May 7 2013 Neighborhood Planning state college neighborhood
May 7, 2013 Neighborhood Planning state college neighborhood plan focus group workshop Our Lady of Victory Church
Agenda Welcome from Planning Commission Staff Update Neighborhood Planning Process SWOT Analysis Input Break-out Groups Neighborhoods’ Planning priorities Brainstorm Action Items Neighborhood Boundaries Wrap Up & Next Steps
Planning Process • Nov-Dec 2012: Citizen Planning Workbook; begin neighborhood inventories • Jan-March: Neighborhood SWOT Meetings • May-June: Continue updating neighborhood inventory/analysis and collecting neighborhood workbook activities; begin developing recommendations through series of neighborhood planning meetings • June-July: Develop Community Asset Map; continue inventory/analysis • Aug-Oct: Community Asset Map; Develop Plan Draft • Sept: Review Draft of Plan • Oct-Nov: Implementation Workshops • Dec: Plan Completed
SC Neighborhood Plan
SWOT Analysis Input
SWOT Analysis Input • • • Quiet, safe, well-established Proximity to schools, Westerly Parkway Plaza, parks Accessibility via various transportation methods Concern with the development in surrounding townships, SCASD decisions Neighborhood through traffic and parking issues Better information and communications among Borough, tenants, property owners • • Greentree: Increasing home values, new families, very low rate of rentals Vallamont, Nittany Hills, Penfield: Opportunity for University Drive as community gateway Tusseyview: Adverse impacts of new student neighbors in the Retreat SC South: Expand First Time Homebuyer Program investment Orchard Park: Opportunity for reinvestment and multi-family homeownership • • •
SWOT Analysis Input
SWOT Analysis Summary Common Themes • Diversity of Borough’s neighborhoods are a strength, as long as stable & well-maintained • Access to parks and recreation, proximity to public and private amenities, accessibility via most modes of transportation • Attract more residents to our neighborhoods– families, young professionals, work-force housing • Opportunities for implementing/updating programs or policies that promote and protect homeownership • Protect & reinvest in Borough’s neighborhoods as growth in the Centre Region continues
SWOT Analysis Summary Common Themes • Collaboration & consistency among regulations and agencies enforcing them • Increased communications & record-keeping among government officials, landlords and neighborhood residents • More opportunity for community dialogue on issues affecting neighborhoods • Continue to improve relationships between student & non-student neighbors • Establishing neighborhood boundaries
Planning Process Do our strategies encompass all of the SWOT’s identified by our neighborhoods? • Expanded Work with neighborhoods to answer the question, “How do we turn these strategies into actions? ” • Development of recommendations (using focus group input) • Determine each neighborhoods’ priorities Begin thinking about the question, “How will we achieve these recommendations? ” • Inventory resources available to us; determine missing links
Planning Strategies Neighborhood Facilities & Appearance • Maintain neighborhoods’ aesthetics, high quality housing stock and cultural and historic resources • Protect existing neighborhood activity, social and commercial centers; enhance these in order to serve the neighborhoods’ residents • Explore opportunities for increasing environmental sustainability • Address neighborhood-scale vehicular safety and efficiency • Improve non-vehicular connections among neighborhoods and Borough/Campus amenities
Planning Strategies Balancing Owner & Renter Occupied Housing • Maintain a high level of service for enforcement of Borough Ordinances and policies • Create programs and partnerships for improving management of rental housing • Increase homeownership and programs that help major employers find appropriate housing for employees • Consider impacts on neighborhood sustainability as growth occurs in the Centre Region
Planning Strategies Improving Neighbor to Neighbor relations • Maintain and expand diversity(generational, occupation, income, family status) of neighborhood residents and improve relations between student and non-student neighbors • Improve communications between neighborhood leaders and Borough Council and staff • Improve communications with surrounding municipalities in order to discuss impacts of new developments • Market the positive benefits of living in the Borough’s neighborhoods
From SWOT to Actions Many unique, neighborhood-specific issues + Several overarching themes = Recommendations that address Borough-wide opportunities with flexibility to work with neighborhoods on specific action items
Break Out Groups Join your neighbors at the table designated for your neighborhood 1. Review SWOT Analysis Comments & Planning Strategies 2. Identify priorities for your neighborhood 3. Brainstorm actions to address these priorities 4. Who should have a key role in achieving these actions? 5. Share with the group If time permits, discuss neighborhood boundaries using the maps at your table.
Break Out Groups Example
Break Out Groups Join your neighbors at the table designated for your neighborhood 1. Review SWOT Analysis Comments & Planning Strategies 2. Identify priorities for your neighborhood 3. Brainstorm actions to address these priorities 4. Who should have a key role in achieving these actions? 5. Share with the group If time permits, discuss neighborhood boundaries using the maps at your table.
More info on www. statecollegepa. us
Wrap Up Thank you for attending and providing Planning Commission with your comments and feedback! What’s Next? • • Work sessions with Planning Commission during summer to draft plan elements Future neighborhood meetings as plan elements are drafted How to stay engaged? • • Neighborhood Planning Website www. statecollegepa. us/Neighborhood. Plan Neighborhood Planning Workbook Social Media • Facebook: State College Neighborhoods • Twitter: SCB_Nghbrhoods Email planningdept@statecollegepa. us Thank you to Our Lady of Victory for hosting this meeting!
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