Or build around it if we have to, as long as we re-connect Main Street to the river. That was one of the suggestions heard at last night's "Visioning Workshop", one of a series of public meetings being held by the City of Beacon Comprehensive Planning Committee to discuss the city's "Master Plan," which has not been seriously re-considered since 1974 (see below for meeting times and locations.) During the past 30 years more than half of Beacon's open space has been developed into residential housing. Without a better blueprint for Beacon's future, there's no way to predict how future development or population growth will be managed by the City. So it's a darn good idea to come out and share your opinion on what's important to you for the future of Beacon.
[If you can't make a meeting, the committee is sending out public opinion surveys to every household in Beacon starting today. You have until June 30 to fill out the survey and drop it off at City Hall or Howland Public Library.]
The public meetings consist of three parts: a slide-show introduction from the consultants who are helping manage the project, which walks you through some of the assets and opportunities Beacon has, such as existing green space, properties that are likely to be developed in the future (e.g. Hiddenbrooke), and accomodation for pedestrians and bicyclists.
The meeting then splits into small groups of 7-8 people to discuss a series of questions:
- How would you describe your quality of life here? What is it like for you to live here?
- What makes you proud of Beacon? Is there a place, a building, a feature, or an event that symbolizes Beacon for you? Name, location, description, why do you go there, and how often do you go there?
- Imagine you are walking around Beacon. Which areas have gone bad? Which areas have a pattern or a feel that works well? What could be done to propagate the good elements to reflect the character of the community?
- Name two concerns you have about each of the following: The downtown, housing, parks & open space, the riverfront, employment & commercial activities, the natural environment, the people, community character, streets & sidewalks, historic preservation & character
- What three wishes or visions would you most like to see come true for Beacon? Who should take these on? What would you give up for these to happen? What do you want city government to focus on?
During the break-out sessions one member of the group takes notes on giant sticky notes and after about half an hour each group gets up to report on what they found. The information is then collected by the committee for use in drafting the new plan.
The committee expects to have all the data from the meetings and surveys distilled into a draft plan by October, at which point there will be another series of meetings to discuss the plan. A final draft will then be submitted to the City Council for approval in January. This is where "the rubber meets the road", as City Councilman Steve Gold put it. The City Council will act on the recommendations made in the plan by doing things like changing zoning laws and allocating funds to make the plans a reality.
But the fact is, the new Comprehensive Plan for Beacon will not take on a life of its own unless the people of Beacon get involved and hold our City Administration accountable for action. Whatever your opinion is about Beacon's future, now is the time to get involved and make your voice heard.
