Economic Development

City of Conneaut Comprehensive Plan Update

The City of Conneaut is embarking on an updated comprehensive plan for our community. Conneaut received a $70,000 ODNR Coastal Management Access Grant that will cover the cost of the planning activities.

The plan will update its outdated Comprehensive plan to include elements of Smart Growth Principles, Ohio's Balanced Growth Plan, and Ashtabula County's Coastal Management Plan. Specifically focusing on developing policies, development guidelines for coastal waterfront community planning for environmental resilience in tandem with the communities need to update utility facility plans for both of their water and wastewater plants, both plants are situated along the coastline in locations that afford public access to Lake Erie.

The key is to maintain each of the plants same footprint, while balance the necessity for plant rehabilitation and future upgrades. In conjunction with the update to the comprehensive plan the community will establish a GIS program to map out all of its significant assets, utilities, to develop a robust inventory to allow it to have more accurate data, be more efficient with its services and will assist with future planning. Part of this initiative also includes surveying the parcels in the port area to have detailed records of ownership. Its very important for the community to set a course for redevelopment that encourages economic development while also protecting its natural resources.

The planning process will consider the following; conservation design and compact development, complete streets, green infrastructure, mixed land uses, low-impact development, innovative storm water retention practices, setbacks from bodies of water, source water protection areas, nutrient management, preservation of natural areas, brownfield redevelopment, woodland protection, preservation of agricultural lands, sustainable water use, historic preservation, design guidelines, and access management with the overarching value to preserve open spaces, cultural, historical and archaeological amenities while preserving Conneaut's unique community character. The project deliverables will be an updated Comprehensive Plan, a Re-development Strategy with Implementation Steps, development of a GIS Mapping System, completed Port vicinity Land Surveys, and two infrastructure Facility Plans.

Port Authority Planning Documents

2011 Port Analysis - Powerpoint MB3 Consulting

2014 Port Charrette/Visioning Report - Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative

2016 Port Design Proposal Update - Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative

Ashtabula County Planning Documents

2013 Ashtabula County Coastal Management Plan

Final City of Conneaut Comprehensive Plan

2017 Comprehensive Plan