Hancock County Planning for Prosperity
DRAFT Recommendations and Goals
August 28, 2003
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT VISION - Hancock County aims to have a diverse year-round economy that offers ample opportunities to earn livable wages in quality jobs. Economic growth shall occur in a manner that minimizes sprawl and protects those natural and human-made features that contribute to the quality of life.
Four elements limiting economic development issues in Hancock County
Economic Development - Limitation of a seasonal economy
Recommendation 1 Support an improved, diversified, and year round business climate in Hancock County
Goal 1A. Coordinate countywide business assistance, retention, and diversification strategies
Economic Development - Education and communication of services
Recommendation 2 - Coordinate economic development activities between and among regions, while recognizing their unique qualities.
Goal 2A. Provide training and technical assistance to entrepreneurs, businesses, municipalities, and the labor force.
Goal 2B. Identify, assess, and publicize business assistance programs and employee training resources
Goal 2C. Support the economy by promoting the area and sustain planning for Hancock County's natural resource industries - tourism - farming, fishing, and forestry.
Economic Development - Policy Issues
Recommendation 3 Promote countywide coordination for economic development by utilizing the countywide economic development strategy
Goal 3A. Assess and ensure that county infrastructure is updated and in place to continue to draw a qualified labor force and to allow for business development opportunities.
Goal 3B. Establish sub regional priorities for business development and share best practices countywide
HEALTH VISION - Hancock County aims to participate in planning healthier communities that include, ready access to healthcare, improving nutrition and increased exercise, and a reduction in chronic disease. The design of communities promotes healthy lifestyles by encouraging walking and physical activities.
Elements that limit the capacity of citizens to live healthy lifestyles in Hancock County include:
Health - Limited access to healthcare and healthy activities
Recommendation 1 All businesses and citizens will have access to affordable basic preventive health care.
Goal 1A. Support initiatives that offer healthcare access and prescription drug coverage for all citizens.
Recommendation 2 - Residents of all ages will incorporate physical activity into their daily routines
Goal 2A. New activities and spaces will be created, developed, and promoted to accommodate physical activities.
Recommendation 3 - People are encouraged to eat healthy foods thus reducing obesity and chronic diseases and contributing to improve overall health.
Goal 3A. Nutrition education will be widespread and will provide people with the information to identify and prepare low cost foods with high nutritional value.
Health - Financial constraints of healthy community planning efforts
Recommendation 4 - Private/Public sector partnerships will support healthy planning efforts as an integral part of maintaining "quality of life" for Hancock County residents.
Goal 4A. Promote healthy community Recommendations and education among and between municipal planners.
Health - Policy Issues
Recommendations 5 - Healthy lifestyles are supported by integrating transportation, land use, and health planning.
Goal 5A. Healthy physical activities such as biking, walking, and using bus systems will be promoted by transportation and land use planning that supports community based multi-modal alternatives.
HOUSING VISION - Hancock County aims to have a diverse and quality housing stock that meets the needs of various income and age groups. Housing shall be built in a manner that minimizes sprawl, encourages the development of pedestrian friendly neighborhoods, and avoids concentrating lower cost housing in particular areas.
Three elements limiting the capacity of addressing housing issues in Hancock County
Housing - Financial Constraints
Recommendation 1 - Private/public sector stakeholders should consider how to combine existing resources and seek additional funding.
Goal 1A - To increase the rate of first time home purchases by persons whose household incomes exceed those for most subsidized housing programs and yet are insufficient to purchase a home on the open market.
Goal 1B. Provide funding for infrastructure development and capital investment
Housing – Regulation
Recommendation 2 - Develop model multifamily zoning ordinance provisions and construction standards
Goal 2A. Increase number of year-round rental opportunities and seasonal worker housing. Acknowledge the importance of rental opportunities to maintaining a diverse population and the importance of a ready labor force for year round and seasonal employers.
Goal 2B. Support best management practices and effective construction standards for local housing development and federal programs that improve housing infrastructure such as public water and sewer.
Recommendation 3 – Educate and inform developers and housing providers about energy efficient, healthy building practices.
Housing - Policy Issues
Recommendation 4 - Assure housing needs across the county are met in a coordinated manner.
Goal 4A. Encourage public/private collaboration, coordination, and information sharing.
Goal 4B. Create or provide authority to an existing entity to coordinate housing initiatives
Goal 4C. Identify parcels of land suitable for building higher density housing (e.g. more than one unit per acre)
Goal 4D. Ensure employers and employees have available housing and the benefit of safe, healthy surroundings.
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LAND USE VISION - Hancock County aims to promote orderly land development that minimizes sprawl, enhances existing villages and neighborhoods, protects natural resources and assures that there is sufficient land for housing and job creation.
Three elements limiting capacity of resolving the land use issues in Hancock County
Land Use - Population growth and demographic shifts
Recommendation 1 - Assist municipalities with assessing fiscal and regional impact of development.
Goal 1A. Create model guidelines for fiscal impact analysis to guide municipalities in determining the positive and negative tax impact of particular development projects.
Recommendation 2 - Conduct a study of the major conservation and wildlife areas throughout the organized portion of the county and recommend priorities for protection.
Goal 2A. Identify and protect priority areas for conservation and long-term land protection while limiting negative impact on the tax base.
Recommendation 3 - Promote measures that make existing built-up areas more attractive to future development.
Goal 3A. Address the effect of demographic shift of population on land values, employment, transportation, health, and housing
Goal 3B. Establish measures to protect and enhance healthy existing downtown areas, villages, and built up areas.
Land Use - Education and Communication
Recommendation 4 - Strengthen and support the overall capacity of planning boards and others involved in the development review process across Hancock County.
Goal 4A. Assist municipalities to develop common review criteria that assess the full impact of land development applications on the community, region, and developers.
Goal 4B. Develop model development tracking procedures that will allow planning boards to assess the long-term impacts of development projects
TRANSPORTATION VISION - Hancock County aims to have a viable, multi-modal transportation system that preserves and enhances mobility and addresses major congestion issues. Over the long term, future development patterns shall be designed in a manner that minimizes traffic congestion problems.
Elements that limit transportation capacity in Hancock County include:
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Transportation - Insufficient infrastructure
Recommendation 1 –- Coordinate transportation and economic development by providing for traffic management while protecting local businesses in the region.
Goal 1A. To relieve congestion promote alternative routes, and modes of transportation such as walking, bicycles, and busses.
Goal 1B. Promotion of air travel as a viable part of the Hancock County economy
Goal 1C. To support water-based transportation as an important part of Hancock County’s transportation infrastructure.
Goal 1D. Make adequate provision for economic importance of truck routes by prioritizing upgrade and repair to ensure prompt and efficient movement of freight.
Transportation - Limited local capacity to contend with transportation issues
Recommendation 2 - Support locally based citizen coalitions that facilitate transportation of elderly, disabled individuals, and families.
Goal 2A. Provide intermodal transportation opportunities in downtowns, at airports, and at train stations.
Transportation - Policy Issues
Recommendation 3 - Integrate land use and transportation planning
Goal 3A. Work with municipalities to plan for coordinated access management measures across Hancock County.
Recommendation 4- Transportation planning that supports preservation and education in implementing the current scenic byways projects and new viable byways.
Goal 4A. Increase recreational opportunities afforded through scenic byways by supporting construction of bicycle and pedestrian facilities including paved shoulders along byways, and community walking trails.