The meeting, held at Lamar Middle School, located in Temple City Council District 1, on Monday, is part of the overall process by the city and its consultant, Kendig Keast Collaborative of Sugar Land, to gain public input on issues such as housing, neighborhoods, community appearance, transportation and commercial revitalization among other topics for use in updating the city’s plan. The comprehensive plan will provide details of community development for 2007 through 2015 and general guidance for 2016-2025.
A set of two group discussions featured growth, land use, transportation, infrastructure, housing, neighborhoods and commercial development/redevelopment.
Gary K. Mitchell, a principal with Kendig Keast Collaborative and a moderator of one of the two sessions, said the sessions are all about listening to the views of the residents and business people in the city.
“This is all about listening and hearing,” he said. “Sometimes these can be griping sessions, but then we say ‘let’s talk about the future,’” he said about the wide range of topics brought up.
“We try to listen to what is on people’s minds and talk about long-term issues to deal with in the plan,” he said.
Citing figures that show the city possibly reaching the 62,500 population mark by 2010, he said now is the time to plan, he said, also citing anticipated increased traffic and service demands. He also mentioned factors such as the proposed Trans-Texas Corridor, the Bioscience district and water availability as issues affecting growth in the city.
Chad Lee, responding to resident questioning why the city gives tax breaks to businesses, said he was in favor of them, saying the city could stagnate without attracting business and industry.
“I don’t think there are enough improvements happening in downtown,” he said. “We have a lot of opportunity we still haven’t taken advantage of yet,” he said.
Regarding the perception that the Belton school district is better than Temple’s, he said there are plenty of good things happening in the Temple district.
“We don’t market ourselves enough,” he said.
Patty Benoit said she wants the city to try again with a recycling program.
“The city of Temple is big enough to start offering curbside recycling,” she said. “How can we not afford to do it?”
During a previous attempt it was determined recycling was not cost effective in the city.
Mary Jane Roach, a local realtor, said the city has a shortage of rental facilities available, which is detrimental if it wants to attract a workforce as various industries come to town.
“There’s not a lot of choices here as far as rentals are concerned,” she said, adding that there are not enough energy alternatives such as a natural gas available.
Misty Cowley said she was concerned about security in her neighborhood, saying a registered sex offender lives there.
Other issues brought up included dog problems, lack of grocery stores on the north side of town, quality of housing construction, a need for a second high school, the need for more parks, preserving historic structures in town, a lack of sidewalks, handicapped accessible homes and housing for the elderly, quality of streets, using old abandoned buildings for new businesses, need for walking/jogging trails, traffic patterns, noise, code enforcement and sewer and water infrastructure.
The District 2 meeting, hosted by Council member Patsy Luna, is 6-8 p.m. today at Wilson Park Recreation Center.
The District 3 meeting, hosted by Council member Martha Tyroch, is 6-8 p.m. May 14 at Raye-Allen Elementary School. The District 4 meeting, hosted by council member Russell Schneider, is 6-8 p.m. May 15 at Lake Belton Middle School.
The comprehensive plan is expected to take about a year to complete. It began at the end of March.
For information about the district meetings or the comprehensive plan update process, contact the city of Temple Planning Department at (254) 298-5668 or e-mail . The online site includes a comment section.
rstinson@temple-telegram.com
