Community Turns out for Boone 2030 Kickoff

More than 80 members of the greater Boone community attended the public kickoff on Wednesday night, October 15, 2008 at the Broyhill Conference Center. For a link to the full story from the Watauga Democrat, click here. After a short presentation by Craig Lewis of The Lawrence Group, the participants broke into 7 small discussion groups. Each group was asked the following three questions:

1. What do you value about Boone?
2. In 2030, how would you like to describe Boone?
3. What changes would you most like to see?

The highest ranked changes are listed below:

• More Efficient Transportation Patterns & Parking Opportunities
• Developing More Opportunities for Community Interactions such as Farmer’s Market, Cultural Center, Neighborhood Associations
• Sensible and Fair Rules for Development & Economic Opportunities
• Protecting and Enhancing Environment for Appropriate Use
• Safe, Affordable Housing Opportunities for ALL
• Responsible Mixed-Use Development
• Watershed and Stormwater Management
• Predictable Development Planning & Process
• More Multi-Modal Route Options
• Extend Mixed-Use/Stop Sprawl
• Variety of Housing
• Attract New High/Green Tech Jobs
• Design Guidelines – Colors, Materials, Art, Aesthetics
• Greenway Systems Pedestrian & Bikes & Creeks
• Smart Growth Incentive Package by Right
• Incorporate Common Sense
• Daniel Boone Parkway

The complete results of that public workshop are posted here. The next steps for the consultant team and the community are to translate those visions and values into implementable and detailed strategies and plans for shaping the built and natural environment over the next 20 years. The bulk of that work will take place during the 5 day public planning and design charrette to be held at the Best Western on East King Street during the week of October 20-24. A closing presentation with a summary of the preliminary recommendations will be on October 28th at the Broyhill Conference Center.

If you can't stop by the design charrette studio, please be sure to take our online survey or leave your comments on this site.