X-Plan full document - City of Xenia

Chapter 1 IntroductionCity of Xenia Comprehensive PlanThis was done as part of a broader effort topromote wide-spread community support andpride in X-Plan.Members of the public were invitedto participate in the planning processthrough one or more of the followingactivities:• Interviews. 18 residents andcommunity stakeholders wereinterviewed early in the planningprocess to gain insight onXenia’s strengths, weaknesses,opportunities and constraints.• Community Survey. 400randomly selected Xeniaresidents participated in atelephone survey conductedby Wright State University. Theresults of the survey give Cityofficials a sense of communityopinions of public infrastructureand services and communityquality of life. The survey alsomeasures support for newpolicies or projects.• Five Public Workshops. Citizensattended one of five publicworkshops held specifically togive residents and concernedstakeholders the opportunityto establish X-Plan policiesand priorities. Participantsidentified high priority planningissues and projects, presentedideal land use and transportationscenarios, and reviewed draftplan recommendations at theseworkshops.• Virtual Town Hall Meetings. The Cityof Xenia operated two online virtual“town hall” meetings using the Ideascaleplatform. These online discussion forumsallowed residents to post their ideas, discussHigh Priorities from Public Input ProcessResidents and stakeholders generated hundreds ofgreat ideas during public workshops and virtual townhall meetings. The following projects were consistentlyselected by residents as high priorities:• Revitalize downtown by rehabilitating and repurposingvacant buildings. Create a “central entertainmentdistrict” and “lifestyle” neighborhood.• Redevelop Xenia Town Square by re-establishing theformer street grid and infilling large parking lots withgreenspace and buildings that fit with downtown character.• Redevelop vacant properties near downtown like the EaveyBuilding and former Greene Park Plaza.• Preserve historical buildings and “small town” character.• Improve property maintenance throughout the City andaddress abandoned housing.• Provide more “things to do” by attracting retail andentertainment uses and enhancing our parks and recreationsystem.• Develop a community recreation center based on a newYMCA and include other related uses such as a new seniorcenter, youth center, etc; ideally in or near downtown.• Improve sidewalk/bicycle path connections (particularlydowntown).• Leverage existing bike paths to Xenia’s benefit.• Continue to improve communication with citizens andamong civic organizations.• Develop partnerships with higher-education institutions,Greene Memorial Hospital and Athletes in Action toattract businesses and visitors, revitalize portions of Xeniaand improve Xenia’s workforce preparedness.• Attract jobs and industry to Xenia, particularly high-techfirms.• Create a business-friendly environment that attractsbusinesses and encourages small business growth.• Improve Xenia’s image internally and externally.• Improve quality of existing streets andservices.• Revitalize the East End.1.4