City Council contracted Jacobs Engineering to take the lead on the plan, known as “Fairfield Forward.” Jacobs was paid $115,640, and $5,000 of that contract was funded through a grant from the Duke Energy Foundation.
“Vibrancy and diversity is something people loved about this city,” said Paul Culter, Jacobs Engineering project manager.
City leaders have said the people who participated in surveys, committees and discussions said they want to live in a walkable community, as well as they want a better variety of sit-down restaurants over fast-food restaurants. They also want more things to do in the city at night — including breweries — and improved property maintenance enforcement, design guidelines and more passive parks.
Fairfield Development Service Director Greg Kathman said the public also wants to have splash pads — which have been popular in other Butler County communities.
“This was not necessarily on our radar when we started this plan,” Kathman said.
Fairfield first adopted a comprehensive plan in 1966, and city leaders have updated the plan multiple times since. The comprehensive plan was last updated in 2009.
The plan was developed from August 2018 to September with input from elected and appointed officials, residents and business leaders through various ways, including an online survey, social media promotion, and steering and small area plan committees. There were also several community events, including multiple public houses and community events, and organizers also conducted stakeholder interviews.
Fairfield Planning Manager Erin Lynn said the data- and information-collection process helped the city know what needs to be improved, and what it doesn’t need.
“The plan addresses elements controlled directly by the city, such as public services and regulations, as well as policy initiatives that encourage individual community members and private property owners to help realize the overall vision,” Lynn said.
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The document address various topics, including:
• land use and zoning,
• housing and neighborhoods,
• transportation,
• economic development,
• public services, and
• sustainability.
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