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PZ - MyMeridian VisionMERIDIANMY MERIDIANMYMERIDIANMY #mymeridianplan MERIDIANMY #mymeridianplan #MYMERIDIAN VISION 2 3 8 6 4 Your VisionIntroduction Mayor’s Letter What We Heard 16 What’s Next? #MYMERIDIAN VISION 3 #MYMERIDIAN VISION Welcome to what we’re calling “#MyMeridian Vision” – a document that concludes the second phase of the City’s Comprehensive Plan update process. This vision document describes the future of Meridian based on the desires and dreams of thousands of local stakeholders and citizens that have participated in developing the new Plan. The Comprehensive Plan is a guiding document for growth and future development in Meridian and our Area of Impact. It focuses on the many services offered by the City such as sewer, water, public safety, and parks, as well as plans for land use in regards to where housing, jobs, and services will be located. It also helps guide conversations with community partners that oversee transportation, schools, and libraries. One of the most important factors of this Plan is the viewpoint of our residents. We are now moving into the third phase of the Plan update focused on choices –“#MyMeridian Choices”. It needs YOUR voice to be successful, which is why our team still wants to hear from you! Help us craft a Plan that continues to move Meridian forward – one that is in line with our vision to be the West’s premier community to live, work and raise a family. Visit www.meridiancity.org/compplan to get involved. Mayor Tammy de Weerd City of Meridian Mayor 4 #MYMERIDIAN VISION 5 #MyMeridian Vision, the community vision for the Meridian, Idaho, Area (the City Limits and Impact Area) focuses on the creation and preservation of the area’s character, evolution, livability, vibrancy, and connections. The Vision Statements within this document demonstrate these unique qualities and reaffirm a desire to preserve Meridian’s character with the onset of inevitable changes that come with population growth and demand for development. The Vision Statements will be used to update Meridian’s 2002 Comprehensive Plan and inform its replacement, a new Comprehensive Plan that will ultimately be adopted in 2019 by the Meridian City Council. These Vision Statements and Themes, intentionally designed to evolve with the process, will be revisited throughout the #MyMeridian Comprehensive Plan update process, and regularly after the adoption of the Plan. A valuable tool to be reviewed and updated over the 20-year planning horizon, these evolving vision statements will reflect the community’s values and dreams for the future of the City of Meridian. INTRODUCTION “It’s probably no surprise that the number one topic I get approached about is growth. It’s happening here and it’s happening across the entire Valley. We all know how awesome Meridian and Idaho are - and now others have discovered us as well. Despite our popularity, it is imperative that we grow responsibly, which takes careful planning.” Mayor Tammy De Weerd, 2018 6 CREATING A VISION Developing a cohesive vision of Meridian’s future offers residents, business owners, and visitors an opportunity to be heard—and the assurance that this city’s blueprint for the future reflects a collaborative vision. #MyMeridian Vision, developed by the people of Meridian, represents their strong voice about what they value in our community and an equally strong mandate for what they want for our future. Meridian’s rapid growth means the city is continually undergoing significant change. Depending upon how such growth is directed, these changes could be good for the city’s residents, commerce, and infrastructure. Unguided growth without a coordinated plan for the city may harm the very qualities we hold dear. Having a community vested vision helps guide and inform the decision-making process to define and manage the city’s future. Therefore the Comprehensive Plan update will provide elected officials and the community an opportunity to make sound, informed decisions toward our vision. Meridian has seen a significant increase in population over the last 27 years, and it is predicted to grow another 52% by 2040. Along with that growth in population come noteworthy changes. During the last 10 years (2007 – 2017), we have seen 37% GROWTH IN LABOR FORCE OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS 45,567 THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HAS FALLEN BY 5% SINCE 2010, GOING FROM 8.1% IN 2010 TO IN 2017. OUR POPULATION GROWTH 10,000 1990 2017 2040 106,410 155,283 PROJECTED: AN INCREASE OF 50% FROM 2017 75% OF 0 - 19 YEAR OLDS HAVE WALKABLE ACCESS TO PARKS AND OPEN SPACE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME $76,783 $74,000 ADA COUNTY 2017 2007 33,035 3.2% #MYMERIDIAN VISION 7 37% growth in our labor force and a 5% reduction in our unemployment rate. Our median household income is well over the Treasure Valley average, and two-thirds of the children in our community have walkable access to a park or open space. Though benefits of growth are possible, fast growth takes careful planning and a strong vision to be successful. With a strong vision for managing how our community will grow, we can continue to benefit immensely from growth and can ensure it is an asset for our city. 8 The first step toward creating a vision for any community is listening. From June to September of 2018 we attended many public events and created several online surveys to ask residents of Meridian what they love and what they would improve about their city. Though this process, we heard from more than 1,500 people including residents, employees, business owners, community leaders, youth, and stakeholders. At these events and through online surveys, participants were asked questions like “What do you love about Meridian?”, “What would you improve about Meridian?” and “What is your vision for Meridian’s Future?” This allowed the residents, employees, and stakeholders the opportunity to provide and discuss their values, options, goals, and to prioritize future opportunities for their community. The responses were collected and compiled to create several prospective vision statements- to become one common Vision Statement. OUR VISION #MYMERIDIAN VISION 9 10 WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT MERIDIAN? • NICE • PARKS • FAMILY EVENTS • MOVIE NIGHTS • FREE CONCERTS • CITY STAFF • GREAT PARKS • PLAYGROUNDS • NEW • GREAT COMMUNITY • SOCCER FIELD • DOG PARK • FRIENDLY PEOPLE • EVERYTHING, BUT MOSTLY THE PEOPLE • QUALITY OF LIFE • PROPERTY TAXES • EFFICIENT INEXPENSIVE PARKS • FREE CONCERTS • MOVIES IN THE PARK • PUBLIC EVENTS • FAMILY EVENTS • FAMILY FRIENDLY • PARKS • THE EDUCATION SYSTEM • HOW FRIENDLY EVERYBODY IS • THE PARKS • SENSE OF COMMUNITY • THE VILLAGE • SPLASH PAD • THE PARKS • SKATE PARK • MOVIE NIGHTS • FARMERS’ MARKET • PEOPLE • RELAXED • LAID BACK • INTERACTION OF SMALL TOWNS • HISTORIC • PARKS • SERVICE INDUSTRY • FRIENDLY PEOPLE • FEELS LIKE HOME • SMALL TOWN COMMUNITY • SENSE OF COMMUNITY • FAMILY FRIENDLY • PARKS • CONCERTS • DOWNTOWN MERIDIAN • THE VILLAGE • RESTAURANTS • PUBLIC EVENTS • THE MAYOR • AUTHENTIC • PARKS • CLEAN • LOCATION • OPEN SPACE • FARM LANDS • PARKS • PROXIMITY TO THE GREAT OUTDOORS AND THE OPPORTUNITIES IT PROVIDES • MAYOR TAMMY • ACCESS TO THE OUTDOORS • AFFORDABILITY • ART • CULTURE • FARM LAND AND RANCHES • ARTS AND CULTURE • EFFORT TO BE GREAT • FARMING AND SMALL ACREAGES • ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS • FRIENDLY PEOPLE • LOCATION • I GREW UP HERE • COMMUNITY #MYMERIDIAN VISION 11 • PATHWAYS • SPACIOUS NEIGHBORHOODS • REASONABLE COST OF LIVING • LOW CRIME • CENTRAL LOCATION • LIBRARY DISTRICT • FEEL • LANDSCAPING • SLOWER PACE OF LIFE • LOW DENSITY • SMALL TOWN FEEL • IDAHO VALUES • MAYOR TAMMY • NATURE • OPEN SPACES • CLEANLINESS • FARMLAND AND PASTURES • UNDEVELOPED • QUIET • COUNTRY ATMOSPHERE • RESTAURANTS • COST OF LIVING • RURAL ROOTS • SMALL TOWN LIFE • OLD BARNS AND FARMLAND • AGRICULTURE • SMALL TOWN ATMOSPHERE • THE PEOPLE • THE GREEN BELT • COMMUNITY FEEL • EVENTS • BEAUTIFUL CITY • CLEAN STREETS • WEATHER • COMMUNITY • FARMLAND • FRIENDLY NEIGHBORS • LESS DENSE • OPEN SPACES • RURAL NATURE • RURAL • SPACE • SIDEWALKS • SLOWER PACE AND OPEN SPACE TO BREATHE • ELBOW ROOM • FAMILY FRIENDLY • PARKS • CONCERTS • DOWNTOWN MERIDIAN • THE VILLAGE • RESTAURANTS • PUBLIC EVENTS • THE MAYOR • FARM TO TABLE • AUTHENTIC • PARKS • CLEAN • WELL PLANNED • NEIGHBORHOODS • CITY STAFF • I LOVE MERIDIAN! • OUR PARKS ROCK • ACCESS TO THE OUTDOORS • LOCATION • MAYOR TAMMY • AFFORDABILITY • ARTS AND CULTURE • CHURCHES • FRIENDLY PEOPLE • CENTRAL LOCATION • COUNTRY FEEL • OPENNESS • AGRICULTURE • ACCESS TO CITY AMENITIES • RAISING ANIMALS 12 #MYMERIDIAN VISION Meridian is a premier, evolving, livable, vibrant, and connected community. #MYMERIDIAN VISION 13 14 #MYMERIDIAN VISION 15 A PREMIER COMMUNITY • Create safe neighborhoods with diverse and premier housing, open spaces, and amenities that provide varied lifestyle choices. • Plan for a multi-generational city with social, educational, and recreational opportunities and services for all age groups. • Support the expansion and retention of businesses by developing a diverse and qualified workforce through business and educational partnerships. • Complement economic development opportunities by encouraging via partnerships the training of local workforce and students to match employer needs. A thriving, diverse, clean, safe, and secure community in which to live, work, and raise a family. 16 • Manage growth by ensuring that development pays for itself and complements or enhances the quality and character of Meridian’s neighborhoods. • Focus growth in key areas for an efficient and high-quality development pattern that aligns with availability and capacity of services and infrastructure. • Partner with schools, nonprofit, and community organizations to provide a variety of educational opportunities for all stages of life. • Promote responsible land use and resource stewardship through sustainable waste reduction, energy efficiency, and transportation choices which reduce reliance on single-occupancy vehicles. A community thoughtfully adapting to changes. AN EVOLVING COMMUNITY #MYMERIDIAN VISION 17 18 #MYMERIDIAN VISION 19 • Connect pathways, trails, greenways, and bike routes to create safe and walkable neighborhoods. • Ensure access to health care, schools, police, and other community services. • Provide innovatively designed parks, preserved open spaces, and diverse recreational opportunities. • Build on Meridian’s cultural visibility, identity, and capacity by promoting the local arts, and cultural assets. A community of family-friendly, healthy, and engaging places. A LIVABLE COMMUNITY 20 • Accommodate appropriate modes of transportation by planning, designing, and building facilities for pedestrians, bicycles, public transit, motor vehicles, and freight. • Improve the efficiency of transportation through land use planning, street design, and new technology. • Embrace Meridian’s location by ensuring alignment of transportation network enhancements with new local and regional growth • Create transportation corridors that promote the efficient movement of people and goods. A community of safe and efficient transportation facilities. A CONNECTED COMMUNITY #MYMERIDIAN VISION 21 22 #MYMERIDIAN VISION 23 • Create vibrant places and gathering spaces with distinct, engaging identities. • Promote Ten Mile, Downtown, and The Village as centers of activity and growth. • Support a Downtown renaissance as the City’s next premier destination through the creation of an attractive shopping, entertainment, and cultural center. • Protect, preserve, and enrich Meridian’s strong historic character and charm. A community strengthened by historic character and vibrant activity centers. A VIBRANT COMMUNITY 24 WHAT’S NEXT? The future of Meridian is in your hands. #MyMeridian Vision provides the aims, concepts, and thoughtfully developed ideas outlined by thousands of area residents and stakeholders for the future they desire for Meridian. Our community knows that a vision only achieves fruition through strong goals, policies, and strategic implementation. A new Comprehensive Plan that reflects our community’s vision is needed to responsibly plan for growth, and to prepare for variable economic conditions in the years ahead. Together, we can ensure Meridian becomes a premier community for our future generations. The next step is to establish the Plan’s policies and projects based on the foundation provided in this document. Then a strategy will evolve with the use of a thoughtful and deliberate combination of large and small projects, fresh programs, and new partnerships. Now is the time to put your mark on #MyMeridian Plan. As the process moves forward, it is important that our community continues to be involved. Make sure that your thoughts and ideas are heard. Jump into online discussions, join your friends and neighbors at public meetings, and share opinions in surveys and at open houses. Watch for upcoming public events this winter and join in #MyMeridian Plan for the future of Meridian. Visit www.meridiancity.org/compplan to get involved.