Section 7: Implementation

The Comprehensive Plan sets forth an agreed-upon “road map” for community improvement and development within the City of Oakwood during the next 10 to 15 year period. It is the product of considerable effort on the part of the Comprehensive Planning Committee, City Council, the City Staff, the Planning Commission, and the Oakwood community.

However, in many ways the planning process in Oakwood has just begun. Completion of the Comprehensive Plan is only the first step, not the last.

Following adoption of the Comprehensive Plan, it will be important for City Council, the Planning Commission, City Staff, and the Comprehensive Planning Committee to work together to highlight the key recommendations and priorities that should be pursued within the next few years.

This section briefly highlights several next steps that should be undertaken to begin the process of plan implementation.

Adopt and Use the Plan on a Day-to-Day Basis

The Comprehensive Plan should become Oakwood’s official policy guide for improvement and development. It is essential that the Plan be adopted by the City Council and then be used on a regular basis by City staff, boards and commissions to review and evaluate all proposals for improvement and development within the community in the years ahead.

Review and Update the Zoning Ordinance

Zoning is one of the most common regulatory measures used by governmental units to implement planning policies. Zoning divides the community into a series of districts and sets forth regulations for the use of land within these districts, including permitted uses, lot size, building height, density, etc.

Following adoption of the Comprehensive Plan, the City should undertake a review of the Zoning Ordinance to ensure that it supports and complements the new Plan. Since the entire Ordinance was updated in 2000, significant changes are not anticipated.

In addition to zoning, Oakwood has a number of other codes and ordinances that govern land and building development, including the Subdivision Regulations, Property Maintenance Code, Business District Design Guidelines, and Building Code. All of these codes should be reviewed and updated as needed.

Promote Cooperation and Participation

The City of Oakwood should assume the leadership role in implementing the new Comprehensive Plan. In addition to carrying out the administrative actions and many of the public improvement projects called for in the Plan, the City may choose to administer a variety of programs available to local residents, businesses and property owners.

However, in order for the Comprehensive Plan to be successful, it must be based on a strong partnership between the City, Oakwood City Schools, other public agencies, the local business community, residents and various neighborhood groups and organizations, and the private sector.

The City should be the leader in promoting the cooperation and collaboration needed to implement the new Comprehensive Plan. The City’s “partners” should include:

• Local agencies and service districts, such as the Oakwood City Schools, the Library Board, the Historical Society, Oakwood Preservation Trust, the Post Office, etc.