Troy's Comprehensive Plan Comes Together

American Structurepoint Gives An Update

At a recent meeting with the City of Troy’s Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee on May 23, 2024, the team of planners from American Structurepoint gave key updates and progress on the plan. The comprehensive plan encompasses various aspects of the city's development, including land use, infrastructure, economic development, housing, parks and recreation, social services, and downtown revitalization. Through a public records request, this publication was able to get a copy of American Sturcturepoint’s presentation to the committee, and today’s discussion is a broad overview of the progress and key points discussed during the presentation.

The draft sections of the comprehensive plan are now complete. These sections include the introduction, vision and goals, growth management, land use, transportation and infrastructure, economic development, attainable housing, parks and recreation, social services, and downtown revitalization. These sections form the backbone of the plan, providing a strategic framework for our community’s future.

A key component of the plan is the Future Land Use Map, which features 14 character classes, and is shown below. These classes cover a range of land uses, including open space and conservation, agricultural, various residential types (single-unit detached, attached, multi-unit), mixed-use, and commercial and industrial uses. The map is designed to guide the city's growth while preserving its character and managing resources efficiently. Additionally, the “Close-Knit Factor” is a new concept introduced to evaluate and guide development, ensuring it enhances community cohesiveness. Developments are required to meet specific offsets, such as exceeding building codes, providing additional green spaces, and incorporating community amenities. The general idea being that when certain areas are developed, developers will need to provide more amenities to the community as these areas are built.

Transportation and infrastructure improvements are central to the comprehensive plan. The Complete Streets initiative focuses on creating streets that accommodate all users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. Prototype cross-sections have been developed to illustrate potential designs for various street types. Infrastructure planning includes significant upgrades to wastewater and water systems to support growth areas, particularly in the northwest and west growth areas, ensuring the city can meet future demand without compromising service quality.

Economic development strategies in the comprehensive plan are centered on leveraging existing strengths and addressing gaps. The plan supports existing businesses through a robust Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) program. It also develops a retail and entertainment-specific recruitment strategy to attract new businesses and enhance the city’s appeal. Furthermore, fostering industry clusters, such as fabricated metal, printing, and food industries, aims to create a supportive ecosystem for businesses.

Housing strategies focus on addressing unmet demand and providing diverse housing options. The city aims to refine zoning and building regulations to accommodate all housing types and densities. Developing employer-assisted housing programs to support workforce retention and encouraging infill and redevelopment projects to make efficient use of available land are also key aspects of the plan.

Troy's parks and recreation facilities are another focal point of the comprehensive plan. The city boasts 37 park facilities, but the plan identifies the need for new amenities and updates, especially in newer subdivisions west of Interstate 75. Strategies include requiring new park spaces within developing neighborhoods, updating the 2019 parks assessment to align with current community needs, and incorporating innovative features such as meditation spaces and community gardens to enhance recreational experiences.

Improving access to social services is another priority in the comprehensive plan, which was given very little attention in the current comprehensive plan. The draft plan addresses issues such as food deserts and public transportation challenges. Strategies include developing a food desert analysis to identify and address gaps in grocery store access, and working with Miami County and local nonprofits to enhance public transit options and social support services.

Downtown Troy remains a focal point for redevelopment efforts. Building on the success of previous initiatives, the comprehensive plan aims to preserve and enhance the historic character of downtown. The plan encourages infill development that complements existing structures, addresses parking challenges, improves wayfinding signage, and develops a targeted strategy for converting upper-floor spaces into residential units.

The comprehensive plan outlines 51 strategy recommendations, with a focus on identifying 10 to 15 near-term priorities to be addressed within the next five years. This approach ensures that the city can make tangible progress while maintaining flexibility to adapt to changing needs. In future editions of this newsletter, time will be spent to review these strategies and their implications for our community.

The project schedule includes key milestones, such as the completion of the draft implementation and critical path strategies by June 2024 and the final comprehensive plan by August or September 2024. This timeline ensures that the city remains on track to achieve its vision for the future.

American Strucutrepoint appears to be making strong progress on the new comprehensive plan. The plan certainly appears to be a forward-looking document that balances growth while preserving the community’s character. The progress made so far reflects a thoughtful and inclusive approach to planning, addressing key areas such as housing, economic development, infrastructure, and social services. As the plan moves towards finalization, it will serve as a vital roadmap for the city’s development, ensuring that our community remains a vibrant and welcoming community for current and future residents.

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