By TogetherDM.org—
MUNCIE, Indiana – Two open houses next week will give the public another chance to weigh in on TogetherDM—the project to develop a new comprehensive plan for Delaware County and the City of Muncie.
Both events will take place at Heartland Hall on the Delaware County fairgrounds, at 1210 N. Wheeling Avenue in Muncie. The first will happen from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm on Wednesday, October 6th. The other will take place on Thursday, October 7th, from noon to 1:30 pm. Each event will provide opportunities to learn about the project, provide input, and talk to project consultants and steering committee members.
TogetherDM was launched in February and is coordinated by the Delaware-Muncie Metropolitan Plan Commission (DMMPC). A 17-member steering committee is guiding the project along with consultants from czbLLC and Ingalls Planning & Design. The new plan will replace the County-City comprehensive plan adopted in 2000.
Since February, over 600 Delaware County residents have participated in online surveys at www.TogetherDM.org, over 50 attended a series of open houses in June, and over 100 have taken part in small group discussions facilitated by steering committee members. These engagements have shaped the emergence of priority issues to focus the planning process around, as well as a general direction for the plan: “Get the Basics Right.” The two October open houses will provide an opportunity for attendees to learn about the emerging plan and provide input on what it will mean to get the basics right in different types of Delaware County communities.
“These open houses are another chance for Delaware County and Muncie residents to have their say in this project,” said Peter Lombardi, the project’s manager for czbLLC. “So far, a clear set of priorities have emerged, and so has a compelling direction. Now the focus shifts to implementation and what it should entail in different parts of the county.”
TogetherDM, which also includes the development of a new Muncie Strategic Investment Plan and Delaware County Strategic Investment Plan, is scheduled to produce draft plans this fall, with final drafts delivered for consideration by the Delaware County Board of Commissioners and the Muncie City Council in December.
For people unable to attend the open houses in person, a virtual discussion will be held on October 12th from 5:30 to 6:30. Details for engaging in that discussion, as well as full project details can be found at www.TogetherDM.org.
