Comprehensive plans for Greene County, Bloomfield to be subject of upcoming public hearings

The town of Bloomfield will host a public hearing to review its comprehensive plan at 6 p.m. on Tuesday at the fire station.

A public hearing comprehensive plan covering the unincorporated areas of Greene County be hosted by the Greene County Advisory Plan Commission at 7 p.m. on July 28.

The meeting will be in the Greene County Courthouse Commissioner's Room, located on the third floor of the courthouse in Bloomfield.

Both meetings are to provide citizens an opportunity to express views on the recently completed final draft of the respective plans.

David A. Ripple, chief of Transportation and Land Use Planning for Bernardin, Lochmueller and Associates, of Evansville, says the plans address economic development, natural resource conservation, and the best use of infrastructure and tourism for the county and Bloomfield, centered upon the eventual construction of I-69's southern leg, which will cross the southeast portion of the county.

It could also prove useful when the county or the town of Bloomfield competes for further federal and state grants for development and infrastructure improvement, Ripple said.

"It provides general guidance for the physical development of the community. General recommendations of where the growth ought to occur, the infrastructure to support it and the environment -- both historic and natural resources -- to achieve protection," he explained.

The consultant stressed that these comprehensive plans do not contain a zoning or land use component.

"This is not a zoning plan and it does not contain any zoning recommendations whatsoever," Ripple said.

Ripple stressed that the hearing is required by state statute as a key step that has to be done before adoption.

A $150,000 Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) grant underwrote the cost of studies for the county, city of Linton and town of Bloomfield.

Linton has completed and adopted its comprehensive plan while the county and Bloomfield need to complete their part of the plan by August and either adopted it or reject it, according to Ripple.

Linton Mayor Tom Jones said the comprehensive plan gives a community guidelines and provides footsteps on how to move forward.

"If you follow it, it kind of keeps everybody on track. You tend not to make as many mistakes if you follow the plan," Jones said.

Ripple said representatives from Bernardin-Lochmueller & Associates will be available to answer questions at both upcoming hearings.

Written comments for the Bloomfield plan will be accepted at the Town Hall through the close of the business on the day of the hearing and also at the hearing.

Written comments for the county's plan will be accepted at the Greene County Auditor's Office through 4 p.m. on July 28 and at the public hearing that evening.

A copy of the final draft of the Bloomfield plan is available for inspection at the Bloomfield Town Hall and also at the Bloomfield-Eastern Greene Public Library.

A copy of the county's final draft plan is available for public review at the Greene County Auditor's Office, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Copies of the county's plan are also available for inspection during regular business hours at:

* Bloomfield-Eastern Greene Public Library, 125 S. Franklin St. Bloomfield, Ind. 47424

* Bloomfield-Eastern Greene County Public Library, State Highway 54, Cincinnati, Ind., 47424

* Jasonville Public Library, 611 W. Main Street, Jasonville, Ind., 47438

* Linton Public Library, 95 1st St. SE, Linton, Ind., 47441

* Worthington-Jefferson Township Library, 26 N. Commercial St., Worthington, Ind., 47471

GREENE COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS

The Greene County Comprehensive Plan makes the following recommendations:

* Locations for future land use opportunities inside and adjacent to Bloomfield, Jasonville, Linton and Bloomfield; along the U.S. 231 corridor; and along the I-69 corridor.

* U.S. 231 Corridor north of I-69 to Bloomfield and from the SR 57/SR 54 intersection to Worthington -- future industrial or commercial on parcels in the TIF District

* U.S. 231 Corridor south of I-69 and WestGate at Crane Technology Park around Scotland -- future industrial or commercial on parcels in TIF District

* Future industrial southeast of Jasonville on SR 59

* Future industrial along the railroad tracks on the east side of Linton.

* Commercial along SR 54 northwest and northeast of Linton.

* Residential around the existing corporate boundaries of Jasonville, Linton, Worthington and Bloomfield.

* CR 600S from U.S. 231 to CR 600E -- residential.

* Ashcraft Chapel area on north side of I-69 west of SR 45 -- infill residential.

* SR 45 south of Cincinnati -- infill residential on flat ridge tops.

* SR 54 from Cincinnati to Hobbieville -- residential of lands abutting SR 54 with gradual slopes

* Cincinnati Area -- residential on lands with gradual slopes abutting state routes, particularly around the Eastern Greene schools.

* Cincinnati Area -- scattered commercial near the SR 45/SR 445 intersection and the SR 45/I-69 Interchange Connector.

* New park/recreation area east of Worthington overlooking the White River.

* Completion of I-69.

* Typical cross sections for thoroughfare right-of-way preservation and design.

* Trails connecting incorporated communities and major recreation areas such as a trail from the WestGate at Crane Technology Park to the town of Crane, a trail along the historic Wabash & Erie Canal and abandoned railway from Newberry to Worthington.

* Monitoring water and wastewater treatment plants to ensure adequate capacity to accommodate anticipated growth.

* Provision of sanitary sewers to the I-69/US 231 interchange area and WestGate at Crane Technology Park (development of wastewater treatment plant at Scotland under way).

* Improvement of waterlines as necessary to serve the I-69/US 231 interchange area and WestGate at Crane Technology Park.

* Provision sanitary sewers and improved waterlines in the Cincinnati Area.

* Consideration of sewers and waterlines at other proposed I-69 interchanges.

* Considering formation of a county-wide parks and recreation board.

* To development and implement a countywide recreation master plan involving Federal, State and local park and recreation areas.

* To develop an active recreation program using public school facilities throughout the county.

* Protection of historic properties through grants and tax incentives.

* Use of Transportation Enhancement grants and other federal sources to secure public ownership and develop a trail with support facilities along the Wabash & Erie Canal.

* Check of archaeological site records for major construction projects.

* A land use pattern and development review guidelines that minimize the impact on prime farm land.

* A future land use pattern that protects forested areas.

* Protection of three environmentally sensitive areas with karst caves and springs -- along Plummer Creek/Tunnel Hill Road northwest of Owensburg, the American Bottoms along SR 54 near Ridgeport, and along Richland Creek northeast of Solsberry -- through private dedication of easements or voluntary public land acquisition..

* Avoiding development on steep slopes.

* Following IDEM rules to protect floodplains and wetlands.

* Improving economic development opportunities by -- 1) Providing more job opportunities at all skill levels and attracting new businesses through incentives; 2) Providing incentives to encourage reuse of vacant commercial and industrial properties; 3) Providing adequate infrastructure to existing and proposed industrial, commercial and residential sites; 4) Promoting development opportunities along major roads leading to I-69 in southeast Greene County; 5) Providing incentives to retain and assist in the expansion of existing businesses; 6) Encouraging the development of additional retail businesses and personal services; 7) Ensuring communication and coordination between all parties involved in economic development; 8) Preparing an economic development strategy indentifying assets, emerging business sectors, a business and attractive program, development and marking existing and potential sites, promoting small businesses, developing financial resources and developing a regional approach; 9) Considering the development of a dilapidated housing program and pursing grants and loans to assist in housing rehabilitation and maintenance.

*Promoting tourism -- 1) Commitment to a dedicated source of funding; 2) Creating a sustainable tourism industry through the identification of staff responsible for driving the tourism industry for the long-term; 3) Developing a regional approach; 4) Examining a variety of ways to promote tourism; 5) Encouraging local investment in increased tourism accommodations; 6) Researching grant and loan opportunities; 7) Encouraging expanded tourism opportunities and/or attractions that fit the rural character of the county such as Agri-Tourism, Eco-Tourism, Equestrian Recreation, and Arts & Heritage.

* Adoption of the comprehensive plan to be better compete with other communities for State and Federal programs for economic development and downtown revitalization, commercial and residential structure rehabilitation, historic structure preservation, recreation land and facility improvements, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, sanitary sewer/potable water/stormwater facility improvements, and protection of floodplains/wetland/wildlife areas.

BLOOMFIELD COMPREHENSIVE PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS

The Bloomfield Comprehensive Plan makes the following recommendations:

* Locations for future land use opportunities inside and adjacent to the town to address future land use.

* Thoroughfare street designations and typical cross-sections to guide roadway improvements.

* A new road on the town's southeast side connecting East Spring Street near the Greene County Sheriff's Office to CR 50S near the Richland-Taylor Township Fire Station connecting existing and future commercial facilities and improving access for fire and other emergencies constrained by the railroad.

* Considering a pavement management system for more cost-effective use of pavement maintenance.

* Considering a trail system to link schools and recreation facilities in and about town.

* Pursuing funding through the federal Safe Routes to School Program to improve sidewalks.

* Establish a sidewalk improvement matching program to assist property owners.

* Addressing wastewater treatment plant capacity limitations and stormwater inflow/infiltration problems through a variety of sewage system improvement grant and loan programs.

* Considering the addition of a community meeting room to the Bloomfield Volunteer Fire Department complex due to the lack of town council and town meeting space at the existing Town Hall.

* Continue permit the public use of recreation facilities at the Bloomfield School Complex after school

* Consider creation of a public open space/recreation area on Lincoln Drive across from the Bloomfield Swimming Pool through voluntary donation of the land or voluntary purchase of the land through financial assistant from a variety of federal grant programs.

* Preservation and rehabilitation of historic structures in Bloomfield, particularly in the Bloomfield Commercial Historic, building on the current downtown streetscape improvement program through loans and grants to improve building facades and rehabilitate commercial buildings.

* Protection of floodplains and wetlands through drainage easements and conservation easements.

* Developing an economic development strategy and action program for Bloomfield in cooperation with all levels of government and the private sector.

* Developing a dilapidated housing program to require property owners to repair or remove dilapidated housing and to return abandoned properties to the tax rolls.

* Pursuing several federal and state programs that assistance low and moderate income home owners to rehabilitate their homes.

* Adoption of the comprehensive plan to be better compete with other communities for State and Federal programs for economic development and downtown revitalization, commercial and residential structure rehabilitation, historic structure preservation, recreation land and facility improvements, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, sanitary sewer/potable water/stormwater facility improvements, and protection of floodplains/wetland/wildlife areas.