Use the Community Plan text and maps to guide development decisions and to promote public health, safety, welfare and aesthetics.
Over the last 30 years, Dublin has experienced considerable population and employment growth.As the City continues to mature as a major regional employment center, the need to balance residential character and quality with employment and transportation goals will remain an important objective.
Dublin is characterized by many high quality developments that should be coordinated and strongly linked to provide an overall sense of place. Adopted land use principles must be consistently applied to produce a built environment that is both pedestrian and commuter-friendly. This Plan serves as a vital tool to provide for orderly growth that is beneficial to the public welfare and provides clear guidance to meet quality of life expectations for the community. The Plan is used by City officials to guide policy and development decisions and to properly coordinate the allocation of land, open space, public facilities and infrastructure.
Maintain land development intensities sensitive to both the capacity of the transportation network and established land use policies.
Dublin’s strategic location adjacent to I-270, its national reputation for quality residential and employment development, and excellent schools have all facilitated rapid growth that has increased traffic congestion. Balancing the level of development with the capacity of the road system has been a critical issue throughout the planning process. Maintaining acceptable levels of service on Dublin’s roads is directly linked to the intensity of development.
Dublin is expected to continue attracting substantial growth with an emphasis on employment. This, in turn, will permit the City to support very high public service levels. Factors critical to addressing traffic issues include: determining acceptable limits for congestion; controlling the quality and pace of development in outlying areas; assuring the quality of the built environment; and maintaining revenues to support high quality services.
Coordinate with neighboring jurisdictions and regional entities to manage the quality and intensity of growth along Dublin’s periphery.
Dublin is known as a well-managed community and enjoys a high quality of services within an attractive natural setting. The City recognizes that as part of a much larger system, external circumstances and development have an effect on conditions within the municipality. Under the Municipal Service Agreement with the City of Columbus, Dublin has the exclusive right to extend sewer and water services to certain areas. These are located to the northwest and southwest. Refer to the Chapter 9 – Infrastructure for more information on this issue.
Municipal services provide a strong incentive for land owners to pursue annexation. However, the Dublin- Columbus agreement did not anticipate that another municipality would provide utilities for any portion of the negotiated service area. The City of Marysville, however, has brought sewer service from Marysville along Industrial Parkway, near Dublin and within the negotiated area. Marysville is expected to extend water service east of U.S. 33 in the immediate future. The management of development within this area will be outside Dublin’s control if utilities are available from another provider. Control of the quality and intensity of development in the southwest and northwest areas is critical. However, the City has yet to fully explore potential options to address issues on Dublin’s periphery.
Encourage mixed use development as designated in the Plan to allow people to live, work, shop, learn and play in close proximity while minimizing conflicts between land uses.
With few exceptions, the City’s land use is distinguished by large scale, single-use, geographically segregated developments. To provide an alternative development choice, mixed use areas that more fully integrate uses and activities will be important. These areas should be thought of as “places” rather than “developments” and should be distinctive in their identity. The form, character and mix of uses should create vitality and facilitate opportunities to walk and bike within these places. Form and architecture should be lexible to allow uses to change over time without detracting from the quality of the area.
Emphasize redevelopment efforts and infill development throughout the City.
Much of Dublin’s growth has occurred over the last 30 years. Many retail and commercial areas are beginning to deteriorate and may offer opportunities for redevelopment. Some areas of the City also have undeveloped pockets surrounded by existing development. By encouraging infill and redevelopment the City can revitalize declining areas and reinforce the high quality character of the City. The redevelopment process offers the flexibility to design and implement projects that achieve Dublin’s economic and planning goals, and ensure a variety of uses and building types are incorporated into existing areas of the City.
Encourage a broader range of housing options for Dublin residents while preserving the quality and desirability of Dublin’s existing residential neighborhoods.
A city’s housing stock serves as the foundation that defines its neighborhoods, frames its streets, and contributes to its overall character. Dublin’s existing housing stock is predominantly composed of single family homes, mostly built between 1980 and 2000. As these homes age, and as housing demand changes with demographic shifts, it will be necessary for the community to ensure the continued success of older neighborhoods. At the same time, the development of more styles of housing within the city will help to diversify market options for homebuyers and renters. A range of housing types located near employment contributes to the economic viability of our region and can offer both social and economic benefits. Proximity to employment encourages alternative transportation, helping to reduce traffic congestion and other demands on infrastructure while promoting pedestrian accessibility. From a neighborhood perspective, it is desirable to give residents the option of housing mobility and the ability to maintain community ties through various stages of life.
Encourage and integrate neighborhood-level retail that provides convenience for Dublin residents as a quality of life factor.
Development patterns in the City have favored the segregation of land uses, requiring numerous and relatively lengthy automobile trips to meet the basic retail needs of residents. Convenient retail services are an important amenity for residents and the distribution of these areas should meet the needs of residents throughout the entire community. This is both an individual convenience consideration and community-wide traffic issue. Retail service areas should be integrated into a residential area in the form of a village or neighborhood center pattern or in employment centers as a convenience for residents and employees alike. Regardless of location, design quality and sensitivity to existing development are critical to establish community support.
Facilitate development patterns and revise development regulations to support pedestrian mobility, safety and a more positive pedestrian experience.
Sidewalks and high quality streetscapes are important amenities that influence travel choices for residents. The City has made significant investments in pedestrian pathways and bikeways throughout the community, and Dublin’s regulations require sidewalks for all new development. However, Dublin’s pattern of development does not facilitate pedestrian mobility and instead encourages automotive necessity. Many existing roads and areas are without pedestrian facilities; connecting these areas with the entire community is a priority. Improved connectivity, through mixed land use patterns, appropriate site design and adequate pedestrian infrastructure can encourage the interaction of people through the creation of other, attractive alternatives to automobile transportation. Future projects and redevelopment should encourage pedestrian accessibility as a main design theme. Residents and workers should be able to walk—safely and conveniently— to meet basic service needs.
Implement development patterns that support transit service.
Dublin’s current development is largely characterized by commercial buildings set back significantly from the roadway, and by isolated, low density residential subdivisions that lack strong connectivity. Transit service requires buildings and uses to be sited so that one stop can serve several developments and minimize the walking distance for transit users. Current densities in Dublin are too low to support transit service. There is, however, a need to reserve transit locations so that as the City matures, transit facilities can be provided. Chapter 4 – Transportation includes the Central Ohio Transit Authority’s (COTA) plans for transit service in and around Dublin. It provides additional recommendations on transit service enhancements.
Preserve areas of open space for a variety of recreation activities.
Dublin is recognized for the quality of its parks and recreation system. Much of the City’s park land is divided into small parks that have been acquired through the development process. The result is an abundance of neighborhood parks, but few large, community-serving facilities. Dublin needs to identify park sites in the potential growth areas to its northwest and southwest to support the recreation needs of the future population.
Preserve environmentally sensitive areas and corridors while improving public access.
The conservation of appropriate lands in their natural state is essential to preserve natural resources and environmentally sensitive areas. Degradation of natural resources, including the Scioto River, may occur if actions are not taken to promote environmental conservation. The preservation of the City’s unique natural features also offers educational opportunities to benefit Dublin’s residents and visitors.
Continue to improve and enhance Historic Dublin as the original, historic center of the City.
Historic Dublin, with its limestone walls, historic buildings and narrow streets, is a culturally important area of the City. It is a reminder of an earlier era when the Village of Dublin served as a residential and commercial center of an agricultural region.
Historic Dublin retains its charm, but its role as the center of the area has diminished. To improve its economic viability, appropriately sited parking should be encouraged, streetscape improvements should be extended, and the mix of uses expanded. Redevelopment efforts and physical improvements should focus on mixed uses, pedestrian accessibility and improving the River corridor.
Protect the visual character of outlying areas to the north and west.
During the Community Plan process, a majority of Dublin residents have expressed a desire to protect the rural character of the City and outlying areas. Dublin’s desire to protect rural visual character, provide adequate open space and wildlife habitat and to create passive recreation opportunities has been integral in the City’s policies. For more information on rural character elements and other community character issues, refer to Chapter 2 – Character & Environment.
In order to maintain open space and visual character, the City has investigated several land preservation alternatives. Techniques included Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) and Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) programs, and partnering with the Metro Parks to preserve natural areas. Since that time, the City has participated financially to assist in the creation of the Glacier Ridge Metro Park along Hyland-Croy Road. In 2003 and 2004, the Dublin City Council adopted Resolutions 48-03 and 27- 04 (Amended), which endorses the utilization of residential conservation design in outlying areas as a means to encourage greater open space provision and alternative land planning techniques.
Without the preservation of adequate open space along Dublin’s western edge, future contiguous development may erode the unique identity of individual jurisdictions. Significant development is occurring in the Hayden Run Corridor, and with great regional access, Dublin and areas to the northwest are expected to see significant growth. A clear balance between economic potential and development character will be needed as the area changes.
Ensure that land use policies sustain the community’s economic and fiscal needs into the future.
The City is able to offset its fiscal needs from revenue generated by new office and research and development employment. These sectors generate more revenue than the industrial and retail sectors, while the cost to serve retail uses with police and other services typically outweighs the income tax generated from this sector. Likewise, residential uses typically incur net deficits to the City, but they are an essential element to providing a balance between population and employment. It will be important to balance land uses to ensure that the residential base is not larger than the City can manage and that employment intensities are controlled to minimize traffic congestion problems. Strategic investment in capital improvements within the Bridge Street District will be necessary to ensure increased development densities are adequately supported by the transportation network. Refer to the Fiscal Analysis Chapter for more information.
Implement development regulations that clearly support intended land use policies and direction.
The most critical aspect of these policies is implementation. It is important for the City to achieve the goals and objectives outlined in this Plan to ensure the long-term viability of the City.
Align land use policies, infrastructure implementation and community facility investments to maximize efficiency and public benefit.
The infrastructure and community facilities outlined in this Plan are an integral part of the long-range planning process. Dublin has continuously applied balanced policies that coordinate public facilities and infrastructure improvements. The future of Dublin and the quality of life of the residents depend on the continued balance of these elements. Refer to Chapter 5 – Community Facilities and Chapter 9 – Utilities for more information.
Promote education about current land use planning and development topics throughout the community to maintain Dublin’s high quality image.
The planning process does not stop at the creation of a plan, but must include on-going education efforts with affected groups to ensure the goals of the plan succeed. By utilizing outreach methods to inform the public of the goals and objectives of the Plan the City can more easily facilitate implementation. Refer to Chapter 10 – Implementation for more information.
Use the Community Plan text and maps to guide development decisions and to promote public health, safety, welfare and aesthetics.
Over the last 30 years, Dublin has experienced considerable population and employment growth.As the City continues to mature as a major regional employment center, the need to balance residential character and quality with employment and transportation goals will remain an important objective.
Dublin is characterized by many high quality developments that should be coordinated and strongly linked to provide an overall sense of place. Adopted land use principles must be consistently applied to produce a built environment that is both pedestrian and commuter-friendly. This Plan serves as a vital tool to provide for orderly growth that is beneficial to the public welfare and provides clear guidance to meet quality of life expectations for the community. The Plan is used by City officials to guide policy and development decisions and to properly coordinate the allocation of land, open space, public facilities and infrastructure.
Maintain land development intensities sensitive to both the capacity of the transportation network and established land use policies.
Dublin’s strategic location adjacent to I-270, its national reputation for quality residential and employment development, and excellent schools have all facilitated rapid growth that has increased traffic congestion. Balancing the level of development with the capacity of the road system has been a critical issue throughout the planning process. Maintaining acceptable levels of service on Dublin’s roads is directly linked to the intensity of development.
Dublin is expected to continue attracting substantial growth with an emphasis on employment. This, in turn, will permit the City to support very high public service levels. Factors critical to addressing traffic issues include: determining acceptable limits for congestion; controlling the quality and pace of development in outlying areas; assuring the quality of the built environment; and maintaining revenues to support high quality services.
Coordinate with neighboring jurisdictions and regional entities to manage the quality and intensity of growth along Dublin’s periphery.
Dublin is known as a well-managed community and enjoys a high quality of services within an attractive natural setting. The City recognizes that as part of a much larger system, external circumstances and development have an effect on conditions within the municipality. Under the Municipal Service Agreement with the City of Columbus, Dublin has the exclusive right to extend sewer and water services to certain areas. These are located to the northwest and southwest. Refer to the Chapter 9 – Infrastructure for more information on this issue.
Municipal services provide a strong incentive for land owners to pursue annexation. However, the Dublin- Columbus agreement did not anticipate that another municipality would provide utilities for any portion of the negotiated service area. The City of Marysville, however, has brought sewer service from Marysville along Industrial Parkway, near Dublin and within the negotiated area. Marysville is expected to extend water service east of U.S. 33 in the immediate future. The management of development within this area will be outside Dublin’s control if utilities are available from another provider. Control of the quality and intensity of development in the southwest and northwest areas is critical. However, the City has yet to fully explore potential options to address issues on Dublin’s periphery.
Encourage mixed use development as designated in the Plan to allow people to live, work, shop, learn and play in close proximity while minimizing conflicts between land uses.
With few exceptions, the City’s land use is distinguished by large scale, single-use, geographically segregated developments. To provide an alternative development choice, mixed use areas that more fully integrate uses and activities will be important. These areas should be thought of as “places” rather than “developments” and should be distinctive in their identity. The form, character and mix of uses should create vitality and facilitate opportunities to walk and bike within these places. Form and architecture should be lexible to allow uses to change over time without detracting from the quality of the area.
Emphasize redevelopment efforts and infill development throughout the City.
Much of Dublin’s growth has occurred over the last 30 years. Many retail and commercial areas are beginning to deteriorate and may offer opportunities for redevelopment. Some areas of the City also have undeveloped pockets surrounded by existing development. By encouraging infill and redevelopment the City can revitalize declining areas and reinforce the high quality character of the City. The redevelopment process offers the flexibility to design and implement projects that achieve Dublin’s economic and planning goals, and ensure a variety of uses and building types are incorporated into existing areas of the City.
Encourage a broader range of housing options for Dublin residents while preserving the quality and desirability of Dublin’s existing residential neighborhoods.
A city’s housing stock serves as the foundation that defines its neighborhoods, frames its streets, and contributes to its overall character. Dublin’s existing housing stock is predominantly composed of single family homes, mostly built between 1980 and 2000. As these homes age, and as housing demand changes with demographic shifts, it will be necessary for the community to ensure the continued success of older neighborhoods. At the same time, the development of more styles of housing within the city will help to diversify market options for homebuyers and renters. A range of housing types located near employment contributes to the economic viability of our region and can offer both social and economic benefits. Proximity to employment encourages alternative transportation, helping to reduce traffic congestion and other demands on infrastructure while promoting pedestrian accessibility. From a neighborhood perspective, it is desirable to give residents the option of housing mobility and the ability to maintain community ties through various stages of life.
Encourage and integrate neighborhood-level retail that provides convenience for Dublin residents as a quality of life factor.
Development patterns in the City have favored the segregation of land uses, requiring numerous and relatively lengthy automobile trips to meet the basic retail needs of residents. Convenient retail services are an important amenity for residents and the distribution of these areas should meet the needs of residents throughout the entire community. This is both an individual convenience consideration and community-wide traffic issue. Retail service areas should be integrated into a residential area in the form of a village or neighborhood center pattern or in employment centers as a convenience for residents and employees alike. Regardless of location, design quality and sensitivity to existing development are critical to establish community support.
Facilitate development patterns and revise development regulations to support pedestrian mobility, safety and a more positive pedestrian experience.
Sidewalks and high quality streetscapes are important amenities that influence travel choices for residents. The City has made significant investments in pedestrian pathways and bikeways throughout the community, and Dublin’s regulations require sidewalks for all new development. However, Dublin’s pattern of development does not facilitate pedestrian mobility and instead encourages automotive necessity. Many existing roads and areas are without pedestrian facilities; connecting these areas with the entire community is a priority. Improved connectivity, through mixed land use patterns, appropriate site design and adequate pedestrian infrastructure can encourage the interaction of people through the creation of other, attractive alternatives to automobile transportation. Future projects and redevelopment should encourage pedestrian accessibility as a main design theme. Residents and workers should be able to walk—safely and conveniently— to meet basic service needs.
Implement development patterns that support transit service.
Dublin’s current development is largely characterized by commercial buildings set back significantly from the roadway, and by isolated, low density residential subdivisions that lack strong connectivity. Transit service requires buildings and uses to be sited so that one stop can serve several developments and minimize the walking distance for transit users. Current densities in Dublin are too low to support transit service. There is, however, a need to reserve transit locations so that as the City matures, transit facilities can be provided. Chapter 4 – Transportation includes the Central Ohio Transit Authority’s (COTA) plans for transit service in and around Dublin. It provides additional recommendations on transit service enhancements.
Preserve areas of open space for a variety of recreation activities.
Dublin is recognized for the quality of its parks and recreation system. Much of the City’s park land is divided into small parks that have been acquired through the development process. The result is an abundance of neighborhood parks, but few large, community-serving facilities. Dublin needs to identify park sites in the potential growth areas to its northwest and southwest to support the recreation needs of the future population.
Preserve environmentally sensitive areas and corridors while improving public access.
The conservation of appropriate lands in their natural state is essential to preserve natural resources and environmentally sensitive areas. Degradation of natural resources, including the Scioto River, may occur if actions are not taken to promote environmental conservation. The preservation of the City’s unique natural features also offers educational opportunities to benefit Dublin’s residents and visitors.
Continue to improve and enhance Historic Dublin as the original, historic center of the City.
Historic Dublin, with its limestone walls, historic buildings and narrow streets, is a culturally important area of the City. It is a reminder of an earlier era when the Village of Dublin served as a residential and commercial center of an agricultural region.
Historic Dublin retains its charm, but its role as the center of the area has diminished. To improve its economic viability, appropriately sited parking should be encouraged, streetscape improvements should be extended, and the mix of uses expanded. Redevelopment efforts and physical improvements should focus on mixed uses, pedestrian accessibility and improving the River corridor.
Protect the visual character of outlying areas to the north and west.
During the Community Plan process, a majority of Dublin residents have expressed a desire to protect the rural character of the City and outlying areas. Dublin’s desire to protect rural visual character, provide adequate open space and wildlife habitat and to create passive recreation opportunities has been integral in the City’s policies. For more information on rural character elements and other community character issues, refer to Chapter 2 – Character & Environment.
In order to maintain open space and visual character, the City has investigated several land preservation alternatives. Techniques included Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) and Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) programs, and partnering with the Metro Parks to preserve natural areas. Since that time, the City has participated financially to assist in the creation of the Glacier Ridge Metro Park along Hyland-Croy Road. In 2003 and 2004, the Dublin City Council adopted Resolutions 48-03 and 27- 04 (Amended), which endorses the utilization of residential conservation design in outlying areas as a means to encourage greater open space provision and alternative land planning techniques.
Without the preservation of adequate open space along Dublin’s western edge, future contiguous development may erode the unique identity of individual jurisdictions. Significant development is occurring in the Hayden Run Corridor, and with great regional access, Dublin and areas to the northwest are expected to see significant growth. A clear balance between economic potential and development character will be needed as the area changes.
Ensure that land use policies sustain the community’s economic and fiscal needs into the future.
The City is able to offset its fiscal needs from revenue generated by new office and research and development employment. These sectors generate more revenue than the industrial and retail sectors, while the cost to serve retail uses with police and other services typically outweighs the income tax generated from this sector. Likewise, residential uses typically incur net deficits to the City, but they are an essential element to providing a balance between population and employment. It will be important to balance land uses to ensure that the residential base is not larger than the City can manage and that employment intensities are controlled to minimize traffic congestion problems. Strategic investment in capital improvements within the Bridge Street District will be necessary to ensure increased development densities are adequately supported by the transportation network. Refer to the Fiscal Analysis Chapter for more information.
Implement development regulations that clearly support intended land use policies and direction.
The most critical aspect of these policies is implementation. It is important for the City to achieve the goals and objectives outlined in this Plan to ensure the long-term viability of the City.
Align land use policies, infrastructure implementation and community facility investments to maximize efficiency and public benefit.
The infrastructure and community facilities outlined in this Plan are an integral part of the long-range planning process. Dublin has continuously applied balanced policies that coordinate public facilities and infrastructure improvements. The future of Dublin and the quality of life of the residents depend on the continued balance of these elements. Refer to Chapter 5 – Community Facilities and Chapter 9 – Utilities for more information.
Promote education about current land use planning and development topics throughout the community to maintain Dublin’s high quality image.
The planning process does not stop at the creation of a plan, but must include on-going education efforts with affected groups to ensure the goals of the plan succeed. By utilizing outreach methods to inform the public of the goals and objectives of the Plan the City can more easily facilitate implementation. Refer to Chapter 10 – Implementation for more information.
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