Planning meetings discuss New Albany Next suggestions

New Albany, Miss., June, 2019 – New Albany’s Community Development Director, Billye Jean Stroud, was pleased with the number of participants attending three recent New Albany Next planning meetings. “New Albany Next is a great opportunity for everyone in our community to share ideas and help create a plan to guide New Albany’s future growth and redevelopment,” said Stroud.

Stroud encourages those who could not attend a meeting to visit the planning website (see link below) to share suggestions and keep updated on the future of New Albany via email.

Three neighborhood meetings introduced New Albany residents to New Albany Next.

The most recent of the New Albany Next planning meetings, at the Community Center, had over 40 attendees. Small groups discussed parks and recreation, infrastructure, business districts, healthcare, education, and transportation. Carol Rhea of Orion Planning + Design commented, “The engagement was real. Insightful ideas were shared, and a framework for next steps is beginning to take shape.”

New Albany Next planning meeting attendees broke into small groups to discuss a variety of topics.

The community planning events are a part of the effort approved by the New Albany Board of Aldermen at its Dec. 4, 2018 meeting. The board voted unanimously to contract with Bob Barber of Hernando and Barber’s Orion Planning and Design group to do a comprehensive update of the city code. Under terms of the contract, Orion will be paid no more than $120-thousand over a four year period for the work. The workshops discussed in this article were conducted by Shellie Johnstone, a certified city planner from Tupelo, who is an associate of Orion.

To share suggestions/comments and to join the email list for New Albany Next information, go to newalbanynext.com or contact Billye Jean Stroud at (662) 534-3438.

More about New Albany Next: http://newalbanyunionco.com/new-albany-public-input-meetings/