Vision, Framework and Action Products

March 2014

In 2010, 23 Northeast Ohio Organizations collaborated on a proposal to the U.S. Department Of Housing And Urban Development (HUD) as part of the partnership for Sustainable Communities Initiative. The Initiative is an interagency collaboration among HUD, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.Result: $4.25m Federal Grant.The Northeast Ohio Sustainable Communities Consortium (NEOSCC) is a 33-member Consortium of Metropolitan Planning Agencies, Municipal and County Governments, Government Agencies and Non-Profits .

Counties • Ashtabula County• Cuyahoga County• Mahoning County• Summit County• Trumbull County

Legacy Cities • City of Akron• City of Cleveland• City of Elyria• City of Youngstown

Metropolitan Planning Organizations and Councils of Government

• Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (AMATS)

• Eastgate Regional Council of Governments• Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency

(NOACA)• Northeast Ohio Four County Regional Planning &

Development Organization (NEFCO)• Stark County Area Transportation Study (SCATS)

Metropolitan Housing Authorities• Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority• Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority• Stark Metropolitan Housing Authority

Colleges and Universities • Cleveland State University• Lorain County Community College• Youngstown State University

Authorities Commissions and Districts

• Cleveland Metroparks• Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority• Stark County Regional Planning Commission• Summit County Health District

Non-Governmental Organizations• Akron Urban League• Catholic Charities, Diocese of Youngstown• Center for Community Solutions• Cleveland Museum of Natural History• Fund for Our Economic Future• Lorain County Growth Partnership• Northeast Ohio Community Development

Alliance• Policy Bridge• Regional Prosperity Initiative

Our Team: Consortium Members

Mahoning

Wayne Stark

Lorain

Medina Summit

Portage

Trumbull

Ashtabula

Geauga

Lake

Cuyahoga

Who: Engage stakeholders throughout the region through different ways and methods.How: Regional engagement using a scenario planning process that creates a shared vision.What: A framework to create a more vibrant, resilient and sustainable Northeast Ohio.

VIBRANT NEO 2040 is a three year planning process across 12 counties

Why this matters to the Business CommunityFocus on Regional Competitiveness Improve Governmental Efficiency:  

• Quantify the costs of incremental decisions.

• Increase governmental collaboration• Align policies and resources

 Improve Equity and Affordability:• Improve labor force access to regional

employment opportunities• Leverage investment in transit to

support competitive job centers and corridors

• Develop a diverse, transit-accessible, affordable housing that addresses niched regional housing markets.

 

Focus on Regional Competitiveness  Enhance Quality of Place• Promote investment in established communities• Connect transit to job centers and housing• Leverage park networks, waterfronts and unique community assets

across NEO.

 

Why this matters to the Business Community

“Where are we headed currently?”

“What are the possibilities?”

“Where do we want to go?”

Open HousesJuly 29 – Aug 2

August - DecemberMay - JulyJanuary - April

The REGIONAL VISION Planning Process

Vision SessionsOct 7 – Oct 17aWorkshops

April 30 – May 1

RegionalVision

Initiation and “Trend” Scenario

Alternative Scenarios

Vision, Framework and Products

PresentationNEOSCC Board Meeting

12/17

Caucus SessionsOct 16 – Nov 1a

What is a REGIONAL VISION?An aspirational future for Northeast Ohio, built upon public engagement, and accompanied by a set of recommendations and tools to help make it a reality

ObjectiveFindings

Community Values

REGIONAL VISION

Where are we currently heading as a region?• Continued development at the edges of our metro areas on land that requires new infrastructure and public services.

• Abandonment of existing communities that already have infrastructure and public services.

• Increasing distance between people and their jobs.

• Limited transportation options other than our personal vehicles

• Increased fiscal stress on both households and local governments.

Current Trend: Outward MigrationResults:• Increasing abandonment risk • Mounting infrastructure costs• Rising transportation costs, increased

distances, fewer transportation options (other than car)

Current trends will result in declining fiscal health across the region

-0.3%

Workshop Map Activity

Public Feedback

Public Feedback – Place Types

Community Categorization by Growth Patterns

Legacy Cities (Pre 1910)Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Elyria, Lorain, Warren,

Youngstown

1st Ring Suburbs (1910-1959)Cleveland Heights, Wickliffe, Sheffield, Parma,

Mogadore, East Canton, Howland, etc.

2nd Ring Suburbs (1950-1969)Orange, Eastlake, Norton, Fairlawn, Boardman,

Liberty, North Olmstead, etc.

Outer Ring Suburbs (1970-present)

Bainbridge, Avon, Westlake, Twinsburgh, Bazetta, etc.

Established Cities & Towns (varies)

Medina, Painesville, Ravenna, Wooster, Niles, Ashtabula, Kent, Oberlin, etc.

Rural Townships (varies)Parkman, Wellington, Westfield, Hiram, Wyndham, Saybrook, Jackson, Gustavus

95%

91%

86%

2925 engaged through Workshops & Imagine MyNEO

1412 engaged through Public Opinion Polling

1263 engaged through other meetings

Total of 5600 Engaged

4,337 Engaged through Work Shops, Imagine MyNEO & Polls

% of Attendees

and Participants

Actual Census

Ashtabula 4% 3%Cuyahoga 38% 33%Geauga 2% 2%

Lake 6% 6%Lorain 9% 8%

Mahoning 7% 6%Medina 3% 5%Portage 4% 4%

Stark 7% 10%Summit 13% 14%Trumbull 6% 6%Wayne 1% 3%

Outreach

Recommendation SourcesBoard of

Directors

Technical Steering

Committee

Caucuses

Vision Sessions

Email

RECOMMENDATIONS

AND INITIATIVES

8 Objectives: the outcomes that the Vision aims to achieve 4 Themes: the key Vision topic areas9 Recommendations and 41 Initiatives: the steps and tools to realize the Vision.22 Development Strategies: local resources for creating great places consistent with the Vision objectives13 Indicators: the regional performance metrics that will tell us whether we are on track to attain the Vision

Vision Components

Objectives are broad and envisioned to meet the shared needs and challenges of a diverse

region.

Themes serve to inspire, organize and guide the regional decision-making process.

Recommendations & Initiatives are strategic considerations to be tailored and implemented by local communities to meet their priorities.

Objectives, Themes, Recommendations and

Initiatives

VISION Objectives

Develop our regional economy with accessible employment opportunities

Overarching objective: promote investment in our established communities

Vision Objectives

Improve our regional fiscal health

Vision Objectives

Enhance our regional transportation network

Vision Objectives

Protect our soil, water, air, and ecologically sensitive areas

Vision Objectives

Cultivate and celebrate our local assets and places of public value

Expand our parks and open space network

Vision Objectives

Preserve and value our prime farmland as a regional economic asset

Themes and Recommendations

Theme #1

Strengthen Established

Communities

Where do we want to be in 2040?

Vibrant NEO 2040: Proposed Regional Vision

Local Examples: Akron

Local Examples: Youngstown

Local Examples: Cleveland

Focus new residential and commercial development on sites within established communities

1Vision Recommendation

Develop a robust network of regional job centers connected by multimodal transportation corridors

within and between counties

2Vision Recommendation

3

Clean Ohio Assistance Fund – Priority Investment Areas

Pursue the remediation, assembly, marketing, and redevelopment of abandoned properties at both the

local and regional levels

Vision Recommendation

4Vision Recommendation Encourage a higher frequency of mixed-use

development and a range of diverse, affordable housing options

Theme #2

Increase Transportation

Choice

HOW DO WE GET THERE?Expanded Regional Transit Network

2040: Connected Communities

5Vision Recommendation Enhance and coordinate the region’s rail and bus

services

6Vision Recommendation Enhance walking and cycling as transportation

options to increase regional mobility and improve public health

Theme #3

Preserve and protect natural

resources

2040: Robust Open Space Networks

Local Examples: Akron

Local Examples: Youngstown

Local Examples: Cleveland

7Vision Recommendation Preserve our natural areas for future generations,

provide outdoor recreation opportunities, and develop a regional approach to protecting air,

water, and soil quality

8Vision Recommendation Support sustainable agriculture and the local food

system in Northeast Ohio

Theme #4

Promote Collaboration and

Efficiency

9Vision Recommendation Increase the collaboration among the region’s

government agencies to expand information sharing and find more cost-effective means to

provide essential services

Putting it Together: Vibrant

NEO 2040

Vibrant NEO 2040: Proposed Regional Vision

Vibrant NEO 2040: Proposed Regional Vision

Vibrant NEO 2040: Proposed Regional Vision

DashboardVisualization tool that communicates a set of indicators and metrics, against which progress toward the Vibrant NEO 2040 vision will be measured.

Tool Kit & Best PracticesImplementation tools and techniques to realize the regional preferred vision developed through Vibrant NEO 2040.

Policy RecommendationsFramework for analyzing the effects existing policies have on the region and determining what may be needed to create desired change.

PilotsEmerging best practices that show promise in moving the region towards the Vibrant NEO 2040 preferred vision.

Action Product Overview

Questions?

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