GOALS

The following goals have been adapted from the 1993 Comprehensive Plan and are designed to guide decision-making by the Township Trustees, Zoning Commission, and the Board of Appeals with issues that affect the future of Perry Township. The six identified goals for Perry Township strive to achieve a balance of residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, institutional, and recreational land uses in order to maintain a healthy economic base and provide a quality living environment for residents of the Township.

1. PRESERVE THE AGRICULTURAL/HORTICULTURAL ECONOMY

The cultivation of nursery stock in Perry Township is important to the local economy. The Township's nurseries contribute to the economic base by providing jobs and by bringing money into the local economy. In addition to their economic benefits, the nurseries are also an important factor in creating and retaining the semi-rural atmosphere in Perry Township. The large open vegetated tracts of nursery land associated with the horticultural industry create significant expanses of open space with scenic vistas and a sense of openness which help preserve the Township's semi-rural character. The unique value of the land for horticultural purposes and its role in maintaining the Township's semi-rural environment makes preservation of the most productive nursery lands a priority.

An examination of historic population growth and land use patterns in Lake County shows that originally population densities were highest in the western portion of the County while communities in the central portion of the County, such as Mentor, had vast fields of nursery stock. The eastern portion of the County was predominately crop agriculture. Over time, as residential and commercial growth in the County shifted easterly, development pressures forced out the nurseries in the central communities. Many of these nurseries relocated to Perry Township in areas previously dominated by farms. As population continues to grow and development continues to shift to the east, development pressures are increasing in Perry Township. Perry Township needs to be aware of these growing pressures and take appropriate measures to protect its remaining agricultural and nursery lands.

Horticultural activity is one of the most important sectors in the economy of Perry Township. Recent efforts to encourage industrial development have begun to decrease the significance of the nurseries to Perry Township's local economy, but not the larger regional economy. Perry Township is a premier horticultural center with a unique combination of soils and climate. The continuing demand for nursery stock necessitates preservation of this immobile natural resource.

General agricultural uses are not likely to vary in importance because the market for the Township's farms is primarily local. The benefits gained from agricultural lands are very similar to those of horticultural activities and should be preserved for similar reasons.

2. PRESERVE UNIQUE AREAS AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Preservation of trees, open space, fields, and topography assists in retaining the natural visual quality that is characteristic of Perry Township. Perry Township is fortunate to be located between the Lake Erie shoreline and the Grand River. These two environmental features allow for natural scenic views increasing the overall visual quality of the area and add to the recreational opportunities available in Perry Township.

The Grand River is one of only two identified scenic and wild rivers in the State of Ohio and stretches along the southern border of Perry Township. One of the reasons for this designation is the river's high environmental qualities and the lack of manmade intrusion. In addition to its scenic value, the area surrounding the Grand River contains steep slopes and watersheds prone to flooding. The sensitive nature of this area limits its ability to sustain higher density developments. Strictly controlling density within the Grand River Watershed is essential for protecting the natural qualities of the river.

Lake Erie defines the northern border of Perry Township and provides a wide array of recreational opportunities. Efforts should be made to protect this natural resource while providing public access for recreational enjoyment. The lakeshore is an extremely valuable asset to the community and its use should be carefully planned and controlled.

3. RETAIN A SEMI-RURAL RESIDENTIAL CHARACTER WHILE
PROVIDING A RANGE OF RESIDENTIAL ALTERNATIVES

The majority of the housing units in Perry Township are single-family detached units located on lots of one acre or larger. These large lots are representative of the lack of sanitary sewer service needed to support higher densities. Low-density development combined with an abundance of open space and nursery land gives the Township its rural character. It is intended that the Township retain its semi-rural and single-family character.

Development of multi-family and higher density single-family homes should be controlled and channeled to areas where utilities, transportation, and other services can be readily and economically provided. This approach will provide a variety of housing options to meet the needs of present and future residents of Perry Township, while preserving and protecting the Township's semi-rural single-family character and controlling the economic and service impact associated with increased residential development. Higher density residential units are not appropriate in environmentally sensitive areas or areas which are particularly well-suited for horticultural activities. Therefore, extension of sanitary sewer service to those areas is neither desirable nor recommended.

4. CREATE AN ACCEPTABLE BALANCE AMONG LAND USES

In order to maintain a strong economic base and provide a high-quality living environment, every community should have a combination of land uses including agricultural, residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and recreational uses. Quality, small-scale commercial developments consisting of convenience goods and service uses intended to serve primarily Perry Township residents are appropriate along the U.S. Route 20 corridor. Such neighborhood oriented commercial developments should be planned and designed in cluster arrangements with proper management of vehicular access, careful consideration of site layout and building design, and use of integrated and coordinated architectural treatments in order to achieve a high standard of visual quality, minimize traffic safety and congestion problems, and avoid the negative impacts associated with continuous strip commercial development, or larger scale commercial developments. Although not located within the Township, large scale regional shopping centers providing a wider variety of consumer goods and services are readily accessible to Perry Township residents within a reasonable driving distance.

Industrial development in Perry Township is valuable for maintaining and increasing the economic base and a healthy local economy. The Township has already begun to promote and is continuing to encourage industrial development north of U.S. Route 20 in order to broaden its tax base. The primary focus of future industrial development should continue to be in the designated areas of northern Perry Township where transportation and utility services are already in place.

Along with balancing land uses, the need to protect these uses from one another is also increasingly important. Non-residential types of land uses should be focused within certain areas to provide for efficient provision of services to minimize their impacts. The Township continues to adhere to a strict policy of buffering between potentially incompatible uses.

5. EXPAND AND DIVERSIFY THE TAX BASE FOR PERRY TOWNSHIP

The Township's tax base has historically been closely tied to only two sources, the nurseries and the power plant. The Township needs to continue to vigorously pursue new economic development to enhance and broaden its tax base. The area North of U.S. Route 20 has been planned for industrial development. The Township has assisted in and encouraged the development of industrial parks for attracting a diversity of new employers. The portion of U.S. Route 20 corridor extending from Lane Road to Call Road has been planned for business and commercial development and should be reserved to ensure sufficient commercial support for residential neighborhoods, a diversity of businesses and services, and long term stability of the tax base.


Maintaining a pro-active approach to promoting economic development within the Township's industrial region will provide job opportunities for Township residents, insure adequate tax base to support both the provision of Township services, and maintain the quality of Perry's public school system.

6. PRESERVE AND ENHANCE LAKE ERIE SHORELINE

The Lake Erie shoreline is an environmentally sensitive area and aesthetically significant resource that should be protected. The lakeshore's unique features provide one-of-a kind recreational and aesthetic opportunities for the residents of the Township. The Township should continue with recent efforts to expand and enhance public access opportunities along the lakeshore through park land acquisition. The Lake Erie shoreline also represents an opportunity for distinctive high caliber lakefront oriented residential developments that will add to the diversity and quality of the Township's housing stock. The Township should also be active participants in county and regional planning efforts to protect and preserve the Lake Erie shoreline.