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What do you love about Washington? What is your biggest concern for the future of Washington? What would you like to see improved in Washington?

City leaders are tackling those questions as they work to create a plan to guide elected and appointed officials responsible for making the decisions to shape its future.

It’s called the Comprehensive Plan and CAMA Land Use Plan. Simply put, it’s the city’s roadmap. It’s the vision document, the chart used to set the course for future growth and development.

It will be used for making “significant land use decisions, decisions which will impact the entire community.”

Municipalities are required by North Carolina General Statute to have a current comprehensive plan with a land use map to guide future development. It’s meant to be a policy document to influence, not regulate.

The plan currently in place was developed in 2013. It’s time for a new, revised plan to serve the city for the next 10-20 years.
Community engagement is a key part of the process.

Perhaps you attended the public kickoff meeting in August. If you didn’t make it, you can watch video of the meeting on the city’s website.

Maybe you participated in the city’s online survey. If you didn’t, you can still provide input. Citizen comment cards can be completed and returned to the Planning Department at City Hall or emailed to htetterton@washingtonnc.gov.

The next step in the process is a second public input meeting at 845 North Pierce St., Building 4 on Thursday, Nov. 3 at 5:30 p.m.
“Everyone is invited to attend, learn more and contribute their perspectives and input,” according to city officials. “The focus of the meeting will be to review results of the recent public survey and discuss a shared vision and goals for the City’s future.”
If you have any interest in Washington’s future growth and development, it might be worth your time.

Ashley Vansant is publisher of the Washington Daily News. He can be reached at publisher@thewashingtondailynews.com.