The Lima-Allen County Regional
Planning Commission (LACRPC) was established in September 1964
and assumed the powers and duties of the Allen County Planning
Commission, which was created in 1954. The formation of the
Regional Planning Commission was accomplished in conformance
with Section 713.21 of the Ohio Revised Code and was charged
with the responsibilities of comprehensive planning and program
implementation within Allen County and its various communities.
Organizational
Chart
Who We Are
The LACRPC is a voluntary
association of delegates from different participating
jurisdictions, representatives of state and local government
as well as non-governmental organizations interested in understanding
and addressing the needs of the region. The Commission serves
as a forum for the discussion and sharing of ideas and information
among communities regarding local and regional issues. The LACRPC
serves in an advisory capacity to community decision makers who
rely on the data, analyses, and planning recommendations, which
are provided by the Commission. A 35 member Board
of Directors assists the Commission by reviewing and recommending
plans and strategies to develop and improve the region. The Commission
employs professional staff to provide assistance and advice in
carrying out their responsibility.
Powers and Duties
The
powers and duties of the Commission are explicitly detailed in
Section 713.21 of the Ohio Revised Code. The LACRPC provides a
wide array of services to the region and undertakes special studies
at the request of member communities. Typically services include:
- Preparing population and housing reports
- Providing traffic and accident analyses
- Facilitating the subdivision review process for those unincorporated
areas outside of municipal jurisdictions
- Providing zoning, land use, soil and other development related
information.
The Commission is also charged with administering the Allen County
Floodplain Management Regulations for the unincorporated areas
of Allen County. In addition, the LACRPC serves as a repository
and has a wide array of historical data and archival maps including
aerial photos, as well as traffic flow, zoning and land use maps.
Should other services be of local interest, the LACRPC has the
capability to provide a wide variety of other services at little
or no charge to the general public.
Planning
The
annual Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)
developed by the LACRPC reflects the interests and concerns of
local membership and contains information specific to the cooperative,
continuing and comprehensive planning process undertaken by the
LACRPC. Through the participation of local member political subdivisions,
and with the assistance of state and federal agencies, the LACRPC
determines planning priorities and policies for the region and
directs the staff in its various planning activities. The UPWP
outlines the staff activities over the course of the fiscal year
as required under contract with various state and federal agencies.
In addition, the document provides a management tool to assess
LACRPC progress on specific projects, as well as its commitment
to local issues.
Transportation
As
the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Lima Urbanized
Area, the LACRPC is the agency responsible for developing and
maintaining a comprehensive, coordinated, and continuing transportation
planning process. This "3C" process has been adopted
to ensure that the region's local transportation network continues
to be developed cognizant of various land use patterns, and one
in which the safe and efficient movement of goods and people is
paramount.
| Metropolitan Planning Organization
Responsibilities:
- Develop an integrated transportation
plan for the region
- Informed decisions involving a cross
section of representatives from the community.
- Review and approve the allocation of
millions of dollars for improvements to the infrastructure
of roadways and bridges.
- Ensuring that local residents have
the opportunity to utilize alternative modes of commuting
- Reviews and prioritizes expenditures
for walkways, bicycle trails, transit, and paratransit
operations.
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The agency's transportation planning activities are predicated
on a predetermined committee structure, which includes the Transportation
Coordinating Committee (TCC) and the Transportation
Advisory Committee (TAC).
- TCC primarily includes local elected officials
- TAC includes both private and public sector transportation
professionals (reports to TCC)
Together these two committees
review and provide technical assistance as well as make recommendations
on transportation and transit-related projects and programs planned
for the region. The Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) must
also involve the general public and document its public planning
and review processes on all policies and decisions that affect
transportation issues. In order to ensure input and community
involvement, the agency utilizes the services of its
Citizens Advisory Committee and other ad-hoc advising committees.
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