City seeks public help for plan

Nov 29, 2008 (The Wilson Daily Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- WEST | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- In 1990, Parkwood Mall was Wilson's favorite shopping location and Western Sizzlin and the K&W Cafeteria its most popular places to eat.

The city of Wilson was close to 17 square miles in size, and its population about 38,000. Today, Wilson is close to double that in land area, 29 square miles, and nearing the 50,000 population mark, which would make it one of North Carolina's larger cities.

The challenge for city leaders, is mapping out a strategy that will guide the city's future growth as far as the year 2030, when who knows what it look like.

The city of Wilson has started that process by hiring a consultant firm, Clarion Associates, that will work with city planners and local residents to develop the city's most comprehensive plan since 1990.

"The community has changed a lot since 1990," said Rodger Lentz, Wilson's planning and development services director. "We're a growing community. We're going to continue to see change. The goal of the comprehensive plan is to make sure that change is something that's as positive for the community as possible."

On Wednesday, area residents interested in taking part in the process are invited to attend a "Symposium of Ideas," from 7-9 p.m. in the Frank Eagles Community Business Center on the Wilson Community College campus. The event will include opportunities to brainstorm ideas on how to plan the city's future. Developers and planners from other areas of the state will also attend and present ways they handled certain growth issues in other North Carolina cities.

"Private developers will come in and give examples of what's been done in other places," Lentz said. "They're coming to share their experiences with us to spur creative ideas in Wilson. The whole idea is to get people thinking about different ideas for the community."

A variety of areas will be explored with the most focus going to the issues of energizing downtown, preserving neighborhoods, redeveloping aging transportation corridors, including U.S. 301, attracting jobs and creating sustainable growth.

The meeting will be the kickoff event that will jump start the city's comprehensive plan, which will take about 18 months to complete. The plan will cost the city $146,000, an amount that will be split during two fiscal years.

The plan will study several areas, including public transportation, community facilities, parks and recreation, Wilson's center city, Wilson neighborhoods, community appearance and overall land use. The plan will help develop a land use map, which will help guide future development within certain city zoning areas. Two city corridors have been a main focus for city leaders during the past year, U.S. 301 and the Raleigh Road Parkway, which leads to Interstate 95.

CycleMax manager Randy House said that the plan's focus on U.S. 301 would benefit businesses along the corridor, which continue to operate even though many business have either closed or moved to other areas of the city. The U.S. 301 corridor used to be filled with car dealerships, a shopping center and a grocery store. Many properties are now vacant, he said.

"I know that (the city was) doing some beautification, and we've seen some improvements on U.S. 301," House said. "One of the things we'd like to see is more businesses on U.S. 301 rather than businesses leaving."

He said he would also like to see some focus on landscaping and other roadside improvements to make the corridor more attractive.

"You'd like to see some of that on U.S. 301," he said.

Other areas the comprehensive plan will focus on are downtown revitalization and development as well as revitalization of neighborhoods near the downtown area and inside the center of the city.

"We won't only be focusing on the new growth areas, we're definitely going to be looking at redevelopment and revitalization opportunities," Lentz said. "We're going to be looking at what we can do to turn these places around and make them as successful as possible."

The plan will take into consideration whether ideas are financially sound for the city, environmentally friendly and whether plans will improve or enhance the quality-of-life for residents. Lentz said he would also like to see the plan address quality-of-life issues for young adults as well as the city's growing senior population.

"We talk about being a family friendly community, but what about being a senior friendly community?" Lentz said.

In addition to Wednesday's public meeting, there will be other opportunities for the public to take part during the 18-month process. A steering committee and a plan group have been formed and plan to meet regularly. Two other public symposiums will also be held, potentially in August 2009 and December 2009. The plan should be complete by January 2010.

The steering committee and plan group include diverse participation from people within the community, including membership from county and Wilson 2020 Vision leaders. Representatives from neighborhood groups are also taking part.

Clarion Associates is a nationwide consulting firm with a nearby office in Chapel Hill. The company plans to use sub-consulting firms for certain aspects of the plan. Sub-firms will focus on transportation, a center city plan, and marketing.

When the plan is finished, it will serve as a guide for future decisions by city staff, the planning board and city council.

"It is a guide for decision making," Lentz said. "The goal is to follow the intent of the plan. That's why we do it."

The city's 1990 growth plan made a lasting impact on local decisions, including the development of the J. Burt Gillette Athletic Complex, the expansion of the Buckhorn Reservoir, development around the I-95 interchange, city recycling and advancements in tourism and economic development.

"Who knows what the big idea will be that comes out of this comprehensive plan," Lentz said. "I think there's a lot of opportunities. We just need to think about what opportunities we want to go after in Wilson."

Denise Boswell, a senior planner with the city who will lead the comprehensive planning effort, said that community involvement will be important to the development of the plan.

"The comprehensive plan affects everyone," Boswell said. "I'm a big believer in the importance of including everyone in the planning process, especially one with this magnitude. It truly has long-range implications."

rochelle@wilsontimes.com -- 265-7818

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Recommendations and Results from the 1990 Wilson Growth Plan

--Expansion of the Buckhorn Reservoir, the city's main water supply. Expansion took place in 1999, leading to the capacity to hold 7 billion gallons of water.

--Tourism and economic development near Interstate 95, with available utilities to spur growth. Mission accomplished with numerous hotels, restaurants and gas stations.

--Develop a leadership roundtable. The roundtable meets regularly with the goal to promote economic development and collaboration between area agencies.

--Improvement to the city transit system. Wilson's transit center was built.

--Hire a full-time tourism director using the hotel tax. The tourism director markets the city and its tourism and sports opportunities.

--Comprehensive recycling program. Curbside recycling started in the city in 1993.

--Regional park and park master plan. The plan was completed and led to the development of the J. Burt Gillette Athletic Complex.

--Development of landscaping and buffering standards. Those initiatives have been adopted.

--Market Wilson as a manufacturing and distribution location to complement the Research Triangle Park. Several Wilson companies have facilities in the RTP.

--Encourage construction of the U.S. 264 bypass. Bypass completed.

--Expand Forest Hills to a four-lane road. Completed.

Wilson Planning and Development Services

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