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(Photo by Gwen Sour)
Marietta Development Director Geoff Schenkel discusses the other comprehensive plans Marietta has taken on in the past.
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(Photo by Gwen Sour)
Marietta City Councilman Bret Allphin gives a presentation on the current progress of the Remagine Marietta project.
(Photo by Gwen Sour)
Marietta City Councilman Bret Allphin gives a presentation on the current progress of the Remagine Marietta project.
Marietta City Council’s Planning and Zoning Committee convened Wednesday to discuss the comprehensive plan draft of the Reimagine Marietta plan.
Councilman Bret Allphin emphasized that while the document had been distributed earlier, the meeting aimed to provide a high-level overview, highlighting key elements and implementation strategies. Based on feedback from council members and the planning commission, a color-coded table was provided to categorize strategies into short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals.
The discussion framed the planning process as a funnel, acknowledging that some initiatives are already in motion, others are upcoming, and some will fall under the purview of future councils, administrations, and external consultants. The goal is to adopt the plan by early April, with additional discussions as necessary before that deadline.
“I want you to think kind of in the sense of a funnel, right now we’re kind of at the top of the funnel,” said Allphin. “We’re talking about everything, and there are things in here that we’re going to talk about that are currently in there. There are things that we’ve already done. There are things that we’re doing right now. There are things that council can do, whether this council or future councils, there are things that the administration can do.”
The plan envisions a future where Marietta maintains its small-town charm while fostering housing development, protecting environmental resources, and preserving historic areas. The theme emerged from community engagement sessions and feedback.
(Photo by Gwen Sour)
Marietta Development Director Geoff Schenkel discusses the other comprehensive plans Marietta has taken on in the past.
Development Director Geoff Schenkel mentioned historical planning efforts were discussed, emphasizing Marietta’s success in carrying forward initiatives from past comprehensive plans. Schenkel said the 1974 comprehensive plan was followed by the Marietta 200 Downtown Plan in preparation for the city’s bicentennial in 1988. Many initiatives that were not completed in the 1974 plan were revisited and executed through the downtown plan.
Similarly, some elements from the downtown plan carried over into the Pioneering the Future implementation of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Examples include the transformation of the abandoned Harmar Bridge into a pedestrian crossing by the early ’90s, as well as efforts to move power lines underground, a goal from the 1983 plan that was realized later.
“And then some of that plan’s new information didn’t get done, but did get done during the pioneering the future implementation.” said Schenkel. “So, something I think we shortchange ourselves about locally is how we have done a better job than we sometimes give ourselves credit for by learning from past plans, having them carry over into a new era of plans.”
Some of the proposed implementation strategies and projects included:
* Encourage small business development efforts.
* Continue partnerships with the Southeastern Ohio Port Authority on economic development.
* Establish periodic meetings and surveys with businesses to assess needs and share success stories.
* Support the Marietta Main Streets “Build Up Marietta” grant program for facade improvements.
* Minimize building demolitions and review ordinance fees to improve efficiency.
* Create a streamlined development approach with a “one-stop-shop” model.
Additionally, the plan originally proposed a new levy for street improvements, but committee members debated the necessity of increasing taxes. While acknowledging that current funding is insufficient for comprehensive road maintenance, alternatives such as reallocating existing tax revenues were discussed. The focus shifted toward identifying additional resources rather than introducing a new levy, ensuring that the city’s infrastructure needs are met without placing undue financial burdens on residents.
Allphin closed the meeting, requesting feedback from the other members on council for future editions of the draft.