This is the beginning of the long awaited master plan process. Tonight at 6 pm at City Hall. I encourage all of you to attend, and bring your friends and neighbors. It is important that the public participate in as much of the process as possible. Tonight the consultant will intro their process, present some existing conditions images and maps, and then request input from the public on likes, dislikes, issues and our vision of the future Homewood. There will be continuing opportunities over the next few months, to provide additional input, and I encourage all concerned citizens to make plans to be prepared to attend as much as often as you can.
Ultimately, we as citizens need to become and remain engaged in the ongoing planning process. We must demand that our elected officials attend often, and when it is all said and done, the City's electorate must demand that Council adopt and commit to follow the plan. Without council adopting and commitment to implement, it is no plan at all. Some of them will say that the City is not statutorily obligated to follow its master plan (or that it's the PCs plan)...that is a cop out! Why have a plan is you don't intend to implement it!? It is true that the city is not required by Statute, to follow its plan; it is also true that the City is not prohibited from following the plan. We, as citizens, must ensure that the Council adopt and follow the plan, or be accountable at the ballot box in 2008.
When a city that develops and adopts a plan, fairly, equitably, and consistently follows and implements their plan, it takes on the force of law and will survive court challenge. Conversely, inconsistent or selective use of the plan will not survive court challenge.
Developers know this, and when the key to a nonconfrontational project approval is following the plan, they propose plan friendly projects. It is the typical community's lack of commitment to following their adopted plans, that condition developers like Frank Keasler, prepare for a fight when seeking project approval. Developers, therefore, turn to secrecy and back room dealings, because their experience tells them that's the path to approval. When it is established, however, that the City follows and implements its plan and approval depends on openness and plan consistency, developers are happy to oblige. Developers will take the path of least resistance, happy to propose plan friendly projects assured of non controversial approval.
So...strong public support and buy-in is essential for demonstrating to the Council that the public has embraced the plan, and intends to ensure that the Council implements the plan. The public, you the citizens, are the key. Adoption of the plan is not and end, but a beginning. The planning process is on-going and never ending. After the plan is completed sometime this fall, there will be one year until the Council is up for election. The citizenry must remain engaged to ensure that the Council commit to the plan, and demonstrate that with action. Should the Council fail to do so, then plan implementation should be the top issue in the 2008 election. It is not the Planning Commission's plan, it is Homewood's plan, the citizen's plan.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Jaime