Critical Public Workshops For Southern Pines Next Week
Southern Pines is working on a comprehensive set of long-range policies for nearly everything Town government oversees: housing, transportation, recreation, public services, economic development, land-use and zoning.
Initial results reveal the citizens recognize that their individual and civic livelihood depends on their Town’s relationship with the natural environment, including streams, lakes, ground water recharge areas, native vegetation including the longleaf pine, and the large open spaces typical of “Horse Country.”
Although outreach efforts by our 20-member Long-Range Advisory Committee (AC) have been broadly based, citizens participation has been disappointing. No money has been allocated for future direct mailings to citizens, beyond a flyer included in town water bills. So folks living in the ETJ (extra-territorial jurisdiction) may not be aware of these important workshops. This includes Horse Country.
Your participation is of utmost necessity, and please forward this email to notify as many as possible.
The next public workshops run in a repeating format at three times:
Wednesday, June 3, 7:00pm-9:00pm, S. Pines Recreation Center, 160 Memorial Park Court
Thursday, June 4, 11:30am-1:30pm, Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Avenue
Thursday, June 4, 7:00pm-9:00pm, S. Pines Recreation Center, 160 Memorial Park Court
Next week’s workshops will focus on important policy topics: 1) A distinct central business district, or downtown. 2) A traditional mixed-use district, for application to the Morganton Road and Pine Needles areas, communicating development expectations in those areas. 3) An “urban reserve” district for application to the McCaskill Road and Elks Club areas, anticipating that any development decision should be deferred at this time. 4) A revitalization mechanism of some sort for West Southern Pines to encourage reinvestment along the West Pennsylvania Avenue corridor and the edge of U.S. 1.
It is important to note that current thinking regarding our community’s needs might shift with public discussion and input. No matter what your opinion on these topics, I invite you to share it at the workshops planned for the upcoming week.
Best, Ray Owen
For more information about planning in Southern Pines: http://southernpines.studiocascade.com/
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