Annual Report RPC/RZC/CD - 2009 - Hamilton County, Ohio

Community PlanningObjectives:Prepare Strategic Plansfor Community COMPASSInitiativesBuild partnershipsfor implementation ofCommunity COMPASSDevelop implementationframeworksSupport economicdevelopment effortslocally and countywideGreenhills Comprehensive PlanA contract for technical services was signed at the end of 2008 between the Villageof Greenhills and the Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission (HCRPC) forthe preparation of a comprehensive plan. Working with a core 14 member committee,HCRPC staff led the preparation of the plan that culminated with the adoption by Councilon October 27, 2009.The collective vision for the future of Greenhills has a multi-prong approach that buildson (1) the Village's historic past, (2) the respect of the natural environment, (3) creatinga friendly and collaborative atmosphere where residents are afforded opportunities forcommunity life and that, (4) creates an environment that is supportive of commercialactivity that provides financial stability and much needed products and services for thecommunity.Goals and strategies in the plan focus on Image, the Village Center, Community Life,Schools and Education, Open Spaces Recreation and Community Services, and on Redevelopmentand Economic Development Issues.As part of this intense planning effort, 25 meetings were facilitated by HCRPC, including16 meetings with the steering committee, 3 meetings with the Recreation Sub-committee,3 Community-wide meetings, and 3 Focus Group meetings (one each on Housing andHistoric Preservation, Greenbelt, and the Village Center).A project website was created http://www.hamiltoncountyohio.gov/hcrpc/greenhills/ andhosted by the HCRPC to ensure transparency and easy access by all to information andrecords related to this plan. Newspaper announcements, doorknob hangers, and announcementsin public and community gathering places were also used to keep residents abreastof progress on the plan.First Suburbs Consortium of Southwest Ohio (FSC-SW)HAMILTON COUNTYFirstSuburbsConsortiumFirst Suburbs shifted leadership personnel around with two retirements requiring newexecutive committee members. Chuck Kamine from Amberley Village and Richard Ellisonfrom Elmwood Place both left their elected positions at the end of 2009. John Smithfrom Silverton, Dan Pillow from Addyston, and Mark Weber from Blue Ash volunteeredto serve on the executive committee for 2010 along with Jim O'Reilly (Wyoming), TomMoeller (Madeira), Gerri Harbison (Montgomery), and Jenny Kilgore (Glendale).First Suburbs closely watched and supported various legislative proposals in the GeneralAssembly dealing with property foreclosures and abandonment. The most promisingbill introduced in 2009 would expand the successful land bank system used by CuyahogaCounty statewide. There is resistance to this from some county officials and state representatives,and First Suburbs needs to convince them of the need for land banking andgain their support for the legislation.8 HAMILTON COUNTY PLANNING, ZONING, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT