Scenario 1

This scenario examines the current trends in land use development across the region. It sets the baseline for the other scenarios and makes projections of what the study area will look like in the future if things continue at status quo. Some of the current trends include:

• Diverse Communities with a Variety of Lifestyle Choices (e.g. dense urban core, larger suburban plots)
• Home Rule Governance by 21 Separate Entities
• Duplication of Services (e.g. police, fire, EMS, sanitation)
• Competition for Economic Development Opportunities
• High Drive to Work Percentages Due to Abundant Highway Access
• Overabundance of Retail Due to 6 Major Shopping Areas
• Residential Housing Movement from Western Cuyahoga to Eastern Lorain County
• Urban Sprawl Increasing the Loss of Important Natural Resources (e.g. wetlands, headwater streams, prime agricultural lands)