Regional Development Plans
Some pertinent questions to pose about your new home site relate to what kind of community services are or might become available. These include things like cable, gas, water, sewer, sidewalks/curb, etc. Also, air traffic might be of concern. School system bus service is an important consideration as well. A good place to start is with your local jurisdiction. Contact the village, city or township office to ask if there is a long range land use plan in effect, which would give you an idea about what changes might happen in your community services and infrastructure in the future.
Montgomery County and the Miami Valley
In our region, the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC) is an agency that provides resources and services to help townships, villages, cities and counties in the Miami Valley with their long range planning needs, in terms of zoning, development, transportation, and environmental concerns.
The agency is composed of two bodies: administrative and technical staff, and approximately 60 elected officials (The Commission), who represent the interests of jurisdictions in the regional planning area. This includes the counties of Miami, Montgomery, Greene, and Preble. The commission is a voting body that influences projects of mutual concern to all the jurisdictions involved.
MVRPC is involved in four areas of planning: Water Quality, Transportation, Community Services, and Criminal & Juvenile Justice.
The Water Quality Department has an inventory of water resources- ground water, surface water, and wetlands. They have identified pollution sources; recommended strategies and developed a management structure for water quality protection.
The Transportation department is involved in assessing the long term transportation needs and soliciting federal and state dollars for projects, through two capital improvement plans - one spanning 20 years, the other, 4 years. Areas addressed include public transit, bikeways, and roadways.
The Community Services Department provides technical assistance to member jurisdictions, in creating long range land use plans, on a contract basis. They also function as coordinator for interagency projects. An extensive mapping inventory and services are available. They also provide staff support for the Miami Valley Emergency Management Agency.
The Criminal and Juvenile Justice Department administers three federal block grant programs in Montgomery County, and assists various agencies in applying for these funds. They also work with the Ohio Criminal Justice System on initiatives and issues.