Purpose:
The Springfield Township 2020 Vision has been created for the following specific purposes:
 
To guide the Springfield Township Trustees in the decision making process to create a climate of positive change in the community by leveraging the many community assets and attributes and bringing about new collaborative efforts between the Township, Schools, Churches, Neighborhoods Civic Associations, Businesses, and Non-Profit Organizations to achieve new economies of scale, improved communications, and increased services to the community.
 

Overall Vision Statement:
Springfield Township is a community of great neighborhoods recognized throughout the region as a great place to live, learn, play and stay.   
 

Anchor Themes:
• Township Service/Actions/Governance
• Collaborative Actions
• Business/Economic Development
• Neighborhood Enhancement
• Recreational,  Educational, and Cultural Enrichment
 
 
Township Service/Actions/Governance 
The Township Government will enhance the economic competitiveness and residential marketability of the community neighborhoods and business districts by ensuring efficient, effective, and high quality public services and take actions that foster a climate and environment for positive change.
 

Actions Steps:
 
• Continue and expand on an annual Results Oriented Budgeting Process to ensure Township financial resources are spent on the highest priorities and the need for property tax increases are minimized.
 
• Pursue all legislative options available, including but not limited to the creation of Joint Economic Development Districts (JEDDs), Tax Increment Financing Districts (TIFs) and Residential Improvement Districts (RIDs) on all major development or redevelopment projects to create new special purpose revenue streams
 
• Conduct an analysis regarding a Resident and Non-Resident EMS Billing System in order to create additional Fire District Revenue Stream and prolong existing Fire Levy Millage and delay the need for a tax increase 

• Increase Road Project Capital Improvement and Service Department operations revenues to achieve 20 year road repaving cycle and eliminate the need for General Fund assistance.  
 
• Conduct a feasibility study to determine the best option for increasing and improving Township public relations activities such as: marketing; web site and portal management; newsletter production; and press releases to increase the effectiveness of communications between the Township, its residents and the region.
 
• Decrease the crime rate and perception of crime by increasing the number of Directed Patrol and Neighborhood Action Plan (NAP) activities by the Police Department.  
 
• Conduct a feasibility study to determine costs and interest in providing Wi-Fi Service to all Township residents and businesses to improve market competitiveness and offer cost savings.
 
• Provide an Electric Supplier Option to residents and businesses through the Township’s Aggregation program that provides price stability and savings.  
 
• Convene a Township Levy Consolidation and Township Service Consolidation Task Force to study the long-term feasibility of consolidating township services, such as police and fire and consolidating tax levies into one general operations levy and a capital improvement levy.
 

 Collaborative Actions
 
Local Governments, School Districts, Religious Institutions and Civic Associations will work together to improve the effectiveness of their services, maximize their  efficiency in utilizing resources,  and improve the quality of life and economic well-being of the Springfield Township region.   
 

Action Steps:

• Create a Local Government Consortium of the communities surrounding Springfield Township that meets regularly to: 

• Improve communications and information
• Explore service sharing and consolidation possibilities
• Explore tax saving opportunities
• Share marketing and economic development opportunities for the good of this region of the county

 
• Create a Northern Hills Educational Alliance between the Township and the Finneytown, Winton
Woods, and Mt. Healthy Schools Districts and St. Barts and St. Vivain Elementary schools that
meets regularly to: 

• Improve communications and information
• Explore service sharing, improvements and consolidation possibilities
• Explore tax and tuition saving opportunities
• Implement recreational, cultural and education programs for adults and youths using school facilities during non-school hours  

 
• Create a Faith Alliance of Springfield Township involving the major churches that meets regularly to:

• Improve communications and information
• Establish a volunteer work force to complete community projects and help those in need of maintaining their property
• Provide social service assistance and training to those in need
• Implement recreational, cultural and education  programs for adults using school facilities  

• Create a Council of Springfield Township Civic Associations that meets regularly to: 

• Improve communications and information sharing
• Enact a Township-wide crime prevention neighborhood block-watch program
• Establish a volunteer work base to assist in a wide variety of community projects
• Create increased sense of community and belonging among township residents

Business/Economic Development:
 
The Township Government will maintain a strong relationship with the business and development community in conjunction with the Springfield Township Chamber of Commerce to enhance the economic competitiveness andmattractiveness of business districts and industrial parks.
 
• Develop/Update a Township Strategic Action and Economic Development Plan that:

• Defines Township business districts and establishes specific goals and action steps for each based on the unique targets and results as desired and identified by the Township and business owners
• Develops economic competitiveness by integrating and leveraging the assets of neighboring jurisdictions and proximity to the Cincinnati Central Business District
• Creates a specific and unified identity for each district and the Township
• Attracts entertainment type venues, sit-down restaurants and high tech light industrial and office uses
• Creates a strategic action plan for all major undeveloped, underutilized parcels ripe for redevelopment.

 
• Actively pursue new commercial and industrial development through Township staff attendance at regional and national trade shows, participation and membership in the International Council of Shopping Centers and International Economic Development Council and involvement on local economic development board and councils.
 
• Utilize special district revenue funds from Joint Economic Development Districts, Tax Increment
Financing Districts and other similar legislative tools to make streetscape and infrastructure
improvements and to purchase blighted properties for resale to preferred developers in the
business districts.
 
• Create a commercial property database to market available properties to potential developers and
to improve communications among township businesses.
 
• Partner with business district merchants and the Chamber of Commerce to conduct special events
within the districts to promote special sales while combining with entertainment and activities.
 
 
Neighborhood Enhancement:
 
Celebrate community diversity through strong relationships and partnerships between the Township and  its many stable, unique, well-rounded neighborhoods that are inclusive to all residents who have civic pride, respect property values, desire an improved lifestyle and wish to invest and build social equity in the community.
 
 
• Develop/Update a Township Comprehensive Land Use, Strategic Neighborhood Action Plan that:

• Creates Township Districts/Neighborhoods and establishes specific goals and action steps for each based on the unique targets and results as desired and identified by each individual neighborhood or district.
• Updates the Land Use Plan
• Creates a strategic action plan for all major undeveloped, underutilized parcels ripe for redevelopment such as the Warder Nursery property

 
• Develop a Bike Path Plan that links parks, schools and business districts with the neighborhoods.
 
• Require all rental properties to obtain an inspection to insure compliance with Property Maintenance Code regulations and requirements prior to rental.  
 
• Create a Neighborhood Enhancement Grant Program aimed at providing funds to neighborhoods for projects such as right-of-way landscaping, architectural features, or signage in order to foster community involvement and pride in neighborhoods and to become a catalyst for residents to re-invest into their properties.   
 
• Conduct Neighborhood Clean-Up Days in various Township neighborhoods by providing places and processes for residents to discard miscellaneous debris and junk, including inoperable vehicles to enhance the physical appearance of the neighborhood and individual properties.   
 
• Pursue legislative changes through the State, which will enable the Township to abate property code violations in a more efficient and expeditious manner.  
 
• Provide incentives for residential property re-development and home ownership through tax abatements or incentives.  
 
• Conduct quarterly meetings with area realtors to share information and programs offered by the Township and to determine what can be done on the Township’s behalf to foster home ownership and create an increase in the desire for people to want to purchase a home in Springfield Township.
 
 
Recreational, Educational and Cultural Enrichment:
 
The lifestyles of Township residents are enhanced through improved and expanded parks and programs, performing arts, cultural and educational activities and opportunities and wellness programs.
 
• Conduct a Community Health Fair at the Township Senior/Community Center to promote home safety and healthy living for all ages of Township residents.
 
• Review Warder Park Master Plan and conduct feasibility study to determine development options.
 
• Pursue the feasibility of the construction and operation of a cultural arts/amphitheatre to house year-round music, theater, arts and other cultural activities of Township organizations.  
 
• Conduct a feasibility study on former Allen Paul property currently owned by the Hamilton County Park District for long-term lease and development by the Township for recreation fields.
 
• Create a joint recreational district with one or more neighboring communities to share resources, costs, and provide additional amenities to our respective communities.
 
• Increase programs offered at the Township Senior Center and Grove Hall, including but not limited to speakers on topics of interest (Lecture Series), musical acts (Cincinnati Civic Orchestra) to provide information on a wide variety of different topic and meet the diverse educational interest of Township residents.
 
• Pursue partnerships with local theater and music groups to bring programs and events to meet the diverse cultural interests of Township residents.