The City of Hilliard Sustainability Plan

Hilliard Sustainability PlanECON. EXECUTIVELAND USE DEV.SOCIAL SUMMARY& URBAN EQ.ECOLOGYOpportunity SitesThere are a number of areas in Hilliard appropriate for developmentthat fulfills the City’s goals of being fiscally, socially, andenvironmentally sustainable. Since the City desires to develop infillprojects close to the core first, it would be ideal to begin developingareas of vacant land just northeast of Old Hilliard. The first siteis south of Northwest Parkway and west of Weaver Cut. The othersite is north of Northwest Parkway and southwest of the railroadline. There are many other areas ideal for infill development in thenorthern and northwest sections of the City where large swaths ofvacant land exist. However, the City should prioritize its developmentefforts within the four focus areas identified by the ComprehensivePlan. 52 These areas are ideal considering the City’s wish toprioritize infill projects and that these four focus areas were identifiedby the Comprehensive Plan as the first areas to develop. 53Large areas of vacant land intermixed with industrial and officespace exist in the I-270 corridor. The best opportunities in this focusarea are the locations with freeway exposure and access. This areais ripe for a number of extensive mixed-use developments thatwould incorporate mainly office, light industrial, and dense residentialuses with small amounts of retail throughout.The Retired Railroad Corridor has potential for a mixed-use developmentconsidering its proximity to the City core and its areasof vacant land. 54 Another promising site for redevelopment is the4.95-acre industrial site within the Old Hilliard district at the intersectionof the abandoned railroad right-of-way and CemeteryRoad. The last sustainable development opportunities identifiedare the large swaths of open space in the western portion of Hilliardmore formally known as the Darby Creek area. Developmenthere should be particularly environmentally sensitive and clustered. Thistype of development, called Conservation Development, clusters residenceswithin a small area of the developable land allowing more land to bepreserved in its natural state.Parks and Environmental ResourcesParks and environmental resources can greatly improve quality of life. InHilliard, most of the current parklands are located in the western part of theCity and serve as active parks with playing fields, courts, and other amenities.The Comprehensive Plan sets the goal for the City to become “a leaderin offering quality parks, public spaces, and recreational opportunities for» Map 3.7: Park Inventory in the City of Hilliard Source: Hilliard ComprehensivePlan58