Strongest Town 2023, Round 1: Oviedo, FL vs. Jackson, TN
Welcome to this first round match-up in the eighth annual Strongest Town Contest! In this round, 16 towns are facing off, and eight will advance to the next segment of the contest, based on your votes. We invite you to read answers representatives of these cities provided to questions we posed, and then cast your vote for which place you think is the strongest.
Can’t decide? If you’re looking for inspiration, check out how we describe the Strong Towns approach.
You may vote once per match-up. Round 1 voting closes at noon CT on Thursday, March 23. For rules, and to follow along with the contest, visit the Strongest Town Contest page.
Note: All entries are lightly edited for clarity and readability.
VOTING FOR THIS ROUND IS NOW CLOSED. RESULTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON FRIDAY, MARCH 24.
OVIEDO, FL
Entry submitted by: Bryan Cobb, Roxane Ferguson, Kevin Hipes, Danny McKinney, and Megan Sladek.
What are people in your city doing to decrease the negative impacts of parking on the community?
Allowing street parking to count toward a building's parking requirements. (Wish I could say we had no minimums, but that's actually up for discussion right now. Fingers crossed!)
What are people in your city doing to shift the focus toward maintaining your existing infrastructure instead of just building more roads?
Got state-level legislators to file bills to expand how the local option 1-cent sales tax could be used. Currently, this revenue source can only be used for new stuff (i.e., more roads). If passed, this change would allow our city (and others) to use the revenue to maintain what we already invested in versus having to choose between forfeiting a revenue source or buying even more stuff we can't afford.
What are some recent changes to your community's zoning laws that have resulted in increased housing flexibility and options? What is being done to change your community's approach to land use to allow for more incremental development?
Accessory dwelling units are allowed by right citywide, and we just updated our comp plan to be form-based instead of use-based (as of August 2022). As part of that, we added a "downtown transition" zone in the Comprehensive Plan to allow for more flexibility up to the edges of single-family zoning. Though we haven't cracked into those sacred exclusionary single-family zoning areas (except for giving them the right to add an accessory dwelling unit), we're up to some of the edges with the potential for useful, flexible, incremental changes.
Tell us a little about the progress people in your city are making toward greater accounting/budget transparency.
After working with Joe Minicozzi and his team, we are in the process of recalculating/updating our stormwater, water, and sewer rates to bake in the actual cost of maintaining those, so we can wean ourselves off of perpetual loans to keep those running. While there is next to no political oomph to raise property taxes to subsidize these things, there does seem to be tolerance with the public for paying rates calculated by mathematical formulas related to every distinct, and easy-to-track/segregate fund uses. We track all water/sewer uses in an "enterprise fund"—same for stormwater. We have also begun telling new developers who want to give us "gifts" of sidewalks and roads that we must decline their kind offer. We still accept stormwater ponds, but that has its own enterprise fund, so it's hypothetically possible to charge a fair rate to maintain it.
What are people in your city doing to build streets that are dominated by people and accommodate automobiles—not the other way around?
We just adopted a Mobility Plan, which pretty much kills the focus on roads and replaces it with a focus on moving people. Just last year, we fought for, and achieved, a wider sidewalk and slower speed limit on a road expansion (initiated by the state). The promise of the road expansion stifled investment in the downtown for over 20 years, and its completion will trigger a complete reinvention of the old town center (as the original was razed for the road). The new road will have bike lanes and sidewalks wide enough for a golf cart to ride on them. We are also working to get more people to park ON the street in places where speed is a concern (free safety barrier and way to narrow the road), and have allowed continued use of outdoor/parking lot spaces for use by restaurants and businesses that want to spill out into these areas. We are also putting one of our four-lane roads on a road diet!
What is your favorite thing about your town?
The nice people and the fact that I can get to my job, church, groceries, and all three of my kids' schools on a bike (they're all within two miles). Though it is not feasible for the entire city to be car-free, it is possible for all the people who live in my little patch of it to become significantly less car dependent, and I love how many people seem open to giving it a try.
JACKSON, TN
Entry submitted by: Mayor Scott Conger, Amy Mallette, Claire Pierson, Abby Palmer, and Kenneth Cummings.
What are people in your city doing to decrease the negative impacts of parking on the community?
Jackson's city council eliminated minimum parking requirements from the Official Zoning Ordinance in October 2021, opting instead for shared parking analyses for mixed-use spaces. This change increases opportunities for small businesses and walkable retail, while requiring developers with excess parking spaces to create plans for their use.
However, downtown's business development surge caused a shortage of on-street parking due to downtown office employees using the spots. To address this issue, the city enforced two-hour parking limits and encouraged employees to use free city parking lots. Additionally, a greenway master plan was announced in January 2023 to increase pedestrian and bicycle use of roads, further reducing the negative impact of parking.
What are people in your city doing to shift the focus toward maintaining your existing infrastructure instead of just building more roads?
In 2019, a study was conducted to assess the condition of our city streets, resulting in a street resurfacing plan that began in 2020. To date, 180 roads have been resurfaced, with plans to resurface 269 roads over the next four years, totaling $10 million. In 2020, we closed 2,200 potholes and invested in a sustainable pothole machine that uses infrared technology to heat up existing asphalt for repairs. We prioritize maintaining existing infrastructure and constantly seek new opportunities to improve our roadways. However, our state highways have been neglected by the state's Department of Transportation for years. We continue to advocate for repairs and resurfacing of these main highways.
What are some recent changes to your community's zoning laws that have resulted in increased housing flexibility and options? What is being done to change your community's approach to land use to allow for more incremental development?
To increase affordable and flexible housing options, commercial zones have been rezoned to allow for mixed-use development. Additionally, laws are being amended to permit accessory dwelling units within homes. This approach supports diverse lifestyles, economic development, and reduces the environmental impact of housing development. Eliminating parking minimums has made mixed-use development more feasible, allowing for the use of existing parking space.
Furthermore, the Jackson is updating rules to allow residents to welcome customers into their at-home businesses. This further supports redevelopment and mixed-use development. The Community Redevelopment Agency is encouraging new development to include mixed-use components. The city learns from other cities with successful mixed-use development strategies to ensure this type of development remains a priority for developers.
Tell us a little about the progress people in your city are making toward greater accounting/budget transparency.
Prior to 2019, our city lacked transparency in budgeting and used outdated accounting software. To improve accountability, a budget committee was established in 2019. It meets monthly to discuss budget amendments and provide oversight for inter-fund transfers. An internal auditor role was also created in 2020 to ensure fiscal accountability. The auditor provides independent assurance and consulting services to the city, ensuring it adheres to regulatory standards and achieves its objectives. These efforts have led to a general fund increase from $16 million to $37 million and reduced general obligation debt from $76 million to $43 million by 2022. The city is also in the final steps of upgrading its accounting software to improve financial record access and transparency.
What are people in your city doing to build streets that are dominated by people and accommodate automobiles—not the other way around?
In April 2022, our city adopted the Bicycle and Pedestrian Greenway Master Plan to create a complete active transportation network for pedestrians, bicyclists, and those using mobility devices. Our aim is to connect people safely and comfortably while promoting healthy lifestyles, economic development, and improving the city's overall quality of life. To achieve this, we are prioritizing the development of a greenway network that includes five walkable centers and a priority network providing city-wide connectivity, focusing on areas with safety issues and decreased comfort due to high vehicle speeds and volumes. We seek funding to implement these projects, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing people over cars and providing safe and convenient walking and bicycling options that support community well-being.
What is your favorite thing about your town?
Our favorite thing about Jackson is the vast opportunity we see. Our government is committed to making local government more equitable and accessible through policy changes and innovative programs, ensuring the city operates to its highest potential. We value the diverse cultures in our community and empower all groups to celebrate their unique traditions through events like Black History Month and the International Food Festival. Our commitment to growth brings opportunity to disinvested areas by zoning these areas as redevelopment districts and programs like Love Your Block, which provides homeowners opportunities to beautify their streets. We prioritize small businesses and invest in downtown to preserve the small-town pace that draws us to this city, even as we grow.