Downtown Bethany Area Plan DOWNTOWN

BETHANY
• Bethany has historically served as downtown
to Liberty Township. Due to changes in the
surrounding community, Bethany has lost this
role.
• A development vision for Downtown Bethany
shared and implemented by all stakeholder
groups is necessary for Bethany to regain
identity.
• Small fragmented lots and the existing building
stock are hurdles to the re-development of
Downtown Bethany.
• The speed and volume of traffic on Cincinnati-
Dayton Road, along with an incomplete
sidewalk system impedes pedestrian access
in Downtown Bethany
• Schools and local churches provide a
community social presence within Bethany,
which can be further cultivated through
appropriate development.

Bethany Demographics
2 and 5 mile Market Areas

2 mi 5mi
Population 13,789 106,225
Households 4,225 34,894
Avg. HH Size 3.26 3.04

Economic
Median HH Income $93,466 $90,379
Avg. Annual HH Expenditures $70,439 $67,264
Non-Retail Expenditures $40,892 $38,998
Retail Expenditures $29,546 $28,267

Housing
Total Housing Units 4,780 38,811
Owner Occupied 80% 77.2%
Renter Occupied 8.4% 12.7%
Vacant 11.6% 10.1%

Businesses
Total # of Employees 4,430 38,243
Total # of Businesses 333 2,886
Source: Decision Data Resources, February 2009

A recent study finds a correlation

between a neighborhood’s
walkability and its home values.
The Study, “Walking the Walk”, focused on
90,000 recent home sales in 15 markets,
finding a positive correlation between
walkability of a community and increased
home values. - Source: Planetizen, 18 August 2009
Mission Statement DOWNTOWN
BETHANY
The aim of the Downtown Bethany Area Plan is to produce a clear
plan document which outlines achievable goals for the
revitalization of Downtown Bethany into a thriving, community
oriented gathering spot. When put into action, the plan will result
in a vibrant and sustainable downtown, consistent in design,
sensitive to surrounding uses, and reflecting the community’s
desires, which will lend positively to the identity of Downtown
Bethany and Liberty Township.

Plan Goals
• Establish an identity for Downtown Bethany and promote
that identity through a cohesive vision or aesthetic.
• Provide for proper transition between the commercial
corridor and adjacent residential uses.
• Create a connected and walkable Downtown Bethany.
• Find ways to promote businesses in the Downtown Bethany
area.

Plan Objectives
• Establish a Bethany Business Association / Business Incubator
• Evaluate existing zoning regulations and zoning district boundaries
• Develop a decision making framework for handling historic properties –
what measures to take to protect certain properties, and under which
situations to enact these measures
• Investigate avenues, both public and privately driven, to accomplish the
desired vision for Downtown Bethany
• Create a Mission Statement for the Downtown Bethany Area Plan
• Provide a strategy to complete and improve pedestrian infrastructure in
Bethany
• Evaluate including a community gathering space and amenities, possibly
in the form of a park, civic building, streetscape, etc.
• Evaluate the required residential mass needed to support the commercial
corridor, and how residential use might be incorporated in to the vision for
Downtown Bethany
• Provide a strategy to provide the necessary parking to service the area in
a functional and attractive way
• Evaluate the prospect of relocating or burying above ground utilities
• Evaluate options and possible locations for planned access drives
Streetscape DOWNTOWN
BETHANY
A

A
Noteworthy Wide sidewalks with Removed or Narrowed traffic Flashing pedestrian On-street Outdoor dining
architecture at trees, decorative relocated pole lanes to reduce alerts at mid-block parking adjacent to
intersections lighting with mounted utilities speeds crosswalk sidewalk
banners

Landscape to screen Wide sidewalks with Narrowed traffic Removed or Street furniture Buildings held

B
parking lots trees, decorative lanes to reduce relocated pole and trash closer to street
lighting with speeds mounted utilities receptacles to transition into
banners downtown

Decorative Wider traffic lanes to Sidewalks separated Landscape to screen

Uniform ground Street trees at Removed or

C signage regular intervals street lights relocated pole

mounted utilities
allow quicker flow from street parking lots
Concept Plan DOWNTOWN
BETHANY
Concept Plan Legend DOWNTOWN
BETHANY

Downtown Center Transitional to Residential

Transition Mid to Transition Large

Downtown Center to Mid Scale Large Scale

New Collector New Access Drive New Drive Aisle

Center Turn Lane 6’ 6’ Center Turn Lane Center Turn Lane

6’ 5’ Min. 6’ 6’
One Way Sidewalk
12 Foot Lanes Bike Lane 12 Foot Lanes 12 Foot Lanes

• 12 foot lanes • 11 foot lanes • Drive aisles in

• Sidewalks on both • Sidewalks on at parking lots which
sides least one side connect through
• One access point per • Multiple access adjacent properties
property points per property
Access Plan DOWNTOWN
BETHANY

New Collector New Access Drive New Drive Aisle

6 Center Turn 5’ 6
’ Lane Min
One ’ Center Turn
12 Foot Side 6 6
.
Way Center Turn
Lanes walk ’ ’ Lane 6
Bike 12 Foot ’ Lane
Lane Lanes 12 Foot
Lanes

• 12 foot lanes
• Sidewalks on both • 11 foot lanes • Drive aisles in parking lots
sides • Sidewalks on at least one side which connect through
• One access point per • Multiple access points per adjacent properties
property property
Implementation Strategies DOWNTOWN
BETHANY
Streetscape
• Recommended to be installed at • Streetscape
one time or in phases • Access Management / Access
• Expected to set tone for quality Road Network
private investment in Bethany • Parking
– Sidewalks
– Decorative Streetlights
• Parks & Gathering Spaces
– Street Trees • Historical Properties
– Relocated Utilities • Architectural Review / Zoning
– On Street Parking
– Expanded Sitting / Gathering Areas at • Downtown Bethany Business
Corners and Key Nodes Association
– Landscaping
– Benches and Trash Receptacles
– Gateway Features / Signage / Banners

Access Management / Access Road Network

• Improve Traffic and Safety
• Must Be Coordinated with Streetscape
• Requires Cooperation of Property Owners
• May be installed ahead of development or as development happens

Parking
• Mixture of parking options needed
• Shared parking between compatible uses
• On-street parking encouraged in Downtown Center
• Shared lots may be needed to augment parking provided by businesses
• Meters for on street and shared lots to encourage turnover

Parks & Gathering Spaces

• Provides an amenity to attract more
people to Downtown Bethany
• Offers a place for neighbors to meet –
builds community
• Pocket Park for everyday informal use
• Larger Gathering Place for events
– School Events
– Community Events
– Farmer’s Market
Implementation Strategies DOWNTOWN
BETHANY
Historical Properties
• Historic structures lend an authentic connection Elements of Decision
and context to the past identity of Downtown Process
Bethany. It is important that this link is not entirely Owner Significance
Will
lost.
• Survey conducted on properties identified by the Historic
Property
2006 Comprehensive Plan as historically significant
• The Liberty Township Zoning Commission, during Likelihood of
Reuse
Physical
Condition

the site plan review process, will address historical

structures and the feasibility for preservation.
• Criteria
– Historical Significance
– Condition / Desirablility
– Value to Owner / Potential Owner

Architectural Review / Zoning

• Revisions to Zoning Resolution to incorporate results of this vision plan
• Encourage mixed-use development in Downtown Bethany
• Convene working group to revise zoning code

Downtown Bethany Business Association

• Business attraction and retention is essential to the long-term success of
Downtown Bethany
• Would provide a forum of cooperation among businesses in Bethany
• Way for business community to work with other entities to address needs

Possible Development Drivers

Main Street Program
• National Program focused on
revitalization and protection of
historic business districts
• Offers training, support, and some
funding
• Requires hiring a dedicated staff
person
Community Improvement
Corporation
• A development entity that targets
properties that are too risky, or not
attractive projects for private
developers
• Non-profit / Can leverage grant
money
• Called for in the 2006 Comp Plan