City of Jacksonville Alabama COMPREHENSIVE PLAN September 2016 Prepared by the East Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission CITY OF JACKSONVILLE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN This document was prepared under the direction of the JACKSONVILLE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION AND JACKSONVILLE CITY COUNCIL by the EAST ALABAMA REGIONAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION for additional information: City of Jacksonville City Hall 320 Church Avenue, S.E. Jacksonville, Alabama 36265 i Reproduction of this document in whole or in part is permitted. The preparation of this report was financed by the City of Jacksonville and the East Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission. For Information Address: East Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission 1130 Quintard Avenue, Suite 300 Post Office Box 2186 Anniston, Alabama 36202 First Printing – March, 2016 Second Printing – May, 2016 Third Printing – August, 2016 Final Printing – October, 2016 Printed in the United States of America Source of Copies: City of Jacksonville City Hall 320 Church Avenue, S.E. Jacksonville, Alabama 36265 Abstract: The intent of this Comprehensive Plan is to serve as a guide for the future growth and development of the City of Jacksonville, Alabama. This document is to be used as a basis for policy and zoning decisions in the community through the year 2027. This study presents recommendations on the general location and extent of residential, commercial, and public land uses needed to serve the projected population. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS City of Jacksonville Honorable Mayor Johnny L. Smith City Council Jimmy L. Harrell, Jr. Truman Norred Jerry Parris Sandra Fox Sudduth Jonathan Tompkins Planning Commission Penn Wilson Richard Turner T.L. Thompson Ronald Thomas Zach Hood Kelly Ryan Jennifer Sims Herschel Harris Sandra Fox Sudduth East Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission Ryan Kallem, Principal Planner Robert Monroe, Cartography Director Edwin Harbin, Senior Cartographer Michael Brewer, Senior Cartographer Rebecca Peppers, Intern, Mapping iii iv TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION .......................................................... 1 Purpose of the Comprehensive Plan ...................................................................... 1 Benefits of the Comprehensive Plan ....................................................................... 1 Legal Authority ........................................................................................................ 2 Planning Process ...................................................................................................... 3 Location ..................................................................................................................... 3 General Information ................................................................................................ 3 Historical Background ............................................................................................. 4 CHAPTER II: POPULATION ............................................................ 11 Population Trends .................................................................................................. 11 Historic Population Trends ............................................................................................................11 Place of Birth .................................................................................................................................12 Place of Residence .........................................................................................................................13 Foreign Migration ..........................................................................................................................13 Population Composition ........................................................................................ 14 Age Distribution.............................................................................................................................14 Marital Status .................................................................................................................................15 Race Distribution ...........................................................................................................................15 Gender Distribution .......................................................................................................................16 Population Density .........................................................................................................................16 Analytical Summary .............................................................................................. 18 CHAPTER III: ECONOMY ................................................................ 21 Educational Attainment ........................................................................................ 21 Income ..................................................................................................................... 22 Household Income .........................................................................................................................22 Commuting Patterns .............................................................................................. 23 Labor Force Participation and Unemployment .................................................. 25 Class of Worker ...................................................................................................... 26 Occupational Status ............................................................................................... 26 Industrial Composition .......................................................................................... 28 Poverty Status ......................................................................................................... 29 Analytical Summary .............................................................................................. 31 v CHAPTER IV: HOUSING ................................................................... 35 Housing Inventory.................................................................................................. 35 Units by Type .................................................................................................................................35 Tenure and Occupancy Status ........................................................................................................36 Vacancy Status ...............................................................................................................................37 Household Size ..............................................................................................................................38 Housing Conditions ................................................................................................ 39 Housing Stock Age ........................................................................................................................39 Physical Housing Conditions .........................................................................................................39 Selected Physical Conditions .........................................................................................................40 Housing Value ........................................................................................................ 41 Housing Affordability ............................................................................................ 42 Affordability of Owner-occupied Housing ....................................................................................42 Affordability of Renter-occupied Housing ....................................................................................43 Housing Affordability and Transportation Costs ...........................................................................44 Analytical Summary .............................................................................................. 46 CHAPTER V: COMMUNITY FACILITIES .................................... 57 City Administration ............................................................................................... 57 City Council ...................................................................................................................................58 Planning Commission ....................................................................................................................58 Board of Adjustment and Appeals .................................................................................................58 Civil Service Board ........................................................................................................................58 Industrial Development Board .......................................................................................................59 Tree Commission ...........................................................................................................................59 Water Works, Gas and Sewer Board .............................................................................................59 Calhoun Cleburne Mental Health Board........................................................................................59 Regional Medical Center Jacksonville ...........................................................................................59 Library Board .................................................................................................................................60 Jacksonville Board of Education ...................................................................................................60 Senior Citizens Board ....................................................................................................................60 Jacksonville Bicycle Advisory Committee ....................................................................................60 Jacksonville Arts Council ..............................................................................................................60 Jacksonville Housing Authority .....................................................................................................60 Jacksonville Rental Housing Committee .......................................................................................61 Jacksonville City Administration Needs ........................................................................................61 Public Safety ........................................................................................................... 61 Law Enforcement ...........................................................................................................................61 Fire and Rescue ..............................................................................................................................62 Educational Facilities ............................................................................................. 64 Jacksonville High School ...............................................................................................................64 Jacksonville Christian Academy ....................................................................................................65 vi Calhoun County Career Academy .................................................................................................65 Jacksonville State University .........................................................................................................66 Jacksonville Public Library .................................................................................. 69 Housing Authority.................................................................................................. 70 Parks and Recreation............................................................................................. 70 Senior Citizen Facilities and Programs ............................................................... 73 Jacksonville Senior Center .............................................................................................................73 Medical Facilities and Healthcare Services ......................................................... 74 Street and Sanitation ............................................................................................. 75 Wastewater Treatment Plant ................................................................................ 75 Utilities .................................................................................................................... 76 Water Utilities ................................................................................................................................76 Sewer Utilities ................................................................................................................................77 Gas Utilities ...................................................................................................................................78 Utilities Costs and Affordability ........................................................................... 79 Analytical Summary .............................................................................................. 82 CHAPTER VI: TRANSPORTATION ................................................ 95 Definitions ............................................................................................................... 95 Interstates .......................................................................................................................................95 Arterial Streets ...............................................................................................................................95 Collector Streets .............................................................................................................................96 Local Streets...................................................................................................................................96 Administrative Street Classification .................................................................... 96 Federal Highways ..........................................................................................................................96 Other Federal Roads ......................................................................................................................96 State Highways ..............................................................................................................................96 County Roads .................................................................................................................................97 Municipal Streets ...........................................................................................................................97 Private Roads .................................................................................................................................97 Traffic Volumes and Capacity .............................................................................. 97 AL Hwy. 21/Pelham Road .............................................................................................................98 AL Hwy. 204 .................................................................................................................................99 Traffic Projections ............................................................................................... 100 Highway Access Management ............................................................................ 101 Placement of Commercial Activity Centers ................................................................................101 Corner Parcel Access ...................................................................................................................102 Throat Length...............................................................................................................................102 Grid-pattern Connectivity ............................................................................................................103 Connectivity in Local Neighborhoods .........................................................................................104 Frontage Roads ............................................................................................................................104 Transportation Plan ............................................................................................. 105 vii Street Improvements ....................................................................................................................105 Sidewalks and Bicycling Trails ...................................................................................................106 Analytical Summary ............................................................................................ 108 CHAPTER VII: ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES ....................... 119 Overview of Natural Resources and Constraints ............................................. 119 Soil Characteristics .............................................................................................. 120 Steep Slopes .......................................................................................................... 121 Floodplains ............................................................................................................ 121 Water Resources .................................................................................................. 122 Wetlands................................................................................................................ 123 Wildlife Habitats .................................................................................................. 123 Threatened and Endangered Species ................................................................. 124 Birds .............................................................................................................................................124 Flowering Plants ..........................................................................................................................124 Clams ...........................................................................................................................................124 Fish ...............................................................................................................................................125 Mammals......................................................................................................................................125 Snails ............................................................................................................................................125 Analytical Summary ............................................................................................ 127 CHAPTER VIII: LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT .................. 131 Definitions ............................................................................................................. 131 Single-family Residential.............................................................................................................131 Multi-family Residential ..............................................................................................................131 Manufactured Home Park ............................................................................................................131 Commercial ..................................................................................................................................131 Industrial ......................................................................................................................................131 Public and Semi-Public ................................................................................................................131 Parks and Recreation....................................................................................................................132 Agriculture ...................................................................................................................................132 Undeveloped/Forestry ..................................................................................................................132 Existing Land Use ................................................................................................ 132 Agricultural ..................................................................................................................................132 Commercial ..................................................................................................................................133 Industrial ......................................................................................................................................133 Residential....................................................................................................................................133 Public/Parks and Recreation ........................................................................................................133 Undeveloped ................................................................................................................................133 Zoning Patterns .................................................................................................... 133 Existing Land Use and Zoning Patterns ............................................................ 135 viii Land Use Plan ....................................................................................................... 135 Analytical Summary ............................................................................................ 137 CHAPTER IX: STRATEGIC PLANNING ..................................... 145 Strategic Planning Process .................................................................................. 145 Inventory and Analysis ........................................................................................ 147 Significant Findings .....................................................................................................................147 SWOT Analysis ...........................................................................................................................149 Community Survey ......................................................................................................................150 Vision and Mission ............................................................................................... 159 Vision Statement ..........................................................................................................................159 Mission Statement ........................................................................................................................159 Goals and Objectives ........................................................................................... 159 Implementation .................................................................................................... 160 Evaluation ............................................................................................................. 160 CHAPTER X: GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ................................... 161 Vision Statement .................................................................................................. 161 Mission Statement ................................................................................................ 161 Planning Overview ............................................................................................... 161 Goal-Setting Process ............................................................................................ 162 Goals and Objectives ........................................................................................... 163 Definitions ............................................................................................................. 163 Goals ............................................................................................................................................163 Objectives ....................................................................................................................................163 Projects/Strategies ........................................................................................................................163 Rationale ......................................................................................................................................164 Additional Recommendations ......................................................................................................164 Notation........................................................................................................................................164 Economic Development ....................................................................................... 164 Section 1: Maintaining Existing Business ...................................................................................164 Section 2: Expanding Existing Business......................................................................................166 Section 3: Business Recruitment .................................................................................................166 Section 4: Education and Workforce Development.....................................................................167 Housing.................................................................................................................. 167 Section 1: Existing Housing Stock ..............................................................................................167 Section 2: Housing Development ................................................................................................167 Community Facilities and Utilities ..................................................................... 168 Section 1: City Administration ....................................................................................................168 Section 2: Public Safety—Fire and Police Departments .............................................................169 Section 3: Educational Facilities and Services ............................................................................169 ix