Projects help Auburn focus on future

The goal of the plan, which focuses on the downtown area, is to meet future needs for housing, business development, traffic management, parks, land use and city amenities, as well as encourage economic development, city planner Larry Lucas said. It is the result of a series of public meetings and workshops during the past year and maps out, in five phases, the 30-year transformation of Auburn into a vital live-work-play community.

“We want to be proactive, not reactive,” Mayor Linda Blechinger said, “…to have a vision of what downtown will be,” rather than letting the city evolve in an unplanned manner. Citizen input was factored heavily into the final version, she said, and “a lot of work went into this...to see this final plan is very exciting.”

Phase One (2011-12) concentrates on how to best use existing buildings, streetscape improvements and the development of the cultural center, a project that the city has recently started into with the purchase of the R & R Building at 16 College Street. Attracting a “signature restaurant” is also part of that phase.

Phase Two (2013-15) looks at attracting small professional businesses, the development of a “major community facility” such as a YMCA, construction of a “signature” park and senior housing needs are also addressed.

In the third phase (2015-20) expanding housing choices in the downtown area to include townhouses, condos, and apartments is a focus, along with continued efforts to attract retail and office development.

Phase Four (2020-25) looks at ways to attract higher end, small lot “cluster homes” to the downtown area, bed and breakfast-type lodging and a theater.

The final phase (2025-30) continues prior efforts. Attracting business and retail to Auburn’s existing downtown and business corridor, traffic planning, parks, open space and land use are consistent components of the entire plan.

Robert & Company, a group commissioned by the city in 2005 to work on Auburn’s first vision plan, completed the new plan and presented on overview at the meeting. The planning and zoning board has recommended its approval.

For more on this story, see the October 27 edition of the Barrow Journal or click here to read the full story online when you subscribe to our new e-edition.