In early 2008 the Village of Cardington began the process of developing a comprehensive plan to examine and address future needs of the Cardington Community. The 2008 Comprehensive plan aims to update, build upon and expand work that was done in 1999 to develop a comprehensive plan for the community.
Specifically, the 2008 comprehensive plan aims to address the following areas:
The Village first undertook a detailed examination of the Village's existing zoning map which was updated by Council action late in 2007 to reflect the current usage of undeveloped parcels. Specifically, several areas that had mistakenly been labeled as planned unit development on the zoning map were returned to an agricultural zoning classification.
Additionally, in early 2008 the Village began the process of developing a land use plan that aims to project areas of future development guide the land use for these areas as they are developed and annex into the Village of Cardington. Several principles are guiding this process:
- Maximizing the commercial potential for land abutting state highways
- Concentrating industrial development together on the west side of the Village
- Identifying areas of future residential growth close to the Village
The Village operates both water and wastewater utilities for residents of the Village as well as for a limited number of persons who live in close proximity to the Village. In addition, the Village treats wastewater for the Village of Fulton.
Both of the Village's utilities face challenges due to the size of the user base as well as the age of the infrastructure. Cardington's water distribution system was developed in the early 1930's and, despite an active waterline replacement program, approximately 2.1 miles of this original infrastructure is still in use today. The wastewater collection system beginning to face similar infrastructure challenges having been constructed in 1972.
The Village lacks the ability to significantly enlarge the water distribution system due to the presence of water distribution lines from Del-Co now surrounding the Village on all four sides. Consequently, it is unlikely that the Village will ever have more than 1000 water customers even with significant in-fill development in the Village. The Del-Co water distribution system is not, however, designed to meet the needs to industrial users, either in terms of the volume of available water or in terms of fire protection.
In contrast, the Village's wastewater utility has significant potential for growth, and will be the key to Cardington's future growth and development. Increased economies of scale will be realized if the Village is able to enlarge the customer base for the wastewater utility by expanding the collection system. Toward this goal, several specific challenges exist:
- Identifying areas where a modest expansion of the collection system that would foster industrial/commercial development and/or address public health concerns.
- Identify sources of funding for the construction of a new trunk line along the Whetstone that would allow for the gravity collection of wastewater along SR 529 east of CR 168 and as far north as CR 9.
The Village's downtown is unique because so many of the buildings were rebuilt in 1981/82 after a tornado stuck and devestated much of the downtown area in June of 1981. Consequently, the Village's downtown business district has a large number of relatively modern buildings. Of the handful of commercial buildings that pre-date the tornado, however, many are in need of moderization and repair. In addition, the downtown business district was never completely rebuilt after the tornado, and many empty lots remain yet today where businesses that were destroyed in the tornado once stood.
As part of the comprehensive planning process, the Village's Planning & Zoning Commission has identified the pre-1981 Cardington streetscape, with its two story, mixed use, buildings as a development goal. Toward this goal, the Village is studying a variety of economic development and zoning changes.
As part of the 1999 comprehensive plan, several transportation needs were identified, including a means to route commercial and large truck traffic easily through the Cardington area. The Village's main intersection of SR 529 and US 42 was identified as an impediment to truck traffic because of the small turning radiuses that create difficulties for trucks turning at the intersection.
In addition, the Planning & Zoning Commission is examing areas where walking paths and sidewalk improvements would help facilitate a sense of community and improve the safety of pedestrians and school children.
A need has been identified by both the Cardington Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) and the Village for land to be set aside and developed as an industrial park to strengthen the Village's employment and tax base. This site should have frontage on a state highway, and would best be situated west of Cardington near existing industrial development. This area would require the development of sanitary sewer infrastructure, as well as possibly water infrastructure.
A long-term examination of the Village's finances must be undertaken to determine fiscal and administrative needs in the future. Specifically, the Village should examine the future needs in the following areas:
- Parks
- Wastewater - particularly capital infrastructure development
- Water - distribution system replacement and operating costs