Chelsea seeking public input for comprehensive plan

Published 4:55 pm Wednesday, August 21, 2019

CHELSEA – Chelsea residents on Tuesday, Aug. 20, had an opportunity to give their input on their city’s future.

The Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham led a public meeting after the regularly scheduled City Council meeting and asked those in attendance to complete activities that laid out their thoughts about Chelsea and its course for the next 15 years.

“It’s going to be your road map for the future,” Lindsay Puckett with the Planning Commission said about the city’s comprehensive plan. “We’re here to hear your input on these things.”

Chelsea’s last comprehensive plan was completed in 2007, Puckett said and added that an updated plan is necessary to control growth, obtain objectives and meet criteria for recognitions such as being named an Alabama Community of Excellence.

During an average comprehensive plan effort led by the Planning Commission, 120 people attend meetings, 445 people take surveys and 4,745 people visit the respective website.

“This is very much a community plan,” she said.

At the meeting on Aug. 20, attendees were asked to complete an exercise during which they wrote down three words to describe what they want Chelsea to be, identified issues and opportunities, and were shown an interactive digital map where they could note problem items or things they would like, such as new sidewalks.

The input gathering phase is ongoing for the comprehensive plan effort.

Residents can give their thoughts and learn more about the comprehensive plan at PlanChelsea.com.