Policy Agenda

Greater Ohio Policy Agenda

Greater Ohio is engaging in a series of Policy Forums across the state to gather input from a broad range of civic and government leaders about the specific policy changes needed in Ohio’s land use policy. Here are the preliminary – and still incomplete – priorities they have identified.

Create a vision for where the state is going

• Create a state office of planning
• Coordinate brownfield funding with infrastructure/other investment
• Apply Lake Erie Balanced Growth Initiative policies throughout state
• Establish common service districts & assign one district to each region

Invest state resources strategically

• State financing for schools
• “Fix-it-first” policy for state transportation investments
• Prioritize sewer and water infrastructure money for older communities
• Reauthorize the Clean Ohio Fund
• Alternative revenue streams for multi-modal transportation

Enable wise land-use planning at the local level

• Modernize antiquated planning and zoning enabling laws
• State investment incentives for local comprehensive plans
• Expedite foreclosure for vacant property reuse
• Encourage flexible zoning for “conservation development”
• Add “General Welfare" clause to township zoning enabling statute

Promote regional collaboration

• Enable, encourage regional revenue sharing
• State support & investment for voluntary regional land-use planning
• Permissive legislation for metro service districts with tax-base sharing

Other Greater Ohio projects and policy work

• Ohio Legislature passes Vacant Properties bill
• Greater Ohio updates county sales tax disparities report
• Ohio Legislature passes Historic Preservation Tax Credit
• Ohio's Governor-elect's agenda for cities, smart growth
• Open letter to Gubernatorial candidates: Lead us in land-use reform
• What does land use have to do with poverty?
• Eminent domain — Responses to Kelo court decision
• Housing growth in Cuyahoga County one of lowest in the nation
• Greater Ohio and the Cleveland Neighborhood Development Coalition are spearheading the effort to combat mortgage foreclosures and vacant properties in Ohio through a new statewide effort called Rebuild Ohio.
• Implications of Ohio's sales tax system on community tax base (Updated here)
• Recommendations to the Ohio House Subcommittee on Growth and Land Use (Wolpert committee)
• Comments on ODOT's Access Ohio transportation plan
• State Historic Preservation Tax Credit

Greater Ohio Candidates' Briefing Book: Policies for Redeveloping a Great State — Fall 2006 published version (PDF 3 MB). A great backgrounder on policies to move Ohio forward — policies that resonate with voters.