Note: The following post is presented in an open-letter format from planning consultant Bill Grimes of Studio Cascade:

Dear Southern Pines Residents:

Even though the process is just barely under way, the level of community interest in Southern Pines’ Long-Range Plan has been very impressive.

More than 100 residents volunteered for the plan’s Advisory Committee, and we’d like to thank each and every one that offered to help. Town Council did a great job in getting the word out – no doubt part of the reason so many offered – and then worked through the difficult task of narrowing the list to the 20 names selected to serve on the group. Thanks to Council for helping make it all happen, and congratulations to the new members of the committee.

Not sure what the new group’s role will be? Be sure to read Town Manager Reagan Parsons’ excellent summary of the Advisory Committee’s upcoming work and intended function, published in the Pilot on September 14th and copied below. The names of folks asked to serve on the committee were also published in the Pilot, also linked below.

To those citizens and to the rest of Southern Pines, stay tuned. We’re working on a “Grand Opening” event at the project drop-in center the week of October 20th, where we hope to meet scores of residents, talk about what we’ve learned thus far, offer an outline of the meetings and events we’ll facilitate over the next few months, and generally begin listening and learning from residents about what the Town’s new plan needs to include. There’ll be at least one major public meeting in November, followed by an aggressive set of meetings, workshops and events between January and June of next year.

We’ll stress it again: since the plan is like a blueprint for Southern Pines’ 20-year future, it’s important that everyone has his or her thoughts included. We’ll work to give all residents that opportunity – from our experience, it’s how plans become truly successful, and how communities can proactively improve and sustain themselves over time.

We’ve met some great folks so far, and are really looking forward to serving the community in this important effort!

Sincerely,

Bill Grimes, AICP
Studio Cascade, Inc.

Parsons Letter (56 Kb, Acrobat® file)
Committee List (49 Kb, Acrobat® file)

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