Despite several citizens who voiced concern on the Capital Improvements Plan, City Council voted to approve the plan in its meeting Wednesday night.

The first year of the plan, which includes roughly $53 million worth of projects, now will be incorporated in the city manager’s budget proposal, set to be released April 4.

“I found things that just kind of struck me as great ideas, but niceties that maybe Suffolk just can’t afford,” Holland resident Karyn Cook said during the public hearing. “The people that own property here are being squeezed very tightly.”

Popular concerns among the eight speakers included a proposal for a new central library and a proposed combination police training facility and fire station, both planned for several years down the road. Some also expressed reservations about the city’s proposal to fund some of the projects with debt.

“That means we don’t have the money to pay for it,” said Paul Bross. “I earnestly urge you to do your job and strip out the nice-to-haves.”

The entire capital improvements plan includes $705 million in projects planned for the next 10 years, including roughly $53 million in projects in the first year.

The capital improvements plan, which is updated every year, is a 10-year document outlining the capital improvements the city expects to need during the next decade and how it expects to pay for them.

The first year of the plan includes extending city water to Holland, converting the old Robertson Elementary School in Whaleyville into a recreation center, completing funding of construction of a new southern elementary school and adding storage space to the police department administration building.

Councilman Leroy Bennett was the sole vote against approving the plan because he said he wanted to see more projects for the Hollywood/Jericho neighborhood.

Two of the eight speakers said they mostly supported the projects in the plan.

“I’m here to support the capital improvement plans in the southern part of the city,” said Phyllis Byrum, who represents Whaleyville on the School Board. “I would ask that you move forward with the plans.”

The next public step in the budget process is Feb. 15, when City Council will hold its first work session on the budget.