Tag:Comprehensive Plan
Culver 20/20 Vision Update
At last night’s meeting of the Culver Town Council, I again broached the subject of funding a new Comprehensive Plan. (See previous entries on this subject here.) Apparently the idea of pursuing a new income survey has been shelved, so it now becomes a budget item that will need to be funded internally. At the behest of Kathy Clark, I have approached the Culver Redevelopment Commission (CRC) about funding all or part of a new Comp Plan. I also discussed this with Jennifer Laurent at MCEDC and she concurred that this is a viable use of the TIF funds that the CRC controls. The CRC is interested in pursuing this, but they would like participation from the Town, thus my request last night.
I brought this issue up again before the Plan Commission last week and offered to make the request to the Council on their behalf. I think the Council understands the importance. I reminded them of the recent article in the Pilot News last week that discussed Plymouth’s effort to update their Comp Plan since their current outdated plan was limiting their ability to obtain grants.
The Comp Plan is such an intrinsic piece of the puzzle for everything from infrastructure maintenance and expansion, land development, zoning issues, grant pursuits and economic development that it is critical that we have an up to date plan. There once was a chart on the wall in the Council Chamber showing how everything flowed down from the Comprehensive Plan. That is still an important point of understanding that I think is often missed.
The Town Council made the decision to schedule a work session on this issue around the middle of next month once the new Town Manager is in place. His start date is scheduled for June 4th and I’m sure he’ll have a lot on his plate. I hope we can keep this issue near the top of the agenda. With the Town coming up on the budget season, I’m hoping that we can get some money set aside to provide a Comp Plan that will provide the necessary guidance for the community.
20/20 Vision for Culver
20/20 Vision is what I’m dubbing my attempts to get Culver on track for a new Comprehensive Plan. Judging from the last one which has taken a little over 10 years to revise, shooting for a plan that would lay out goals for completion by the year 2020 seems like the place to start.
I’ve been pushing for this for a while. (See here as well as a couple of other times.) At the September Culver Plan Commission meeting I was rewarded punished for my diligent nagging by being appointed to a committee of one to look into it. Hopefully this will be expanded to a larger group in the future, but I was asked to get things moving.
At the October Plan Commission meeting I reported on some of the issues I thought should be addressed by a revised comp plan, the steps required, the State Statute regarding Comprehensive Plans and options for a planning grant.
A few of my concerns with the existing Comprehensive Plan include:
South Side Update
Tuesday night was the regular meeting of the Culver Plan Commission. The only agenda item was a replatting of the Rhodes property, combining several lots into one. This passed with little question.
Under “Public Input”, John Zehner presented his plans to change the use of the Ten Spot to a restaurant and motel. The presentation wasn’t required, but was more of a courtesy, keeping the Plan Commission apprised of the change in use. The Plan Commission also supported this proposal.
I took the opportunity to plant some seeds regarding the development on the south side of Culver, basically outlining the thoughts I had previously presented here. I was pleased that the Plan Commission was fairly receptive. They agreed to consider most of what I suggested. I truly think this is an opportunity for the Town to get out in front of some issues and encourage the type of development they would like to see. They are considering forming a subcommittee to look into this with the idea that the subcommittee would try and form community partnerships and foster buy-in. All in all a very positive evening!
Culver Garden Court – Rezoning
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