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Published: Monday, September 18, 2006

Officials identify housing as priority for master plan

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Recommendations are to be delivered to township trustees in December.

By DENISE DICK

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

BOARDMAN — Concerns about the condition, availability and diversity of housing are among the themes emerging thus far in the early work to develop a master plan for the township's future.

Trustees passed a resolution last week to begin the process with the help of Kent State University's school of architecture and environmental design.

Patti Choby, an instructor for the community development process course at the school, met with trustees, administrator Jason Loree and Darren Crivelli, zoning inspector, last week to gather their input about issues in the township.

Three major themes

"There are three general themes that are coming out right now," Choby said.

The first is the need to ascertain what the residents' vision for the community is, she said.

"The second is repositioning the community and getting the message out about what the community has to offer," Choby said.

A third is the availability, condition and diversity of the housing stock as well as its overall position in the regional market.

"Housing is a major issue for the northeast Ohio region right now," she said.

Nine students from KSU and Cleveland State University visited the township over the weekend to gather information about the township, tour it and visit potential locations for the November public discussion groups. Those students are enrolled in the community development course.

Interviews with other business and community leaders may also be scheduled.

What happens next?

The charettes, or public discussion groups, are scheduled for Nov. 4 through Nov. 6, at which members of the public will be able to provide their input about the issues facing the township and how best to address them. The times and places haven't been set.

Choby said that the students will collect demographic data, information about housing, economic factors and business and industry about the community. They'll also examine the Youngstown 2010 plan and the U.S. Route 224 corridor study to determine how those fit into township plans.

They'll then present a list of issues to trustees.

"There are no preconceived notions of what the outcome should be," Choby said.

While people may have different views about how issues should be addressed, "99 percent of the time, you see a common theme of issues across the board," she said.

Because the work is being done as part of a class, there's no cost to the township, said Trustee Kathy Miller. She said that donations will be sought to pay for the students' food, lodging and expenses.

Choby said the whole process takes about four months, and she expects the class to present trustees with recommendations in mid-December.

Those recommendations will include suggestions for the next steps for the township to take to be included in its master plan.

Monday, September 18, 2006