Wayne County leaders outline how comprehensive plan shapes smart growth

Wayne County Commissioner Matt Martin and Planning Director Jenn Kiper recently offered an in-depth look into how the county’s comprehensive plan continues to guide decisions on land use, infrastructure, housing and farmland preservation.

Hosted by the League of Women Voters of Wayne County and held at the library, Martin and Kiper emphasized the community-driven effort that reflects residents’ priorities.

“When I was asked to speak about the direction of the county, my immediate thought was this isn’t my direction,” Martin said. “The comprehensive plan was created by the citizens of Wayne County. It’s our job to align our goals with what you told us.”

Martin credited the planning department for assembling, interpreting and implementing the community’s input and praised Kiper’s leadership.

“(Kiper) provides reliable and objective information that allows us to make the most informed decisions we can,” Martin said. “And she takes time to help residents understand the process because government isn’t always easy to navigate.”

Kiper outlined her department’s responsibilities:

—Technical land-use reviews for lot splits, subdivisions and development proposals.

—Floodplain management, required under FEMA regulations, to ensure eligibility for flood insurance.

—Coordination with Chippewa Township, the only township with zoning.

—Participation in economic development programs including enterprise zones and tax-incentive review.

—Housing and infrastructure grants including Community Development Block Grants, CHIP housing programs and Ohio Public Works Commission funding.

—Farmland preservation programs including the county’s active Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program.

Because most of Wayne County is not zoned, the planning department uses facilities planning area maps created by the Northeast Ohio Four County Planning Organization. The county also collaborates with the Wayne Economic Development Council to analyze housing needs and with local jurisdictions to coordinate infrastructure and ODOT/OPWC funding opportunities.

“This helps us encourage development where infrastructure is already in place,” Kiper said. “It supports housing, supports economic development, and at the same time protects farmland and natural areas by reducing pressure to develop in rural townships.”

Wayne County’s first comprehensive plan dates back decades, followed by major updates in 1997, 2007 and 2019. Kiper said many priorities have remained remarkably consistent over time.

“In 1997 and again in 2019, many of the action items were the same,” she said. “That tells us our core values as a county haven’t changed. We still pride ourselves on the same things.”

Key topic areas in the 2019 plan include land use and development, farmland preservation, housing and population, transportation, and quality of life and amenities.

Martin said smart growth depends on collaboration among the commissioners, county departments, local governments and residents.

“We are going to grow; there’s no way around it,” he said. “Let’s control it and use smart growth. We want to be the best stewards of what we’ve been entrusted with.”

He encouraged residents to participate in future public meetings and noted the comprehensive plan is typically reviewed every 10 years. The next update or audit is expected around 2029.

“The purpose of these meetings is not to tell you what we’re going to do,” Martin said. “It’s to hear what you have to say. Even if we don’t always align politically, having those conversations helps us make better decisions.”

To learn more about the League of Women Voters in Wayne County and see a schedule of upcoming events, visit www.lwvwaynecounty.org.

Dan Starcher is the public communications coordinator for Wayne County.