Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
Left to right, Joe Coyne and Bobbe Fitzhugh, of Community Builders, Inc. discuss recent work done at Veterans Island as well as plans for how they might move forward with Master Plan Steering Committee Chairperson Stacy Crimmins.
Community Builder's Inc., (CBI), the company hired to create the new Saratoga Comprehensive Master Plan, and their subcontractors introduced themselves to the town on Wednesday.
In the morning the group toured the town and in the afternoon a scoping meeting and public open house were held at the community center.
Bobbe Fitzhugh, Principal Consultant with CBI led the meetings, explained the roles of the contractors and goals for the master plan. According to CBI, "A comprehensive plan, often referred to as a 'land use plan' or 'master plan', will start with an inventory of the infrastructure, economy, population, existing land uses and other physical factors of the community. The purpose of the comprehensive plan is to guide and achieve a coordinated and harmonious development of the municipality."
During the morning tour the contractors made note of the numerous vacant spaces in downtown, undeveloped and vacant lots around town, issues with storm water drainage, the Bridge and First Street intersection, river access and the town's use of prime river front property for the town shop and old water works building.
At the scoping meeting the town's Master Plan Committee and mayor Glode were briefed as to the process of developing the Comprehensive Master Plan, asked about their vision for the future of the town and given some initial impressions from the morning tour. Those impressions included making better use of town-owned riverfront property, creating incentives for businesses and industry to move to or grow in Saratoga, how to infill the undeveloped and vacant lots around town and redesigning the Bridge and First Street intersection.
A major concern for CBI is how to get meaningful public input. A variety of ways to present and collect survey data were presented and the town representatives were queried as to the best way to maximize public participation.
The next task CBI identified is an intensive review of existing data, documents and other information to have a baseline for where the town stands now.
CBI plans to have the new Saratoga Comprehensive Master Plan completed in May 2016.
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