The Packard Area Planning Alliance was formed in 2005 with the creation and adoption of the first Packard Plan. The original area comprised seven neighborhoods but has expanded over the past decade to grow into 18 neighborhoods working together.
In 2019, the Packard Area Planning Alliance approached the City of Fort Wayne Community Development Division to develop a new strategy for the neighborhoods moving into the next decade. With the collaboration of neighborhood leadership, residents, and the City, PACKARD 2030 is a neighborhood plan of action that guides future growth and investment in the area. The goal is to complete and adopt the plan by Summer 2022 as a part of the new All In Allen Comprehensive Plan.
PACKARD 2030 includes the following neighborhoods:
| Broad River | Courts of Woodhurst | Creighton Home | Fairfield | Fairfield Terrace Belmont | Fairmont |
| Foster Park | Harrison Hill | Hoagland Masterson | Illsley Place | Oakdale | Poplar |
| Sherwood to Pettit | South Wayne | Southwood Park | West Rudisill | Williams Woodland Park | Woodhurst |
WHY IS A NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN IMPORTANT?
You may ask, why is a neighborhood plan important? The neighborhood planning process offers local stakeholders the opportunity to come together and shape the future of your neighborhood. Neighborhood plans do a lot for a community, including (1) engaging residents and businesses in identifying a future vision for the area and providing strategies and recommendations for achieving that vision, (2) providing detailed recommendations for the neighborhood to ensure neighborhoods grow as envisioned by the plan, and (3) provide a level of analysis, detail, and guidance on issues affecting local areas that a citywide plan cannot.
WHO IS INVOLVED IN CREATING THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN?
In short, everyone! This plan involves anyone who lives, works, worships and participates in the neighborhoods that are located in the Packard Area, and we want to make sure your voice is included. Direct involvement from the neighborhood's stakeholders and residents is central to the process of developing a neighborhood plan. Opportunities to get involved have and will continue throughout the planning process, including both in-person and online events.
To ensure that the neighborhood planning process goes smoothly, a team of steering committee members, made up of residents and business owners in the Packard area, meet regularly to provide feedback and guidance in the plan development process.
WHAT IS THE PLAN TIMELINE
A typical neighborhood plan can take anywhere from 18 to 24 months to complete, and in the midst of our engagement was the COVID-19 Pandemic. Even though most of the in-person engagement was limited, the Packard Area neighborhoods stepped up with online and paper survey distribution unlike any other neighborhood plan completed in Fort Wayne in recent years. The project team was able to pivot and effectively engage over 1,000 residents through various methods of outreach. The plan is on track to be reviewed, approved, and adopted by Summer 2022.
QUESTIONS?
We love answering questions, please feel free to reach out to us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Community Events
Packard 2030 has held a number of community events, and below is a summary of what we've heard from residents.
Draft Guiding Principals, Goals & Policies
The Packard 2030 Steering Committee has created a series of DRAFT Goals and Policies for the new neighborhood plan. These goals and policies are created based on community feedback from several public engagement events over the past two years.
NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION
| GOAL ONE | All Neighborhoods Within The Packard Area Should Provide Safe, Stable, Fair, Diverse, And Quality Housing Choices |
| POLICY 1.1 | Encourage regular maintenance and upkeep of residential properties in a way that supports the existing character of the neighborhood(s) |
| POLICY 1.2 | Support income-eligible residents with assistance that provides regular maintenance and upkeep of residential properties |
| POLICY 1.3 | Support the development and rehabilitation of housing that can be acquired by both renters and homeowners at affordable rates |
| POLICY 1.4 | Mitigate displacement through innovative housing solutions and policies that allow long-term residents to age in place, equitably and affordably |
| POLICY 1.5 | Encourage developers to build a variety of housing options through infill development projects |
| POLICY 1.6 | Support the expansion of homeownership programs |
| POLICY 1.7 | Support the development of tenant-based programs |
| GOAL TWO | Support Neighborhood-Oriented Businesses And Entrepreneurship Programs |
| POLICY 2.1 | Support existing neighborhood businesses and expand access to quality retail |
| POLICY 2.2 | Make the Packard Area a destination for entrepreneurs and start-up businesses |
| POLICY 2.3 | Support business development opportunities for marginalized populations |
| GOAL THREE | Enhance Neighborhood Commercial Corridors To Improve Neighborhood Identity And Support Neighborhood Businesses |
| POLICY 3.1 | Improve commercial corridors through streetscape enhancements |
| POLICY 3.2 | Improve corridor aesthetics through Facade Improvements |
| POLICY 3.3 | Prioritize beautification efforts on corridors |
| GOAL FOUR | Enhance, Improve And Protect Neighborhood Character And Property Values Through The Application Of Appropriate Zoning Tools And Improved Enforcement Of Zoning Ordinance Provisions |
| POLICY 4.1 | Apply Urban Corridor (UC) designation to specific locations along commercial corridors to enhance and preserve existing urban-scaled, pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use corridors |
| POLICY 4.2 | Ensure screening and buffering standards are consistently enforced on commercial properties adjacent to residential-zoned neighborhoods |
| POLICY 4.3 | Encourage the adaptive reuse of vacant and underutilized commercial, institutional, and industrial buildings for residential, commercial, or mixed-use purposes |
| POLICY 4.4 | Evaluate zoning and land-use conflicts in the Packard Area and prioritize areas for zoning district modifications |
| GOAL FIVE | Provide A Sense Of Improved Health, Safety, And Security For Both Residents And Businesses |
| POLICY 5.1 | Encourage improvements to the physical and built environment to promote a sense of safety |
| POLICY 5.2 | Partner with the City’s Public Safety Divisions to monitor and communicate safety issues in the Packard Area |
| POLICY 5.3 | Provide resources to promote healthy lifestyles |
NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER
| GOAL ONE | Preserve And Promote The Historical Character Of The Packard Area |
| POLICY 1.1 | Encourage maintenance and rehabilitation efforts that maintain the historic character of neighborhood areas |
| POLICY 1.2 | Promote programs that educate residents about historic preservation and rehabilitation and/or adaptive reuse of historic structures |
| POLICY 1.3 | Ensure the practice of historic preservation and protection of community assets is for everyone |
| POLICY 1.4 | Educate both residents and building owners about the Packard Areas' historic assets |
| POLICY 1.5 | Support the designation of National Register Districts, Local Historic Districts, Conservation Districts, Heritage Districts, and Commercial/Institutional Landmark properties |
| POLICY 1.6 | Ensure that neighborhood associations in the Packard Area are particularly aware and sensitive to historic preservation issues and the appropriate rehabilitation of historic properties |
| GOAL TWO | Celebrate The Rich Arts Community And Cultural Identity Of The Packard Area |
| POLICY 2.1 | Promote the Packard Area’s role as a cultural and artistic hub of the City |
| POLICY 2.2 | Encourage the development of community events to build intergenerational and multicultural relationships that celebrate the diversity of the Packard Area |
| POLICY 2.3 | Establish a cultural heritage district in the Packard Area |
| GOAL THREE | Cultivate Strong And Inclusive Neighborhoods |
| POLICY 3.1 | Strengthen the Packard Area Planning Alliance organization so that it fosters diversity and inclusivity among its member neighborhoods |
| POLICY 3.2 | Strengthen and activate neighborhoods within the Packard Area |
NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLIC REALM
| GOAL ONE | Improve Neighborhood Mobility, Connectivity, And Transportation Infrastructure |
| POLICY 1.1 | Establish safe, clearly marked pedestrian and bikeway routes to better connect neighborhoods and destinations |
| POLICY 1.2 | Increase access to and encourage the use of public transportation |
| POLICY 1.3 | Promote and support road improvements that enhance the safety of neighborhood streets for all residents |
| POLICY 1.4 | Support the development of long-term improvement strategies to existing transportation, water and sewer infrastructure and utilities |
| POLICY 1.5 | Enhance the aesthetic appearance of railroad overpasses that serve as gateways to the Packard Area |
| GOAL TWO | Support The Growth And Maintenance Of Parks, And Open Spaces |
| POLICY 2.1 | Ensure that existing parks, playgrounds, and open spaces are upgraded and maintained to a high standard |
| POLICY 2.2 | Implement the recommendations from the Packard Park Master Plan |
| POLICY 2.3 | Ensure that existing parks, playgrounds, and open spaces are physically accessible to all modes of travel from adjoining neighborhoods, schools, and corridors |
| POLICY 2.4 | Ensure that all Packard Area residents have access to quality programming and recreational opportunities in existing parks, playgrounds, and open spaces |
| POLICY 2.5 | Increase and Enhance the tree canopy throughout the entire Packard Area |