I am all for a Comprehensive Plan in Westfield Indiana, but what does it do? There have been several recent stories outlining the news of Westfield finalizing the updates to a comprehensive plan. Many stakeholders have spent hours reviewing how the city may grow from a use and development standpoint, but it has to work, realistic to evolve. Some may say it's just a suggestion and in the end development will happen where it happens. This is true. But from a town to a city that had no vision or guidance beyond the SR 32 corridor, that would never look like "Avon", we are at a point that we either adopt a strong plan or drive development from the top down that creates the best version of Westfield for the next 50 years.
A few things will have to happen for us to right the ship from the current bedroom community to a strong evenly spread tax base with jobs and businesses growing here. We will need a strong identifiable commercial corridor that works. There will need to be land available with proper realistic zoning for small and middle commercial development, with ready and willing sellers that do not tie land up for years but are actively pursuing projects that pay back the incentives and costs associated with infrastructure investment. In a perfect world Westfield buys ground and sells it to developers with projects. In a second perfect world Westfield sunsets stagnant puds.
We will also need to be realistic on mixed use spreading throughout the community in areas that may not be possible. I love density and want a live/work/play option on every corner but it just doesn't support that everywhere. Take Village of West Clay for example. It has taken decades to backfill and stabilize a beautiful, well planned development in an affluent community disconnected from its city center. Had they relied on a more dense expectation like stacked mixed use, it would still be begging for tenants and users. So we need to encourage patio style buildings like you saw in the 90's that housed one or two companies. Often one of those companies owned the building and they have been and remain highly successful. They do not look as good on a city proforma but they are stable and an appreciating asset that rarely has to be subsidized.
Lastly, we need a marketplace that is fluid. This is our biggest struggle in Westfield. We have a few sites available that are really expensive. We have a bunch of sites that are developable but nobody knows how to find them. We also have sleeper sites that should be available but nobody knows what will go there. So creating a way for all interested development groups to find sites, get guidance, realistic pricing, infrastructure plans, public private partnership options and all the other levels of communication is key. I think our Mayor and Council are working hard on this and definitely have the energy and skillset to get it done. #bestfield I am all for a Comprehensive Plan in Westfield Indiana, but what does it do? There have been several recent stories outlining the news of Westfield finalizing the updates to a comprehensive plan. Many stakeholders have spent hours reviewing how the city may grow from a use and development standpoint, but it has to work, realistic to evolve. Some may say it's just a suggestion and in the end development will happen where it happens. This is true. But from a town to a city that had no vision or guidance beyond the SR 32 corridor, that would never look like "Avon", we are at a point that we either adopt a strong plan or drive development from the top down that creates the best version of Westfield for the next 50 years.
A few things will have to happen for us to right the ship from the current bedroom community to a strong evenly spread tax base with jobs and businesses growing here. We will need a strong identifiable commercial corridor that works. There will need to be land available with proper realistic zoning for small and middle commercial development, with ready and willing sellers that do not tie land up for years but are actively pursuing projects that pay back the incentives and costs associated with infrastructure investment. In a perfect world Westfield buys ground and sells it to developers with projects. In a second perfect world Westfield sunsets stagnant puds.
We will also need to be realistic on mixed use spreading throughout the community in areas that may not be possible. I love density and want a live/work/play option on every corner but it just doesn't support that everywhere. Take Village of West Clay for example. It has taken decades to backfill and stabilize a beautiful, well planned development in an affluent community disconnected from its city center. Had they relied on a more dense expectation like stacked mixed use, it would still be begging for tenants and users. So we need to encourage patio style buildings like you saw in the 90's that housed one or two companies. Often one of those companies owned the building and they have been and remain highly successful. They do not look as good on a city proforma but they are stable and an appreciating asset that rarely has to be subsidized.
Lastly, we need a marketplace that is fluid. This is our biggest struggle in Westfield. We have a few sites available that are really expensive. We have a bunch of sites that are developable but nobody knows how to find them. We also have sleeper sites that should be available but nobody knows what will go there. So creating a way for all interested development groups to find sites, get guidance, realistic pricing, infrastructure plans, public private partnership options and all the other levels of communication is key. I think our Mayor and Council are working hard on this and definitely have the energy and skillset to get it done. #bestfield https://tinyurl.com/55as76y5