Waynesville’s Land-Use Steering Committee held a dress rehearsal Monday for the first public meeting in the development of its comprehensive land-use plan.

“This is the beginning of the opportunity for the public to be involved in this,” said Julia Cogburn, a senior planner with Benchmark Inc., the company helping the town develop its plan.

Actually, a steering committee of citizens appointed by the town board has been working on the land-use plan since September 2000. That committee has completed a vision statement and laid out what it thinks the main goals of the plan should be. However, those attending Monday’s meeting were clear that getting input from town residents was the key to developing an effective land-use plan.

“We are right now in the midst of shaping the vision, and now we need the public input,” Cogburn said. “The information provided at this meeting will allow people to participate.”

Several on the steering committee had strong suggestions for Benchmark. As company officials went over transparencies and other information for the Feb. 15 meeting, many suggested they make things more straightforward and to the point.

“We need to de-mystify the process that you are talking about,” suggested Ron Huelster, the executive director of the Downtown Waynesville Association.

“We will make sure that the public knows everything we have done up to this point is a draft, that it’s just a planning document that is open for comment and change,” Cogburn said.

Although the final plan is far from finished, steering committee members have identified some goals: create attractive neighborhoods, create accessible neighborhoods, expand affordable housing opportunities, reduce stream sedimentation, reduce impact of stormwater runoff, enhance the aesthetic and environmental significance of waterways, keep commercial areas attractive and active, provide adequate and sufficient land for commercial development along major roads to lessen urban sprawl, provide development patterns which encourage alternative transportation options, and others.

“We want ideas for the public to react to but we don’t want to leave the impression that this is set in stone,” Cogburn said.

After the Feb. 15 meeting, four meetings are planned in four different parts of town on March 8, 15, 22 and 29. Those meetings will relate what has occurred up to then and also seek public input before developing a final plan. The final plan is expected to be presented to aldermen around June of this year.

 

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