can be issued or reviewed within any given year. Lafayette asserted in its press release that it has been managing sustainable growth around 'attainable and naturally affordable housing opportunities.' It specifically cited the Willoughby Corner neighborhood, which is a 400-unit, below-market housing development that is the product of a partnership between the Boulder County Housing Authority and Boulder County. 'This is the largest affordable housing project in the State of Colorado,' Lafayette stated. 'In 2023, Lafayette secured funding for residents of the La Luna Community Co-op to purchase and become one of the few resident-owned mobile home parks in Colorado. Through these efforts, Lafayette is on track to meet its 12% goal of deed-restricted affordable housing units by 2035 through the Boulder County Regional Housing Partnership.' Colorado among best states for tiny house living: Study The city said that its planning process includes public participation on land use decisions, and that two bills passed last year 'violate Lafayette's constitutional authority to plan a community that builds upon the unique characteristics of its residents,' among other factors. One of the bills establishes 'transit-oriented communities' in areas close to public transportation hubs. The goal was to push residents toward using public transport by creating housing that is uniquely situated close to bus routes, light rail stations or commuter rail stations. The other bill prohibits municipalities from enforcing minimum parking requirements for multi-family residential developments and other housing options. 'These bills exclude City leaders from preserving and servicing a livable quality of life for its residents in an area pressured by regional growth,' the city stated in its release. 'Lafayette seeks to preserve its authority to manage development in a way that allows for community input.' The municipalities are not alone in attempting to gain more home rule control: Douglas County is requesting voters approve the formation of a charter commission during a June 24 Special Election. The board of commissioners is hoping to change the county from a statutory form of government to a home rule charter. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tipp City residents invited to take survey
TIPP CITY, Ohio (WDTN) — Tipp City is asking residents to take a community survey to help shape the future of the city. Tipp City officials have begun the process of updating the city's Comprehensive Plan. This creates a shared vision that will help direct officials on future projects and know what to prioritize for the community. As part of this update, Tipp City is inviting residents, business owners and other community stakeholders to fill out a survey related to the community's priorities, growth and revitalization. The survey asks questions on housing and development, transportation, parks and recreation, sustainability, economic growth and more. Tipp City reports this entire process is expected to take about a year to complete, with the Comprehensive Plan ready for adoption in 2026. to take the survey. Printed copies of the survey can also be obtained at the Tipp City Government Center, located at 260 South Garber Drive. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oak Creek Buc-ee's lawsuit; neighbors sue city over rezoning
The Brief A neighborhood group in Oak Creek is suing the city over the proposed Buc-ee's travel center. The 20-page lawsuit was filed on Friday, April 11 and lists Oak Creek Neighbors United as the plaintiff and the City of Oak Creek as the defendant. The neighborhood group claims that the rezoning is "illegal spot zoning" and should be declared void by the court. OAK CREEK, Wis. - An Oak Creek neighborhood group is suing the city over the proposed Buc-ee's travel center. What we know The 20-page lawsuit was filed on Friday, April 11 and lists Oak Creek Neighbors United as the plaintiff and the City of Oak Creek as the defendant. It challenges a decision to approve an amendment to the City of Oak Creek Comprehensive Plan and associated spot rezoning of property located in the southwestern corner of the City of Oak Creek on south 27th street and Elm Road – the site for the proposed Bucee's. The neighborhood group claims that the rezoning is "illegal spot zoning" and should be declared void by the court. The lawsuit claims the subject property was rezoned and the Comprehensive Plan amended to benefit just the owner of the property, over the objection of "several hundred citizens and the alderman for the district." The Comprehensive Plan amendment and rezoning would allow for the Buc-ee's development, but "represents an obvious departure from the existing zoning and long planned use of the subject property and this area of the city." FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android What's next The City of Oak Creek has approximately 45 days to respond. The backstory The proposed Buc-ee's travel center would be home to a 73,370-square-foot convenience store/fueling plaza and feature 120 gas pumps. The goal is to open the location in early 2027. The Source FOX6 News obtained the lawsuit and used prior coverage.
Chicago Tribune
08-04-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Glenview tentatively OKs 40 new homes for Willow and Pfingsten
Plans for the construction of 40 rental homes at the southwest corner of Willow and Pfingsten Roads in Glenview received preliminary approval from the Village Board this month. Trustees on April 3 voted 6-0 in favor of an ordinance rezoning the long-vacant 8-acre property for residential use and for the development of 20 two-story duplex homes—a total of 40 residences. A second and final vote is expected to take place on April 15. The Village Board's action received applause from a room filled with more than 50 supporters, many of them neighbors of the property, which had been rezoned in 2023 for a commercial development that never materialized. That project, known as Willows Crossing, had generated objections from residents who called for the land to remain residential. At last week's meeting, resident Carol Sullivan said, 'This is the right plan and now is the right time for development at Willow and Pfingsten. This proposal delivers a solution that meets both community needs and development potential.' Glenview trustees also spoke highly of the plan and the engagement of developer Michael Nortman, a Glenview native who grew up in the adjacent neighborhood. Nortman said he met with many of the neighbors and learned there was 'a strong desire for anything other than commercial there.' He acknowledged, however, that he had initially explored constructing the shopping center that had been approved under a different developer in 2023. 'We determined the shopping center plan that was approved was not executable financially,' Nortman said. 'Essentially, it was a mis-designed plan.' The property is located west of Glenview's Plaza del Prado shopping center and north and east of single-family homes. Glenview's 2017 Comprehensive Plan, which contains recommendations for how land throughout the village should be used, identifies the future use for the property at the southwest corner of Willow and Pfingsten as 'low density residential.' Monthly rents for the proposed duplexes were not publicly shared. There are no plans to include units that meet affordable housing standards, Nortman told the Village Board. Like the development of 60 single-family homes approved by the Glenview Village Board in March on the former Scott Foresman campus at 1900 East Lake Avenue, the Residences at Charlie Court, as the proposed Willow and Pfingsten development is called, will be primarily marketed to 'empty nesters' and retirees, according to documents shared by the village. The proposal calls for 27 of the 40 units to contain three bedrooms, and 13 units to contain four bedrooms. Twenty-one of the residences will have the primary bedroom on the first floor, and none of the homes will contain basements. Calculations from both the village and the developer's consultant estimate that the new homes will generate approximately 14 additional elementary school students and three high school students. Glenview School District 30, however, expressed concerns about the potential for additional elementary school-age children and strain on nearby Willowbrook School and its resources. In a March 5 letter to the Glenview New Development Commission, District 30 Superintendent Emily Tammaru wrote, 'The proposed duplexes, with their three-to-four bedroom configurations, are more likely to attract families with children than the 'empty nester' demographic suggested.' Her letter noted that a recent townhome development in Northbrook generated 34 new students, rather than the projected 14. 'An unexpected influx of students could lead to classroom overcrowding, necessitate additional staffing, and potentially trigger costly renovations or even a referendum for funding,' Tammaru continued, suggesting that the village consider a 55-and-over age restriction for the duplex development. Nortman said this is not part of the plan. 'Just because you put an age restriction at 55 doesn't mean they don't have kids,' he said. 'That's not the way the law works and that's not the way age restrictions work.' As required by the village, the developer will pay impact fees to the local schools and park districts. Changes to the fee structure are under consideration, but as they stand now, District 30 will receive a one-time payment of $129,461, Glenbrook High School District 225 will receive $38,675, and the Glenview Park District will receive $221,988, according to information provided by the village. The new development is projected to generate $487,500 in annual property taxes, with $202,440 going to District 30. Still, that district could see a negative net fiscal impact, depending on the number of new students, projections from Teska Associates, the village's fiscal consultant, indicate. While supporting the development, Glenview Trustee Katie Jones said the impact on schools from new residential construction is 'something we need to be concerned about.' 'We continue to have these residential developments come before us and we are approving them in what I consider to be 'silos,'' she said. 'I think it's important we start to look at the community as a whole and look at what is going into our schools. All of these [developments] will affect District 225.'
