Community Planning & Policy collaborates with other agencies and community stakeholders to develop and implement plans, strategies, and studies.
The department provides services in the areas of comprehensive plans, corridor development, neighborhood planning, transportation planning, and annexations. Current areas of community interest include:
The All in Allen Comprehensive Plan is a joint land use and development plan for Allen County and the City of Fort Wayne. The Comprehensive Plan serves as the official policy document for addressing issues relating to growth and development in Allen County, its cities, towns and communities, and the City of Fort Wayne. The Plan provides a framework for future decision making grounded in extensive community involvement and a solid analysis of major changes to the area's natural, man-made and cultural environments, as well as the demographics of the area.
Community Planning & Policy works toward making an integrated transportation system that is accessible, safe, efficient, and designed within the context of surrounding land uses. We partner with other transportation agencies to develop ways to enhance movement and connectivity - accommodating a range of transportation choices such as public transit , passenger rail , pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular.
The City of Fort Wayne's Housing Strategy recommended that planning be reintroduced at the neighborhood level. To achieve this goal, Community Planning & Policy partners with neighborhood residents and other community stakeholders to develop implementable and measurable community development plans commonly called CDAPs. During the planning process, residents, community groups, property owners, and business owners identify and discuss issues, develop goals and create strategies. Plans usually include four basic elements: land use, transportation, housing, and community facilities. Other specific issues identified by community members also can be addressed by the plan.
Fort Wayne has a dozen commercial corridors located within the central part of the city. These urban corridors are important to the community because of their character, urban development patterns, relationship to the surrounding neighborhood, pedestrian oriented streetscapes, and distinct urban architecture and form. These corridors were historically developed with a mixture of residential and commercial uses and served as the "main street" for many of the city's urban neighborhoods.
The Front Door Fort Wayne Initiative is a 10-year strategy to enhance Fort Wayne's primary gateways. The goal of this strategy is to develop short-term and long range recommendations to improve the function and aesthetics of existing and future gateways, and to draft policies that will encourage continued maintenance and enhancement of the City's major points of entry. Click HERE for plan.
Annexation is a tool which Indiana cities and towns can use to expand their boundaries. Fort Wayne has grown significantly both in size and population since its incorporation in 1833. In 1833, the City comprised a mere .05 square miles and 300 persons, while as of the 2010 census, Fort Wayne contains approximately 110.56 square miles and has a population of 253,691 persons. Since the early 1950's Fort Wayne has extensively utilized annexation as a tool to keep up with the patterns of suburban sprawl. In fact, over 175 individual annexations have been initiated by Fort Wayne over the past five decades. These annexations included both voluntary and involuntary annexations. MAP
Downtown Fort Wayne says much about who and what we are as a community. As times have changed, so has the role of downtown. From Kekionga's trading village to its days as a territorial fortress, from transportation hub to the seat of government, from commercial nexus to the hothouse for art and culture, each era has invented and invigorated Downtown Fort Wayne with a new focus and energy. Community Planning & Policy continues to partner with the Redevelopment Department and others to provide the framework for transforming downtown into a place to live, work and play. Click HERE to see the Downtown Blueprint 2016 Update.
Community Planning & Policy has two preservation planners that serve as staff for the Fort Wayne Historic Preservation Commission (HPC). In addition to duties to the HPC, the preservation staff assists neighborhood associations, businesses and others in interpreting and implementing approved Neighborhood and Community Development Plans. The staff also has the task of revising and updating adopted plans and reports as well as providing the historic components of other plans prepared by the City.
MAPS/SPECIAL PROJECTS
Maps/Special Projects provides strategic research to assist in the direction of Community Development Division resources, management of special projects and develops/leads implementation of the Division technology strategy. It provides maps, census demographics, data analysis, and GIS support to the Community Development Division.
