Providing guidance for over 3,000 acres within the City’s utility boundary, the Delaware Southeast Focus Area Plan establishes predictability at a dynamic time. With active development surrounding the planning area in a growing region, it will help the City to make thoughtful decisions about housing, amenities and services, transportation infrastructure, and more.
- Continuing a tradition of community planning. The Delaware Together Comprehensive Plan (2021) identified six Focus Areas where significant change could be reasonably expected over the next decade. The Southeast Area Plan continued this long-range vision for the community’s future. The themes from the comprehensive plan were influential in the planning process for the Southeast Focus Area. The plan provides more detailed guidance while maintaining flexibility and a big-picture approach.
- Addressing regional housing demand. The demand for housing in the City, County, and Central Ohio Region is expected to grow. Population estimates predict that the population in Delaware County will grow 25% and add over 260,000 people by 2040. Studies have indicated that over 1,000 housing units must be built each year to accommodate this growth. The Southeast Focus Area Plan provides strategies for how new housing could blend into the surrounding community.
- Defining and recommending improvements to quality of place. Input was solicited from important stakeholders, including local school districts, hospitals, parks organizations, and others to ensure the recommendations reflected important considerations regarding the desired future. Clear purpose statements provided guidance on appropriate land use types throughout the Southeast Area. These laid a foundation for a character-based approach to identifying opportunities and ideal development patterns, all in an effort to support cohesive and attractive communities.
Planning NEXT is proud to continue its partnership with the City of Delaware in conducting long-range planning.
