Convener: MuAwia Da’mes Scribe: Pat Churchman
Table H 1st session
Attendees: Many!
Discussion Notes:
The Harrisonburg Planning Commission wants input as it reviews its five year plan. Several features put into effect suggested by citizens have been bike lanes and sidewalks.
Question: Is there an overall vision?
Ans: Yes, the Comprehensive Plan
[7.2 Mb] Comprehensive Plan – 2004
[135 kb] Comp. Plan. Master Transportation Plan 2006 Amendments
Question: Is there a broad goal?
Ans: Yes, a vision statement.
Comment: Harrisonburg is going to be like Roanoke. We’re going to have to build up. R3 will be dead. This year is the first year we’ve seen some dispersement of students into other housing and it helps (police comment).
We must have a transportation analysis study.
JMU, Rockingham County, Harrisonburg City all have their own long term plans. This could be a recipe for disaster, but in many cases there has been cooperation. JMU is mandated by the state to grow a certain percentage every year to keep up with additional students who need higher education. A priority for them is to build parking decks and satellite parking. They will also plan to reorganize the campus according to schools. They will gate the downtown section and have an internal shuttle which should limit the traffic. A new field house is in the plans. Opinions were expressed that a lot of the students are very good citizens and many of them stay and take leadership positions in the area.
We will begin to see more underground parking which is the only way it can go as older buildings are rehabbed into housing.
Someone asked whether we can use a different template to start with. (For my own understanding I looked this up: Under Community assessment template: What is Smart Planning (formerly Integrated Community Sustainability Planning)?
Smart Planning encourages communities to take a fresh look at their future and take proactive steps to get there. Smart Planning provides a framework for community sustainability planning, i.e. helps communities plan for their own needs while ensuring that the needs of future generations are also met and does so by incorporating an integrated approach that considers broader environmental, economic and social considerations in each planning process beyond current conventional planning frameworks.”
Everything gets tested by whether it will be approved by the council and that is based on whether it will protect revenues. JMU, EMU, and VMRC don’t pay property taxes. The question was raised as to whether taxes then must be raised on residents.
The comprehensive plan is available at the city website (see above).
There’s always pressure between development and trying to save what we have. Members of the planning commission invited people to come and bring their questions to the planning meetings when the long range plan is discussed. Comp plans are good, but their language is often not implemented. Sometimes they are ignored. Market forces are the most efficient mover of all.
Someone complimented Eugene Stoltzfus’ plan for downtown. The planners only advise, so attendees were invited to talk to council members, so they can get to know the private sector people.
John Eckman (Valley Conservation Council) mentioned “Better Models of Development in the Shenandoah Valley.” (As an aside, it has such chapter titles as “Build Livable Communities,” “Preserve Historic Resources,” “Preserve Local Character in New Construction.”) It’s available at the VCC website.
Recommendations:
To follow recommendations and not ignore them for what the Council may feel is more remunerative for the city.
Must have a transportation analysis study
Better coordination between the county, the city and JMU in planning would be helpful.
Smart Planning (booklet available at Valley Conservation Council’s website) incorporates an integrated approach that considers broader environmental, economic and social considerations in each planning process beyond current conventional planning frameworks.
