Final Draft of Swanton Area Vision Report DOC

FINAL DRAFT Swanton Area Sustainable Vision Initiative: A Community Vision Created through Principles of Sustainability Cooperating Partners: Swanton Area Chamber of Commerce Swanton Township * Swan Creek Township Village of Swanton * Swanton School District Fulton Township * Harding Township Ohio State University Extension May 2006 Acknowledgements The following organizations and their representatives made this project possible through their sponsorship, leadership and commitment of time: Swanton Area Chamber of Commerce Swan Creek Township Village of Swanton Bellinger Swanton Local School District Swanton Township Warkentin Harding Township Fulton Township St Richard’s School Bernarda Harborside Healthcare SPORTS Welles Bowne Realtors Green Ribbon Initiative Swanton Library Neil Toeppe Richard Stout Bill Robin Rayfield John Doyle Drennan Joe Gombash Sr Mary McConnell Dan Brown Gale Parsil Jan Hunter Linda Slaninka Process Design and guidance was provided by The Ohio State University Extension Sustainable Development Center: Team Members: Bill Grunkemeyer, Co-Director and Interim Director, OSU Extension Center at Wooster Myra Moss, Co-Director and Extension Specialist, OSU Extension Center at Lima Table of Contents I Executive Summary II Vision Statement III Introduction IV Results from Vision Sessions V Conclusion and Next Steps VI Exhibit I: Summary of Vision Sessions Executive Summary Swanton Area residents arrived at a list of aspirational goals that reflect the values of the Swanton Area community Implementing these goals over a long term period can lead to a sustainable future The list of goals is as follows: (Note: to be finalized by steering committee) Natural Environment: Built Environment: Socio-cultural: Economic: Vision Statement The Swanton Area Community is a sustainable region that believes in a delicate balance and intentional linkage among the social, environmental and economic sectors of the communities We value our unique open spaces, natural sites, and recreational amenities such as the Oak Openings, Kitty Todd Preserve, Pilliod Park, and area recreational programs We have many and varied outdoor recreational opportunities in close proximity to the Swanton Area Community The Swanton Area Community maintains its excellent open spaces and amenities and small town feel while carefully planning for balanced growth and controlled economic and residential development Residential development is clustered in appropriate areas and business development has been steered to areas, such as properties contiguous to the airport, ideally poised for business development The Swanton Area Community is in a good location to take advantage of the services and resources offered by nearby larger cities such as Toledo while still being able to maintain our “small town” feel of safety and family centeredness Our transportation networks and improved traffic flow, both within and to the Swanton Area community, promote ease of travel without congestion The Swanton Area’s educational system is excellent, and offers a full range of opportunities for kindergartners through college students and adult learners Our public school system is well funded and managed Introduction What makes a Sustainability Plan Unique Sustainability is based on finding the balance between the economic, environmental and social sectors of what creates a community Each sector is intentionally connected to the other sectors to assure the availability of resources necessary to provide opportunities not simply for today but also for future generations Every community must establish the cornerstones upon which it will build and sustain itself The leaders of the Swanton Area Community have chosen to build their community on the cornerstones of sustainability These four cornerstones of sustainability have guided the process of the Swanton Area’s visioning as follows: Balanced and Interconnected: The concept of sustainability is defined as finding the long-term balance between environmental (built and natural), social and economic issues Within this context, sustainability seeks to find and nurture a balance among these three key sectors that impact the viability and vitality of a community Sustainability means giving all three factors careful consideration and act with intentionality, not causality, as community planning, development and redevelopment efforts move forward The next step in the comprehensive planning process will begin to draw linkages among the input shared through visioning, arriving at holistic and consensus community goals Long Term: Sustainability planning is about looking out generations, not just decades as is the case with most planning efforts By focusing on the long term it forces us to look beyond the more immediate conflicts and begin to articulate what we want the future to be The second question of the visioning sessions, What you hope the Swanton Area Community will become for your grandchildren and great-grandchildren? pushes residents to think out 50 years Inclusionary: Sustainability planning is a resident-driven process which insures that all segments of the community have the opportunity to become part of the process This is accomplished in two ways: first, by insuring that the steering committee is comprised of members of all segments of the community, and second, by insuring that barriers to participation in the visioning are reduced Using “Lasswell’s Wheel” (see Exhibit I) the steering committee has been formed to insure that all voices in the Swanton Area community are at the table Also using this tool, groups and organizations that should be visited were identified Thirdly, barriers to participation in visioning were reduced by “going to where people gather,” that is, by piggybacking on top of already scheduled gatherings, going to places where residents were already familiar and comfortable Multi-dimensional Indicators: Multi-dimensional indicators provide an effective method to track and measure if chosen community goals are helping to reach the community’s shared vision They are multi-dimensional because they consider social, economic and environmental qualities in measuring progress Process The following report contains a compilation of resident statements regarding what residents currently value about the Swanton Area community and what residents hope for future generations in the Swanton Area community as identified during 20 vision sessions held from September 2004 to October 2005 The Swanton Area Community encompasses a region in northwest Ohio including the Village of Swanton, Swanton Township, Swan Creek Township, Swanton Local School District, Harding Township and Fulton Township Over 329 Swanton Area residents of all ages, ethnicity, race, backgrounds and walks of life gave of their valuable time to provide their priorities, thoughts and dreams What emerges is a commonly shared ethos of Swanton Area residents This shared vision will provide direction and goals for the next stage of this planning process, that is, the creation of the Swanton Area’s resident-directed goals built upon the aforementioned cornerstones of sustainability Results from Vision Sessions I Identification of Broad Consensus Themes Five themes received broad consensus from Swanton area residents during the twenty community vision sessions These themes were:      Parks and Recreation Infrastructure/transportation Economic Development Education Community Life and Values An additional three themes received recognition, but not broad consensus from each of the community sectors These additional themes were:    Natural Resources Historic Properties & Built Environment Housing Broad Consensus Themes are identified in red in the following report II Organization of this Report The following vision session compilation is structured in the following manner: The three major components of sustainability with the corresponding Consensus Themes emerging from the vision sessions include the following: I Environmental Sustainability – Natural & Built   Parks and Recreation Infrastructure/Transportation II Economic Sustainability  Economic Development III Social Sustainability   Education Community Life and Values Summary Statements encapsulating the resident’s input appear in bold italics underneath each theme Individual resident comments (identified by a ●) then appear, verbatim, under each Summary Statement by Community Category (using Lasswell’s Values and Institutions Categories as a guide - see Exhibit I) Please note that there were no group vision sessions conducted in the “Enlightenment” category, which would include Universities, the Media, and Research Organizations As a result, no input is listed under this category Where appropriate, resident’s similar comments have been grouped and the number of times they have been made is shown in parentheses after the comment Most of the resident’s comments are verbatim, written exactly as they were stated during the vision session Results from Vision Sessions COMPONENT: ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY Swanton Area’s Natural & Built Environment Theme: Natural Resources I What we value (question #1): We value the open and natural areas and rural atmosphere of the Swanton Area community, specifically the Oak Openings Park, our rural atmosphere, and agricultural lands Community Category: Well-Being  Oak Openings Park (beautiful) (2)  Farm lands  Diversity of nature  Rural atmosphere  Agriculture Community Category: Affection Affection #1: Adults  Peaceful nature of being in the country  Small farming community away from the hustle and bustle of the “big city”  State park (Maumee State Forest) & Oak Openings  Maumee River is nearby Affection #2: Youth  Nature reserves  Nice scenery Community Category: Respect  Oak Openings Metro park (3) Green Space – local parks and Oak Openings  Tranquility of the area  Metro parks  Kitty Todd Preserve (2)  Maumee State Forest  Natural areas 10     Like to see Swanton Schools become one of the best systems in the area Swanton Schools not to be “testing” schools Good school system Retain superior teachers Community Category: Rectitude Community Category: Skills  Schools that continue to improve Statement: Community Category: Affection Affection #1: Adults Affection #2: Youth o Higher education facility or institution Theme: Housing I What we value (Question #1): The Swanton Area community’s housing is affordable and well planned Community Category: Well-Being Community Category: Affection Affection #1: Adults  Community growth – housing development  Affordable housing Affection #2: Youth o New housing growth Community Category: Respect  Affordability of housing Community Category: Power Community Category: Wealth/Poverty  Controlled residential growth II Community Category: Rectitude Community Category: Skills Community Category: Enlightenment What we hope (Question #2): 26 Housing opportunities in the Swanton area community are well planned and of different varieties, with some providing for the special needs of retired persons Community Category: Well-Being Community Category: Affection  More high end residential homes  Attract higher income people to Swanton Community Category: Respect  Planned housing and businesses  High percentage of owner occupied homes Community Category: Power Community Category: Wealth/Poverty  Housing for retired people in community setting  Retirement facilities  Place for retired people Community Category: Rectitude Community Category: Skills  More retirement housing Community Category: Enlightenment Theme: Social Services I What we value (Question #1): The Swanton Area community is home to many excellent public and social services, volunteer groups and individuals; the Library is widely appreciated for its facilities and programs Community Category: Well-Being  Library (2) – GREAT resource  Family health  Harborside (2) Community Category: Affection Affection #1: Adults  Support from civic/community groups (Rotary, Elks, Chamber of Commerce)  Library program  Library  Hard workers o Volunteers 27 o Civic organizations o Social organizations Affection #2: Youth o Library Community Category: Respect  Library is involved with youth programs  Library (3)  Community spirit, especially of volunteers II Community Category:  The library Power Community Category:  Library Wealth/Poverty Community Category: Rectitude Community Category:  Library Skills Community Category: Enlightenment What we hope (Question #2): Public services, volunteerism, safety response and health care, including the local hospital, provide improved services to residents Community Category: Well-Being Community Category: Affection  Increased charitable support Affection #2: Youth o Improve police response o Improved EMS response and system o Improved law enforcement o More police o Keep crime rate low o Improved health care o Local hospital Community Category: Respect Community Category: Power Community Category: Wealth/Poverty Community Category: Rectitude Community Category: Skills Community Category: Enlightenment 28 Theme: Community Life & Values I What we value (Question #1): The Swanton Area Community is a friendly, close-knit and safe community with small town values where neighbors care for each other and children are valued and protected Community Category: Well-Being  Close knit  Small/personal  Friendliness of people in the community (2)  Small town  Morals of individuals in the community Community Category: Affection Affection Part I: Adults  Familiarity – lifelong resident  Friendly people (helpful, caring)  Small community atmosphere (2)  Caring community support  Great place to raise a family  Hometown attitudes, atmosphere, closeness  Everyone knows everyone  More like an extended family than a town  People genuinely care for one another  People  It is everything I thought a small town should be We would never go back to big city living Thank you Swanton for making life more pleasurable small town with convenience of most necessities within a few miles  Parents watch out for each other and each others’ children  Feeling of “a community raises a child”  Raising children in a safe secure community  Safety and security  Police Department  Fire and Rescue services  Quiet neighborhood to raise my family  Down to earth, friendly people 29   Great community pride People o Know lots of people o Good character o Close knit Affection Part II: Youth  Small town – privacy  People know each other  Safe town  Friendly people  Openness of people  Safety and security  Privacy Community Category: Respect  The enjoyable people  Open, friendly people (2)  Great place to raise a family  Big family  Community sense of being together  Close knit community  Quiet, relaxing neighborhoods  Small town  Good neighborhoods, sense of security and safety  Low crime rate  Our kids  Feeling of safety Community Category:  The people Power Community Category: Wealth/Poverty  Quiet community  People coming together on issues – family  Whole sense of community  Safety- less crime (2)  Great rescue squad, fire department and police  Good water Community Category: Rectitude  Smallness of community – maintain village sense  People know each other  Friendliness – warmth Community Category: Skills  Low crime rate, police protection and police cooperation Community Category: Enlightenment The Swanton Area community supports diversity and religious values 30 Community Category:  Churches (2) Well-Being Community Category: Affection Affection #1: Adults  Churches  Collaborative church activities  Churches o Community involvement o Preschools Affection #2: Youth  Lots of churches  Variety of churches Community Category: Respect  Religious diversity  Our churches work together  We are a more racially and culturally diverse community Community Category: Power  Working relationships between our area churches Community Category: Wealth/Poverty  Diversity of churches Community Category: Rectitude  Churches – faith community working together Community Category: Skills  Diverse religious choices Community Category: Enlightenment The Swanton Area community is home to many community festivals, events and special features that are a point of pride and carry great tradition for local residents Community Category: Well-Being  Fulton County fair  Corn Fest (3)  Keep community traditions  Party in the Park (2)  July 4th Fireworks  Christmas lights in Pilliod Park  Parades Community Category: Affection #1: Adults  Corn Fest  Parades Affection 31  Community involvement – Corn Festival, Christmas Parade, Relay for Life, Fireworks  Christmas music played downtown during holiday season Affection #2: Youth  Community activities o Corn Festival o Community garage sale o Parades Community Category: Respect  Corn Fest  Christmas parade  Baker Steam engine Community Category:  Corn Festival  Our parades  4th of July fireworks  Honey Bear  Doughboy Power Community Category: Wealth/Poverty  Corn Festival brings people together (2)  4th of July Fireworks  Party in the Park Community Category: Rectitude Community Category: Skills  Corn Festival  Christmas in Swanton & other community celebrations  July 4th Fireworks Community Category: II Enlightenment What we hope (Question #2): The Swanton Area is a small, close knit, friendly and caring community that is a good place to raise a family and is supportive of our children Community Category: Well-Being Community Category: Affection  More close knit community – know your neighbors  Established neighborhoods  Swanton is a town people want to stay in – we retain people  Great place to raise a family 32 Community Category: Respect  Swanton is a small town atmosphere  A place where people would want to stay/move to  We know the value of a small caring community  A warm, welcoming community  We are friendly  A place where families value each other  We are a safe and prosperous community where we can raise our families  A more supported community for our children’s sake  Vibrant, well planned, close knit – smallness – interconnectedness  Retain “home town” values  Diverse population Community Category:  Rich-affluent Power Community Category: Wealth/Poverty  Maintain strong sense of community Community Category: Rectitude Community Category: Skills Community Category: Enlightenment The Swanton Area Community is safe with excellent health and other public services Community Category: Well-Being  We have a larger library  Our recycling center is excellent  We have a Children’s Clinic  Young people’s counseling programs are available Community Category: Affection Affection #1: Adults  We are a safe and secure community Affection #2: Youth  Bigger/improved library o PC availability Community Category: Respect  There is more medical care, urgent care and physicians  We are a quiet, safe community  We are a safe home community  Local Swanton newspaper is a resource Community Category: Power Community Category: Wealth/Poverty  We maintain a nice, safe environment for kids 33 Community Category: Rectitude Community Category: Skills Community Category: Enlightenment The Swanton Area community is proud of who they are, has a clear sense of their own identity, supports diversity and is positive about the future Community Category: Well-Being Community Category: Affection Affection #1: Adults  Positive/responsible/supportive community dwellers – everyone in the community takes ownership  Purple Pride  Community pride  People find a reason to have pride in their hometown  Stronger, prouder community  Positive reputation  Drug problems at Memorial Park have been solved Affection #2: Youth  More cultural diversity Community Category: Respect  Swanton is a community you can be proud of  Swanton has a more self-sustaining identity and its own image  We have a positive sense of optimism  Continue traditional festival  Youth have a positive view of the future  Community of cheerleaders, not tear leaders  Build up community beginning with youth  Greater appreciation for what is here naturally – greater us and awareness Community Category: Power Community Category: Wealth/Poverty  More positive image of community Community Category: Rectitude  More church going people ($)  More cultural diversity Community Category: Skills Community Category: Enlightenment 34 Swanton Area leadership is excellent, with political/elected officials and residents making wise decisions to further community goals based on collective vision and values Community Category: Well-Being Community Category: Affection  Improved collaboration between school board, village council, trustees  Expand village limits  Stronger leadership in the village (community government)  Continue traditions of today keeping growth to a minimum  Possibility of village growing by extending boarders  Stronger leadership Community Category: Respect  We are one political subdivision instead of five  Decisions (community, business, etc.) are made according to a shared community vision and goals  Our media is fair and does not create divisiveness  We have an ongoing process of visioning and planning  We have a political structure that synergizes local resources that maintain local control rather than control from outside entities  Improved political unity  Local officials willing to talk and work together  Potential to get even better Community Category: Power  More recognition for town volunteers – Community Rewards  One major community fundraiser for needy – worthwhile community fundraiser Community Category: Wealth/Poverty  Maintain control/voice in rural areas  Control how land is split and subdivided  Involvement of citizens  More recognition from county seat Community Category: Rectitude Community Category: Skills Community Category: Enlightenment 35 36 Conclusions and Next Steps The Swanton Area Sustainable Vision Initiative has identified some key components necessary to build a balanced approach to community development in the area To date the Cooperating Partners have not determined their shared purpose(s) for undertaking this effort The Ohio State University Extension Sustainable Communities Team working on this project recommends the following next steps for moving the effort forward: Convene a Brainstorming Summit of the cooperating partners to explore application of this information The United States is currently in a transition phase which is moving the country into a new economy This new economy is based on the asset of Knowledge and the innovations created from applying this knowledge A key component to a community participating in this transition is their ability to think and act regionally The Cooperating Partners in this project representing seven governmental leadership jurisdictions have begun a regional approach to the issues and opportunities facing their region It is extremely important that these jurisdictions continue the initiative through the identification of shared initiatives they wish to address collaboratively A Brainstorming Summit led by the cooperating partners with invitations to key area leaders is critical to moving the vitality of the Swanton Area forward Initiatives should focus around the six themes identified from the Sustainable Communities Initiative Residents have identified the importance of Parks & Recreation, Infrastructure & Transportation, Economic Development, Education, Community Life & Values and Natural Resources Although these are broad theme areas, residents also suggest specific initiatives that would maintain and enhance the value of living within the Swanton Area The suggested initiatives should be used as beginnings for leadership’s collective Brainstorming Summit as outlined in Recommendation # Unique Natural Resources have been identified that define a special element of the Swanton Area Residents have clearly identified some key Natural Resource Areas that provide a unique identity and lifestyle for the area These resources 37 should act as a core from which Swanton Area leadership maintains and builds a future for the area The Ohio State University Extension Sustainable Development Team has completed a number of similar processes for communities in Ohio It is clear to our Team that the Swanton Area resident’s assessment of their special Natural Resources in the area identifies unique characteristics not present in most other community projects completed by our Team Find the critical balance between the Environment, Economic and Social Sectors of the community The key to success in ascertaining and building a sustainable future for the Swanton Area is the ability of elected officials and residents to find the unique balance between the Environmental, Social and Economic sectors of the community No one sector can be raised to a superior position over the other two nor can one sector be subservient to the other two sectors The New Economy is based first on the lifestyle available to the entrepreneurs building our economic base of tomorrow These entrepreneurs seek a healthy natural environment mixed with social amenities that provide lifestyle necessary to foster innovation, creativity and a trained workforce Finding the balance is key to building a sustainable community 38 EXHIBIT I Swanton Area Sustainable Community Vision Sessions Community Sector and Category (Lasswell’s Values & Institutions) Wealth/Poverty Chamber, Industry Small Business Community Action Landowners, Insurance Foundations, Consumers Well-Being Recreation, Law Enforcement Emergency Services/Fire Solid Waste Management/ Recycling, Health Enlightenment Universities, Media Research Organizations Rectitude Religious Organizations Ministerial Associations Skills Public Schools Non-Public Schools Career Centers Tech Schools Workforce Development Final Status Report – February 20, 2006 Date Organization/Entity Facilitators # of Participant s 7/05 No Swanton Tax Committee Neil Toeppe 10/7/04 Swanton Rotary Bill Grunkemeyer 24 11/11/0 Welles Bowen Realty Gail Parsil 10/21/0 Harborside Healthcare Mary McConnell 42 5/05/05 Ministerial Association Neil Toeppe 11/15/0 Swanton High School Teachers & Staff Neil Toeppe 52 St Richard’s Staff Sr Bernarda 27 Library Linda Slaninka 10/17/0 5/05/06 39 Power Village Councils, Township Trust Planning Commission Court System, Human Services Affection Youth Families Senior Citizens 4-H 9/1/04 Parks & Recreation Board ? 10 11/15/0 Swanton High School Students Neil Toeppe 37 SPORTS Dan Brown 10 St Richard’s Parents ? 12 Green Ribbon Initiative Jan Hunter Oak Openings Neil Toeppe, Bill Grunkemeyer & Myra Moss Guidance Council Neil Toeppe, Bill Grunkemeyer & Myra Moss 79 Knights of Columbus Neil Toeppe 10/20/0 10/14/0 5/5/05 5/5/05 Respect Citizen’s Groups Service Clubs Civil Rights Groups 9/23/04 ; other dates 7/05 Total # of Sessions: 20 Total # of Participants: 329 % of Population Participating: 2% % of Labor Force Participating: 5% 40 ... sponsorship, leadership and commitment of time: Swanton Area Chamber of Commerce Swan Creek Township Village of Swanton Bellinger Swanton Local School District Swanton Township Warkentin Harding... leaders of the Swanton Area Community have chosen to build their community on the cornerstones of sustainability These four cornerstones of sustainability have guided the process of the Swanton Area? ??s... commonly shared ethos of Swanton Area residents This shared vision will provide direction and goals for the next stage of this planning process, that is, the creation of the Swanton Area? ??s resident-directed