Neighborhood Planning state college neighborhood plan March Lunch & Learn noon State College Planning Department

Planning in State College Why are we planning? Collaborative process that brings stakeholders together to prepare a vision for the future of our community What kind of planning work? Neighborhood Planning Downtown Planning Zoning & Land Development Plans Economic Development Historic Preservation & Design Guidelines Town/Gown Relations Affordable Housing & Federal Programs Sustainability/Green Planning Other Planning Agencies/Initiatives Centre Region Planning Agency– Comprehensive Plan & Land Area Plan Township Planning Departments Centre County Planning State College Planning Department Lunch & Learn March 14, 2013

Neighborhood Plan Goals 1.Analyzes neighborhood trends and conditions in such a way that neighborhood residents, community leaders and Borough Council and Staff can identify an appropriate direction for future decision making. 2.Outlines a direction for the future of the neighborhoods that represents the needs and desires of current and future residents of the neighborhood, and furthers the mission of the Borough’s Strategic Plan. 3.Provides actionable strategies that can provide guidance to Borough Council and the Boards and Commissions when making decisions regarding growth and development of the Borough’s Neighborhoods. 4.Identifies strategies for improving neighborhood programs, encouraging and expanding home-ownership, and revitalizing critical neighborhood commercial areas and public spaces. 5.Focuses on initiatives for the neighborhood’s residents and systems that will lead to a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable neighborhood. State College Planning Department Lunch & Learn March 14, 2013

SC Neighborhood Plan State College Planning Department Lunch & Learn March 14, 2013

Neighborhood Plan Timeline Work Program 2012: Highlands SWOT & Recommendations Meetings, Meeting Organization, Citizen Planning Workbook, Neighborhood Plan Update reports January- March 2013: Neighborhood SWOT Analysis Meetings April-June 2013: Draft Recommendations & Discuss with Neighborhoods September 2013: Neighborhood Plan Draft October – November 2013: Community Asset Mapping & Implementation Workshops December 2013: Neighborhood Plan Complete State College Planning Department Lunch & Learn March 14, 2013

Who is Involved? Plan is being prepared by… State College Planning Commission Borough Planning Staff With input from… 1.Neighborhood Associations 2.Neighborhood residents 3.Students State College Planning Department Lunch & Learn March 14, 2013

Neighborhood Plan Tools Prior Neighborhood Plans Research, Inventory & Analysis Planning Commission Neighborhood Meetings Citizen Planning Workbook Community Asset Mapping State College Planning Department Lunch & Learn March 14, 2013

SWOT Analysis 1.Strengths: Features that directly contribute to the quality of life in the neighborhood and should be preserved. 2.Weaknesses: Features that detract from the quality of life in the neighborhood and should be addressed. 3.Opportunities: Features that could become strengths in the neighborhood if they are enhanced. 4.Threats: Features that could become weaknesses in the neighborhood if not addressed. State College Planning Department Lunch & Learn March 14, 2013

Focus Groups Use analysis, input to form strategies Discuss solutions to achieve strategies Form recommendations and action steps for plan Prioritize neighborhoods’ activities State College Planning Department Lunch & Learn March 14, 2013

Workbook & Website State College Planning Department Lunch & Learn March 14, 2013

Borough’s Neighborhoods State College Planning Department Lunch & Learn March 14, 2013

Highlands Population: 9,726; 23% of Boro 77% of residents between ,506 housing units; 88% renter, 12% owner 5% of housing units have families with children Holmes-Foster Population: 4,839; 11.5% of Boro 70% of residents between ,046 housing units; 84% renter, 16% owner 7% of housing units have families with children Orchard Park Population: 4,099; 10% of Boro 33% 18-24, 35% ,081 housing units; 89% renter, 11% owner 11% of housing units have families with children Neighborhood Character College Heights Population: 1,839; 4.4% of Boro 18.4% 18-24, 43% over housing units; 30% renter, 70% owner 20% of housing units have families with children Greentree Population: 923; 2.2% of Boro 24.3% under 18, 51.3% over housing units; 7% renter, 93% owner 31% of housing units have families with children State College South Population: 1,313; 3.1% of Boro 18% 18-24, 18% 25-34, 40% over housing units; 47% renter, 53% owner 17% of housing units have families with children State College Planning Department Lunch & Learn March 14, 2013

Neighborhood Character Highlands Proximity to downtown, campus Diversity of neighborhood residents Historic Architecture, trees, ambiance Fragmentation of neighborhood with rental housing Management of zoning, ordinances Noise, vandalism associated with student neighbors College Heights Quality of Housing stock, trees ambiance Families Former School, historic gas station, parks and recreational opportunities Conversion of owner-occupied homes to rental housing Traffic on N. Atherton, Park Ave Impact of adjacent developments Greentree Parks, bike paths, quality of homes Few rentals, little impacts of close proximity to downtown Impact of adjacent developments State College Planning Department Lunch & Learn March 14, 2013

Questions What questions do you have about neighborhood planning? Carl Hess Planning Director Anne MessnerMeagan Tuttle Website: Facebook: Neighborhoods State College Planning Department Lunch & Learn March 14, 2013