The City of Oberlin

The City of Oberlin is a small town of 8,600, located in Lorain County, Ohio about 30 miles southwest of Cleveland. Home to Oberlin College, a 4-year liberal arts college with an internationally known music conservatory and about 3,000 students, Oberlin is valued by its community members for its small town character, commitment to environmental sustainability and social equity, and vibrant arts culture.

Planning Efforts

In the spring of 2022, the city embarked on the development of a new Comprehensive Plan, the first since 2005. The city has a longstanding dedication to thoughtful planning, and had previously developed multiple Climate Action Plans, the latest in 2019; and a housing analysis, in 2017. During the pandemic years of 2020 to 2021, a Comprehensive Plan Committee prepared for a full Comprehensive Plan project through subcommittee work developing provisional recommendations for economic development, downtown revitalization, parks and open space, social equity, city services, and more.

A consulting team including KM Date Community Planning and OHM Advisors was engaged in the summer of 2022 to lead a Comprehensive Plan project. The consulting team conducted in-depth data and existing conditions analysis and trends assessment. Subsequently, a social equity assessment and downtown strategic plan were completed.

Public engagement

The Comprehensive Plan project was done in concert with the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, and extensive public engagement including a community survey, stakeholder focus groups and interviews, three public input sessions, and web and social media presence. In all, close to 800 Oberlin community members were reached.

Purpose of the Plan

The Oberlin Comprehensive Plan incorporates all of the data and previous planning and public engagement work, framed by public consensus. It sets the stage for the implementation of important strategies into the future.

Key Findings of Public Input and Data Analysis

Affordable Housing

Throughout public engagement discussions, the lack of quality affordable housing was at the top of every conversation. People were concerned about the high cost of housing, both for-sale and for-rent; the lack of quantity and and types of housing to meet everyone's needs; the low quality of rental housing, and Oberlin's older housing. High taxes were seen as a significant add to the cost of living in Oberlin, effectively inflating the cost of housing.

Economic Growth and Development

Community members recognize the need for increased economic development in order to expand the tax base in Oberlin. Community members support the growth and expansion of the community, including commercial and innovation opportunities, and new housing and neighborhoods, with a caveat: that Oberlin's walkable, sustainable land use pattern, and small town character, be retained, and even enhanced where possible. They prioritized the continued revitalization and enhancement of downtown for residents, businesses, students, and visitors alike.

Community Services

Community members are generally pleased with the quality of community services in Oberlin, including both city services and those provided by partners. They prioritize social equity, environmental sustainability and resilience, and customer service in the city's activities, with improved communication, collaboration and information sharing. They had a wide range of specific recommendations, which can be found in the Implementation Matrix in Chapter 6.

Arts and Culture

Community members supported expansion of arts and culture opportunities, in particular communication and collaboration to inform both the community and wider region about the arts in Oberlin, and strategies to allow arts and culture to thrive. Expanded opportunities for arts and cultural programming, public art, and historic preservation enhancement were prioritized.

Communication and Collaboration

Community members emphasized the need for expanded communication and collaboration among the city and its partners, in particular Oberlin College, Oberlin Schools, and business, downtown, arts and social organizations. An easy-to-navigate city website, a comprehensive community-wide website, and organizational meetings were prioritized.

Vision, Goals, and Objectives

These community priorities were translated into the vision, goals and objectives for the plan, and an aspirational Future Land Use Map. Vetted with the community through public input sessions, these elements formed the core of the Plan.

Top Priority Action Steps for the Coming Three years

In the Plan's Implementation Matrix, specific action steps were outlined under each objective. Further discussion among Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee members, in light of the extensive public input received, prioritized the following steps for the short term future:

• Update Oberlin's zoning to align with the comprehensive plan, especially residential and mixed use development, to allow for a range of housing types and price points, at densities that will continue Oberlin's walkable, small-town character

• Enhance support for business and economic development, especially in the downtown, and in business attraction and retention

• Implement a social equity plan with strategies to enhance social equity in Oberlin

• Strengthen collaboration between the city, Oberlin College, Oberlin Schools, businesses and organizations through regular meetings and collaboration

• Implement a new city website and community-wide website

Going Forward

The Oberlin Comprehensive Plan is intended to be referenced regularly to guide city decisions, communication and collaboration. Chapter Six, the Implementation Framework, should be managed as a living document which is revisited annually. Action steps should be updated to acknowledge tasks completed, and augmented to accommodate changing needs and emerging opportunities.