This summer Starkville’s city leaders engaged an independent consulting firm to develop a new comprehensive plan. The last time we did this was in 2004. The results were delivered and accepted in 2005, so it has been a good 10 years since we looked critically at our future.
Though the experts recommend the evaluation process be updated every five years, I think every 10 years is a better benchmark; any sooner and it can be reasonably argued to be an extravagance.
There is no doubt that prevailing philosophies of cities can change dramatically in five years, especially in Mississippi since we have an election every four. But a city is like an aircraft carrier, the results of changing course take a while to implement and even longer to see the outcome.
I went back to the plan that was presented some 10 years ago and was both pleased and a bit amused by the things that were suggested as needed as compared to what has actually been implemented.
Many of the recommendations from the 2005 comprehensive plan were adopted and then, for good or ill, actually bore fruit. Examples were the creation of a Community Development Director position, formal creation and adoption of historic districts, enhancing the code enforcement officer role and requiring underground utilities.
There was also a call for more special events and expanded use of the city’s website for providing and pushing out information. The entire plan is still available on line and has many more details and elements highlighted for improvement.
What I found most ironic was the strong recommendation that ADA compliant sidewalks be incorporated in all new developments. This particular recommendation was embraced by the previous boards and became a lightning rod for some of the community who adopted the mantra of “sidewalks to nowhere” and made it an election talking point. It could be argued that this was one of the major reasons for the turnover in the last municipal election.
That brings us to now. This process got rolling in June when it was approved by the Board of Aldermen. By the time the whole thing is completed there will be a new development code and a new comprehensive plan at a cost of about $220,000.
The current professional group has met with lots of stakeholders in the community. They met with individuals and held focus groups with varied interests. They have had meetings with elected officials and business leaders. The most interesting exercise was a recent charrette that allowed the public to say what they would like to see Starkville be and do without fiscal realities getting in the way.
About 60 people turned out to see what it was all about. The process allowed for an interactive exercise of creating your ideal town. There were lots of discussions about quality of life issues and green spaces and increased density around the downtown, all to encourage pedestrians. Let’s see … all those things make me think of SIDEWALKS.
One of the recurring themes in the focus groups was how we get people interested and engaged in our future. The slim turnout for the charrette was testament to our lack of engagement. With our abysmal voting record, I should not have been disappointed or surprised, but I was. A question worth asking is “If so few members of the constituency turned out for the exercise does that compromise or negate the resulting plan?”
The short answer has to be, no. If you were unwilling to participate or didn’t make it a priority enough to communicate your thoughts then you have abdicated to others. Same with voting, if you don’t vote then your credibility for being upset with the governance doesn’t much register.
This sort of process should bring out our community in droves. Maybe they didn’t get the word or maybe they don’t think it is important. But if this board does what the last two boards did to implement the recommendations of the last comprehensive plan, then there will be discernible differences from their decisions.
It is an extraordinary commitment of funds with an expectation of a lasting result for our future success. That is all true only if the Board has the courage and trusts the vision shared by those who took the time to participate.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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