Meetings set on comp plan
Published 9:23 pm Monday, February 24, 2014
Three community meetings are planned this week, starting tonight, to get public input on proposed revisions to the city’s comprehensive plan.
The proposal recommends increasing the allowed density in certain growth areas and holding the line — for the most part — on what’s defined as a growth area.
The current plan — officially the 2026 Comprehensive Plan — was done in 2006 and covered the next 20 years of development. The first iteration of the plan was crafted in 1973, and state code now requires it to be reviewed every five years.
The new plan projects a population increase of more than 25,000 between 2011 and 2031. It also scales back on residential unit growth estimates from the 2006 plan — from 1,000 units per year to 300-400 per year.
A city consultant said in January the increased density in some use districts would meet the demand for the next 20 years and promote multi-family developments.
In addition, three small adjustments to the lines of the downtown growth area are proposed. Along Godwin Boulevard, the proposed adjustment would take the outer boundary from King’s Fork Road to the Reid’s Ferry Bridge. City utilities already are installed up to that point.
In addition, on the western boundary, the growth area would extend to Lake Cohoon to use a natural feature as the boundary. On the southwestern boundary, it would extend past Manning Road.
Tuesday’s meeting is set for 7 p.m. at King’s Fork Middle School, 350 Kings Fork Road. On Wednesday, a meeting is set for 6 p.m. at East Suffolk Recreation Center, 138 S. Sixth St. The meeting for Thursday will be held at 7 p.m. at Creekside Elementary School, 1000 Bennetts Creek Park Road.
Call 514-4060 for more information on the comprehensive plan or on the meetings.