The City of Hilliard Sustainability Plan

ECON. EXECUTIVELAND USE DEV.SOCIAL SUMMARY& URBAN EQ.ECOLOGY72Hilliard Sustainability Plan(see Creekside sidebar 3.8), Grandview Heights, and Bexley (see Images3.5 and 3.6) have a number of multi-story, mixed-use projectslocated within their major commercial districts and Dublin hasplans for an extensive mixed-use district in their Bridge Street Corridor.One site which can act as a starting point for the City to create amixed-use project is the 4.95 acre industrial site within the Old Hilliarddistrict. This site has also been identified by City officials as be-» Map 3.9. Potential Old Hilliard Infill SiteData Source: City of Hilliard, 2011Incentives for Mixed-Use Development—Case Studyin Eugene OregonThe planning department in Eugene, Oregon has put together a numberof best practices for encouraging mixed-use development. 37 While Eugeneis a much larger city than Hilliard (roughly 150,000 residents), theseincentives are still highly relevant to creating mixed-use developments inHilliard. 38 The City of Eugene is encouraging mixed-use as one of the mostimportant components of their strategy for long-term growth managementand community livability. 39 Their recommendations are broken down intofinancial incentives and regulatory relieve. 40Financial Incentives: The purpose of financial incentives is to reducedevelopment costs or increase the overall return on investment. 41» Tax Abatements: Exempt property taxes for the entire developmentfor an incremental change in property tax for a certain period of time» Public Investment in Infrastructure: Road improvements, transitservice, bicycle and pedestrian pathways can all provide neededincentives for a project» Land Assembly: Cities can create large, developable tracts of landfor developers by purchasing multiple parcels through voluntarynegotiations with owners or through eminent domain; although thatis the option of last choice.Regulatory Relief: These incentives can provide the necessary financesthat make development less expensive to build through adjustments in theregulating process. 42» Reduced Fees: Cities can reduce system development charges orwave permit fees in the mixed-use centers» Permit Processes: Assist developers by having “one-stop centers”for permit information and application. These centers can provideexpedited review of higher density/ mixed-use developments.» Development Codes: Assure that local codes are flexible andencourage innovate mixed-use development» Design Standards: Provide bonuses that allow more land for buildingdensity which permit the development costs per square foot todecrease. This can be achieved through increased density and heightallowances, or narrower streets.