This presentation was shared at the first public meeting for the Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan on March 13, 2024. For more information, please visit https://www.countyplanning.us/projects/highland-hills-comprehensive-plan/

1. VILLAGE OF HIGHLAND HILLS
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Public Meeting| 03/13/2024

2. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting
Agenda
• About County Planning
• Project Background
• Comprehensive Plan Overview
• Public Engagement
• Next Steps

3. ABOUT COUNTY PLANNING

4. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting
Our Team
• Mary Cierebiej, AICP, Executive Director
• James Sonnhalter, Planning Manager, Design & Implementation
• Laura Mendez Ortiz, AICP, Planner
• Nichole Laird, AICP, Senior Planner
• Sidney Bacon, Planning Intern
• Luke Ols, Cleveland Foundation Fellow

5. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting
Our Organization
The Cuyahoga County Planning Commission is a public
agency that provides professional planning services to
municipalities of Cuyahoga County.

6. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting
Our Vision & Mission
Vision
Inspiring all our communities to thrive.
Mission
To advance Cuyahoga County’s social, economic, and environmental
health through equitable community planning.

7. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting
Our Work | Community-focused

8. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting
Our Work |County-wide Initiatives

9. PROJECT BACKGROUND

10. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting
• Inter-Agency Agreement with Cuyahoga County Department of Housing
& Community Development
• Per Resolution No. 230914-A approved by Cuyahoga County Planning Commission
Board on September 14, 2023
• $150,000 - Includes this Comprehensive Plan Update ($75,000) and other Professional Planning
Services
• Professional Planning Services Agreement with the Village of Highland
Hills
• County Planning to provide Professional Planning Services as defined in the Scope of
Work
• $0 Contract – County Planning will invoice DOHCD per above Agreement
Project Operating Structure

11. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting
1992 Comprehensive Plan

12. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting
1992 Comprehensive Plan | Key Findings
• 690 persons resided in 370 households
(1990 Census, WHTS Township)
• 89 of households were individuals over
65 living alone (1990 Census, WHTS Township)
• City of Cleveland owned 69%
of the land area
• About 60% of land was for institutional &
public uses
• Only about 38 acres was dedicated to
residential uses
• Outlined 10 community goals
• Anticipated and planned for the Chagrin
Highlands Development & Interchange
Construction
• Included a Land Use Plan based on
development scenarios & enabled zoning

13. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
OVERVIEW

14. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting
What is a Comprehensive Plan?
A long-term
guide for how
how the
community wants
to grow and
develop in the
future
Provides an
opportunity for
community
input
Inventories what
exists today and
and outlines the
community’s vision
vision for the future
future
Describes
concrete steps
Gives a
competitive
edge when
applying to
grants

15. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting
Comparing Planning & Zoning
• A general policy for future growth
• Describes recommendations for what
should happen in the future
• Includes recommendations that can be
undertaken by the municipality, partners,
community members
• A flexible document that is intended to be
interpreted as conditions change
Comprehensive Plan
• Specific rules for development
• Describes what is and what is not allowed
today
• Includes mandatory regulations on
development that are enforced by the
municipality unless specifically waived
• Relatively rigid set of regulations that can
only be changed by a legal process
Zoning Ordinance

16. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting
Planning Process
01 02 03 04 05
Implementation
Assign responsibilities,
partners, and priorities
Community Vision
Develop a broad and
aspirational statement of
how the Village wants to
grow and develop in the
future
Recommendations
Outline specific action
steps to achieve the
desired vision
Current Conditions
Collect and analyze data
to establish a snapshot of
the Village
Final Document
Finalize document and
present the Plan to
Village Council for
adoption

17. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting
Planning Process
01 02 03 04 05
Implementation
Assign responsibilities,
partners, and priorities
Community Vision
Develop a broad and
aspirational statement of
how the Village wants to
grow and develop in the
future
Recommendations
Outline specific action
steps to achieve the
desired vision
Current Conditions
Collect and analyze data
to establish a snapshot of
the Village
Final Document
Finalize document and
present the Plan to
Village Council for
adoption

18. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting
Planning Process
01 02 03 04 05
Implementation
Assign responsibilities,
partners, and priorities
Community Vision
Develop a broad and
aspirational statement of
how the Village wants to
grow and develop in the
future
Recommendations
Outline specific action
steps to achieve the
desired vision
Current Conditions
Collect and analyze data
to establish a snapshot of
the Village
Final Document
Finalize document and
present the Plan to
Village Council for
adoption

19. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting
Planning Process
01 02 03 04 05
Implementation
Assign responsibilities,
partners, and priorities
Community Vision
Develop a broad and
aspirational statement of
how the Village wants to
grow and develop in the
future
Recommendations
Outline specific action
steps to achieve the
desired vision
Current Conditions
Collect and analyze data
to establish a snapshot of
the Village
Final Document
Finalize document and
present the Plan to
Village Council for
adoption

20. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting
Planning Process
01 02 03 04 05
Implementation
Assign responsibilities,
partners, and priorities
Community Vision
Develop a broad and
aspirational statement of
how the Village wants to
grow and develop in the
future
Recommendations
Outline specific action
steps to achieve the
desired vision
Current Conditions
Collect and analyze data
to establish a snapshot of
the Village
Final Document
Finalize document and
present the Plan to
Village Council for
adoption

21. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting
Planning Process
01 02 03 04 05
Implementation
Community Vision Recommendations
Current Conditions Final Document
Start
October
2023
Finish
September
2024

22. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting
Planning Process
01 02 03 04 05
Implementation
Community Vision Recommendations
Current Conditions Final Document
Start
October
2023
Finish
September
2024
We are
here!

23. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting
Current Conditions
• Demographics Profile
• Housing Profile
• Economic Profile
• Community Services & Facilities Profile
• Transportation & Infrastructure Profile
• Environmental Profile
• Land Use & Zoning Profile

24. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting
Community Vision
• Broad and bold statement that describes the community’s collective
aspirations for the Village’s future
• The Community Vision informs and guides more specific actions and
policies that will be undertaken in the next decade
• Shaped by input from the Village, residents, and other community
members

25. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting
County
Planning
Project
Team
Stakeholders Public
Involved Groups

26. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting
It Takes a Village

27. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT &
INVOLVEMENT

28. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting
Tonight | Activity Boards

29. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting
Tonight| Activity Board 1
• We want to know about your experiences
and thoughts on Highland Hills!
• Write responses on a sticky note and place in
the grey box

30. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting
Tonight| Activity Boards 2,3,4
• For Board 2: Place blue dots on
destinations and areas you visit
often.
• For Board 3: Place green dots on
streets you like or find pleasant to
travel.
• For Board 4: Place red dots on
streets or intersections that need
repair, improvements, or
enhancements.

31. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting
Tonight| Activity Board 5
• We want to know YOUR vision for Highland
Hills!
• Write response on a sticky note and place in
the grey box

32. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting
Tonight | Comment Sheets
• Write down any additional thoughts or
suggestions on the Comment Sheets in the
handouts
• Leave Comments in the box near the
entrance or with a County Planning
representative

33. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting
• Take Online
• Visit:
www.surveymonkey.com/r/VHHPM1
• Scan the QR Code
• Fill out Paper Copy
• Pick up tonight and drop off at the
Mayor’s Office, Suite 5
• Scan & email:
planning@cuyahogacounty.us
• Mail: Cuyahoga County Planning
Commission
2079 E9th St., Suite 5-300, Cleveland,
Ohio 44115
Community Survey #1
Open from March 13th to April 3rd

34. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting
Stay informed & advocate for the Plan!
www.countyplanning.us/highlandhills

35. NEXT STEPS

36. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting
Next Steps
01
02
03
04
05
Implementation
Community Vision
Recommendations
Current Conditions
Final Document
We are
here!
• Finalize Current Conditions Document
• Continue Stakeholder Interviews
• Draft Community Vision Statement
• Summarize Engagement Results

37. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting
Thank you!
Contact us:
Laura Mendez Ortiz | AICP, Planner
lmendezortiz@cuyahogacounty.us
James Sonnhalter | Planning Manager, Design & Implementation
jsonnhalter@cuyahogacounty.us

38. Village of Highland Hills Comprehensive Plan | Public Meeting