Overview
The Youngstown Redevelopment Code is a tool for regulating the location, intensity, form and appearance of land uses, development and infrastructure. The city needs a new Redevelopment Code to implement the Youngstown 2010 Comprehensive Plan. The new Code will support the 2010 Plan's land use, economic development and quality of life goals by addressing issues such as urban agriculture, reforestation, green corridors, economic development, creative and flexible land reuse, strengthening neighborhood fabric, and other issues. It will serve as the foundation for a new cleaner, greener and more prosperous community. The goal is to produce a document that promotes reinvestment and neighborhood quality by clearly communicating Youngstown's standards for redevelopment and reuse of land and property.
How It Works
The drafting of the Redevelopment Code is being funded by a grant from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency. The process will last approximately 8 months, and will include regular consultations with both Technical and Steering Committees of stakeholders, as well as regular public meetings to discuss the draft content of the Code. The main steps of this process include:
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Assessment
The process will begin with a thorough assessment of the existing Youngstown Zoning Ordinance, the 2010 Plan, subdivision regulations, design review procedures, and related plans to identify all the required elements for the new Redevelopment Code. This will result in a Diagnosis and Annotated Outline of the content of the new Code. The Diagnosis and Annotated Outline will be shared with each of the 11 neighborhood cluster groups that were so effective in the successful adoption of the 2010 Plan.
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Redevelopment Code Drafting
The Code preparation will follow in two parts. The first will address "zoning districts and permitted uses" – and will include revisions to the menu of zone districts available in the city and what types of uses are permitted in each district. It will likely introduce new industrial and open space zones, establish tools for reusing vacant land and urban greening, and protecting healthy neighborhoods. The second part will address "development standards and procedures" and will cover development quality standards and how projects get reviewed and approved.
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Review and Refinement
The Diagnosis/Annotated Outline and both parts of the draft Redevelopment Code will be presented to the public and available for a period of review and comment. Revisions will then be included in a revised version of the Redevelopment Code ready for discussion in public hearings.
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Adoption
The refined code will be reviewed at hearings of Planning Commission and City Council where further refinements will be considered. The Code will ultimately be adopted as a city ordinance to replace the current Youngstown Zoning Ordinance.
Get Involved
The zoning code update process will offer several opportunities for the community to get involved. During the Assessment phase, a workshop will invite citizens and stakeholders to offer input into the general direction of the new code and specific tools being considered. In addition 11 neighborhood cluster meetings will be held to identify necessary changes or corrections. During the Code drafting phase, the community will be asked to evaluate each part of the draft code. Additional comments will be heard during Planning Commission and City Council hearings.
Interested citizens are encouraged to get involved early!
Meeting dates will be announced as they are scheduled.
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