The Roads to Butler's Future

Population

• Can Butler achieve 10% population growth (approximately 300 people) in one decade?

Housing

• At 2.7 persons per household (Census average), Butler would need approximately 111 new housing units by 2030 to house an additional 300 residents.  Can Butler attract enough interest / capital from housing developers so that this number of new housing units will be built?

Retail / Service

• As with many other communities, Butler needs to adapt to the conveniences of an online retail economy.
• How can Butler businesses offer an “in-person” experience to encourage people to shop locally?

Infrastructure

• What are Butler’s priority infrastructure needs?
• Where should new water and sewer mains installed and where  shouldn’t they be installed?
• What financing options exist for paying for new infrastructure?

Quality of Life / Livability

• How can Butler citizens become more involved in local government / community events?
• How can pedestrian / bike connectivity among Butler parks be improved?
• How can a culture of “pride in property” be established in Butler?

SWOT

Strengths 

• Well-established anchor businesses / traffic generators on each downtown block, i.e., F&M Bank, Workers World, Towne Hardware.

Weaknesses

• Dilapidated unoccupied buildings.
• Lack of investment in vacant and under-utilized properties.
• Vacant commercial lots & buildings.

Opportunities 

• Newly-active Butler Main Street group.
• Traffic on U.S. 6 & State Road 1.

Threats 

• Potential overall downturn in economy.
• Continued lack of capital investment in downtown properties
• Online retail buying. 

Focus Areas

• Incorporated Areas B (West Main) & H (Downtown)

Objectives

• Niche destination businesses to draw in traffic from outside Butler and to meet the needs of Butler citizens.
• Attract and encourage new investment in commercial / retail / service businesses, whether new to Butler or existing Butler businesses.
• A downtown that provides attractive public space and viable retail / service businesses & storefronts.

Policies & Plan

• Work with Realtors and economic development entities to market Butler to specialty retailers / service providers.
• Determine cost & feasibility of extending City infrastructure to targeted development areas.
• Encourage local entrepreneurship.
• Review and revise zoning regulations as needed to encourage the establishment of viable businesses in downtown Butler.
• Explore financial options for new business start-ups.

Resources / Stakeholders

• City of Butler
• Butler Main Street
• Butler Happenings
• DeKalb Economic Development Partnership
• DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce
• Existing Butler Businesses
• Start-ups / Entrepreneurs
• Financial Institutions

  SWOT 

Strengths

• Good industrial base; eleven active industrial tax abatements as of 2019.
• 30.4 % increase in household income from 2017 to 2019.

Weaknesses

• Lack of infrastructure south of railroad tracks (industrially-zoned area) on west side of Butler
• Limited development potential in areas directly north, south and southwest of Butler due to lack of infrastructure.

Opportunities

• Access to highways / traffic.
• Need to make better use of rail traffic, i.e., spur lines when feasible.
• Industrial development potential in southeast area of Butler due to availability of infrastructure.

Threats

• Potential recession in national / global economy.
• Deterioration of infrastructure.

  Focus Areas

Incorporated Areas

• A – West Main Industrial
• B — West Main Commercial
• H – Downtown
• M – Forest River
• R – Southside Industrial

Unincorporated Areas

• U8a / U8B– Near East & Southeast
• U12 – South

Objectives

• Maintain existing industrial base.
• Additional development of industries in industrially-zoned areas on southeast side.
• Attract new industries if opportunities occur, particularly logistical operations to take advantage of Butler’s location and access.

Policies & Plan

• Take advantage of Butler’s location & logistical base.
• Pursue “multi-modal” transportation operations.
• Continue tax phase-in program.
• Work with state and federal agencies in assisting existing companies and prospective new companies in pursuing grant and employee training assistance when feasible.

Resources / Stakeholders

• City of Butler
• DeKalb Economic Development Partnership
• DeKalb Chamber of Commerce
• Butler Main Street
• Existing Butler industries
• Relevant State of Indiana agencies

SWOT

Strengths

• 23 new single-family houses constructed since 2013.
• Residential tax abatement program.

Weaknesses

• Aging housing stock.
• Lack of sidewalks and sidewalk connectivity.
• Growing number of vacant lots due to house demolitions /  unsafe building enforcement.
• Lower average number of owner-occupied houses.
• Majority of owner-occupied houses valued under $100,000.

Opportunities

• Residential development potential in area northwest of Butler due to availability of infrastructure.
• Possible availability of land to the west of current newer subdivisions.
• Implementation of code enforcement program
• Some vacant lots in residential areas are available due to unsafe building enforcement / demolition.

Threats

• Downturn in global / national economy.
• Lack of owner interest in maintaining properties.

Focus Areas

Incorporated Areas

• C – Northwest Butler
• D – West Liberty / West Washington / West Green
• F – West Main / West Oak / Depot
• J – Northwood / Park View
• K – East Side
• P – Southside

Unincorporated Areas

• U-1b | U-2 – Near West & Northwest
• U-3 | U–4 – Northwest & West

Objectives

• New single-family dwellings.
• Increased percentage of owner-occupied dwellings.
• New sidewalks in unserved / under-served areas and to enhance park connectivity.

Policies & Plan

• Additional development of single-family housing.
• In-fill development on available parcels in existing neighborhoods.
• Identify undeveloped areas in and adjacent to Butler where residential development could occur.
• Continue residential tax abatement Area for new houses as allowed by statute.
• Review and revise subdivision ordinance as needed to encourage new housing development.
• Continue unsafe building enforcement activities as needed.
• Implement Code enforcement program – abate unsightly properties to improve property values and establish a culture of pride in property.
• Review and revise Butler Subdivision Ordinance to streamline development processes and remove impediments to housing development.

Resources / Stakeholders

• City of Butler
• DeKalb Economic Development Partnership
• Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority
• Indiana Office of Community & Rural Affairs
• Private Developers
• Financial Institutions.

Policies & Plan

• Additional development of single-family housing.
• In-fill development on available parcels in existing neighborhoods.
• Identify undeveloped areas in and adjacent to Butler where residential development could occur.
• Continue residential tax abatement Area for new houses as allowed by statute.
• Review and revise subdivision ordinance as needed to encourage new housing development.
• Continue unsafe building enforcement activities as needed.
• Implement Code enforcement program – abate unsightly properties to improve property values and establish a culture of pride in property.
• Review and revise Butler Subdivision Ordinance to streamline development processes and remove impediments to housing development.

Resources / Stakeholders

• City of Butler
• DeKalb Economic Development Partnership
• Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority
• Indiana Office of Community & Rural Affairs
• Private Developers
• Financial Institutions.

SWOT

Strengths

• Streets are being repaved through use of INDOT Community Crossings Grants.
• Extensive GIS program, inventory of infrastructure.

Weaknesses

• Combined sanitary – storm sewer system; causes overflows at wastewater treatment plant.

Opportunities

• (Placeholder)

Threats

• State – Feds discontinue grant funding programs.

Focus Areas

Incorporated Areas

• D – West Liberty / West Washington / West Green
• F – West Main / West Oak / Depot
• K – East Side
• P – South Side 

Unincorporated Areas

• Placeholder

Objectives

• Separate storm sewer system where needed in Butler, starting on the south side of Butler.
• Continued participation in the INDOT Community Crossings Program.

Policies & Plan

• Review 2013 plan for installing storm sewer mains and collectors and revise as needed.
• Seek best possible funding mix for infrastructure projects.
• Establish a capital improvement plan that is reviewed and updated annually.
• Annually review and revise CEDIT (County Economic Development Income Tax) plan to determine best use of revenues for capital improvement projects.

Resources / Stakeholders

• City of Butler
• Indiana Office of Community & Rural Affairs
• Indiana Department of Environmental Management
• U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Financial Institutions

SWOT

Strengths

• Good parks.  Substantial use of Maxton, Hathaway and Southside parks as community parks; Mason Park as a neighborhood park and Hendrickson Park development as a community garden.

Weaknesses

• No designated park or recreation space in the northwest portion of Butler.
• Lack of park connectivity via walkways & sidewalks.

Opportunities 

• Hendrickson Park wooded area.
• Susie Park is an undeveloped green space.

Threats

• Lack of funds to maintain parks; add new equipment and sponsor recreation activities.

Focus Areas

• All Butler Parks

Objectives

• Greenspace and recreational opportunities for all Butler residents in all portions of Butler.

Policies & Plan

• Update maintenance / capital improvement plans for Butler parks.
• Determine future uses / needs for Susie Park.
• Pursue development of trails in Hendrickson Park; connectivity to Hathaway and Southside parks.
• Review and revise subdivision ordinance to require reserved recreation areas in new subdivision plats.

Resources / Stakeholders

• City of Butler
• Butler Recreation Board
• Youth athletic leagues.
• DeKalb Eastern School Corporation