Public buildings and facilities are important elements that shape the quality of life and the attractiveness of Dublin as a community of choice for families and businesses. The quality and responsiveness of City services, as well as municipal architecture and attractive facilities help foster a sense of civic pride and community identity, as well as provide key services for residents and corporate citizens. Community facilities in Dublin and the surrounding area include parks, recreation facilities, open space, municipal offices and facilities, schools, libraries, post offices, religious institutions, cemeteries and human service institutions. This chapter provides objectives and strategies that relate to all facilities, as well as more refined objectives and strategies applicable to more specific types.
A. Objectives and Strategies
(General)
Objective 1: Use the Community Plan text and maps as a policy guide for community facility decisions.
The Community Plan is meant to be a general resource document for public officials, interested citizens and other decision makers. The 1997 Community Plan included a facility study that was commissioned to forecast the future needs of municipal, fire and school facilities and their respective sizes. Since that time, additional input and study have been conducted to validate and ensure the City of Dublin provides quality facilities that meet the needs of a growing municipality. Reflecting significant input from the community, the Plan provides useful insight about future expectations and plans for additional community facilities.
A. Utilize Plan Recommendations… to guide future decision-making based on public input and technical study.
B. Publicize Plan Recommendations… and provide information to individuals seeking information about City policies on community facilities. Residents and developers should have a level of confidence and certainty as to the City’s expectations.
C. Undertake Facility Master Plans… as needed, to look at specific facilities in more detail and ensure that future municipal buildings will meet the needs of a growing and changing community.
Objective 2: Provide needed facilities to serve the population and to promote a high quality of life.
The provision of basic health, safety and welfare services are essential, including reasonable access to health care, educational opportunities, recreation activities, police and fire protection, libraries and postal services. These services will ensure a safe and well-maintained community with amenities and a quality of life that adheres to Dublin’s standard of excellence.
A. Establish Service Areas… for various community facilities to facilitate enhanced accessibility for residents and greater levels of service for the community.
B. Ensure Adequate Funding… to provide a high quality of municipal services for Dublin’s residents in a timely and efficient manner.
C. Acquire Appropriate Sites… for needed facilities in advance of surrounding development to ensure that municipal buildings and facilities can be located in suitable locations that will best serve the future needs of the community.
D. Utilize Relevant Master Plans… to ensure that the placement and construction of facilities is adequately coordinated and planned in a manner that will ensure future needs are met.
E. Reevaluate Existing Facilities… functionally and spatially to ensure that public facilities meet the intended need.
F. Acknowledge Population Changes… and ensure that Dublin’s facilities and programs reflect changing demographics and needs as the City’s population ages.
Objective 3: Create community focal points within parks and community facilities.
Creating well-designed public places reinforces Dublin’s sense of place. Civic spaces and buildings provide valuable, common locations for gathering and communication that help enhance a sense of identity and attachment to the community. Coordination with other agencies such as schools, libraries and post offices should be fostered to create an emphasis on the civic realm and the development of valued activity centers as civic focal points.
A. Identify Visible Locations… throughout Dublin where important civic architecture, art and other focal points can be placed.
B. Conduct Facilities Master Planning… to look at specific facilities in more detail and ensure that future parks and facilities will meet the needs of a growing and changing community.
C. Coordinate with Other Agencies… to better understand location and service needs and how the City can cooperatively work with organizations and agencies to provide more efficient and improved service to Dublin’s residents.
D. Create Quality Public Spaces… throughout the community that are designed to facilitate congregation and conversation.
E. Establish a Land Acquisition Program… to acquire community parks and other large open space areas in a cost-effective manner by utilizing the Community Plan and other applicable plans to guide municipal purchases ahead of development pressure.
F. Analyze Community Gathering Places… to identify greater programming and activity opportunities in a manner that promotes enhanced usage of existing and future facilities.
G. Adopt a Parks and Recreation Plan… that appropriately integrates community facilities into the City’s park and open space system.
Objective 4: Provide the focus for public uses and community facilities within logical, consolidated locations.
Public facilities must be designed and located to provide maximum availability and use for residents. When public buildings are not conveniently located and highly visible, residents may find it difficult to clearly identify and interact with government. Some existing Dublin facilities are not easily recognizable. The co-location of a variety of public uses can provide better service to the public and improve wayfinding to public uses. Community facilities should be consolidated where possible to foster convenient living, to minimize traffic congestion, to strengthen neighborhoods, and to create public gathering places.
A. Carefully Site Civic Uses… in prominent locations with easy access for the greatest number of residents.
B. Utilize Memorable Architecture… to highlight and draw attention to public buildings and uses.
C. Consider Partnerships… between organizations and affected agencies to co-locate public facilities in a manner that provides greater service, efficiency and access for the general public.
D. Incorporate Civic Uses… into mixed use development in important locations to facilitate pedestrian traffic and to encourage private development and/or reinvestment in surrounding areas.
E. Encourage Land Acquisition… in critical locations throughout Dublin that will provide the ability to develop consolidated public facilities.
Objective 5: Maintain and enhance a civic presence in Historic Dublin.
Traditional downtowns are often noted for a variety of civic uses that create the foundation of the business district. Civic uses often include post offices, city halls, libraries, public information sources and religious institutions, among others. While the Dublin Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and the Dublin Chamber of Commerce are located within the Historic District, their relative locations provide little synergy; more prominent uses should be established within the District. Historic Dublin is an important element of the City’s identity, and the incorporation of important civic uses can encourage greater pedestrian activity and economic vitality for the area. The implementation of civic uses and spaces should be considered as a valuable tool to encourage future development in concert with historic preservation efforts.
A. Establish a Desired Civic Presence… for Historic Dublin that will provide future direction and clear expectations as a consistent planning tool for both the public and private sector.
B. Integrate Civic Spaces… of various sizes throughout Historic Dublin that can meet a variety of programming needs, from formal public gathering places to informal open spaces.
C. Acquire Key Parcels… necessary to provide for the integration of public uses within the Historic District in a more highly visible location for residents and visitors and in a manner that can facilitate economic development.
D. Increase Social Events… and special activities to increase pedestrian activity and awareness of Historic Dublin as a community focal point.
E. Incorporate Recommendations… from the Historic Dublin Revitalization Plan to integrate civic uses in the Historic Dublin area.
