City Seeks Residents' Input on Growth

BARTOW | How do Bartow residents want their city to look in 10 years?

That's the question city administrators are asking as they update the city's comprehensive development plan.

To find the answer, they're asking residents to list their concerns and opinions in a two-page survey.

"We need input from the citizens to determine what we're going to do and how were going to plan for the future," said City Commissioner Pat Huff.

"If we only have a handful of residents respond, we're not really going to know how they want the city to grow," he said. "I think it's very important that we hear from the residents."

The survey inquires about transportation, land use, environmental issues, recreation and infrastructure, including drainage and utility systems.

"The survey is only going to be as good as the input," Huff said. "If we don't have much input, it's not really going to mean much."

The surveys are available at Bartow City Hall, 450 N. Wilson Ave., and on the Central Florida Regional Planning Council Web site at www.cfrpc.org. Click on City of Bartow, then on major issues survey.

Completed surveys can be faxed or mailed to the agency.

Fax the surveys to Helen Sears at 863- 534-7138 or mail them to her at the Central Florida Regional Planning Council, 555 E. Church St., Bartow, FL 33830.

The city has contracted with the Regional Planning Council to update its comprehensive plan, which must be filed with the state by April 2009.

Sears, a planner with the Planning Council, said the agency has received about 20 surveys.

"This survey tells us what the issues are," she said. "It addresses drainage and parks and utilities - all the things it takes to run a city.

"We want to encourage residents' creativity in thinking about the future," she said.

Sears said the Planning Council needs the surveys by June 9 to give planners time to compile the responses into a report for the city.

The City Commission has scheduled a joint workshop with the city Planning and Zoning Commission on June 23 to review the survey results with Regional Planning Council representatives.

That workshop will begin at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall.

[ Suzie Schottelkotte can be reached at suzie.schottelkotte@theledger.com or 863-533-9070. ]