Mitchell Vision Plan

Land Use

Land use is an important part of community development.  Without understanding the impacts land use has on a community, it is almost impossible to create a well planned community.  Land use plays a major role in future growth.  Throughout this Vision Plan there will be many studies done on land use and various land use plans for Mitchell.

This section starts by identifying the existing land uses in Mitchell, Indiana.  Then it will address housing and some of the ways to improve on Mitchell's existing neighborhoods.  Finally, we will look at the possible built-out land uses, and how built-out land can affect the city's identity and capacity.

Housing

Goal

Provide a diverse base of housing for all incomes and lifestyles.

Recommendations

• Maintain and improve on the neighborhood's natural resources
• Establish gateways into the neighborhood
• Improve aesthetics of the neighborhood
• Make streets in neighborhoods more pedestrian friendly
• Improve on built structures in neighborhoods
• Provide infill housing mostly in south and east-central neighborhoods

Build Out

Mitchell, Indiana covers about 2176 acres of Lawrence County.  Of these 2176 acres, the city has developed an estimated 1248 acres, leaving 922 acres of 928 acres for possible development.  The table below shows how the current conditions are on the developed land, and the Build-Out indicates what the city would be like if the other 922 acres were developed, following the standards of the existing developed land.

To find the Build-Out amounts the following additional information is required:

• An estimated 6 acres of Mitchell is water, providing only 922 acres to develop
• Housing density of developed land = 1.70 households per acre
• Population density of developed land = 3.66 persons per acre
• Percentage of families in the current population = 34%
• Average family household size = 3
• Average ratio of students to teacher in each school:

• K-2 ratio = 28:1
• 3-5 ratio = 23:1
• 6-8 ratio = 21.5:1
• High School = 21.1:1

• Average full-time police officers per person = .0017 per person
• Average full-time firemen per person = .00234 per person
• Water capacity for Mitchell = 3,000,000 gallons per day
• Water treatment capacity for Mitchell = 565,00 gallons per day
• Estimated vehicles per household = 1.5 cars per household

*Children in Mitchell's Schools: Not all children are from the city of Mitchell.  Also to keep the same student to teacher ratio must increase the number of teachers and classrooms.

*Police Officers Full-Time: The current condition is not what Mitchell has, but the number a city of its size should have.  If Built-Out, an increase in the number of Police Officers and Stations should be established.

*Fire Fighters Full-Time: Currently only volunteers, the number posted is the amount of full-time firemen needed for the population.  If Built-Out, there is a greater need for full-time firemen and possible stations located on either end of the city.

*Water Capacity: This is the amount of water that residences, commercial units, and manufacturing companies use.  If Built-Out, the demand for water will exceed the supply of water.  This must be taken into consideration when developing land.

*Estimated Number of Vehicles: The increase in population in the Built-Out city would create incresed traffic flow through the city.