Development of the Southern Pines Long-Range Plan will continue with the “Policies & Programs Workshop,” set for two times on Wednesday, September 16th - from 11:30 to 1:30 pm at the Douglass Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Avenue, and from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the Southern Pines Recreation Center, 160 Memorial Park Court (north of Morganton Road and east of Highway 1).

Both meetings will review the plan’s draft goal and policy framework and discuss possible “next steps” - including programs and strategic efforts the Town may take to implement the plan. Participants will help refine and prioritize these next steps, allowing the Town to complete the draft plan and present it to the community sometime in October.

Both meetings will offer the same content, so pick the one that’s most convenient to your schedule and location. A copy of the meeting agenda is linked below. All Town residents and those living within the Town’s ETJ (extra-territorial jurisdiction) are strongly encouraged to attend.

Meeting agenda (64 Kb, Acrobat® file)

In considering some of the larger issues facing Southern Pines, the Long-Range Plan Advisory Committee wanted to hear from a few local experts. Realizing such presentations might be of interest to the larger community, the group has organized an event in “Town Meeting” format, set for Tuesday, July 21 at the Sunrise Theater, 250 NW Broad Street. All area residents are encouraged to attend.

Each presenter will offer information on their respective roles as related to Southern Pines, and will take questions from the audience. Speakers include:

Don Belk, with the BRAC Regional Task Force
Andy Wilkinson, Pinehurst Village Manager, and
Bill Zell, Aberdeen Town Manager

For more, contact the Town planning office, or check out a copy of the event poster, linked below.

Town Meeting poster (1.0 Mb, Acrobat® file)

Work on Southern Pines’ Long-Range Plan continues with the “Plan Policy” workshop, scheduled in repeating format for three times: Wednesday, June 3rd from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the Southern Pines Recreation Center, 160 Memorial Park Court, and twice on Thursday, June 4th - from 11:30 to 1:30 pm at the Douglass Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Avenue, and from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the Southern Pines Recreation Center.

Each meeting will present important results from prior workshops including a draft preferred growth strategy and directives, plus a range of draft policies forming the backbone of the future plan. Attendees will be asked to discuss, rate and prioritize each policy, and add their own if desired. Results will shape the policy framework of the plan, basically a set of actionable guidelines for the Town’s future investments and activities.

Files linked below include the utility insert mailed to all Town utility customers, a copy of the display ad prepared for the Southern Pines Pilot, and a copy of the press release issued to area media outlets.

Utility insert (424 Kb, Acrobat® file)
Display ad (204 Kb, Acrobat® file)
Press release (116 Kb, Acrobat® file)

Technically, it’s still spring, but warm, sunny weather - and lots of community events - make it feel like summer.

The Long-Range Plan Advisory Committee, aided by Drop-in Center staff, have already set up booths at Springfest and First Friday, and plan to do so at a number of other events in the next few weeks. These include:

Farmer’s Market - May 28, Downtown (Tentative; AC members Jeannie Carpentier, others TBA)
First Friday - June 5, Downtown (AC members Glenn Bradley, Deonte Thomas, Beth Carpenter and Shanda Whitaker)
Black Art Festival - Saturday, June 20, West Southern Pines (AC members Jim Moore, Earl Jones and Deonte Thomas)

Others, mini-polls and clipboard in hand, have engaged folks at the Downtown Post Office and elsewhere. Stops at Sandhills Community College have been discussed, along with a possible booth at “Summerfest.” Some AC members have made presentations to area groups and organizations; get in touch with Kathy at the Drop-in Center if you’d like to see about someone speaking to your group.

Of course, the upcoming Plan Policies Workshop on June 3 and 4 are the very best way to take part, voice thoughts and help shape the plan. But whenever you’re out enjoying civic events this spring, be sure to look for and stop at the Long Range Plan booth!