Where Are We Now?

Our Worskshop on September 29th at Gandy was well attended! Thank you to the 70+ residents, business owners, and property owners who participated. Some great comments were recieved.

The meeting began with a brief presentation on the history of the development of Ashland, an explanation of the Comprehensive Plan, and some key issues that we are facing as the plan is being updated. Click here for the presentation.

Renaissance Planning Group then led a presentation explaining the scenario planning process they have used in other communities, with examples, and explained the eight focus areas that the Town has been broken up into as part of this Plan update. Click here for the presentation.

Further, a design inventory has been conducted to determine areas that have a cohesive character. Click here to see those maps.

Here are the comments received from the workshop.

Community Workshop: Where Are We Now? Defining Community Character.

Monday September 29, 2008
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Gandy Elementary School
201 Archie Cannon Drive, Ashland

Our Places - Delightful or Dull?

What makes a place special? Why are we drawn to some shopping centers, streets, or neighborhoods, while others leave us cold? How can we make sure our town is a place where we truly enjoy living, shopping, working, and hosting visitors? These questions and more will be explored the upcoming workshop for the Ashland Comprehensive Plan Update. At this meeting, local residents and officials have an opportunity to learn about how community design can make the difference between a delightful place and a dull one.

Through hands-on exercises and informative dialogue, participants will talk about what community character means to them, and how it can support the overall quality of life for Town residents, businesses, and visitors. They will identify specific ways in which the physical characteristics of the eight Planning Focus Areas - including streets, open space, and buildings - could be preserved or enhanced in order to optimize its unique character. The ideas generated at this workshop will help Town staff and the consultant team to identify ways in which land use, transportation and community design policies and improvements could promote desirable, well-functioning neighborhoods. Subsequent workshops will examine ways in growth throughout the Town could be shaped over the coming years in order to maximize new economic development opportunities and sustain
community character.

The workshop will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Monday September 29, 2008 at Gandy
Elementary School on Archie Cannon Drive. All area residents, merchants, and civic group members are encouraged to attend. For more information, please contact Planning & Community Development at 804-798-1073.