Town of Leland Invites Citizens to Participate

in Development of Master Plan

 

 

January 12, 2007

 

LELAND – The Town of Leland is inviting area businesses, interested community groups, local residents and neighbors to take an active role in the development of the town’s master plan.  This multi-faceted four-day planning effort, which will begin on Jan. 22, is intended to guide growth and development throughout Leland’s planning area for the next 20 years. 

 

The planning and design effort will begin with a kickoff meeting to be held in the Town’s Recreation Building on Saturday, Jan. 20 from 10:00 a.m. until noon.  This session will consist of an opening presentation and interactive workshop.  The publicly driven design charrette – a public design workshop series consisting of an opening presentation, numerous public meetings, design sessions, evening pin-up/input sessions and a closing presentation – will follow from Jan. 22 to Jan. 25 in the Town Hall.   

 

Bill Farris, town manager for the Town of Leland, describes the charrette process as the most comprehensive way to incorporate the ideas and needs of the community.  “Creating a town master plan using a charrette will be an intense, high-energy experience for the participants and planners,” he explains.  “Each day the design team updates the plan based on the input they receive from the participants.  In less than a week’s time, a final plan will be created.”

 

The planning area encompasses the entire incorporated area of Leland and future growth areas.  Special focus areas will include the Village Road commercial area and the US 17 Corridor.  The planning area includes a rapidly growing residential base and a mixture of retail, service, office, governmental, residential and light industrial uses.  A variety of undeveloped properties and vacant lots are also scattered throughout the planning area. 

 

Several planners and designers have been contracted to lead this effort:  The Lawrence Group, a town planning and architecture firm; Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc., a transportation and engineering firm; and Rose & Associates Southeast, Inc., a real estate market analysis firm.  The Lawrence Group was chosen to create the Town Master Plan and direct the charette because of its experience working with rapidly growing communities in North and South Carolina.  Their core areas of expertise include town planning and management, neighborhood design, mixed-use buildings, civic buildings and a variety of residential project types.  

 

The entire event is open to the public, and citizens are encouraged to attend all sessions in which they have an interest.  A preliminary charrette schedule for the Leland Town Master Plan is as follows:

 

Saturday, Jan. 20: Council Chambers at Town Hall, 102 Town Hall Dr.

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.:  Kickoff Presentation and Public Workshop

 

Monday, Jan. 22 - Wednesday Jan. 24: Council Chambers at Town Hall, 102 Town Hall Dr.

9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.: Design Workshop

5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.: Pin-Up Session / Project Update

 

Thursday, Jan. 25: Council Chambers at Town Hall, 102 Town Hall Dr.

6:30 p.m.: Reception

7:00 p.m.: Closing Presentation

 

 

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