§ 2.8. Housing Policies and Recommendations

Policies and recommendations build on goals and objectives by providing more focused responses to the issues that the city is concerned about. Policies and recommendations become the tools that the city can use to aid in making land use decisions.

Policies identify the way in which activities are conducted in order to fulfill the goals and objectives. Policies that direct action using the words "will" or "shall" are advised to be mandatory and regulatory aspects of the implementation of the comprehensive plan. In contrast, those policies that direct action using the word "should" are advisory and intended to serve as a guide.

Policies

1. Siting and construction of new housing shall be consistent with the goals, objectives, and densities established for each land use classification.

2. Local land use controls and related administration (e.g., fees) shall consider the impact on affordable housing.

3. Residential in-fill development shall be given priority over the development of housing in areas currently not occupied by residential structures.

4. An inventory of historically significant homes shall be maintained throughout the planning period to ensure that these homes are accurately identified and to promote and target preservation and/or rehabilitation efforts.

Recommendations

Recommendations are specific actions or projects that the city should be prepared to complete. The completion of these actions and projects is consistent with the city's policies, and therefore will help the city fulfill the comprehensive plan goals and objectives.

1. Annex and rezone property as needed to accommodate new housing development.

2. Install infrastructure as needed to accommodate new housing development.

3. Pursue housing rehabilitation grants for low to moderate income families and owners.

3. Transportation

Broadly speaking, a transportation system can be defined as any means used to move people and/or products. A community relies on its transportation system daily to transport people and goods effectively and efficiently. It should also have the ability to link the community to neighboring communities and beyond. Additionally, the system should be able to accommodate a variety of transportation modes. These modes include: automobiles, motorcycles, trucks, buses, mass transit, bicycles, trains, boats, airplanes, and pedestrians. It is important to note that while some of these modes act independently, they are often used in combination to reach a destination. While this coordination often appears seamless on an everyday level, there are certain abilities, modes, and opportunities that make a transportation system productive.

Roads and highways account for the majority of a transportation system and are probably the most common paths, however, are not the only component. Therefore rail lines, waterways, airways, and trails are all additional opportunities that contribute to the entire transportation system. Taken together, these individual transportation options create a community's transportation system. Thus, it is critical that the transportation element address each of these choices, as applicable to the community.

In addition, it is imperative that the system be as safe as possible. For example, one common safety concern involves private parties accessing public roadways via driveways and the potential hazards this brings to public roadway users. In order to ensure safety and efficiency, the transportation system needs to be efficiently managed and maintained. A community benefits from continual improvements which can include surface improvements, adjustments to interchange signals, signage, and even new routes. Poor maintenance and missed opportunities cost the community in the long run. Therefore, in addition to the necessary budgetary and safety considerations of the system, planning for the location and density of new development will need to be evaluated for potential impacts on the transportation system.

The following sections discuss in more detail specific information about the City of Greenwood's transportation system.