Final Draft of Swanton Area Vision Report DOC

The Swanton Area Community maintains its excellent open spaces and amenities and small town feel while carefully planning for balanced growth and controlled economic and residential deve

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Cooperating Partners:

Swanton Area Chamber of Commerce Swanton Township * Swan Creek Township

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The following organizations and their representatives made this project possible

through their sponsorship, leadership and commitment of time:

Swanton Area Chamber of Commerce Neil Toeppe

Swan Creek Township Richard Stout Village of Swanton Bill Bellinger

Swanton Local School District Robin Rayfield Swanton Township John Warkentin Harding Township Doyle Drennan

St Richard’s School Sr Bernarda

Harborside Healthcare Mary McConnell

Welles Bowne Realtors Gale Parsil

Green Ribbon Initiative Jan Hunter

Swanton Library Linda Slaninka

Process Design and guidance was provided by The Ohio State

University Extension Sustainable Development Center:

Team Members: Bill Grunkemeyer, Co-Director

and Interim Director, OSU Extension Center at Wooster

Myra Moss, Co-Director and Extension Specialist, OSU Extension Center at Lima

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Table of Contents

I Executive Summary

II Vision Statement

III Introduction

IV Results from Vision Sessions

V Conclusion and Next Steps

VI Exhibit I: Summary of Vision Sessions

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Executive Summary

Swanton Area residents arrived at a list of aspirational goals that reflect the values of the Swanton Area community Implementing these goals over a long term period can lead to a sustainable future The list of goals is as follows:

(Note: to be finalized by steering committee)

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Vision Statement

The Swanton Area Community is a sustainable region that believes in a delicate balance and intentional linkage among the social, environmental and economic sectors of the communities.

We value our unique open spaces, natural sites, and recreational amenities such

as the Oak Openings, Kitty Todd Preserve, Pilliod Park, and area recreational programs We have many and varied outdoor recreational opportunities in close proximity to the Swanton Area Community

The Swanton Area Community maintains its excellent open spaces and amenities and small town feel while carefully planning for balanced growth and controlled economic and residential development Residential development is clustered in appropriate areas and business development has been steered to areas, such as properties contiguous to the airport, ideally poised for business development.

The Swanton Area Community is in a good location to take advantage of the services and resources offered by nearby larger cities such as Toledo while still being able to maintain our “small town” feel of safety and family centeredness Our transportation networks and improved traffic flow, both within and to the Swanton Area community, promote ease of travel without congestion

The Swanton Area’s educational system is excellent, and offers a full range of opportunities for kindergartners through college students and adult learners Our public school system is well funded and managed.

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What makes a Sustainability Plan Unique

Sustainability is based on finding the balance between the economic,

environmental and social sectors of what creates a community Each sector is intentionally connected to the other sectors to assure the availability of resources necessary to provide opportunities not simply for today but also for future

generations Every community must establish the cornerstones upon which it will build and sustain itself The leaders of the Swanton Area Community have

chosen to build their community on the cornerstones of sustainability These four cornerstones of sustainability have guided the process of the Swanton Area’s visioning as follows:

1 Balanced and Interconnected:

The concept of sustainability is defined as finding the long-term balance between environmental (built and natural), social and economic issues Within this context, sustainability seeks to find and nurture a balance among these three key sectors that impact the viability and vitality of a community Sustainability means giving all three factors careful

consideration and act with intentionality, not causality, as community planning, development and redevelopment efforts move forward The next step in the comprehensive planning process will begin to draw

linkages among the input shared through visioning, arriving at holistic and consensus community goals

2 Long Term:

Sustainability planning is about looking out generations, not just decades

as is the case with most planning efforts By focusing on the long term it forces us to look beyond the more immediate conflicts and begin to articulate what we want the future to be The second question of the visioning sessions, What do you hope the Swanton Area Community will become for your grandchildren and great-grandchildren? pushes

residents to think out 50 years.

3 Inclusionary:

Sustainability planning is a resident-driven process which insures that all segments of the community have the opportunity to become part of the process This is accomplished in two ways: first, by insuring that the steering committee is comprised of members of all segments of the

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community, and second, by insuring that barriers to participation in the visioning are reduced Using “Lasswell’s Wheel” (see Exhibit I) the

steering committee has been formed to insure that all voices in the

Swanton Area community are at the table Also using this tool, groups and organizations that should be visited were identified Thirdly, barriers

to participation in visioning were reduced by “going to where people gather,” that is, by piggybacking on top of already scheduled gatherings, going to places where residents were already familiar and comfortable.

4 Multi-dimensional Indicators:

Multi-dimensional indicators provide an effective method to track and measure if chosen community goals are helping to reach the community’s shared vision They are multi-dimensional because they consider social, economic and environmental qualities in measuring progress.

Process

The following report contains a compilation of resident statements regarding what residents currently value about the Swanton Area community and what residents hope for future generations in the Swanton Area community as

identified during 20 vision sessions held from September 2004 to October 2005 The Swanton Area Community encompasses a region in northwest Ohio including the Village of Swanton, Swanton Township, Swan Creek Township, Swanton Local School District, Harding Township and Fulton Township Over 329 Swanton Area residents of all ages, ethnicity, race, backgrounds and walks of life gave of their valuable time to provide their priorities, thoughts and dreams What

emerges is a commonly shared ethos of Swanton Area residents This shared vision will provide direction and goals for the next stage of this planning process, that is, the creation of the Swanton Area’s resident-directed goals built upon the aforementioned cornerstones of sustainability.

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Results from Vision Sessions

I Identification of Broad Consensus Themes

Five themes received broad consensus from Swanton area residents during the twenty community vision sessions These themes were:

 Parks and Recreation

 Infrastructure/transportation

 Economic Development

 Education

 Community Life and Values

An additional three themes received recognition, but not broad consensus from each of the community sectors These additional themes were:

 Natural Resources

 Historic Properties & Built Environment

 Housing

Broad Consensus Themes are identified in red in the following report.

II Organization of this Report

The following vision session compilation is structured in the following manner:

The three major components of sustainability with the corresponding Consensus Themes emerging from the vision sessions include the following:

I Environmental Sustainability – Natural & Built

 Parks and Recreation

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Summary Statements encapsulating the resident’s input appear in bold italics underneath each theme Individual resident comments (identified by a ●) then appear, verbatim, under each Summary Statement by Community Category (using Lasswell’s Values and Institutions Categories as a guide - see Exhibit I) Please note that there were no group vision sessions conducted in the

“Enlightenment” category, which would include Universities, the Media, and Research Organizations As a result, no input is listed under this category.

Where appropriate, resident’s similar comments have been grouped and the number of times they have been made is shown in parentheses after the

comment Most of the resident’s comments are verbatim, written exactly as they were stated during the vision session.

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Results from Vision Sessions COMPONENT: ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Swanton Area’s Natural & Built Environment

Theme: Natural Resources

I What we value (question #1):

We value the open and natural areas and rural atmosphere of the Swanton Area community, specifically the Oak Openings Park, our rural atmosphere, and agricultural lands.

Community Category: Well-Being

 Oak Openings Park (beautiful) (2)

 Peaceful nature of being in the country

 Small farming community away from the hustle and bustle of the “big city”

 State park (Maumee State Forest) & Oak Openings

 Maumee River is nearby

Affection #2: Youth

 Nature reserves

 Nice scenery

Community Category: Respect

 Oak Openings Metro park (3)

Green Space – local parks and Oak Openings

 Tranquility of the area

 Metro parks

 Kitty Todd Preserve (2)

 Maumee State Forest

 Flat – can see a long way

Community Category: Power

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Community Category: Wealth/Poverty

 Proximity to Oak Openings

 Rural Setting

 Good water

Community Category: Rectitude

 Mature tall trees

Community Category: Skills

 Clean streets – litter free

Community Category: Enlightenment

II: What we hope (question #2)

The Swanton Area community remains rural and agricultural, with many natural areas and green space, and is committed to balanced growth.

Community Category: Well Being

 Family farms, not factory farms

 Maintain rural community

 Keep farm land

 Do not overdevelop

Community Category: Affection

 More natural areas

 Less development

 Keep rural

 Controlled growth

 Maintain small community

 Maintain green space

 Balance between development and green space

 People want to stay because of the natural setting

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Theme: Historical Properties and Built Environment

I What we value (Question #1):

We value the historical properties in our community, our downtown area, and the appearance of the community overall.

 Culture

 Downtown renovations

 Revitalized downtown

 Aesthetically pleasing town

 Streetscape on Main Street

 Historical buildings

 Our maintenance for village

 Our town square stays the same

 Increase in pride – in appearance of community

 Community pride in property (well maintained)

II What we hope (Question #2):

The Swanton Area Community maintains its historic heritage and historic properties through wise planning and the active involvement

of residents and organizations.

 Maintain township hall, churches, etc

 Main Street has a long term architectural master plan

 Main Street has a façade renovation guideline plan

 We have an active historical society and heritage is important to our communityCommunity Category: Power

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 Our buildings are fully occupied and are well maintainedCommunity Category: Rectitude

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Theme: Parks and Recreation

I What we value (Question #1):

We value the wide variety of parks and recreational opportunities for walking, bike riding, horseback riding, fishing, sports and youth activities available within the Swanton Area community.

 Horse trails at Oak Openings (2)

 Walking & bike trails at Oak Openings (2)

 City park – very nice (2)

 Keep roller skating rink and bowling alley

 Keep City parks

Affection #1: Adults

 Park & recreation programs (2)

 Pilliod Park for exercise/relaxation

 Parks

 Parks programs

 Swanton area parks

 Park programs/activities for children

 Children’s activities – park, softball

 Fishing at the reservoir

 Swanton Memorial Park (2)

 Doughboy at Memorial park

 Pilliod Park – especially at Christmas (2)

 Golf courses – Valleywood and White Pines

 Rails to Trails

 Horse trails at Oak Openings

 Harry Hughes horse arena – horse shows & camp outs

 Reservoir

 Youth Programs

 Parks & recreation

 The parks

 Youth programs – recreation

 Rotary park – local park system

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 Pilliod Park Christmas display

 Valleywood Golf Course

 Memorial Park

 Parks

 Summer recreation programs

II: What we hope (Question # 2):

The Swanton Area community has a wide variety of recreational activities, programs and amenities for persons of all ages.

 More after school activities – school & community based

 Recreation center and pool

 Cultural arts center

 Community swimming pool

Affection #2: Youth

 Recreation program at the park

 Teen youth center

 There are more parks near neighborhoods

 More youth oriented activities (2)

 Pedestrian and bike trails

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 Public sports programs/soccer

 More parks

 Swimming pool

 Community recreation needs

 Recreation Office/Director

 Winning sports tradition

 Closer collaboration with Park & Recreation and school indoor programs for kids

as well as Adults with use of facility

 Entertainment for kids, community center, youth programs, swimming pools, hockey arena

 Expansion of existing parks

 Activity center for kids

 Successful football season

 Youth pride in activities

 Community swimming pool

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Theme: Infrastructure/Transportation

I What we value (question #1):

The Swanton Area community is situated ideally, located in close proximity to Toledo, the airport and restaurants, shopping and

services, while having excellent local services and a small town safe feel with little traffic, walkability and no congestion.

 No traffic

 Close to Toledo and airport

 Airport close by

 Adelphia Cable

 Responsive fire, police and rescue squad

 No waiting line at post office

 Small town feel, not congested

 Small community close to larger city venues (shopping, dining, entertainment)

 Proximity to the airport

 Availability/access to restaurants/shopping/business either in town or nearby

 Safe community – can walk anywhere & feel comfortable

 Water

 Fire and rescue department

 Physicians & dentists

 Low crime

 Feel safe and secure

 Geographic location

 Having best of both worlds – land & space & privacy but minutes from shopping

 Small but located near larger centers

 Transportation access

o Turnpike and AirportAffection #2: Youth

 Everything in the village is within walking distance

 Close enough to other convenient locations (Toledo, Wauseon) but far enough away from congestion

 Airport and turnpike are close by

 Country roads

o Less congestion Location

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 Good location, good transportation networks, close to metro area

 Good access to highways

 Lack of traffic congestion

 Our location in relationship to transportation and other facilities

 Public Service director

 Easy to travel – driving is easier

 Located near turnpike entrances and airport

 Close proximity to Toledo

 Proximity to Toledo and urban advantages

 Airport

 The overall cost of living is reasonable

II What we hope for (Question #2):

Improved infrastructure supports residents and the local economy by providing ease of transportation, including alternative transportation options, access to technology, and an improved community image.

 Get trucks off of SR 2 (Airport Highway)

 Remain unchanged – everything is 20 minutes from Toledo

 We have bus service to Toledo

Affection #1: Adults

 Overpass over railroad tracks

 Train tracks re-routed

 Increase in technology

 More modern look – cleaner

 Overpass for trains

 Extend water and sewer to encourage business development

Affection #2: Youth

o Improved access over/under/around train tracks

o Well paved roads

o Better traffic control on Airport Highway (CR2/Kroger)

o Better presentation of the community – how we look on Airport Highway and Main Street

o Better signage to local schools and parks

o Reduce problems of circumventing trains

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o Better access around, under or over the tracksCommunity Category: Respect

 We have access to technology

 The rail line is rerouted or eliminated

 Pedestrian walkways

 Rerouting of train

 City water to more townships

 Railroad track does not have such a long wait

Tiêu đề	Swanton Area Sustainable Vision Initiative: A Community Vision Created Through Principles of Sustainability
Người hướng dẫn	Bill Grunkemeyer, Co-Director and Interim Director, OSU Extension Center at Wooster, Myra Moss, Co-Director and Extension Specialist, OSU Extension Center at Lima
Trường học	Ohio State University Extension
Chuyên ngành	Sustainable Development
Thể loại	report
Năm xuất bản	2006
Thành phố	Swanton

Định dạng
Số trang	39
Dung lượng	226 KB