Updates from the Central Master Plan Meeting

From the City of Central

The city of Central conducted a second public meeting last Thursday, December 6, 2012 on the ongoing work on the Master Plan consisting of a floodplain management program, city center overlay district, and a new code and pattern design book for architectural features on new construction.  The meeting was held at the Central Branch Library on Joor Rd, and over 50 citizens attended the meeting to give their input and hear details of the work.

Nathan Gaspard from Environmental Resources Management (ERM), and land use attorney Steve Villavaso from Villavaso and Associates presented the updates.  The first phase of the work involves a floodplain management system for the system to protect floodways and drainage channels from future development.  Citizens in attendance were asked by Mr. Gaspard as to how they felt floodways should be protected.  Everyone in attendance agreed that there should not be uncontrolled development in floodplains and low-lying areas, and they indicated that there needs to be regulations which can allow some development with restrictions that do not end up costing the taxpayers money in the future to mitigate and repair damages.  They agreed that developers should pay the costs of improvements to the floodways and drainage channels as development occurs.

The second part of the discussion centered around the city center overlay.  Mr. Gaspard indicated that they are currently looking at seven parcels of property near the middle of the city (Sullivan/Wax/Hooper corridor) that could be possible locations for a future city center consisting of a city hall, town center, park and recreation area, and small retail businesses.  He indicated that at least five acres would be needed for a permanent city hall to be erected, and at least another fifteen acres surrounding it for future growth and expansion.   Each of the parcels is undergoing a ranking process in terms of infrastructure, access, floodplain analysis, expansion possibilities, market feasibility, desirability, and other elements.   This information will provide city leaders with the ability to negotiate with property owners in the future for possible land acquisition for a permanent city hall location.

Finally, Mr. Vallavaso presented a powerpoint presentation on some of the elements in the code and pattern design book that could be used in developing a city center/town square.  He showed several examples from other cities, including some that Central could model as well as some that may not be the direction that Central wants to go.  Street design, parking lot placement, building setbacks, park space, and retail accommodations were all illustrated in at least ten different designs from real situations in other cities.   Residents were then shown approximately 25 different architectural styles of buildings and town center designs, and they were allowed to place markers by the style they preferred the most, the style they preferred the least, and three styles that they were indifferent upon as part of a ranking process.  Citizens then completed a short survey as to what types of elements they would like to see in a city center/town square.

After the meeting, residents in attendance had informal discussions about the information, and all were glad that they were invited to be a part of the process and give their input.  Another public meeting will be scheduled in the next six to eight weeks. 

Information on the Master Plan can be found on the city’s website, www.centralgov.com, under the City Documents tab.