Citizens needed for input on city plan revision

Local News

July 26, 2010

By Ronica Shannon Register News Writer The Richmond Register Mon Jul 26, 2010, 02:01 PM EDT

RICHMOND — The public is being asked to be a part of the second in a series of public meetings involving Richmond’s comprehensive plan revision.

The meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 3 at Richmond City Hall.

“I want to invite the entire community out,” said Mike Roberts, city planning and zoning director. “We really need some input.”

About 30 people attended the first public forum in April.

During an April 8 comprehensive plan work session, a slide show was given that included pictures of various types of housing, streetscapes and recreation examples, and each person received an accompanying handout allowing them to rank their like or dislike of each picture.

Several maps were set up around the commission chambers of Richmond City Hall that were titled: “Land Use,” “Transportation,” “Community Facilities,” and “Economic Development.”

Those who attended were allowed to place stickers on each map indicating places they would like to see certain developments.

The city’s comprehensive plan will be completed in three phases: Data collection and inventory vision, plan development and plan implementation.

The plan’s community assessment includes various categories such as population, the economy, transportation and communications, housing, public facilities and services, the environment, land use development and overall community development.

“The city has made an investment in revising this plan,” Roberts said.

Kentucky Revised Statute 100 requires the city’s comprehensive plan to be updated every five years. The plan is geared to serve as an outline of a city or county’s future development for the next 20 years.

“This is a really important document for how the city of Richmond is going to grow and the public can be a part of that future,” said Amy Williams, a community planner for the HNTB Corporation in Louisville, which was hired by the city to assist in the comprehensive planning process. “We also encourage younger folks to come because in 20 years, they will be the ones leading this city.”

The comprehensive plan revision process will take about one year, and the city is required by statute to have its revision complete by Feb. 28, 2011.

A plan review committee has been meeting periodically to help with the plan’s revision and bring in more input from the community.

They have been working on developing the plan elements, which includes the vision and the goals, future land use and the future transportation systems such as roads and trails, Williams said.

“They’ve been reviewing and giving us input on community facilities and city services,” she said.

The committee includes representatives from Richmond’s planning and parks and recreation departments, the city commission, Eastern Kentucky University, local neighborhood associations, at-large citizens and business owners.

“This is a plan for the citizens,” Roberts said. “But, in order to be a plan for the citizens, we need input from all sectors.”

Anyone who would like more information about the upcoming public meeting or information about the comprehensive plan can call Roberts at 623-1000.

The city’s current comprehensive plan, which was adopted in 2006, can be viewed online at www.richmond.ky.us.

Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@ richmondregister.com or 624-6608.

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