 Tomorrow’s success hinges on today’s smart planning. While some firms focus on today's task, at BLA we not only identify your goals, we help you achieve them through executable plans. Founded by planners, BLA has the experience and resources to help you make sound choices and secure a bright future. Services include:
- City and County Comprehensive Planning
- Thoroughfare Planning
- Capital Improvement Planning
- Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances
- Community Opinion Surveys
- Land Use/Growth Management Plans
- Public Involvement
- Land Use Modeling
- Benefit-Cost and Economic Analysis
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- Comprehensive Planning
- Comprehensive Plan, Troy, Indiana
 Client: Town of Troy
Settled around 1795, Troy was one of the earliest Indiana towns along the Ohio River. In 2006, the town consisted of 400 residents, 200 housing units, and 53 historic properties considered worthy of preservation by Historic Landmark Foundation of Indiana. Thanks to a Community Focus Fund (CFF) Planning Grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, Troy, with assistance from BLA, developed a Comprehensive Plan to serve as the basis for zoning decisions and to act as a guide to implement growth management, economic development, and housing strategies. In order to preserve the historic character of the community, five residential-use districts were developed to preserve historic lot sizes and 2-story historic homes. A community-wide survey and interviews of key community leaders helped identify growth issues. BLA met with the Plan Commission four times during preparation of the plan, conducted two public workshops at key milestones, and presented the plan at a Plan Commission public hearing and Town Council meeting. In 2007, the town also adopted zoning and subdivision regulations prepared by BLA to help in implementing the comprehensive plan.
- Comprehensive Plan, Mount Vernon, Indiana
 Client: City of Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon, population 7,047, serves as home for several major industrial developments. The Southwind Maritime Center, one of Indiana’s four ports, is located just east of the city, where a new bio-fuel plant is currently under construction. Despite its economic growth, the city has been losing population since 2000. Leaders wished to attract newcomers while encouraging current residents to stay in the community. BLA is working with the city to evaluate alternatives such as beautification efforts, recreational opportunities and leisure activities. BLA has also created a housing survey, rating all homes in Mount Vernon based on exterior appearance. This will help the city determine areas of concentration for revitalization efforts.
Thoroughfare Planning- Community Connections Initiative, Delaware County, Indiana
Client: Delaware-Muncie Metropolitan Plan Commission
This project involved the creation of a thoroughfare plan that addressed both motorized and non-motorized travel in Muncie, home to Ball State University. By integrating bicycle and pedestrian facilities into the plan, the goal was a true countywide multi-modal transportation network that coordinates the existing roadway network with supported regional growth. BLA provided infrastructure planning and engineering support to a landscape architecture firm to assist in developing the plan. As part of the process, a Steering Committee held a series of meetings & public workshops to:
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Recommend design guidelines for bicycle and pedestrian facilities ranging from pavement markings and signage, width and pavement guidelines for independent facilities, and pedestrian support facilities (such as lockers, racks, prevention barriers, emergency facilities.) |
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Evaluate the need for bicycle and pedestrian facilities on a community-wide basis |
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Develop criteria for creating a system of bicycle and pedestrian facilities |
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Identify a system plan for bicycle, pedestrian, and trail facilities to serve the community |
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Identify typical thoroughfare roadway cross-sections that incorporated bicycle and pedestrian facilities based on the functional class of the roadway and density of surrounding urban land uses |
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Identify existing and proposed bicycle facilities, sideways, and trails |
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Implement actions with changes to local growth management controls building upon existing implementation groups and potential funding sources for bicycle/pedestrian facility improvements. |
- Major Thoroughfare Plan, Bowling Green, Kentucky
Client: City-County Planning Commission of Warren County and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
 When the city of Bowling Green and Warren County decided to commission its first Long-Range Transportation and Major Thoroughfare Map, BLA worked with the agencies, the community, and a newly created Metropolitan Planning Organization to develop a comprehensive, coordinated, and continuing transportation plan through the year 2030. The plan evaluated major transportation investments, including intersection improvements and alternative modes, for all jurisdictions to address capacity preservation and expansion. It also set out a capital improvement program grouping projects into 5-year increments. The plan was accompanied by a Thoroughfare Map, which indicated areas for the preservation of right-of-way and which designated typical cross-sections by functional class for roadway design for adoption by the City-County Planning Commission. To help in implementation, BLA also suggested strategies for funding improvements and for continuing transportation planning at all levels of government.
Capital Improvement Planning- Growth Management & Planning Study, Clark County, Indiana
Client: Clark County Board of Commissioners
Clark County was awarded an Indiana Department of Transportation Community Planning Grant as part of commitments made in the Louisville/Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project Final Environmental Impact Study. The Ohio River Bridge Project will construct two additional bridges over the Ohio between Clark County and Louisville, which will increase traffic volumes, population, and economic growth in the county. The grant allowed Clark County to shape future development from the anticipated growth through the development of a comprehensive plan, zoning and subdivision control ordinances. BLA worked with a standing committee of county officials, local professionals, and citizens to analyze and develop strategies and to make recommendations to the county on future growth and development management. Team members also coordinated with economic redevelopment and planning authorities to strive for complementary visions.
- Ohio Township Planning Update, Warrick County, Indiana
Client: Warrick County Area Plan Commission & Warrick County Board of Commissioners
Ohio Township is situated in the Evansville metropolitan area and includes several growing “bedroom” communities such as Newburgh and Chandler. To plan for continued growth, the county created new thoroughfare classifications and designations and asked BLA to amend the Ohio Township portion of the “Warrick County Land Use Development & Thoroughfare Plan” map to reflect the new standards. In addition, BLA also incorporated the latest information about streams, wetlands, and floodplains into the map as well as the latest information on incorporated area boundaries.
Zoning & Subdivision Ordinances- Zoning Ordinance Update, Warrick County, Indiana
Client: Warrick County Area Plan Commission & Board of Commissioners
BLA worked with the Warrick County Area Plan Commission and the Board of Commissioners to revise both the Zoning and the Subdivision Control Ordinances. For the Zoning Ordinance, BLA amended the existing use districts, the development standards, and development review procedures to help implement the policies of the Comprehensive Plan and meet current state statutes. The Subdivision Control Ordinance was updated to include new standards and regulations. As part of the process, an ad hoc committee met to review the draft ordinances and to offer suggestions.
- Comprehensive Plan & Subdivision Control Ordinance, Leavenworth, Indiana
Client: Town of Leavenworth  Leavenworth began as a river town on the Ohio River and had a population of nearly 700 people in the early 1900s. In 1937, a large flood devastated the town and instead of rebuilding in the same location, federal money was used to relocate Leavenworth to higher ground. Today, Leavenworth consists of Old Town, in the low lying area near the river, and New Town, on the hill north of the Ohio River. BLA’s initial efforts involved preparing a comprehensive plan that included additional inventory and analysis related to floodplains and flood protection. Since the hills surrounding Leavenworth offer impressive views of the Ohio River, residential development has been drawn to the town. However, these hills also create areas with steep slopes, which led to the inclusion of extreme slopes maps within the plan. The plan further addressed Old Town where it was determined that residential development should be discouraged in favor of campgrounds, park/recreational areas, and seasonal homes. Upon completion of the plan, Leavenworth asked BLA to take the next step and create a Subdivision Control Ordinance to guide development in those areas with steep slopes to ensure they are located on suitable sites.
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