2017 Spencer Comprehensive Land Use Plan

Spencer, Iowa  2017  Comprehensive Plan

3. Encourage city officials, planning and zoning commission members, board of adjustment members, and key community leaders to attend training opportunities to gain new perspective on current or innovative trends in planning and regulatory ordinances. 4. Establish an annual comprehensive plan review process in which public input is encouraged regarding progress in the community. The planning and zoning commission will review the city’s future land use map and policies and make a report to the city council to determine if changes are needed to reflect current development projects. 5. Create a plan to attract and/or retain young professionals and promote a younger population in Spencer. Far too many communities see younger populations leave upon graduation from schools for larger metropolitan areas. Monitor results through affordable housing options, younger demographic trends, and recreational or entertainment activities intended for this age demographic. 6. The City of Spencer should promote and exhibit a welcoming and accommodating feeling to new residents, businesses, and visitors to the community. This may be accomplished through creating and sustaining a “welcoming committee” along with disseminating information to new residents and businesses to the community. 7. Upon review and implementation of new or existing land use policies, remember to protect the rights and interests of property owners in Spencer. 8. When implementing new land use policies, city leaders and elected officials must remember that consistency and fairness is necessary for all residents and businesses in Spencer. Establishing planning or performance standards is one method utilized to determine accountability for the implementation of the city’s comprehensive plan. A benchmark or standards system encourages the city to develop general descriptions of what it hopes to achieve by implementing the land use objectives and policy recommendations outlined in the plan. After identifying desired outcomes, the city should establish thresholds or obtainable measures for the achievement of desired outcomes. City staff should track and review the achievement of desired outcomes from implementing this comprehensive plan. Below is a sample listing of benchmarks Spencer may consider using or expand upon in determining if it has met the desired objectives and policy recommendations of this comprehensive plan: ▪ The sales price of vacant and developable land. ▪ The rate of conversion of vacant land to developed land. ▪ The average sales price of single-family housing monitored over the years. ▪ The average monthly rental costs for multiple family housing. ▪ The number of new single family and multiple family building permits issued. ▪ The goal of attaining a five percent (5%) vacancy rate in housing. ▪ An increase in the amount (in acres) of parks and recreational land uses per capita. ▪ A reduction, or at least no new acreage of residential development located in floodplains or areas not best suited for residential developments. ▪ The number of miles (to be determined by the city) of street repair, resurfaced, or new pavement. ▪ The number of feet (to be determined by the Parks Department) of new trails.

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NW Iowa Planning & Development