Plan Elements
Updated 20 December 2024
The Greenfield Comprehensive Plan (Our Roadmap for 2045) is currently in Phase 3 (Framework) of the planning process. This tab is where the current versions of significant elements of the Plan can be found. These elements have been (or will be) identified in the planning process:
A Vision Statement is what the community envisions the future of Greenfield in 2045 -- what it will look like, feel like, and be like. This is done by stating the desired outcomes of planning and development throughout the 20 years it takes to get there. In other words, the vision provides a basis for why and how planning and development should take place in the community.
STATUS: Complete
Goals are a breakdown of the vision statement into broad, thematic focus areas. Naturally, they are comprehensive in scope, accomplished over longer timeframes, and significant to achieving the community's vision.
STATUS: Complete
Objectives are how the community wants to achieve the goals, which are more actionable and accomplished in somewhat shorter timeframes. This includes identifying priority objectives, responsible parties (e.g. City departments, public agencies, organizations, etc.), and possible partnerships.
STATUS: Draft available
Action Steps are the most specific and actionable (i.e. "boots on the ground") element of the plan. To ensure the plan remains flexible over the 20 years, they are written as recommendations rather than mandates. In other words, they are possible avenues for the identified parties to pursue the plan's objectives.
STATUS: Work in progress
Greenfield is going Places!
Placetypes are an approach to land use planning that describes development by its character rather than simply its land use. "Character" can include building design, site layout, architecture, land use, scale, and more. This approach to land use planning uses photos or conceptual models to convey the desired character of development within each placetype.
In comparison to traditional land use planning (which only define land use), there is a greater emphasis on the quality of development rather than quantity. Here is an article that further explains placetypes:
The role of ‘Placetypes’ in Shaping Community Identity and Brand | CivicBrand
STATUS: Draft available
The Future Development Map identifies where placetypes are or should be physically located in the community. It does not dictate when development occurs, rather it describes how development should look, feel, and function, such as building design, if/when it does occur. The process of making the map (so far) has included:
- An analysis of the community's trends in real estate development, population, economy, housing, environment, and more;
- Public input gathered at workshops and other events, and from this website,
- Discussions with focus groups including elected officials, City staff from utilities, police, planning, fire, parks, local community organizations, and government partners like Hancock County.
STATUS: Draft available
An implementation matrix is a tool used to:
- Help prioritize action after the plan is adopted, and
- Define the party who is primary responsible for implementation and suggested partners.
The matrix will be based on the Plan's objectives.
STATUS: Work in progress
Contact the Planning Team
Have questions or want to learn more about a project, contact the planning consultant team below:
Name | Rundell Ernstberger Associates |
---|---|
planning@reasite.com | |
Website | www.reasite.com/ |
In writing | 618 E Market Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202 |
Phase 1: Discovery
The Discovery Phase is the first phase of a 4-step process that Rundell Ernstberger Associates (REA) uses to comprehensively plan for and with communities. It includes:
- Collection and analysis of data from authoritative sources like the US Census Bureau,
- The formation of a Steering Committee that consists of community leaders like non-profit organizations, elected officials, and other community organizations, and
- Determining the key trends and significant impacts that the community has and is experiencing.
NOTE: During the Framework Phase, Planning Principles were renamed to "Goals," and what were formerly called "Goals" were renamed as "Objectives." Documents with a date before December 2024 will likely use the old terms.
County Fairgrounds Pop-up (19 July 2023)
Depot Street Concert Pop-up (26 August 2023)
Steering Committee Meeting 1 (17 October 2023)
Focus Group Meetings (20 - 21 February 2023)
Over two days, the planning consultants and Greenfield's Planning staff met with eleven focus groups. Key findings and themes that focus groups discussed were:
- Community Growth and Development,
- Infrastructure and Services,
- Quality of Life and Community Engagement, and
- Economic Development.
These findings and themes were presented at Community Workshop 1 and laid the foundation for the Plan's Vision and Goals (previously called Planning Principles).
Phase 2: Visioning
The Visioning phase is the second phase of the planning process. Visioning involves presenting the findings of the Discovery Phase to the public and teaming with the community to define a Vision Statement and Goals of the Comprehensive Plan. The vision and goals are the foundations with which the third phase, Framework, is started.
NOTE: During the Framework Phase, Planning Principles were renamed to "Goals," and what were formerly called "Goals" were renamed as "Objectives." Documents with a date before December 2024 will likely use the old terms.
Community Workshop 1 (01 April 2024)
Over 60 people joined the planning team to envision the future of Greenfield and identify the desired characteristics that go along with their vision. Participants worked in group of 3 - 8 to complete three activities, where they brainstormed together about opportunities and barriers that Greenfield might face in the future. The final activity included a land use mapping exercise, where groups drew possible future development, trails, etc. on a map of Greenfield. The input gathered at this workshop would go on to create the Plan's Vision Statement, Goals (previously called Planning Principles), and start work on the Objectives (formerly known as "Goals").
Additionally, participants took a voluntary demographic survey that allowed the planning team to see if certain groups in the Greenfield community were underrepresented at the workshop. The survey showed that younger age groups were underrepresented, hence another workshop session was arranged with high school students in collaboration with the Greenfield-Central School Corporation.
NOTE: These documents use previous language from before December 2024 to describe goals and objectives.
Materials
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Meeting FlyerPDF (566.19 KB)
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Presentation slidesPDF (14.43 MB)
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Participant SurveyPDF (216.64 KB)
Voluntary demographic survey given to participants of the workshop.
Results
High School Focus Group (11 April 2024)
Steering Committee Meeting 2 (24 April 2024)
Department Heads Focus Group (6 June 2024)
Phase 3: Framework
After solidifying the vision and goals with the community, the third phase, Framework, begins. This phase is where the Objectives and associated Action Steps are created. Additionally, the Placetypes and associated Future Development Map are drafted through conversations and workshops with public, Steering Committee, and focus groups.
NOTE: During this phase, Planning Principles were renamed to "Goals," and what were formerly called "Goals" were renamed as "Objectives." Documents with a date before December 2024 will likely use the old terms.
Steering Committee 3 (18 June 2024)
City Council Meeting (14 August 2024)
Community Workshop 2 (29 August 2024)
At the workshop, over 50 community members worked in groups of 3-6 people to:
- Review the proposed objectives for the Comprehensive Plan (Our Roadmap for 2045),
- Suggest action steps to accomplish them, and
- Discuss the desired characteristics of future development in the community, such as building design and style, and development size and scale.
NOTE: As of December 2024, Planning Principles have been renamed to "Goals," and what were formerly called "Goals" have been renamed as "Objectives." SOME of these documents use the previous language before December 2024.
Materials
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Presentations slidesPDF (7.53 MB)
Includes (1) a brief recap of what has been accomplished since the planning process began last year, (2) an overview of the results of the first public workshop, and (3) instructions for the activity boards.
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Activity BoardsPDF (7.99 MB)
These boards (7 total) were placed at each table. Workshop participants used them to evaluate the draft goals for each planning principle and the draft placetypes.
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Reference Boards for around the roomPDF (2.63 MB)
Two boards: one with the draft placetypes map and one with the community vision and planning principles. These boards were setup around the room for participants to easily reference these elements of the plan.
Results
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Findings - Feedback on PlacetypesPDF (16.59 MB)
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Scanned Comment CardsPDF (2.84 MB)
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Scanned Placetype Activity BoardsPDF (8.09 MB)
Helped guide conversations about the desired characteristics of future development in the community
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Results - Placetypes ActivityMS Excel (22.24 KB)
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Results - Objectives and Suggested ActionsMS Excel (34.72 KB)
Steering Committee 4 (06 September 2024)
City Infrastructure Focus Group (14 November 2024)
Phase 4: Action
The final phase, Action, is when the prioritization of the Plan's Objectives through an Implementation Matrix and identification of responsible parties (for example, public agencies, City staff, local organization, etc.) is completed. Prioritization helps the city and community partners determine how to allocate resources for different proposals. The public is engaged to help prioritize them. Then, a Draft Plan is put together and presented at public open house and public meetings for Greenfield's Advisory Plan Commission and City Council. Then, a public review and comment period of 30 days is announced. Finally, after revisions and explanations via public input, a Final Plan is presented again for adoption by both the Plan Commission and City Council.
Phase 4 has not yet begun.
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Photo from High School Focus Group
Post-Adoption
Once the plan is adopted, city staff, elected officials, and other community partners will be responsible for implementing the plan over the next 20 years. It is important to note that Comprehensive Plans should be viewed as 'living documents.' Therefore, it is recommended that the Plan has minor updates every five to 10 years to reflect changes in the community, such as socioeconomic trends or major real estate developments. Then after 20 years, a major rewrite/update is recommended, which should include an in-depth analysis of the outcomes produced by the Goals, Objectives, and Action Steps taken to achieve the Vision of this comprehensive plan.