Growth Management:

Guide future development in a manner which is consistent with the natural limitations of the land, the preservation of open spaces, natural resources, and rural character, and the planned provision or expansion of necessary public facilities and services.

• Limit new growth and development that require set levels of public facilities and services until the time such levels of services become available.

• Provide for the preservation of open spaces through a coordinated future land use plan and related regulations which permit reasonable use of land while discouraging development which leads to premature consumption and/or loss of natural resources and open spaces, including farmlands.

• Wherever legally permissible, local regulations should require new developments to pay for the direct and indirect Township costs associated with that development. These costs should not be imposed on existing residents. Exceptions should be made where public interests and benefits may be at stake.

• Recognize that intergovernmental coordination in growth management and planning decisions is essential because Parma Township is a critical link in a regional network of communities.

• Develop and maintain a meaningful communication program with area municipalities and county agencies to discuss local and area-wide public facilities and services, needs, land use conditions and trends, contemporary planning issues, and strategies to address short and long term needs and issues in a mutually beneficial manner.

• Continually provide regular opportunities for substantive public input on growth and development issues facing the Township and the future character of the Township.

Community Character & the Environment:

Preserve the rural character of Parma Township and its environmental integrity, including the continuation of local farming operations and protection of farmland resources.

• Recognize that the Township’s open spaces, including woodlands, fields, and farmland, are a fundamental component of the Township’s rural character and should be protected while still providing a land owner with reasonable use of his or her land. Chapter 3 Community Policies and Plans Parma Township Master Plan, 2016 edition Page 3-5

• Assure that the quantity and quality of new development does not unreasonably create increases in air, noise, land, and water pollution, or the degradation of land and water resource environments including aquifers and groundwater resources, and that all development and land uses be in compliance with applicable local, county, state, and federal regulations.

• Enact standards for residential, commercial, and industrial development which encourage protection of environmentally sensitive areas, open spaces, and the landscape’s natural assets.

• Enact standards for residential, commercial, and industrial development which encourage new development to be designed in scale with its surrounding.

• Limit disruptions to the Township’s prevailing rural character by limiting the future locations within which new or expanded commercial and industrial development may occur.

• Encourage the use of programs and tools designed to preserve open spaces.

• To the extent that residential development occurs in agricultural areas, encourage such development to be sited on less productive farmland.

• Require that new development prevents disturbances to, and premature destruction of, farmland areas through responsible and innovative development and site planning.

Commercial & Industrial Development:

Provide opportunities for the expansion of commercial and industrial land uses in a manner which minimizes the impact upon adjacent land uses, responds to the rural and “small town” character of the community, and assures adequate services to meet the needs of these land uses.

• Evaluate the opportunities and constraints for new commercial and industrial development presented by the Township’s natural features and available public facilities and services in order to identify the appropriate locations for future commercial and industrial development and the conditions necessary to accommodate such development.

• Assure that commercial and industrial land uses have adequate provisions for sewage disposal, storm water management, potable water, and other critical public health and welfare concerns.

• Provide standards for the division of land and access management along major roadways which allows for commercial and industrial development while minimizing ‘strip development’.

• Assure that elements for preservation of the Township’s rural character are incorporated into new commercial and industrial developments by establishing appropriate site design and building standards, including screening and protection of natural resources.

• Prevent the premature conversion of land to uses other than their planned use for future commercial or industrial development to assure their long term availability for commercial and industrial development.

• Assure that new commercial and industrial development does not adversely impact the normal use and enjoyment of adjoining land uses through appropriate buffering and other techniques

Transportation & Roads:

Maintain a transportation network throughout the Township which moves vehicular traffic in an efficient and safe fashion, utilizes road segments specifically designed to accommodate higher traffic flows where higher traffic levels are being generated, and encourages safe and functional opportunities for alternative modes of transportation including walking and bicycling.

• Identify priority road segments for maintenance and improvement, based upon the planned future land use pattern in the Township and existing and projected traffic patterns, and systematically undertake these projects.

• Discourage high traffic generating land uses and development patterns along the Township’s secondary roads until the time when such roads have been improved to accommodate such development.

• Adopt land use and/or other regulations which minimize the potential for traffic congestion and safety hazards along adjacent roadways, and minimize “strip” development.

• Encourage plans to expand alternative transportation facilities, including walkways and bicycle trails, in coordination with public facilities, neighboring municipalities and regional efforts.

The Parma Township Planning Commission wanted to take community opinion into account during the preparation of this edition of the Parma Township Master Plan. It was decided that a public opinion survey was the most productive way to collect that information. A 6-question survey was developed and distributed to Township residents by U.S. Mail during the summer of 2015. Respondents completed 153 surveys and returned them to the Parma Township Hall via the U.S. mail or hand delivery.

7. Should our Township strive to maintain the existing Rural Agricultural/Residential character? When asked “should our Township strive to maintain the existing Rural Agricultural/Residential character” 92.3% of question respondents (n=143) answered “yes”. Only 6.3% of respondents answered “no” and 1.4% had “no opinion”. Mapping created for the Jackson County Community Master Plan places the majority of Parma Township in an area recommended for agricultural preservation (see Map X).

8. Should our township strive to protect unique natural features, including topography, soils, lakes, streams, drains, and their respective watersheds? When asked “should our township strive to protect unique natural features, including topography, soils, lakes, streams, drains, and their respective watersheds”91.1% of question respondents (n=146) answered “yes”. Only 5.5% of respondents answered “no” and 3.4% had “no opinion”.