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Developing a Shared Community Vision for Our City – Update on the City’s Comprehensive Planning Process The City initiated an update to its Comprehensive Plan earlier this year. Since that time, the City’s planning and community engagement consultants -- Houseal Lavigne and Associates (HLA) and Added Dimensions have been researching existing community conditions and hosting “focus” meetings to learn th more about issues and opportunities. On November 19, an interactive Community Visioning Workshop was held at the University City Public Library and facilitated by HLA. At this workshop, University City residents and business owners shared their ideas as to how the City should develop over the next several years. More than 40 residents and business owners attended the workshop. After instructions from HLA, the participants were broken into small working groups to discuss community issues and goals, and then translate a vision onto a community map. Areas identified as priorities for planning efforts include infill housing, transportation opportunities, economic investment and environment. The revitalization of Olive Boulevard emerged as a consistent focus area amongst the visionary groups. When asked by Dan Gardner, Principal at HLA, “What is your one big idea for the community” the response was often related to the corridor. The information from this workshop, as well as other public engagement efforts, will help shape the focus for the Comprehensive Plan Update. Working Groups are being formed to establish mission statements and goals around key plan elements such as economic development, transportation, land use and more. These groups will be facilitated by members of the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee (CPAC) -- the citizen committee guiding the overall planning effort. There are many opportunities to share your vision, whether it be by attending a meeting, completing an online survey or conducting your own workshop with a Do-It-Yourself kit. We want to hear from YOU. This is YOUR plan. To learn more about the Comprehensive Plan Update process and other ways to share your input, visit the city website, www.ucitymo.org or contact Raymond Lai, Deputy Director of Economic and Community Development at (314) 505-8500.