Township Trustees in Ohio
Use and Knowledge of Comprehensive Plans

Research

Land use change in Ohio takes place predominantly at the township level. As such, Ohio's 3919 township trustees are faced with decisions related to land use on a regular basis. In townships where increased development pressure is perceived by trustees, is a comprehensive land use plan being employed? If comprehensive land use plan is being employed, to what extent are land use planning decisions based upon a comprehensive development plan? To what extent is their use of comprehensive land use planning affected by their political views, or their length of tenure or level of educational attainment? To what extent is their perception of development pressure affected by extent to which they participate in continuing education, training, or Extension educational programs focused on land use planning?

This session will describe the extent to which Ohio's townships have utilized a comprehensive land use plan to manage land use change and to what extent township level land use planning decisions in Ohio are based upon a comprehensive land use plan. Further, the presence of a relationship between trustees' perceptions of development pressure to their use of a comprehensive land use plan will be examined. Last, the presence of a relationship between trustees' perceptions of development pressure and their political views will also be explored.

A discussion will also be included focusing on how this information can be used to make Extension's educational programming with respect to land use planning more relevant to township-level land use decision makers.