Franklin County Planning Process

By Linc Barnett, APTA President

The March 18th Franklin County Comprehensive Plan update and Visioning workshop regarding growth and economic development drew approximately 70 participants. There was a change in the format and structure of this workshop as compared to the first workshop. General consensus is that this workshop did not go as well as hoped, primarily because of two reasons.

First, participants had to chose to participate in one of three topics -economic development, growth impacts, or community character.

Second, as structured, there was insufficient time for full public input and for consensus testing on those issues raised.

The ad hoc group working with Alan Pierce on workshop process issues has made a number of recommendations regarding the number, structure, format, and time allocated for future workshops. We will have an improved workshop process fleshed out before the next workshop scheduled for April 15th. In addition, as currently planned, there will be another workshop scheduled to specifically address growth and development.

Currently scheduled workshops are as follows.

-April 15th - Environment and Natural Resources

-May 20th - Infrastructure and Public Services

The official website for the Franklin County Planning Process is located at:

Linc Barnett