From the Joplin Globe:
http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x601185520/Public-views-ordering-goals-for-rebuilding
September 13, 2011
By Debby Woodin
news@joplinglobe.com
JOPLIN, Mo. — Incentives to build energy-efficient homes, expanded public transportation, requirements for more landscaping on commercial property, and implementing new ways to enforce nuisance codes are some of the goals an advisory committee has identified after receiving public input.
A list of goals has been developed from the public’s ideas for Joplin’s redevelopment from the May 22 tornado that will help the Citizens Advisory Recovery Team define projects to recommend to city and school leaders.
The team, called CART, was suggested by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a way to give residents a say in how to reshape Joplin’s future.
A public session was held July 12 at Memorial Education Center, where about 350 people attended to list ideas they have for rebuilding. At a session Aug. 14, residents were invited to vote for their priorities or the ideas they most supported.
From the comments and themes that arose from the two sessions, CART has written a mission statement, which it posted on its website.
Jane Cage, chairwoman of the team, said members then visited several places to seek opinions in order to represent the diversity of Joplin’s residents.
“We’ve narrowed the focus of goals from the feedback from the second meeting and all the input we received about the mission from Boomtown Days, a booth at MSSU and Third Thursday,” Cage said. “This week and through the beginning of next week we will actually be building the projects that relate to the goals.”
The panel is exploring ideas in four categories: schools and community buildings; economic development; housing and neighborhoods; and infrastructure and environment.
There are six main goals for housing and neighborhoods, including
incentives and resources for energy efficiency and accessibility for senior and disabled residents. Looking for new strategies to enforce housing and nuisance codes, and encouraging property owners to buy higher levels of insurance are a couple of the other goals.
For schools and community buildings, goals include identifying ways to create a 21st century learning environment that is flexible and shares school and community buildings for community functions.
Infrastructure and environment goals include expanding transportation options such as bike and pedestrian routes, educating people on the issues regarding the feasibility of underground utilities, and ways to connect neighborhoods to parks, schools and retail centers.
Economic development goals include designating commercial areas for business development other than Range Line Road and 32nd Street, with sufficient space for businesses to build the structures they need.
Cage said the next step will be to translate the goals into projects. A workshop on that is tentatively set for Sept. 20.
“The goals are broad and the projects will be the specifics” that will be taken to city leaders, Cage said.
On the web
The vision statement and goals are published on CART’s website at www.JoplinAreaCART.com.