Planning in Olmsted Fals
... Based on our group conversations, the assistance of the city of Olmsted Falls, and the resident feedback, our group has proposed a variety of suggestions on changes to the current zoning code. ... The benefit to these facilities is that they provide several amenities to the City of Olmsted Falls. ... History and Purpose of the MUPD District A study of the 1994 Master Plan and 1997 Addendum to the Plan in combination with an in-depth look into the current zoning and codified ordinances of the City of Olmsted Falls revealed several topics and issues to discuss and tackle in regards to the questions at hand. ... In order to tie in the District with Downtown Olmsted Falls and the City’s Historical District the architectural code should employ some similarities to the features of the buildings within those areas. ... Being that many retail alternatives exist within the general area, although most not within Olmsted Falls, the addition of new large retail would only hurt the existing Downtown area. ... Although a trade off, more open land is likely to retain the small town feel that Olmsted Falls desires to maintain. ... Exactly the type of people we believe the City of Olmsted Falls would like to attract. ... The strongest argument for attracting light industry to a city such as Olmsted Falls is the tax revenues. The city of Olmsted is in a tax crunch, and light industry brings in the more tax revenue than other uses. ... Clearly, if Olmsted Falls is looking for high tax return, light industry is the way to go. ... Each of those jobs pays income tax as we mentioned which benefits Olmsted Falls, but also these jobs require unskilled labor. ... Large, loud, noisy trucks going through the quiet, quaint, small town district of Olmsted Falls would not enhance its image, and certainly would not attract more people to enjoy the amenities located in that area. ... However, since this is not consistent with the vision of Olmsted Falls, we strongly recommend leaving the Ohio Turnpike just a passing highway with no access available. Another way to deal with that issue of access for trucks is to route the trucks on different roads as to avoid the Olmsted Falls downtown area. ... Other concerns might be pollution created by light industry and the fact that light industry does not add to the “small town” identity of Olmsted Falls. ... Light industry will, however, create more business for the downtown through bringing employees in and out of Olmsted Falls and bring high tax revenues, which will be less of a tax burden on existing businesses and residents. So in a way, light industry actually supports the small downtown identity of Olmsted Falls in the form of more business and tax revenues. Encouraging Light Industrial Development If Olmsted Falls decides that light industrial development is the best use for the area of land in question, there are a few things the city can do to help encourage light industrial development. ... Secondly, because access is such a huge issue, the city could look into planning and funding for the access road, which would run from Columbia Road to Usher Road through the site. ... The city of Olmsted Falls could engage in “option agreements” with the owners of the parcels. ... This would give Olmsted Falls an edge and allow them the opportunity to partner with a potential developer to acquire as much land as needed for a successful development. ... Conclusion In conclusion, our group has found light industry to be the best choice for the undeveloped land south of Olmsted Fall’s downtown. ... · Provide a range and style of housing which is appropriate to the diversity of the people who live and visit Olmsted Falls. ... High density housing is a central component of neo-traditional planning principles, known as “new urbanism” and more often the new urbanism approach is considered essential to “smart growth”. ... To dispel misbelieve, Susan Ingraham Bell, director of the Arlington County, VA Department of community Planning, Housing, and Development, and Andrew A. ... The forum concluded communities must do their home work and bring to the planning process quantifiable proof” compact development” will work. ... If Olmsted falls were to work efficiently and effectively with a developer in implementing a design according to the architectural code of the MUPPD district - High Density Housing would prove beneficial to the area East of Columbia Rd. ... Our group suspects that under current conditions the city of Olmsted Falls does not have the population in order to support a concentration of retail in an independent location. ... There are several retail and commercial developments close by in Olmsted Township and Berea to serve the major needs of the population in Olmsted Falls. Whatever is not located in the immediate area, surely can be found a few miles north in North Olmsted which is the major node for shopping and eateries in the area. ... We further suggest that the city of Olmsted Falls develop a professional marketing program followed by a market feasibility study to identify what should be built. ... Therefore, we concentrated our planning efforts on studying development that would help alleviate the burden on the present homeowner in the City of Olmsted Falls. Our group chose to survey three groups of Olmsted Falls residents. ... When asked about the ½ acre lots or higher density residential units, there was a varying response, while some of the residents opposed any development and other felt that Olmsted Falls should diversify the existing housing stock. ... Olmsted Falls Residents The response from the residents outside the MUPD district varied from those in the district. ... Conclusion While our survey provided useful information, it is clear that the residents vary in their interests in the future development or non-development of both the city of Olmsted Falls and the MUPD district. We suggest that the city of Olmsted Falls further survey their residents to determine which are interested in selling or subdividing their land and serve as an intermediary between residents and potential developers. ... In addition, a few of the residents suggested to annex Olmsted Township as the best solution to alleviate the current tax burden of the residents. Although the issue has been addressed before, it might be in the interests of Olmsted Falls to further explore the possibilities of merging the two municipalities.