Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, August 14, 1993 TAG: 9308140199
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
For others, it was a chance to help shape the city's future. They proposed policies and projects so Roanoke can compete better in the global economy in the 21st century.
Still others offered suggestions on how the city could attract more tourists and stimulate economic growth.
For several hours, they all were planners.
In the past two weeks, 200 city residents participated in a series of workshops to help develop the Roanoke Vision '93 plan, which will guide the city's development for the next two decades.
There were the well-known. And there were ordinary residents, with name tags on their shirts and blouses, who wanted a say on the plan.
The prominent included Mayor David Bowers, Councilman Mac McCadden, School Superintendent E. Wayne Harris, School Board member Finn Pincus and Rupert Cutler, director of Explore Park.
And there were neighborhood leaders, such as Evelyn Bethel from Gainsboro and Florine Thornhill from Northwest Roanoke.
The workshop approach was the same as that used eight years ago when the Roanoke Vision '85 plan was developed.
In the workshops, the participants were divided into groups of 10 to 12 people who focused on such issues as neighborhood revitalization, downtown renewal, tourism, transportation, housing, education and public safety.
The participants brainstormed for 90 minutes on problems and solutions for each issue then reassembled and shared their ideas.
John Marlles, chief of community planning for the city, said the residents' suggestions will be incorporated into the Vision '93 plan.
"The input by the citizens will be considered," Marlles said. "It will be a major part."
The need for a regional approach to issues and problems was a recurrring theme in the workshops.
And the participants cited the need for better communication and education so residents and government can work together more closely.
"These is a feeling that many issues are linked to the region, not just the city," said Ernie Hutton, a consultant who helped run the workshops.
"There is a feeling there is a need for more regional cooperation and communication," he said.
Such issues as housing, poverty, tourism and environmental quality are solved best on a regional basis, the participants said.
Hutton said the need for public and private partnerships was also cited frequently as the best way to spur economic growth.
The participants noted the need for obvious projects, such as the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center.
But they also pointed to smaller issues, such as the loss of farmers on the City Market who are getting old and retiring. The participants said the city needs to develop a strategy for replacing the farmers so the market will thrive.
The workshops were part of a five-part process for developing the plan, which began with the appointment of a citizens advisory committee and a City Council retreat to focus on the city's long-range plans.
Next came a survey of city residents to see how they felt about the city and services. This was followed by a community forum that attracted more than 200 people.
The workshops produced plenty of ideas on almost every issue. Here is a sample:
The city needs to do more to eliminate an estimated 1,500 substandard housing units.
More attention should be given to vocational training for high school students who do not plan to go to college. The school system needs to equip students with skills that will be needed for the 21st century job market.
The city should try to develop programs to reduce its poverty rate. Poverty is a regional issue, and the city needs help from other localities.
Additional parking needs to be provided at the Roanoke Civic Center. Manager Bob Chapman said parking has been the civic center's main problem since it opened two decades ago.
Victory Stadium should be refurbished to help attract more sports events and concerts.
The Roanoke Valley needs more tourist information centers to help attract motorists on Interstate 81 and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The city needs to encourage the development of more small and minority-owned businesses.
The City Market building needs to be used more often for community and recreational activities. More funds should be provided for Center in the Square.
The Roanoke Valley needs to do a better job of marketing its cultural and tourist attractions.
The air quality in the valley needs to be monitored more closely.
The city needs more festivals and special events, building on its theme as Virginia's festival city.
The second and third floors of downtown buildings should be used for housing.
Traffic needs to be reduced in the City Market area.
The next step will be a briefing for City Council and the advisory committee on the ideas that have been generated by the workshops and community forum.
by CNB