Corpus Christi Mayor Nelda Martinez (center) participates in a summer workshop to outline a 20-year plan for the city’s future. Members of the public were invited to attend eight open houses in November 2014 to go over a draft of Plan. Courtesy Photo
Eight public open houses will be held from Nov. 10-13 to hear what you think about a 20-year plan for the city’s future. The plan was drafted during public workshops over the summer.
In its first draft, Plan CC outlined three alternative growth scenarios that now need your feedback. As an added incentive, participants at the open houses will be entered into a drawing to win one of three La Palmera mall gift cards for $300, $200 or $100.
“Drop in for 20 minutes at one of eight open houses this November and tell us which of the three growth plans you like best,” encouraged a city spokesperson.
Plan CC is a “guide for decision making about the physical development of the city over time,” according to a brief on the citywide plan. A well-thought out, comprehensive vision will be needed to accommodate the additional 20,000-40,000 new households expected in the city over the next 20 years, explained officials.
Included in Plan CC will be a future land-use map to help define zoning amendments and rezoning petitions, and goals and policies on housing, economic development, natural resources, infrastructure and services. Preliminary vision statements foresee Corpus Christi as “one of the most enterprising and forward-looking cities in Texas,” calling it a “unique place to live, work, study and play.” Words such as “prosperous,” “opportunity,” “welcoming,” “livable” and “affordable” are used to define the city’s future by those who worked on the plan this year.
Planners voiced their intentions to support more modernized city services and systems while also protecting the area’s natural wildlife and beauty. Economic prosperity — the overall driving force — holds the plan together by advocating diversity and equal opportunity, according to the brief. To participate, you can attend any of the following eight workshops:
Monday, Nov. 10, 4-7 p.m.
– Lindale Recreation Center, 3133, Swantner St.
– Janet F. Harte Public Library, 2629 Waldron Road
Tuesday, Nov. 11, 4-7 p.m.
– Owen R. Hopkins Public Library, 3202 McKinzie Road
– Dr. Clotilde P. Garcia Public Library, 5930 Brockhampton St.
Wednesday, Nov. 12, 4-7 p.m.
– Radisson North Beach, 300 E.Surfside Blvd.
– Ben F. McDonald Public Library, 4044 Greenwood Drive
Thursday, Nov. 13, 4-7 p.m.
– Oveal Williams Senior Center, 1414 Martin Luther King Drive
– Garden Senior Center, 5325 Greely Drive
The next steps involve a city-wide public forum in February 2015 to kick off six weeks of public review and comment. Hard copies of the plan will be available in all public libraries as well as online.
In the spring, a final draft will be presented to the Planning Commission during another series of public hearings. And, finally, the plan will be presented to the city council for more public hearings and eventually a vote on whether to adopt the plan and put it into action. For more information on Plan CC, visit plancc2035.com.
