Collegedale Commissioners on Monday night adopted a resolution authorizing a new land use plan. It had been presented to and approved by the planning commission prior to coming to the city commission.
The city’s first plan was created in 1968 by the Regional Planning Commission, and the last time it was updated was 1971. Strategic Planner Kelly Martin is updating the city’s entire strategic plan consisting of a core plan, the land use plan and the library plan, which will set goals, strategies and tactics to guide and implement city policies.
The new land use plan began two years ago with a series of public meetings. It will identify how land is being used and will serve as a guide to land use decisions considered by the elected and appointed officials and staff concerning the city’s future. The plan will help direct future zoning decisions, ordinance development and help identify and prioritize capital needs.
Recommendations for forthcoming policy development include the natural environment, residential, commercial, civic, institutional, industrial, transportation and general development.
Updates were also approved by the commissioners, on first reading, for the city’s sign ordinance. The main changes made to the ordinance that was in effect include definitions that were added for commonly used sign types in order to address requests when they are received. The sizes allowed for signs was specified. Previously the amount of road frontage determined the size of sign that was allowed. Mr. Martin said there are some large properties that have small road frontage so only small signs were allowed. With the revisions to the ordinance, the size of the area will be taken into account as well as the amount of frontage.
Mr. Martin also presented a new zoning map that is current up to March 1, 2016. This map reflects every zoning change that has occurred since 2010. Certification was received from the commissioners for the new map that has been updated with digital files so it will be available online as well as in the office of the strategic planner. The new map will also be sent to the Hamilton County GIS office.
City Manager Ted Rogers said the city is two-thirds of the way through the fiscal year and all revenue came in during February exactly as expected. As of the end of February, 61 percent of all revenue has been received. During March, $2 million has come in from property taxes. During the same time, 62 percent of expenditures have been made. “We are right where we expected to be,” he said.
Mr. Rogers also reported that the purchase of the house and property at 5225 Tallant Road has been finalized. The city will renovate the house to become the city’s economic development center where both the strategic planning office and the building and codes enforcement departments will be located. Mr. Rogers said that the carport adjoining the house will be converted into handicapped accessible restrooms for the public. The building is adjacent to the dog park, the greenway and a playground.