Bloomington, IN
Bloomington Growth Policies Plan

Bloomington, Indiana retained Camiros to develop a policy plan to guide growth and development over the next two decades. Like many Indiana cities, Bloomington exercised planning jurisdiction over a two-mile fringe area beyond the corporate boundary. Consequently, the Bloomington Policies Plan addressed planning issues associated with rapidly urbanizing areas as well as issues of neighborhood conservation in the older core.

Camiros worked extensively with the public and community officials to develop the comprehensive plan. Two workshops and monthly meetings were held with the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee, as well as focus group meetings, key person interviews, public forums and open houses. These meetings helped to create the "vision" for the city, defining how and where development should occur throughout the city and its planning jurisdiction. The goals, objectives and policies created to achieve this vision emphasized limiting sprawl by encouraging development in the interior of the city, continuing the promotion of Carbondale as a regional center, protection of single family neighborhoods, reinvestment in the existing downtown businesses, continuing to build a partnership with Southern Illinois University and promotion of on-going communication and coordination with other governmental bodies, public agencies and other service providers.

Because Bloomington (population 60,000) took pride in its high level of citizen involvement in civic affairs and because it is a university community of 34,000+, Camiros designed a planning process that would maximize citizen participation and review. Participation events included community-wide town meetings, a 2,000 household random survey, public TV presentation of growth scenarios and community congresses focused on specific policy issues. Beyond extensive public outreach, the planning process incorporated frequent and direct discussion between the consultant, planning staff and plan commissioners.

In addition to the elements typically encompassing a comprehensive plan, such as a land use plan, a thoroughfare plan and revised development procedures, the Bloomington effort emphasized policies designed specifically to contain urban sprawl, manage public investment and reinvigorate the older urban core neighborhoods.