X-Plan full document - City of Xenia

Chapter 2 Be a Community of ChoiceCity of Xenia Comprehensive PlanCC2 Improve City Entrances and CorridorsFirst impressions are lasting ones. Valuejudgments are often made from behind thewindshield of a moving car. Creating welcomingentrances and maintaining vibrant corridorsare essential to Xenia’s image. Both public andprivate investment are necessary to achieve this.CC2.1 Focus code enforcement efforts on majorentrances and corridors. Proactive zoning andproperty maintenance code enforcement isan inexpensive and effective way to improvehigh-visibility corridors such as Detroit Street,Home Avenue, Cincinnati Avenue and MainStreet. Concentrate efforts on these corridors,particularly where gateway and streetscapeenhancements have been completed.CC2.2 Assign a high priority to major entrancesand corridors in annual maintenanceactivities. The look and feel of well-maintainedinfrastructure is just as important as properbuilding maintenance when it comes topromoting a desirable community image.For this reason, make right-of-way maintenancea high priority on heavily traveled corridorssuch as Detroit Street, Home Avenue, CincinnatiAvenue and Main Street.CC2.3 Invest in gateway and streetscapeenhancements. Establish City entrance signstandards to celebrate our brand, consistentwith but in addition to the Xenia Gateway andWayfinding Signage Implementation Plan.Identify and prioritize specific gateway andcorridor enhancement projects for futuregrant applications. Identify and pursue grantfunding and/or private donations to constructimprovements.CC2.4 Improve development standards alongkey thoroughfares. Residents and city officialsalike feel Xenia has not achieved a quality leveldesired for Xenia with its built environment.During the process of streamliningdevelopment regulations in Strategy GE6.1,consider adopting improved, uniform standardsfor architecture, landscaping and signage alongmajor corridors and at gateway locations.CC3 Create a Community-Oriented Bike andPedestrian Path SystemXenia is the Bicycle Capital of the Midwest. Thisclaim is justified with four regional “rails-to-trails”converging near downtown at Xenia Station.Map 2.2 identifies existing trail locations andproposed connections. Existing regional trails aredesigned for intraregional bicycle travel and notfor local resident mobility.As a result, existing trails see extensive use byregional bicycling enthusiasts. Use by Xeniaresidents, on the other hand, is thought to below.To counter this, a community-serving bicyclenetwork is needed –one that connectsneighborhoods to schools, downtown, parks andrecreation. Doing this will turn a regional treasureinto a true community asset.CC3.1 Prepare a bicycle and pedestrian masterplan. The proposed connections shown onMap 2.2 are indicative of the degree by whichXenia can further develop its existing bikepath system with neighborhood loops andconnectors. The connections aim to connectneighborhoods with one another, schools,parks and regional trails.These proposed alignments are conceptualonly. Additional analysis is needed to more fullyexplore alignment options and the ultimateselection of preferred routes. A master planwould identify and prioritize these routes andestimate costs.A master plan can also identifyrecommendations for policy changes affectingissues such as street design, maintenance anddevelopment standards. An example of a policyframework is Complete Streets - a concept that2.4