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The Waynedale Business Chamber is working with the City’s Planning staff to develop a Bluffton and Lower Huntington Corridor Improvement Plan. The Chamber is interested in enhancing these business corridors in order to support its goals of business promotion and community improvements. Once the plan is finalized, it will recommend: 1) possible streetscape improvements to improve the area’s aesthetics, 2) possible improvements to make the corridors more accessible to pedestrians and cyclists and 3) possible zoning changes that would support a mix of business and residential uses.

As part of the planning process, Chamber members and Waynedale residents completed a survey. More than 515 responses were collected, both online and in person at events such as the Waynedale picnic.

The most pressing need identified by residents is to fill in sidewalk gaps and improve accessibility for strollers and wheelchairs along both corridors. The second priority for those taking the survey is to attract more personal and professional services to the area, including more restaurants and retail. The next highest preference is to improve bicycle access and availability of bike racks along Lower Huntington Road and to improve the appearance of buildings and parking along Bluffton Road.

In addition to asking about needed improvements along the corridors, the survey also asked which streetscape elements would have the most impact on the area. Ornamental street lighting ranked number one with 284 votes, street trees received 211 votes and corridor welcome signage rounded out the top three with 167 votes.

The next phase of the planning process will include focus group meetings for all of the members of the Waynedale Business Chamber and the property owners within the study area. These meetings will allow stakeholders the opportunity to respond to the results of the survey and open discussion about ways to achieve the improvements. Recommendations will then be constructed and presented to Chamber members, stakeholders and the community for comments and revisions with a final plan scheduled for completion in May 2017.

The Waynedale Chamber is focusing on the Bluffton Road and Lower Huntington Road corridors because these roads are the main arterials through the Waynedale community. They are a key location for business development and investment. Bluffton Road is also planned to be part of the regional trail network that will connect Oubache State Park in Wells County to Pokagon State Park in Steuben County. The Chamber hopes the final corridor plan will spur investment and continue the positive work already taking place in the Waynedale area.