The Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Zoning Study aims to improve zoning regulations and governmental policies in order to attract more transit-oriented development to key corridors in Cuyahoga County.
The State of TOD
The State of TOD in Cuyahoga County is the first in a series of TOD reports, and it covers current conditions along major transit corridors.
Supplemental documents:
According to the Federal Transit Administration, transit-oriented development, or TOD, includes a mix of commercial, residential, office, and entertainment centered around or located near a transit station. Dense, walkable, mixed-use development near transit attracts people and adds to vibrant, connected communities.
Examples of the benefits of transit-oriented development are shown below.
County Planning and GCRTA have partnered on the TOD Zoning Study—in collaboration with the Cities of Cleveland, Shaker Heights, and Fairview Park; as well as other local communities, agencies, and entities—to encourage and support those seeking to build transit-oriented developments along major transit corridors.
The TOD Zoning Study
The TOD Zoning Study is a four-part initiative that aims to understand and offer improvements to local zoning and land use strategies in a way that supports additional transit-oriented development. The four initial phases of the TOD Zoning Study are outlined below.
- State of TOD in Cuyahoga County
Define and describe the importance of TOD; identify and quantify TOD corridors and local TOD examples - Analysis of TOD Zoning
Analyze whether existing zoning along transit lines allows TOD and identify target areas for future investment - Model TOD Zoning
Develop model zoning for TOD that can be adopted by individual municipalities - TOD Financing Strategies
Identify TOD financing mechanisms and incentives used in other communities
Development Trends on TOD Corridors
The Development Trends on TOD Corridors document details recent TOD projects in Cuyahoga County, the value these projects add to our communities, and the location of TOD investments.
TOD Conversations Series
The Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Conversations Series presents local and regional TOD experts discussing TOD, providing lessons learned, and answering questions as part of an ongoing dialogue. Below are brief descriptions of the recorded virtual sessions:
- Shaker Heights: How to Plan and Zone for TOD projects
- Presented by Joyce Braverman (Director of Planning, City of Shaker Heights); Dan Feinstein (Senior Planner and Zoning Administrator, City of Shaker Heights); Luke Palmisano (co-founder and Chief Operation Officer, The Max Collaborative)
- Twin Cities: TOD in the Twin Cities
- Presented by Michael Krantz (Acting Program Manager, Metro Transit TOD office)
- Cleveland Heights: TOD in the Suburbs – Reflections from Cleveland Heights and New York
- Presented by Eric Zamft (Director of Planning & Development, City of Cleveland Heights)
- Indianapolis: Transit-Oriented Development—Zoning for Solutions
- Presented by Shannon Norman (Principal Planner City of Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development)
- Cleveland: Building the 15-minute city in Cleveland, TDM and TOD policy
- Presented by Matt Moss (Manager of Strategic Initiatives, City of Cleveland Planning Commission)
- Buffalo: Buffalo Green Code: Six Years of Progress
- Presented by Chris Hawley (Senior Planner, City of Buffalo Planning Division)
Our Role
Many local organizations and communities have already worked on TOD policy or on attracting transit-oriented development to key sites in Cuyahoga County. This effort builds upon existing knowledge and previous work by entities including GCRTA, NOACA, the City of Cleveland, and other individual communities to expand TOD throughout the County while providing a robust understanding of TOD land use and zoning policies across multiple communities.
Contact Us
Questions or comments about the TOD Zoning Study should be directed to:
Mr. Patrick Hewitt, AICP
Planning Manager, Strategy & Development
phewitt@cuyahogacounty.us