Plain City officials are in the process of updating the village’s comprehensive plan and they want to hear from the residents.
The village is hosting a meeting from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Thursday at Plain City Elementary, 580 S. Chillicothe St., to discuss the planning process and the future of the village comprehensive plan.
Council member Shannon Pine, who sits on the comprehensive plan steering committee, said consulting firm MKSK has taken the lead on the meeting. MKSK officials have said they want to, “understand what makes Plain City special and unique? What strengths should the plan build on? What sets the community apart?”
As part of Thursday’s meeting, residents will have the opportunity to meet and speak with MKSK representatives and hear a presentation from the group.
“I think there will be some activities there to help citizens give their ideas and input to facilitate the plan,” said Pine.
The village comprehensive plan will outline policy for future development, zoning, the village uptown, utilities, economic development, transportation, land use, recreation and other items.
In addition to the public meeting, the village is hosting a website, plaincitycompplan.mindmixer.com, where residents can submit ideas and comments about the village, noting that, “No idea is too big or too small.”
“Community involvement is essential to the planning process and we aim to inspire all who live in, work in or visit Plain City to take part in shaping the plan’s vision, goals and recommendations,” according to the website.
Pine said community involvement is important because, “If our citizens are not on board, it is just not going to work as we decide the future of Plain City.”
Mayor Darrin Lane said it will take a wide variety of residents to create the plan and not just, “the couple that come to council meetings.”
“We want what our residents want, so people need to get involved,” the mayor said.
Plain City has some unique challenges in planning for the future. He said there are two very distinct populations — one that has lived in the village their whole lives and one that has moved into the village recently. He said these two groups have very different views and expectations for village growth.
“There has to be a medium, middle ground for these two sets of residents,” Lane said.
He said the village also has an advantage in that residents and officials can look at the planning of nearby communities.
“We can pick apart all of the things they did, all of their mistakes and we can learn from them,” Lane said.
Pine and Lane both said village officials want smart, controlled growth, but want it to reflect the will of the residents.
“I don’t want to make any mistakes. I don’t want anyone to be able to say we didn’t listen to them,” Lane said. “I want people to be able to look back, in 10 years when things are really happening, and say, ‘This is what we wanted. This was our choice.’”
Lane said there is a process and there likely will be additional public meetings. Pine said the steering committee could ask for another similar meeting in a couple weeks because a school choir concert and a community service to honor local law enforcement have also been planned for Thursday.
Pine said that while there could be other opportunities, now is the time for people to be heard.
“Right now, we are still listening to what people want, but it is important for people to give their input now because as the plan progresses, it could come to a point where it is too late.”