"Future Land Uses" Workshop Results

Results of the “Future Land Uses” Community Planning Workshop


Held in Le Grand on November 7, 2011



Introduction:



The second in the ongoing series of public workshops on the new Le Grand Community Plan was held at the Le Grand Elementary School on the evening of Monday, November 7, 2011. The “Future Land Uses Workshop” introduced Le Grand residents to Community Planning - covering what a Community Plan is and does and how a Plan can help a community.

The workshop used individual “Issue Stations” to inform residents about specific features of a Community Plan, identify challenges facing the community, and provide alternative land use designs to guide future development in Le Grand. 43 community members signed in as attending this workshop and 23 submitted written comments on the issues presented.

Workshop Issues:



Building from earlier community outreach work, the Planning and Community Development Department identified the following Community Concerns and Values for Le Grand. These were presented at the November 7 workshop to assist people with review of community alternatives.


Community Concerns and Values:



  • Preserve and enhance the character of Le Grand as a small farming community
  • Retain the Downtown/Main Street area as the center of community activity
  • Support new Agricultural-Industrial development that creates jobs for local people
  • Allow different types of housing so existing residents can ‘move up’ as their needs change
  • Encourage office and retail businesses that will serve local residents and farms
  • Support new recreational, cultural, and entertainment opportunities
  • Improve road and trail connections between existing neighborhoods
  • Improve stormwater drainage and road maintenance
  • Address problems caused by vacant and abandoned buildings

Community Land Use Alternatives:



Three alternative land use designs were presented for community review at the November 7 workshop:
Alternative 1 – This option proposed the least change from the existing Le Grand Community Plan, focusing on filling out existing plan area boundaries with housing.
Alternative 1 Document
Alternative 2 - This land use design proposed notable change from the previous Le Grand Community Plan, providing more land for business parks, opportunities for agricultural-based businesses, and a variety of housing types.
Alternative 2 Document
Alternative 3 - This alternative proposed expansion of the Le Grand community to provide more opportunities for job growth, housing and retail that would serve the local region, rather than only the immediate community.
Alternative 3 Document

Workshop Results:



Each person attending the workshop was given the opportunity to submit written comments on each of the land use alternatives presented and other issues of importance to them. The results of the input received at the Le Grand workshop are summarized in the following document: Le Grand "Future Land Use" Workshop Results Summary


Next Steps:



Over the next few months, Planning Department staff will work with representatives of other public agencies to produce a Final Draft Land Use Design for Le Grand. The draft land use design will be used to begin drafting the new Community Plan, a Draft Circulation Plan, and a Trail and Bikeway Plan. A Community Vision Statement and Community Development Goals will be produced that support and explain the land use design.

Future Workshops:



In order for the new Le Grand Community Plan to fully address the needs and values of the community, it must be carefully reviewed and accepted by Le Grand residents. Two Community Planning workshops have already been held (in April and November of 2011) and a third community workshop – to review the Draft Land Use Design, the Community Vision and Community Goals will be held in April or May of 2012.

Full details of the workshop will be posted on this web site and advertised throughout the community once the date and a location have been set.

Draft Community Vision Statement:



A clear statement of the community’s image of itself as it grows and changes through implementation of the plan is an important tool for driving both the future land use design and the goal and policy statements that form the community plan. The following draft Community Vision Statement has been prepared for Le Grand using input received from the November 7 Community Workshop.

Le Grand has successfully retained its historic character of a small farming community, while providing significantly improved employment, housing, retail and recreational opportunities for its residents. New housing has developed close to the existing schools, and new local roads, sidewalks, and trails have improved neighborhood linkages and helped the community retain its small town atmosphere. A healthy mix of retailing, offices and housing has developed in the downtown area and local employment has been boosted through development of industrial land and agricultural-retail businesses on the north and east sides of town.

Your comments and suggestions on this Draft Community Vision Statement are welcomed.