Gahanna planners present draft strategic plan framework and transportation plan update; public engagement set for May

Gahanna senior staff and outside consultants updated City Council on a draft strategic plan framework and a separate comprehensive transportation and mobility plan Thursday and invited residents to attend multiple May engagement events to test the proposals.

Senior Director Miranda Volmer introduced Planning Next consultants, who presented a strategic plan framework that begins with a proposed vision statement — "Gahanna aspires to connect people and places that foster opportunities for all to thrive" — and accompanying values that residents identified during initial outreach: vibrancy, connections, stewardship, and welcoming community.

The framework breaks priorities into strategic focus areas, including elevating Creekside and other unique places, fostering economic development and housing, serving the community through internal operations and safety, celebrating Gahanna’s identity, and connecting the community through mobility and partnerships. The consultants said the framework will be tested at a series of May events (Vision Fest and related sessions) and refined based on public input.

Separately, Shannon Fergus of Burgess & Niple presented the comprehensive transportation and mobility plan, which updates the city’s 2019 thoroughfare plan and adds policies for complete streets, access management, and traffic-impact study requirements. Fergus said the plan emphasizes creating street cross sections and standards that reflect intended land use and complete-streets goals rather than focusing narrowly on roadway widening.

Fergus said the project team coordinated with the strategic-plan process to align land-use aims, and noted prior outreach that included a public talk and stakeholder tours with walkability expert Jeff Speck. Draft recommendations, functional/context classifications and typical cross sections will be finalized after the May public engagement and are expected to return to council and planning commission for review later this year.

City staff and consultants outlined multiple public engagement opportunities in early May: a Vision Fest beginning May 6 (family event with engagement stations), a small-business morning coffee, a senior lunch, a young-professionals happy hour, an economic-development event May 15 and the Gahanna Bananas game May 17. Online surveys for both plans will run through May.

Why it matters: The strategic plan will serve as a high-level roadmap to guide the city’s other plans and budgets; the transportation plan will produce design standards and policies that shape future roadway, sidewalk and active-transportation projects and influence capital budgeting.

Ending: Staff asked council members to forward questions to Senior Director Miranda Volmer and encouraged residents to participate in the Vision Fest events and online surveys during May.