Fairport Harbor obtains state grant to update comprehensive plan- The News-Herald
Fairport Harbor Village has received a state grant that will be used to update the community’s comprehensive plan.
The village was awarded $60,000 from the Ohio Department of Development’s new Housing Technical Assistance Program. This initiative provides grant funding to support local governments in their efforts to upgrade zoning codes and processes in their communities.
Awards were given to villages, cities, townships and counties. Funding can be used for contracting services or internal planning work to update comprehensive plans or zoning codes.
Fairport Harbor will pair its $60,000 grant with $5,000 in village funds to cover the estimated $65,000 cost of hiring an outside consultant. That specialist will spearhead efforts to create a new version of the community’s existing comprehensive plan, which was last updated in 2002.
Mayor Timothy Manross had previously said the village is committed to updating its comprehensive plan in 2026, said village Administrator Lukas Darling.
Earlier this year, Fairport Harbor requested $55,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds for the same purpose. In the application, the village stated it would provide $10,000 as a local match.
With the $60,000 state grant already approved, Darling said he will need to have a discussion with Village Engineer Andrew Lubonovic about the fate of the similar CDBG application.
“For all CDBG projects, we will not know the funding status until September,” Darling said.
The purpose of Fairport Harbor’s comprehensive plan update is to provide a clear roadmap for how the village can grow, evolve and thrive, while preserving its unique character and lakeside charm, he said.
“Looking approximately 25 years into the future, the plan will guide decisions on land use, housing, infrastructure and lakefront development,” he said. “It will focus on goals such as enhancing housing stock options, maintaining essential infrastructure, and creating/enhancing park spaces.
“Serving as a foundational document, the plan will inform future development decisions and zoning code updates.”
Once Darling receives the grant agreement from the Ohio Department of Development, Village Council will adopt two separate resolutions. One piece of legislation will approve the grant agreement, and the other is needed to secure the work authorization for Verdantas to perform the project.
Verdantas is the village’s engineering firm.
The planning process also will include an advisory board composed of residents, officials and community stakeholders, along with opportunities for public input through a community survey and an open house, Darling said.
If the endeavor proceeds on schedule, the comprehensive plan update should be completed by around May 2026, he added.
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