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Excerpts from Plan Commission Minutes of August 6, 2009 <br /> Comprehensive Plan Approval <br /> Mr. Mark Smith stated that the Comprehensive Plan has been ongoing for two and a half years <br /> and there have been numerous public meetings. Mr. Smith stated that the County Board <br /> approved the plan unanimously. Mr. Smith stated that the plan has gone under extensive review <br /> with the Regional Planning Commission. Mr. Smith stated that the plan was on public display <br /> for over a year with only a few comments submitted. <br /> Mrs. Sadorus asked whether anyone talked with or considered the plans of the Southside <br /> Improvement Association which covers the area from St. James Church to the lake. <br /> Mr. Crowe stated that the neighborhood groups were invited to numerous meetings and Mary <br /> Walker was a key player on many of the working groups meetings. <br /> Mr. Mickler stated that the plan acknowledges urban blight and that there are strategies on <br /> rebuilding neighborhoods which he is pleased to see but asked whether there are action steps in <br /> place or if anyone has been assigned to doing these steps. <br /> Mr. Crowe stated there have been many public meetings and Council led neighborhood meetings <br /> and input from those meetings were incorporated into the plan. Mr. Crowe stated that also <br /> included in the plan is to make sure that rehab dollars are utilized more for owner rehab projects <br /> versus rental rehab projects. Mr. Crowe stated that another item included in the plan is to find a <br /> way to reuse vacant lots in the inner city. Mr. Crowe stated that the Five Year Consolidated Plan <br /> is coming up and is due in March of next year. Mr. Crowe stated that the Five Year <br /> Consolidated Plan is the plan of action far federal funding using CDBG home dollars which ten <br /> million dollars will be allocated over the next five years. <br /> Mr. Mickler stated that his concern is the dwindling tax base and the large number of vacant lots. <br /> Mr. Crowe stated that the City does not own many of the vacant lots in the inner city. Mr. <br /> Crowe stated that the city will be asking City Council whether they have an interest in <br /> foreclosing on the vacant lots and doing something similar as what was done in the Near North <br /> area. <br /> Mr. John passed out additions he would like included in the comprehensive plan in the Policies <br /> and Strategies section and on page 40, Principle D3. <br /> Mr. Mark Smith suggested leaving the plan the way it is. Mr. Smith stated that there will <br /> probably be additional amendments. Mr. Smith stated that the amendments can then be sent <br /> through the process all at once. <br /> It was moved and seconded (Mickler/John) to forward the Comprehensive Plan to the City <br /> Council with recommendation for approval as presented by staff. Motion carried unanimously. <br />