Friday, July 1, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Palmetto looks to the futureBy BEN NELMS A very small but interested group of Palmetto residents turned out June 14 for the final public hearing on the citys 20-year comprehensive Plan. The final draft will be presented to the mayor and council July 7. The Collaborative Firm planners Elizabeth McClendon and Gavin Bailey explained the various elements of the plan and solicited residents preferences on issues relating to the citys future. Significant to the public input process was a slide presentation survey where residents indicated the types of residential, commercial, mixed use and community facilities they would like to see developed in coming years. Residents rated the slide photographs on a scale of +3, indicating a strong like, to -3, indicating a strong dislike. Also central to the public hearing was a survey encompassing many of the elements of the comprehensive plan. Plan elements include Population, Natural and Cultural Resources, Housing, Intergovernmental Coordination, Economic Development, Transportation and Community Facilities and Services. The written survey included questions on land use issues such as the type of commercial development appropriate for Palmetto, the types of open space and public facilities needed and the areas of the city residents believe need to be revitalized. The survey also posed a variety of questions about Palmettos future employment potential, housing and transportation issues along with questions relating to community character. Residents were asked to describe the object or place in the city that evokes the strongest sense of place and identity, the word that would best describe the character of Palmetto, what buildings should be preserved or replaced and what activity or measure would be most effective in enhancing Palmettos image. Answers to these questions and other survey preferences will be used to develop a vision statement to be presented to the council next month. An example of the importance and relevance of the 20-year plan can be seen the citys population trends. Unlike most of Palmettos history, recent years have seen the beginning of what is anticipated to be explosive growth over the next two decades. The citys population in 2000 was 3,400. Now in 2005, the citys estimated population sits at 3,980. Estimates for 2010 shows 5,960 and increases through 2025 put the population at 10,260. The initial public hearing on the 20-year comprehensive plan was held in November 2004. The city council is expected to approve the final draft July 7 for submission to Georgia Dept. of Community Affairs (DCA). Twenty-year comprehensive plans are required of cities and counties in Georgia. Routed to DCA for final approval, the development of the plans are mandatory for obtaining a variety of state and federal funding. The plans cover 20 years and are updated every 10 years. |
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