Sharing, learning, and participating on October 29.
Knox County, Ohio—The leadership of Together Knox has learned a lot over the past few months as it has worked on formulating a comprehensive plan. Over 1,200 participants took the time to provide insight related to conservation, development, prosperity, housing, farming, and many other topics.
“The breadth and quality of our first round of community input is unprecedented,” said Commissioner Teresa Bemiller. “We received over 4,450 treasure statements (What do you treasure most about your community?), 4,109 desired outcomes, and 2,107 place-specific insights. And this is only the first round.” Bemiller added that the magnitude of input was only possible with the “legwork” of the Steering Committee.
On October 29, this community input, along with technical analysis of conditions and trends, will be shared at the Focus on the Future workshop. Additionally, the workshop will include a panel of speakers from Small Nation, OneColumbus, and Kenyon College discussing a range of topics relevant to Together Knox. “Before pivoting from the discovery phase to making recommendations, we will check in with the community and gain some additional perspective regarding prosperity, quality of place, well-being, and rural dynamics,” said Jamie Greene, lead facilitator and Principal of Planning NEXT.
A comprehensive plan is the primary public policy document a community can create for its current physical assets and future development. It considers the input of citizens, businesses, and other stakeholders, and serves as a foundation for land development regulations, zoning ordinances, budgeting decisions, and more. “County leaders need this work to make sure we are making good decisions for the future of our communities,” said Darrel Severns, Planning Director, Knox County Regional Planning Commission.
According to Mount Vernon Mayor Matthew Starr “Focus on the Future is an opportunity to bring together all communities in Knox County to begin developing strategies that will shape the County in the coming years. While we look countywide, some special attention is being given to the City of Mount Vernon. You will see specific material addressing the city on October 29.”
Join us for an engaging panel discussion to learn about the economics, quality of place, and rural dynamics that will inform recommendations for the future of Knox County. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation and contribute to the future of our community!
Focus on the Future
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
5:30-8:30 PM
Woodward Opera House
107 South Main Street, Mount Vernon, OH 43050
Doors will open at 5:30 pm. The program will begin at 6:00 pm. Following the program, interactive displays will be available until 8:30 pm.
“Focus on the Future is at a key moment for Knox County,” said Jeff Gottke, President at the Area Development Foundation. “The event is not just about planning; it’s about coming together as a community to envision and create a brighter future for all of us.”
Can’t make it to the open house? The displays and activities will also be available online starting October 30. Visit TogetherKnox.org to learn more and participate.
Together Knox is a community-driven effort coordinated by the Knox County Commissioners, City of Mount Vernon, Regional Planning Commission, and Area Development Foundation. The project facilitator is Planning NEXT. This central Ohio-based planning practice completed the Fairfield County comprehensive plan eight months ago. They also designed and facilitated the Framework planning process for 15 jurisdictions in western Licking County.
