By STU CLAMPITT
news@readthereporter.com
The Town of Sheridan held a public open house on Tuesday, Aug. 12 at 6 p.m. at the Sheridan Community Center, 300 E. 6th St., to discuss its Comprehensive and Thoroughfare Plans. A second open house is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 25 at Ekin Community Center, 111 W. 296th St.
The Reporter spoke with Town of Sheridan Director of Planning and Development Jennifer M. Miller about how the Aug. 12 event went and what concerned citizens can expect from the next one.
According to Miller, the first open house had approximately 50 people in attendance.
Miller
“It started shortly after 6 with a brief presentation from our consultants, and then we invited our guests to walk around the room and do exercises for the open house,” Miller said, “We had four or five different stations set up and then asked questions about quality of life, transportation, assets in the community, areas where we need to make improvements.”
Miller told The Reporter Sheridan wants feedback from people in the community in order to help shape a comprehensive plan that takes citizens’ views into account.
“They’re the ones that are out in the community,” Miller said. “They are driving on the roads, they’re using our parks, and when they see something that needs attention or they see something that they really like, we are looking for that feedback. That all helps to inform our comprehensive plan.”
The next open house should be the exact same format as the first one. There will be a presentation, and there will be several stations set up for people to gain more specific information, ask questions, and provide feedback on individual parts of the forthcoming plan.
“We feel that the comprehensive plan process is building off of the previous reorganization,” Miller said. “This is truly the opportunity for our residents to come out and tell us how they want Sheridan to look in the next 10 years.”
For people who can’t make it to either open house, the town has a website with an online survey and an interactive map. You can find that online at plansheridan.com.
With the online survey, a second open house scheduled next week, and planned appearances at local farmer’s markets and sporting events, there are multiple ways to tell town officials how you want Sheridan to look in the future.
“We’re really looking for that feedback from the town,” Miller said. “This is our community. [Reorganization is] what we voted for, so give us this additional input that we’re looking for.”
Photo provided by Town of Sheridan