A Plan For Lorain's Future Comes Together

The city of Lorain, for the first time, is creating a comprehensive plan for developing a town that’s seen some tough years recently. An outside planning group is nearing completion of a draft plan, which includes comments from residents. 

The first step in developing Lorain could be as simple as letting outsiders know it’s there.

“We’re the tenth largest city in the state of Ohio but we don’t have highway access," says Leon Mason, Lorain’s director of building, housing and planning.

He says installing signs out near Hwy. 2, which runs just south of the lakefront city, and annexing land nearby are things the city could do soon. Another possibility is a website promoting attractions in Lorain.

Those were three of the early recommendations from planners hired to help the city develop its comprehensive plan. Bigger picture recommendations could include developing downtown and the city’s Lake Erie shoreline. Mason describes the plan as a policy document for the city that will hopefully last beyond the current mayor.

“If a developer comes in, they know what we’re looking for and where we’d like to see it," says Mason.

Planners presented their findings so far at a public meeting on Wednesday in Lorain. The final plan is expected sometime this year.