Planning panel hosts forum for Trumbull’s southeast quadrant
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LIBERTY -- The county's comprehensive plan for land use has not received an update in nearly 70 years, but it's set to be revamped soon, after things were set in motion for a set of Trumbull County communities.
Officials from Liberty, Brookfield, Vienna and Hubbard townships and the city of Hubbard, as well as some of their residents, were in attendance at the Liberty Administration Building Wednesday to hear from Trumbull County Planning Commission officials.
It's the first of three community outreach meetings for Trumbull County's southeast quadrant -- Brookfield, Hubbard, Liberty and Vienna townships, the city of Hubbard and Yankee Lake Village -- to assist in updating the Trumbull County Comprehensive Land Use Plan, with the intent of aiding future growth.
Trumbull County Planning Commission Director Julie Green said her office will be guiding the planning process from start to finish, adding that the first step is to gather public officials' and residents' opinions while trying to stay on a proper schedule.
"We're planning to complete this through probably the beginning of next summer, and we are just now starting our community engagement tour around Trumbull County," Green said. "We started in the Northeast quadrant (in Kinsman); this is our second set of first meetings."
Green said the countywide land use plan is meant to complement the existing comprehensive plan, zoning resolution or ordinance -- not replace it.
"The final plan will help your community, if they choose to do so, either amend your existing plan or adopt it as a standalone document," Green said.
"Everybody else has their own comprehensive plan in place, but many of those are outdated," Green said. "I'm hoping that the resulting land use plan that we provide your community will be useful to you to update your comprehensive plan."
Green said her office is examining farmland, housing, roadways and transportation infrastructure, as well as natural areas and businesses, as part of the plan.
"We get your feedback; we can start helping to lay out a shared vision for how that land should be used," Green said.
Green said the county has not completed an update to its county comprehensive plan since the 1960s, but the planning commission has done "quite a few" individual township, city and village plans.
"It's important because you want to look at things cohesively; many of the plans that are in place are excellent plans, but some are outdated," Green said.
Green said communities like Brookfield and Hubbard townships have not updated their plans since 2017, while others, like the city of Hubbard, completed their planning process in 2003.
Vienna completed its comprehensive plan in 2009, while Liberty did so in 1997, Green said.
The event also featured a land use activity, with a sheet provided to attendees noting that some communities, such as Brookfield and Yankee Lake, lack zoning.
Green dots represented areas residents and officials wished to see as farmland or agricultural uses preserved through programs; brown dots represented areas for protection, such as wetlands, floodplains and streams; and red dots represented areas for future economic plans.
Yellow dots represented areas where residents and officials want to see housing growth, infill housing or maintenance of current housing patterns; and blue dots are where they wish to see future connectivity or safety improvements.
Green said her office will present the findings at another meeting featuring residents and public officials, where they can filter through more questions about the process.
Green said her office will provide a final plan and recommendations, but after that, it will be up to the local communities because her office doesn't have countywide zoning enforcement powers.