Community Visioning

Introduction

In early 2006, Forest Acres established an Appearance Commission. As the commission began to decide what it should undertake it came to the decision that a general plan outlining the future direction for Forest Acres would serve as a guide for its work. The timing favored creation of a plan because the City was about to update its comprehensive plan, a process that takes place every five years. The Appearance Commission with the support of the Planning Commission received the blessing from City Council to develop a plan. The City hired Bill Steiner of Playce to guide and facilitate the development of the plan.

Experience shows that when a community undertakes a planning process it becomes self fulfilling. Conducting the meetings and public input, and putting the results on paper sets in motion plan implementation. Even when there appears to be no organized effort to carry out the plan, it begins to take place. The simple act of gathering people together and stating their intention starts directing change in the desired direction.

 

It is important, however, to consider as part of the plan an implementation strategy. The Forest Acres 2016 Plan is one that will be carried out by many different parties. Importantly, however, the Appearance Commission has agreed to be its steward and champion for the initial two years. By assuming this responsibility the Commission materially advances the probability that the plan will be carried out. The Commission has not taken on this responsibility forever. Rather, it has agreed to lead plan implementation for two years while searching for a permanent way for the plan to be carried out.

Forest Acres 2016 Vision has a ten year horizon. The goals that support the vision are likely to be revised during the ten year period. And the strategies contained in the plan will change frequently as conditions change. As such, this is a living document that will evolve over time. It will need to be periodically revisited and revised.

The Process

The Appearance Commission discussed the various ways to obtain meaningful public input in creation of the plan. It was concerned that Forest Acres citizens have as many opportunities as possible to provide their input. It decided on a series of steps to enable this to happen. Specifically it:

Sent a mailing to every registered household in the city. The mailing explained the visioning process and why it was being carried out. A postage paid return card that posed four questions was part of the mailing. A copy of the mail out can be found in the appendix.

It distributed cameras to a variety of groups including senior citizens, school children, businesses, garden club. Participants were asked to use one half of the images to capture things they liked about the City and one half for those they did not. The resulting images were displayed on boards providing a visual representation of the good and bad.

Finally, eight public input sessions were held over the course of three days and at all times of the day. The public was invited to attend any session to provide feedback on what they value about Forest Acres and how they would like to improve it. A record of the public feedback can be found in the appendix.

With these three forms of feedback the Appearance Commission recognized considerable consensus amongst Forest Acres citizenry. It used this information to develop a narrative statement of Forest Acres ten years in the future, 2016 - the preferred future. The Commission followed the vision creation with four broad goals to carry out the plan accompanied by a list of strategies for goal implementation. Strategies were assigned to people and/or organizations to carry out with a time line for completion. The Appearance Commission agreed to take responsibility for plan implementation over the course of the initial two years, and determine how it will be carried out for the remaining period.

What Was Said

Using the returned postcards, pictures and public feedback the Appearance Commission saw consistent responses about the assets and concerns of Forest Acres citizens emerge. Following is a summary of the response.

Forest Acres has a remarkable small town feel to it, one in which people greet you by name, provide exceptional personal service, and are civil to each other. This small town character is reinforced by the diversity of the people, ages, religions and occupations that make it a dynamic, interesting and homey community. People walking, biking, walking their dogs all contribute to this small town feel. Too, the scale of buildings, lots, businesses contributed.

People love the green, the trees, all the qualities that the name Forest Acres evokes. It is a characteristic they not only cherish, it is one they want preserved and enhanced.

The convenience of the city's location coupled with the small town atmosphere and greenery make Forest Acres an appealing place to live.

There was near universal praise for the police department, the public works crews, the city administration - both elected and appointed, and the open relationship between citizens and government. Considerable appreciation was expressed for the opportunity and invitation to be involved in the visioning process.

The variety of restaurants, the variety in retail, the variety in groceries including the fresh Market, and the locally owned character of most of those businesses was an important quality people appreciated and wanted to retain.

While there are many places that identify Forest Acres, Trenholm Plaza and/or the Forest Drive-Trenholm intersection is seen as the heart and soul, the most identifiable place in the city. Interest abounds in maintaining and enhancing this area.

There are things that people would like to see changed or improve.

The appearance of Forest Drive, and to a lesser extent the other major roads, and the appearance of the Forest Drive - Trenholm Road intersection was a major concern. Add to this speeding on these roads and throughout the City as well as road maintenance and it is the single largest concern of citizens.

Ancillary to the road concerns is the absence of sidewalks and bike lanes and the dangers it poses for citizens. In addition, because sidewalks and bike lanes enhance the small town feel allowing people face to face interaction, their absence was a further concern.

A complementary concern to the roads is the lack of identity of Forest Acres. People feel there is no sense of arrival, that the major thoroughfares are not distinctive, you don't know when you are in the City or not. All of this runs contrary to the small town feel they have and would like to see expressed in the public realm.

Trashy yards, trashy roads, cars parked on yards, inappropriate businesses run out of houses were concerns in the neighborhood sections of the City.

The lack of maintenance and even awareness of the four parks was raised as an issue.

People would like to see more events that bring them together to reinforce the small town character of Forest Acres.

To attract more people to visit and spend their money in the City more restaurants was the most given response. Also generating wide support are more businesses, festivals and events, public art, consistent public signage including gateway signs, and more greenery.