City staff says 'the public is a key element' in Connect Columbia plan
Part of a city's planning goals isn't always what's on the agenda from month-to-month, but in how it plans to shape the community's land use long term.
The heart of the Connect Columbia comprehensive plan, first established in 2018, is based on helping to shape growth for years to come in Columbia. The plan takes a three-pronged approach, working as a guideline for decision-making primarily in regard to transportation, land use and park space. Another key element to the plan is input generated by the public.
The city hosted its second and final public forum for the public this week at Riverwalk Park, the feedback which will be implemented into proposed updates and changes that will be presented to the Municipal Planning Commission and later Columbia City Council.
"This is very important because the first step that happens when somebody comes to us [with a proposal], the first thing we do is open the book and see if it fits the comp plan," Vice Mayor Randy McBroom said. "It has to fit the comp plan if it hopes to move forward."
In addition to city leaders and planners, Tuesday's meeting was attended by several citizens and business owners, many who took advantage of the opportunity to provide input.
"Oftentimes when decisions are being made, strategic decisions, you'll hear someone say, 'Oh, I was never given the opportunity or was asked,' and I feel like the city has done a good job in making us aware. And that's not just as a business owner, but as a citizen," Muletown Coffee Roasters co-owner Chris Coyne said. "I like the idea that they are really trying to be intentional with this."
Tuesday's meeting, which took place at the Riverwalk Farmers Market pavilion, featured multiple stations with maps detailing each element of the plan. One area included ideas to identify new districts within the city, such as the developing Columbia Arts District, Hatcher Lane and Riverside neighborhoods.
"What would you like to see more in those areas, such as more residential, grocery stores and things like that," Columbia Main Street Director Kelli Johnson said. "Like in the arts district, people want to see the road get done, have more walkability and more places to park. They want to see more mixed-use of artists using the commercial space, and finding the right people to invest in it."
Director of Development Services Paul Keltner said the thing to keep in mind is how each aspect of the plan works together, from having enough roadway infrastructure to service certain land uses, as well as how much park space will be dedicated in the process.
"They all interrelate to each other," Keltner said. "Every three-to-five years we want to review this, especially at the fast pace that Columbia is growing, to make sure it is growing with the vision that the community wants to see it. It's a very important document, because all of the technical and sub-documents look to this plan based on what's going to be built there."
Keltner added that input from the public is also of vital importance in shaping the comprehensive plan.
"We work for the public, and so it's their input that helps direct where it's going," Keltner said. "In the end, its their community, and they are the ones telling us how they want to see it. It's our job then up to us to put it into a form that is adoptable by council."
Keltner concluded saying city staff hopes to present an updated plan based on the public feedback sometime in July, when it will go before a planning commission, and later city council for a vote.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Connect Columbia hosts public forum for long-term planning
