Community Development Director
John Hart
DEPARTMENT FUNCTION
Community
Development provides service delivery in support of total community development
and revitalization. The Department manages federal, state and local funds supporting
programs and services that benefit residents, commercial corridors, business
and industry, and the downtown district, among other targeted areas and sites
in the City. These programs address housing needs, job creation and retention,
brownfield redevelopment, riverfront revitalization, and community reinvestment
through established partnerships in the community.
Community
Development is also responsible for direct community promotion efforts,
actively participates in community and regional planning, and oversees the
operations at the Hastings Industrial Incubator. The department staff assists the Zoning
Administrator and Planning Consultant with the Planning responsibilities for
the City. Community Development serves
as staff and coordinates projects and budgets for the DDA, LDFA and BRA.
Goal 1:
Actively
pursue grants to provide additional resources to fund capital projects and
improve services to the community.
Objective:
Continue
to research and identify grants applicable to the implementation of the
Goal 2:
Work
with industry to retain existing jobs and to create new jobs within the City.
Objectives:
1.
Complete a minimum of two retention visits each month.
2.
Aggressively market the City of
3.
Provide timely responses to all inquiries from
potential businesses.
4.
Work with City Assessor to prepare tax incentives
upon request and when appropriate.
1.
Develop and sustain a good working relationship with
State and Federal Agencies that provide incentives for or that may impact job
growth through their policy and programs.
Goal 3:
Continue
to work closely with the Downtown Development Authority to raise funds necessary
to encourage and support a safe and navigable Streetscape, to continue to
beautify its district, to create a marketable image, to encourage sustainable
and best land use development and to provide adequate parking. Analyze, develop
and implement programs for marketing and revitalizing the buildings,
infrastructure and businesses in the downtown area, including completion and
implementation of marketing/promotional studies, building façade improvement
programs, and financial incentive programs, and other programs as deemed
appropriate.
Objectives:
1.
Continue to implement the comprehensive development
plan for the downtown.
2.
Continue to develop a projected capital improvements
plan to aid in prioritized project development.
3.
Continue to implement the marketing plan and fund
associated initiatives
4.
Fully support the River East Development/HMC Site
Redevelopment project.
5.
Seek additional streetscape, way finding and
marketing grants to supplement local investments in projects, increasing
capacity to develop larger or additional projects
Goal 4:
Continue to aggressively market the façade improvement grant and loan programs. Continue to research opportunities available for the downtown through initiatives at the State and Federal level.
Objectives:
1. Actively
recruit new business opportunities and provide timely follow up to all
inquiries.
2. Create
farmers market committee and work toward establishing a year round market in a
permanent structure.
3. Develop
incentives that encourage the re-investment in the upper stories of commercial
buildings in the Downtown.
4. Develop
partnerships with existing organizations that provide services and resources to
small businesses and assist with the marketing and utilization of such services
by our business owners.
5. Continue
to partner with other organizations (Arts Council and Chamber) to sponsor
events designed to increase public awareness and the number of people that
visit.
Goal 5:
Continue
to support the Incubator project.
Objectives:
1.
Continue to market the available space at the
incubator.
2.
Develop a routine maintenance program for grounds,
building and equipment.
3.
Work to create a professional environment by
cleaning, repairing and or replacing deteriorated finishes.
4.
Consider a more permanent division of space,
utilities and access by individual tenants.
5.
Consider an energy audit and the addition on of a
new more efficient heating system in the manufacturing area.
6.
Provide support for the current tenants as needed.
Goal 6:
Continue to work on a
countywide basis to encourage cooperation among local governmental
jurisdictions to promote and foster economic development in
Objectives:
1.
Participate in regularly scheduled monthly meetings
with Economic Alliance Director in an effort to coordinate activities.
2.
Attend retention visits as scheduled by the MEDC
with the BCEDA as they occur in the City or within close proximity to the City
in surrounding Townships.
3.
Continue regional planning activities with
surrounding Townships,
4.
Pursue joint planning and zoning regulations between
the City,
Goal 7:
Continue to support the Local Development Finance Authority and Brownfield Redevelopment Authority to assist with development or redevelopment of industrial, commercial and other sites.
Objectives:
1.
Create a short and long term plan for the LDFA.
2.
Aggressively market the Industrial Park.
3.
Improve upon the optioning of Industrial Park Lots
to ensure timely development of the property and to limit missed opportunity.
4.
Identify all potential brownfield sites in the
City. Work with the BRA to prioritize the
sites and create a detailed work plan to support the cleanup and reuse.
5.
Continue to seek funding at the federal level for
brownfield assessment or cleanup. If
awarded, utilize funds granted to the County for assessments.
6.
Work to access funding available at the State level
to expand public infrastructure in support of new business development.
7.
Fully support the River East Development/HMC Site
Redevelopment project.
Goal 8:
Work to finish the
infrastructure for the
Objectives:
1.
Research the availability of additional property.
2.
Work with current businesses holding options on
industrial park parcels.
3.
Pursue grants for infrastructure as needed.
4.
Redevelop and market excess City owned property
Goal 9:
Work with the Chamber and
other civic groups to promote the City of
Objectives:
1.
Partner with the Chamber of Commerce to enhance
existing and to implement new downtown events.
2.
Attend ribbon-cutting ceremonies when appropriate.
3.
Continue as an active member on community marketing
committees.
4.
Explore other partnership opportunities.
Goal 10:
Continue to promote parks and open space by developing the Riverwalk Project. Utilize local service clubs, scout groups, and other volunteers to assist in development of the Riverwalk and related improvement to the fullest extent possible.
Objectives:
1. Continue
to pursue grant monies that would provide for the expansion of the trail to the
southeast city limits.
2. Pursue
other funding opportunities.
3. Create a
new 2008 parks and recreation plan.
4. Design
new events to include the parks.
5. Continue
to implement infrastructure improvements supporting walkable community efforts
Goal 11:
Continue to evaluate the potential to adaptively reuse or market underutilized or vacant City owned buildings or properties
Objectives:
1.
Develop plan for use of old library and water plant.
2.
Solicit developers to consider redevelopment of
vacant buildings and land owned by the City.
Goal 12:
Provide zoning code review and
enforcement assistance to the Zoning Administrator and to staff when warranted
to help in the promotion of a proactive approach to the development and
enforcement of the City of Hastings Code of Ordinances as they relate to sound
promotion of community and economic development.
Objectives:
1.
Work with the Code Enforcement Officer to increase
strategic code enforcement activities.
2.
Provide assistance to citizens and organizations
located within the jurisdiction of the City of Hastings Code of Ordinances to
inform them of the Code requirements and promote compliance.
3.
Provide support services to monitor compliance with
code requirements and provide a mechanism for enforcement action when
necessary.
4.
When warranted, monitor the success of the code
enforcement program and report deficiencies within the program to the Zoning
Administrator.
Goal 13:
Serve as
the staff liaison to the Planning Commission.
Objectives:
1.
Work to complete and implement a new Comprehensive
Community Plan for the City of
2.
Develop and distribute Commission packets on a
timely basis.
3.
Provide input in the site plan review process.
4.
Develop and implement training for members.