Comprehensive Plan

Marshall County Economic Development For the Future (cont.)

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Last Wednesday I attended the third MCEDC Economic Development For the Future Meeting at Swan Lake.  Culver was represented at this meeting by Bill Githens, Dave Schoeff and Ginny Munroe.  This meeting had a “report card” kind of feel.  In the previous two meetings we talked about what MCEDC needed in order to help the communities and about a list of goals for each of the communities.  At this meeting we listed all of those goals along with all of the associated action steps on poster boards and asked the communities to report on their progress.  All of them were able to point to some of the good things they have done and areas where work was needed.  A couple even added additional goals to their list.

Culver Objectives 8-13Culver’s list was one of the longest, but that is partly due to me being an activist, as you can see from my comp plan map   The Culver list is shown at the right and you can blow it up to see what is on it (feel free to step up and accomplish anything on there you would like to!)

This meeting was the first that Ginny had attended and it was interesting to hear her comments on how it energized her. Seeing how other community representatives were stepping up and taking ownership on projects was an important goal for MCEDC in these meetings. We hope to instill some civic pride and civic competition and we seem to be achieving some success.

We have already scheduled a follow up meeting for the fourth quarter of 2013 and hope to build on the successes we have seen so far.  This program is already paying back with some exciting dividends.

Affordable Housing

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On Saturday, I sat in on another focus group meeting on the Culver Comprehensive Plan.  This one was specific to the Lake Maxinkuckee Environmental Council and Fund.  It was a fairly good discussion and several achievable goals were added to the consultant’s list for the plan.  I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t more discussion about why goals from the previous plan weren’t met and how to achieve that, but overall I thought it was positive.

The Dream of “Affordable Housing”

As with every single Culver meeting on the Comprehensive Plan that I’ve attended, the subject of affordable housing came up.  This is such a nebulous term that is thrown around with people at the table talking about houses currently available in town for $70,000, others talking about the $125,000 to $250,000 range and also the eco-friendly housing project that has been floated around which is looking at the $250,000 range.  To help me get a handle on it, I asked a banker friend to break it down.  (This is all in big fat round numbers, so don’t get too picky on my math, please!)

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Comp Plan Mapping Tool

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My map
Kevin’s map

If you haven’t done so yet, check out the mapping tool at the Culver Comprehensive Plan site here.  The one I did (see right)  looks like it’s pretty diseased!  Others have done them and only put one or two things on there that were of most importance to them.

Each dot and symbol on the map to the right has a different meaning and text associated with it.  If you go to the site, you can look at any of the maps that have been created by others and read the comments they have made.  Make your own map.  If all you do is reiterate what someone else has said, you will add weight to that issue.  If you have specific goals or comments, this is the place to get them heard.  Developing a new Comprehensive Plan is a team sport.  Get on the team!

Culver Vision Workshop

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Culver’s Vision needs a strong prescription!

Last night was the Vision Workshop for the Culver Comprehensive Plan.  I’ve been calling this effort 20/20 vision for Culver for a while now.  Unfortunately with the poor turn out last night, our vision may require a stronger prescription!  Less than 30 people turned out for last night’s meeting.  That’s pretty dismal.  There were three Plan Commission members there, but only one Redevelopment Commission member and no Town Council members.  The overall poor attendance is probably due to poor advertising, but it’s unfortunate that our community leaders aren’t getting involved.  I’m not in tune with all of the local groups, but I was disappointed that only one Chamber board member was there who was also the only Second Century Committee board member.  That was particularly disappointing considering the leadership role SCC took in the previous Comprehensive Plan.  I couldn’t identify any of the Lions Club Board, Kiwanis Board, Boys & Girls Club Board, etc.  Maybe that apathy in and of itself says a lot about Culver’s future…

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Culver Comprehensive Plan – Vision Workshop

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Vision Workshop

Join us at the Community Vision Workshop where residents, business owners, elected and appointed officials, members of the consultant team and other stakeholders will work together to create a vision for the Town of Culver. Attendees will participate in an interactive workshop format to map out their concerns, the things they like best about the community, and the changes they would like to see made in both the near and long-term. The vision workshop will be a fun and engaging way to provide your thoughts about the future of Culver. 

Why is the Vision Workshop important?
The purpose of the workshop will be to establish an overall “vision” for the future of the Town of Culver that can provide focus and direction for subsequent planning activities, serve as the “cornerstone” of the consensus building process, and identify a path for growth. Based on the Vision Workshop and previous steps in the planning process, preliminary planning goals and objectives will be prepared.

 

SAVE THE DATE: 
June 24th, 2013
6:30 pm
Culver Community High School Cafeteria
701 School St.

 All community members are encouraged to attend.

For any questions or comments related to the Town of Culver Comprehensive Plan, please contact David Schoeff, Town Manager at (574)842-3140 or townmanager@townofculver.org.