Representatives of the University of Memphis Graduate Program in City and Regional Planning appeared before the Brownsville City Planning Commission at the request of Mayor Jo Matherne on Thursday, September 21, 2011 to present a detailed outline of the City’s comprehensive plan.
The primary purpose of the presentation was to receive input on the plan’s overall development goal, improvement objectives, and action strategies from the City Planning Commission before the final draft of the completed plan is presented to the public, City Planning Commission, and Board of Aldermen review, comment, and vote.
U of M Professors Ken Reardon, Laura Saija, and David Westendorff gave a thirty minute presentation. The University’s planning recommendations were based upon twelve months of research that included the analysis of past plans; a review of US Census data; interviews with more than forty local business, civic, and religious leaders; focus groups involving small business owners, corporate human resource managers, pastors, high school students, and Latino/a citizens; telephone interviews with more than 320 residents; and a series of open community forums and a city-wide planning summit in which more than 250 Brownvillians participated.
Seeking to build upon the City’s many strengths, the overall goal for the Brownsville on the Move Comprehensive Plan is to:
“Position Brownsville as West Tennessee’s most desirable city recognized for its natural beauty, rich cultural history, artistic attractions and musical heritage, abundant agriculture, exceptional architecture and unique town square, quality public services, faith-based traditions, and love of learning, with a central location with the metropolitan region bounded by the scenic Hatchie River – a thriving community where small town values, quality of life, diversity, and entrepreneurial spirit are honored daily”.
Following the City Planning Commission’s discussion of the overall development goal, Professor Reardon outlined seven community improvement objectives local residents, area businessmen, civic leaders, elected officials, and their allies would have to achieve to reach the above stated goal. Among these were the following improvement objectives:
1.) To preserve and enhance the city’s public spaces and built environment through the skillful application of advanced urban design principles and methods.
2.) To strengthen the city’s economic and tax base by expanding local employment, entrepreneurial, and investment opportunities for current and future residents and business owners.
3.) To improve residents’ overall health and wellness by improving access to the city’s many natural areas through a proposed greenway system that will improve storm water management while connecting Brownsville to the Hatchie River and the region’s ever expanding urban trails system.
4.) To enhance the city’s competitive position within the region and nation through strategic investment in public education, arts, and culture, to make the city a place where lifelong learning opportunities are tied to the city’s ongoing community revitalization efforts.
5.) To develop the city as a destination for those seeking access to a wide range of recreational opportunities and tourist attractions and events.
6.) To promote a balanced approach to transportation that enhances access and choice by giving serious attention to walking, biking, driving and public transit alternatives.
7.) To insure housing choice and security for current and future City residents by promoting creative approaches to housing that includes preservation and infill in established neighborhoods as well as new high quality housing development
A copy of the preliminary planning framework is currently available for review and comment on the Brownville on the Move website: www.brownsvilleonthemove.com. Local residents, business owners, civic leaders, and elected officials are invited to share their reactions to the plan as well as their suggestions for improving it by emailing Professor Ken Reardon at kreardon@memphis.edu by October 15th. The U of M faculty working on the plan expects to finish the final draft of the plan in time before the next meeting of the City Planning Commission in late October.
