THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, April 30, 1996 TAG: 9604300307
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TERRI WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
Citizens this summer will be able to register their dreams about how this rapidly developing city should grow.
City officials have tentatively scheduled community visioning meetings, beginning in July, across the city and have named LDR International, a Columbia, Md., company, to work with city officials to revise the city's Comprehensive Plan.
Suffolk officials are still negotiating with LDR, so it is still uncertain how much the city will be spending on the contract. However, officials predict that the first series of meetings will begin in July, with the second series to start in November. The entire process will run 18 months.
``We're extremely excited,'' said William E. Harrell, assistant city manager for development. ``We want to add additional community meetings. We think this is a positive step for the city.''
It is uncertain what citizens will ``vision'' about, but there is plenty they can talk about it. They may want to talk about how much green space they want to retain, whether they want more parks or what types of schools to plan for, said officials.
One possible outcome from the process could be changing the city's zoning ordinances, one of the primary tools used to manage growth, said Uri Avin, a principal partner with LDR.
``As growth picks up in Suffolk, they may want to look at their ordinances, tweak them and possibly strengthen them by putting more teeth in them,'' said Avin.
Suffolk Planning Director Paul E. Fisher praised the planning process because it will solicit the opinions of its residents. It will help city officials learn where in Suffolk the quality of life is good and where the problems are, Fisher said.
The current comprehensive plan, drawn up seven years ago, did not involve citizens' input from the beginning. After the process is over, city officials will use the plan as a blueprint in making rezoning decisions.
Suffolk is not alone in seeking its citizens' visions.
In Portsmouth, where citizens are visioning about an economic development plan, one resident wanted to change the High Street area into a canal, similar to the ones that flow with busy gondolas in Venice.
In Norfolk, citizens are preparing to vision about the city's future and quality of life this summer.
Suffolk's consultant has worked on numerous city projects across the nation.
LDR is helping Richmond revamp its downtown. The company has also helped Cleveland spur revitalization, and has done work for Prince William County, Md., and Columbus, Ohio, said Avin. by CNB