WEST POINT — West Point has finished the final information-gathering phase for its comprehensive plan, according to Mayor Robbie Robinson.
West Point hosted a public input session for the plan at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Robinson said the session drew about 40 people and lasted a little more than two hours.
“I thought we had really good attendance,” Robinson said. “It wasn’t a packed house, but I thought it was good attendance.”
Robinson said citizens addressed a variety of topics, from residential and commercial development to transportation and public safety.
West Point has collaborated on the comprehensive plan for about a year with Oxford-based firm Slaughter & Associates. Robinson said the city expects to pay about $25,000-$30,000 for the plan.
Slaughter & Associates Owner Mike Slaughter met with city department heads, the planning commission, animal shelter, hospital, schools and community agencies last year, Robinson said.
“The next step we take would be Mr. Slaughter is going to take all that data, compile it into a draft and get back to us in several weeks,” he said. “We’ll review it. I’m interested in seeing what the draft is going to look like.
“We’ll make changes, come up with a final draft and adopt it,” Robinson added.
Robinson said citizens emphasized good, affordable housing during the meeting.
“I think it’s the plight of every community — making sure that rental property is up to standard and not substandard,” he said. “There are so many pieces of rental property in our town and other towns, I’m sure that really are not up to par. It’s hard to police that — it really is.”
He said the audience also voiced a desire to continue focusing on economic development. He said many residents voiced support for the city’s partnership with the Golden Triangle Development LINK.
“The regional concept of economic development has been successful,” Robinson said. “The entire audience said that we should keep pursuing the same path as far as economic development.”
Robinson said the comprehensive plan will give city leaders a path to reach certain long-term goals.
“To be a viable community and have quality of life, we have to have a plan,” Robinson said. “If we fail to have a plan, we’re just going to have hodgepodge goals and that’s not good. We need to have controlled, directed growth.
“A lot of these things, we’re not going to achieve in one or two years,” Robinson added. “That’s why we have a 10-15 year plan that can be revised as we go along. But it gives us goals to shoot for.”
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.