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What is this?
Wilsonville can grow into a destination
Published Tuesday, November 10, 2009
What’s the greatest strength or most impressive attribute of the town of Wilsonville?
Town leaders and county planners must ask that question in charting a course for the town.
Ask that question of most any area resident and the responses are sure to be similar. After listing the people, loving church community, the students, faculty and staff of Wilsonville Elementary, steaks from McEwen’s Fresh Market and grits from Coosa Valley Milling, Lay Lake is sure to make most anyone’s list of things that make Wilsonville a wonderful place.
Every progressive community needs something that creates a focal point or brand, if you will, for potential visitors and newcomers.
Failing to put thought into what you want to become almost certainly guarantees you’ll be disappointed with the outcome.
With help from Shelby County Development Services, Mayor Rosemary Liveoak and other town leaders created just such a thoughtful plan over the last several months.
Their ideas were further developed with input from local residents and community leaders with an eye for what Wilsonville could become in the coming years and decades if growth is planned.
One of the most appealing elements of the proposed Wilsonville plan is the possible creation of a resort-like marina district along the shores of Lay Lake.
The envisioned district would be located just off Brothers Avenue. Imagine a waterfront village with homes, restaurants, shopping and a full service marina designed to be a destination for this area and beyond.
Wilsonville’s leaders were smart to partner with the area’s most talented planning and development team and should move quickly to fully adopt the plan. Doing so sets the stage for a bright future for one of Shelby County’s finest communities.
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Comments
Posted by Thinking (anonymous) on November 18, 2009 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wilsonville can become a destination when it becomes easier to access to money. We all know where the money is, highway 280/Chelsea area. Sure the lake has money, but a lot of it is seasonal. It takes a large population base with money to create what is being described. You have to create a destination that will draw people from 280.
There needs to be a fast direct route from 280/Chelsea to Wilsonville. I know of people from 280 areas who drive to Columbiana to eat at Bernie’s or shop at Piggly Wiggly. Yet, almost no one drives to Wilsonville as a destination. From the intersection of Hwy 280 and CR 47 to Columbiana downtown is 13 miles. From the intersection of Hwy 280 and CR 47 to Wilsonville is 15 miles. Yet it takes almost twice as long to get to Wilsonville than Columbiana. The difference is that CR 47 to Columbiana is 55 mph road.
There needs to be road improvements from Hwy 280 to Wilsonville. Looking at a map you can see that CR 61 and CR 51 could be used to make this happen. The roads would need to be upgraded to a higher speed design. Also, a major realignment of CR 51 would be needed for the first couple miles south from CR 55. If this route were created the residents of the Hwy 280/Chelsea area could be in Wilsonville faster than they could be at Columbiana, or even The Summit.
This would be a major project, with very high costs. Yet, it would be less road improvements than some developments in the South Birmingham area. With proper developer funding, government grants, strong support from businesses, and citizens of Wilsonville it could become a reality.
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