HomeMy WebLinkAboutCS Leaders Seek Input on Growth; newspaper article (07-26-2005)C leaders
on
inputm-
growt
. Ar,
College Station City Council mem-
bers said Monday they hope to work
closely with ' planning and zoning
commissioners to preserve what
they described as a "knowledge -
based community with a small-town
feel."
Growth management was the topic
of a work study session Monday
alfternoon. The issue is one of four
priorities identified by the council
during a strategic planning retreat
last month.
City leaders already have dis-
cussed collaboration with other enti-
ties, and future work study sessions
are expected to be devoted to eco-
11omic development and neighbor-
hood issues.
Planning and Development Ser-
vices Director Joey Dunn told the
council Monday that growth man-
agement is a government program
"intended to influence the rate,
amount, type, location, quality and
cost of future development."
Dunn has submitted a request for
$150,000 in the city's 2005 -06
budget for a consulting firm to
rewrite the comprehensive
plan. The 10 -year update will
include the city's land use and
transportation plans.
College Station has aver-
aged a 4 percent increase in
population growth since 1997,
Dunn said, adding that hous-
ing growth has increased by 31
percent during that period.
Public input is needed as city
leaders determine future zon-
ing and transportation needs,
council members agreed.
"I've been through this
before, and it gets pretty con-
troversial," said Mayor Ron
Silvia. "I think that's because
a lot of it is done without
input."
Dunn said he expects the
"public input process" to take
about 18 months. Council
members said they plan to
gather public feedback
through an advisory commit-
tee, community forums, Web
site updates, interviews and
announcements on the city's
public access channel.
At the retreat in June, coun-
cil members committed to col-
laborating with other entities
on regional transportation
and land use issues.
The council plans to estab-
lish a philosophy of growth
and development and evaluate
the tools needed to achieve the
vision, such as the Unified
Development Ordinance, capi-
tal improvement projects and
funding sources.
"I think we're uncovering
this issue that is like a giant
jigsaw puzzle," Silvia said.
"There are so many issues
that are coming together. We
have to look at how all this is
going to fit together."
Council members asked
Dunn to speak with the plan-
ning and zoning commission,
and a joint meeting between
the commission and the coun-
cil will be scheduled to further
discuss growth management.
■ April Avison's e -mail address is
april.avison @theeagle.com.
seek
fly APRIL AVISON
Eagle Staff Writer