Support for agriculture
Wayne County is proud of its agricultural heritage as well as the continued strength of the sector today. A significant focus of the plan was directing new development to existing cities and towns, while preserving existing rural areas. Proactive strategies to support the County’s strong agricultural base were developed to promote agriculture-related industry, ensure ample space for agricultural land uses and minimize incompatibilities with other activities.


Assessing potential tools
The County was aware that certain tools were working well to help manage growth and change. However, in some ways the existing regulations and incentives were not completely fulfilling the County’s needs. The planning process included an assessment of potential revisions to existing tools (e.g. subdivision regulations, zoning, easement programs), as well as potential new tools to help achieve desired outcomes. This work included some comparative assessment of other similar counties in the region.
Building trust and understanding
In a county with very limited zoning and an individualistic orientation toward land management, creating trust in government and the planning process was especially important. Through a range of outreach techniques, the planning team made sure that all community members felt they were being heard. Throughout the planning process, 99% of exit survey respondents said they felt their input was heard and reported accurately.

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Tags
Project Type: comprehensive plan
Community Type: county
Client: Wayne County, Ohio
Services: comprehensive planning, community engagement