Vision, Framework and Action Products
March 2014
In 2010, 23 Northeast Ohio Organizations
collaborated on a proposal to the U.S. Department Of
Housing And Urban Development (HUD) as part of the
partnership for Sustainable Communities Initiative. The
Initiative is an interagency collaboration among HUD, the
U.S. Department of Transportation, and the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency.
Result: $4.25m Federal Grant.
The Northeast Ohio Sustainable Communities
Consortium (NEOSCC) is a 33-member Consortium of
Metropolitan Planning Agencies, Municipal and County
Governments, Government Agencies and Non-Profits .
Our Team: Consortium Members
Counties
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Ashtabula County
Cuyahoga County
Mahoning County
Summit County
Trumbull County
Legacy Cities
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City of Akron
City of Cleveland
City of Elyria
City of Youngstown
Metropolitan Planning Organizations
and Councils of Government
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Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (AMATS)
Eastgate Regional Council of Governments
Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency
(NOACA)
Northeast Ohio Four County Regional Planning &
Development Organization (NEFCO)
Stark County Area Transportation Study (SCATS)
Metropolitan Housing Authorities
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Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority
Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority
Stark Metropolitan Housing Authority
Colleges and Universities
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Cleveland State University
Lorain County Community College
Youngstown State University
Authorities Commissions and Districts
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Cleveland Metroparks
Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority
Stark County Regional Planning Commission
Summit County Health District
Non-Governmental Organizations
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Akron Urban League
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Youngstown
Center for Community Solutions
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Fund for Our Economic Future
Lorain County Growth Partnership
Northeast Ohio Community Development Alliance
Policy Bridge
Regional Prosperity Initiative
VIBRANT NEO 2040 is a three year planning process
across 12 counties
Who: Engage stakeholders
throughout the region
through different ways and
methods.
How: Regional engagement
using a scenario planning
process that creates a
shared vision.
What: A framework to create
a more vibrant, resilient and
sustainable Northeast Ohio.
Lake
Ashtabula
Geauga
Cuyahoga
Trumbull
Lorain
Medina
Summit
Portage
Mahoning
Wayne
Stark
Why this matters to the Business Community
Focus on Regional Competitiveness
Improve Governmental Efficiency:
• Quantify the costs of incremental decisions.
• Increase governmental collaboration
• Align policies and resources
Improve Equity and Affordability:
• Improve labor force access to regional
employment opportunities
• Leverage investment in transit to support
competitive job centers and corridors
• Develop a diverse, transit-accessible,
affordable housing that addresses niched
regional housing markets.
Why this matters to the Business Community
Focus on Regional Competitiveness
Enhance Quality of Place
• Promote investment in established communities
• Connect transit to job centers and housing
• Leverage park networks, waterfronts and unique community assets across
NEO.
The REGIONAL VISION
Planning Process
Workshops
April 30 – May 1
Initiation and
“Trend” Scenario
January - April
“Where are we
headed
currently?”
Caucus Sessions
a
Oct 16 – Nov 1
Open Houses
July 29 – Aug 2
Alternative
Scenarios
May - July
“What are the
possibilities?”
Vision Sessions
a
Oct 7 – Oct 17
Regional
Vision
August - December
“Where do we
want to go?”
Vision, Framework and
Products
Presentation
NEOSCC Board Meeting 12/17
What is a REGIONAL VISION?
An aspirational future for Northeast Ohio, built upon public
engagement, and accompanied by a set of
recommendations and tools to help make it a reality
Objective
Findings
Community
Values
REGIONAL
VISION
Where are we currently
heading as a region?
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Continued development
at the edges of our
metro areas on land
that requires new
infrastructure and public
services.
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Abandonment of
existing communities
that already have
infrastructure and public
services.
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Increasing distance
between people and
their jobs.
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Limited transportation
options other than our
personal vehicles
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Increased fiscal stress
on both households and
local governments.
Current Trend: Outward Migration
Results:
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Increasing abandonment risk
Mounting infrastructure costs
Rising transportation costs, increased
distances, fewer transportation options
(other than car)
Current trends will result in declining fiscal health
across the region
-0.3%
Public Feedback
Workshop Map Activity
Public Feedback – Place Types
95%
91%
Legacy Cities (Pre 1910)
1st Ring Suburbs (1910-1959)
2nd Ring Suburbs (1950-1969)
Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Elyria, Lorain, Warren,
Youngstown
Cleveland Heights, Wickliffe, Sheffield, Parma, Mogadore, East
Canton, Howland, etc.
Orange, Eastlake, Norton, Fairlawn, Boardman,
Liberty, North Olmstead, etc.
86%
Outer Ring Suburbs (1970-present)
Established Cities & Towns (varies)
Rural Townships (varies)
Bainbridge, Avon, Westlake, Twinsburgh, Bazetta, etc.
Medina, Painesville, Ravenna, Wooster, Niles,
Ashtabula, Kent, Oberlin, etc.
Parkman, Wellington, Westfield, Hiram, Wyndham,
Saybrook, Jackson, Gustavus
Community Categorization by Growth Patterns
Outreach
 2925 engaged
through Workshops
& Imagine MyNEO
 1412 engaged
through Public
Opinion Polling
 1263 engaged
through other
meetings
Total of 5600
Engaged
4,337 Engaged through Work Shops,
Imagine MyNEO & Polls
Ashtabula
Cuyahoga
Geauga
Lake
Lorain
Mahoning
Medina
Portage
Stark
Summit
Trumbull
Wayne
% of
Attendees and
Participants Actual Census
4%
3%
38%
33%
2%
2%
6%
6%
9%
8%
7%
6%
3%
5%
4%
4%
7%
10%
13%
14%
6%
6%
1%
3%
Recommendation Sources
Board of
Directors
Technical
Steering
Committee
Caucuses
Vision
Sessions
Email
RECOMMENDATIONS
AND INITIATIVES
Vision Components
8 Objectives: the outcomes that the Vision aims to
achieve
4 Themes: the key Vision topic areas
9 Recommendations and 41 Initiatives: the
steps and tools to realize the Vision.
22 Development Strategies: local resources for
creating great places consistent with the Vision
objectives
13 Indicators: the regional performance metrics that
will tell us whether we are on track to attain the Vision
Objectives, Themes,
Recommendations and Initiatives
Objectives are broad and envisioned to meet the
shared needs and challenges of a diverse region.
Themes serve to inspire, organize and guide
the regional decision-making process.
Recommendations & Initiatives are strategic
considerations to be tailored and implemented by
local communities to meet their priorities.
VISION
Objectives
Vision Objectives
Overarching objective: promote
investment in our established
communities
Develop our regional economy with
accessible employment
opportunities
Vision Objectives
Improve our regional fiscal health
Enhance our regional
transportation network
Vision Objectives
Vision Objectives
Protect our soil, water, air, and
ecologically sensitive areas
Cultivate and celebrate our local
assets and places of public value
Vision Objectives
Expand our parks and open space
network
Preserve and value our prime
farmland as a regional economic
asset
Themes and
Recommendations
Theme #1
Strengthen Established
Communities
Where do we want to be in 2040?
Vibrant NEO 2040: Proposed
Regional Vision
Local Examples: Akron
Local Examples: Youngstown
Local Examples: Cleveland
Vision Recommendation
1
Focus new residential and commercial development on
sites within established communities
Vision Recommendation
2
Develop a robust network of regional job centers
connected by multimodal transportation corridors within
and between counties
Vision Recommendation
3
Pursue the remediation, assembly, marketing, and
redevelopment of abandoned properties at both the local
and regional levels
Clean Ohio Assistance Fund –
Priority Investment Areas
Vision Recommendation
4
Encourage a higher frequency of mixed-use development
and a range of diverse, affordable housing options
Theme #2
Increase
Transportation Choice
2040: Connected Communities
HOW DO WE GET THERE?
Expanded Regional Transit Network
Vision Recommendation
5
Enhance and coordinate the region’s rail and bus services
Vision Recommendation
6
Enhance walking and cycling as transportation options to
increase regional mobility and improve public health
Theme #3
Preserve and protect
natural resources
2040: Robust Open Space Networks
Local Examples: Akron
Local Examples: Youngstown
Local Examples: Cleveland
Vision Recommendation
7
Preserve our natural areas for future generations, provide
outdoor recreation opportunities, and develop a regional
approach to protecting air, water, and soil quality
Vision Recommendation
8
Support sustainable agriculture and the local food system
in Northeast Ohio
Theme #4
Promote Collaboration
and Efficiency
Vision Recommendation
9
Increase the collaboration among the region’s government
agencies to expand information sharing and find more
cost-effective means to provide essential services
Putting it Together:
Vibrant NEO 2040
Vibrant NEO 2040: Proposed
Regional Vision
Vibrant NEO 2040:
Proposed Regional Vision
Vibrant NEO 2040: Proposed
Regional Vision
Action Product Overview
Dashboard
Visualization tool that communicates
a set of indicators and metrics,
against which progress toward the
Vibrant NEO 2040 vision will be
measured.
Tool Kit & Best Practices
Implementation tools and
techniques to realize the regional
preferred vision developed through
Vibrant NEO 2040.
Policy Recommendations
Framework for analyzing the effects
existing policies have on the region
and determining what may be
needed to create desired change.
Pilots
Emerging best practices that show
promise in moving the region
towards the Vibrant NEO 2040
preferred vision.
Questions?