Community Development
WELCOME
It is an exciting time to be in Winchester, Tennessee! Over the past ten years, the population of Winchester grew by 16.4% or approximately 1,200 residents. While the City of Winchester is proud of the economic opportunities and great quality of life that drew these new citizens to become a part of our community, there are many efforts underway to continue building upon our success. As part of these efforts, the City is developing a progressive Community Development Program to maintain and improve the quality of life for all citizens of Winchester. Your input is essential to ensuring that the city’s needs are being met, so please feel free to contact us(danielgalindo [at] winchester-tn [dot] com) to share your thoughts and ideas.
HEADLINES
· Downtown Revitalization and Subdivision Regulations Pages Added
· Updated Winchester Downtown Master Plan Posted
SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS AND DEADLINES
May 7 - Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals - Application Deadline
May 14 - Design Review Commission - Meeting at 4:00 P.M.
May 21 - Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals - Meeting at 5:30 P.M.
May 29 - Design Review Commission - Application Deadline
June 4 - Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals - Application Deadline
June 11 - Design Review Commission - Meeting at 4:00 P.M.
June 18 - Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals - Meeting at 5:30 P.M.
June 25 - Design Review Commission - Application Deadline
July 2 - Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals - Application Deadline
July 9 - Design Review Commission - Meeting at 4:00 P.M.
July 16 - Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals - Meeting at 5:30 P.M.
July 30 - Design Review Commission - Application Deadline
DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION
In 2007, Winchester was one of six cities across Tennessee selected for the Courthouse Square Revitalization Pilot Project Act. This created a tax rebate zone in a portion of downtown which generates a funding source for the revitalization of Downtown Winchester. The Winchester Downtown Program Corporation (WDPC) received spending and administration authority for these funds in 2008 to overcome limitations encountered by the City. That same year, the WDPC undertook a master planning process to guide the investment of these funds, and in 2009, a Façade Improvement Program began which remains ongoing today.
Beginning in January of 2011, Winchester’s elected officials and staff collaborated with the WDPC to develop new design regulations, based upon the master planning process, which would protect the City’s substantial investment in the downtown area. Throughout the development of the design regulations, special attention was paid to balancing the public’s interest in a vibrant downtown and private property rights. In support of the design regulations then under development, the Winchester Municipal-Regional Planning Commission adopted the Winchester Downtown Master Plan on April 18, 2011.
Winchester Downtown Master Plan
Cover – Chapter 2 (PDF - posted 2011.09.01)
Chapter 3 – Chapter 5 (PDF - posted 2011.09.01)
DOWNTOWN OVERLAY DISTRICT & DESIGN REVIEW
The City’s collaboration with the WDPC grew into the Downtown Overlay District which became effective on August 29, 2011 as part of Ordinance No. 928 which amended the City’s existing zoning ordinance. The new Downtown Overlay District supplements the existing C-1 zoning that has been in place since 1980 by providing required design standards and suggested design guidelines that property owners, business owners, and developers must follow. A new Design Review Commission has also been established to review new developments, renovations, and maintenance that would alter the exterior appearance of a building or property within the boundary of the Downtown Overlay District. Overall, the design review process is meant to protect the downtown from unsightly development that would detract from its appearance and reduce property values.
Ordinance No. 928
Text (PDF - posted 2011.09.01)
Appendix A/Downtown Overlay District Design Standards and Guidelines (PDF - posted 2011.09.01)
OPEN HOUSE
On September 12th, the City of Winchester and its Design Review Commission hosted an open house to discuss the Downtown Overlay District. The City would like to thank the numerous citizens that attended, and thank the San Miguel Coffee Company for hosting the event.
Open House Presentation (PDF – posted 2011.09.13)
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Winchester’s Community Development Program is led by the Community Development Coordinator, Daniel Galindo, under the direct supervision of the City Administrator, Beth Rhoton. The Coordinator position is responsible for guiding future development and revitalization within Winchester and its planning region through close collaboration with citizens, public and private organizations, and the officials and staff of the City and other governmental entities. The Coordinator also serves as staff for the Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, and Design Review Commission.
Daniel Galindo(danielgalindo [at] winchester-tn [dot] com) was hired as the Community Development Coordinator in August of 2011 after serving as Winchester’s community planner with the State of Tennessee’s former Local Planning Assistance Office. Originally from Spring, Texas, Daniel has experience in numerous aspects of community development including planning, economic development, public outreach, historic preservation, and environmental protection. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from Trinity University in San Antonio, Daniel later received a Master of Urban Planning (including a Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Urbanism) from Texas A&M University. While attending Texas A&M, Daniel also served one term as the Student Representative on the Board of the Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association.
CONTACT US
Winchester Community Development Program
113 First Avenue N.W.
Winchester, TN 37398
(931) 962-8973
Community Development Coordinator – Daniel Galindo(danielgalindo [at] winchester-tn [dot] com)
City Administrator – Beth Rhoton(bethrhoton [at] winchester-tn [dot] com)