News

Comprehensive plan nears completion; open house Monday

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

For more than a year, Wilson residents have shared their thoughts on how they want to live, work, travel and play.

The City will hold an open house on “Wilson Growing Together: the 2030 Comprehensive Plan” on Monday, March 22, at the Charles W. Pittman III Operations Center, 1800 Herring Ave.

The drop-in event will be 5:30-8:30 p.m. Short presentations are planned at 6 and 7:30 p.m. to give an overview of the plan.

The open house will be the last chance to weigh in on the plan before it goes to the City Council in April.

Rodger Lentz, the city’s director of planning and developmental services, said he has been pleased by how the public has contributed so far.

“The plan being presented March 22 really reflects the issues we heard during the past 16 months,” Lentz said. “When implemented, the recommended policies and initiatives will truly help us reach the ‘One Wilson’ vision we heard so much about.”

The comprehensive plan sets out 51 goals for Wilson, including a revitalized downtown; stronger neighborhoods; an enhanced transportation system; and improved partnerships between the City and Wilson County, Barton College, Wilson Community College and Wilson 20/20.

The plan includes more than 100 policies and 90 actions for the city to enact to reach those goals.

For example, the plan includes the goal of Wilson having a multi-modal transportation system, meaning residents would have many options for getting around. A policy that supports that is encouraging all new roads and road improvements to consider access to pedestrians, bicyclists and public transit, in addition to cars. An actionable step would be for the City staff to work with County and State officials to approve a new countywide transportation plan.

Since December 2008, the city has held several focus groups, workshops and charrettes on various parts of the comprehensive plan. Details can be seen on the Web site, www.wilsonnc.org.

The entire plan should be posted on the city’s site by Friday, March 19. Copies will also be available then at the Wilson County Public Library (in the reserve section) and in the Planning and Development Services Department at City Hall.