CLEMMONS
The 11 Clemmons residents who gathered at the village hall on Monday will play a crucial role in shaping the future of the village.
Will Clemmons one day have greenways, open spaces and a defined downtown? The steering committee for Clemmons' comprehensive plan will tackle these and other issues in the 12 to 18 months that it will meet.
The steering committee, which includes nine residents appointed by the village council, two representatives from other village boards, and village planner Megan Ledbetter, met for the first time on Monday.
Gary Looper, the village's manager, thanked the committee for taking on the challenge.
"I can't think of anything much more important than a community's comprehensive plan," he said. "This is one of the biggest things we've done since I've been here."
Council member Robert Marshall said after the meeting that the formation of the steering committee is a "milestone event" for the village. "I think the committee's charge to oversee the development and preparation of a comprehensive plan is one of the most critical undertakings in the recent history of the village, apart from the decision to incorporate in 1986," Marshall said. "This kind of undertaking is going to chart the future for the village and will allow for the formation of such things as a parks and recreation committee and other quasi-governmental bodies that will improve the quality of life for the village and its residents."
During the meeting, the committee members said they became interested in the project to give back to the community. Many of them are long-time residents of Clemmons; a few are relative newcomers.
"I feel like if you live in a community, you have to give back," said Ted Guenther, one of the committee members. "I believe you can't control growth, but you can direct it and guide it."
The committee's first task is selecting a consultant to help design and implement the plan. In the next few days, Ledbetter told the committee, she will be contacting consultants around the state to see whether they are interested in submitting a proposal to take on the project.
The steering committee will interview those consultants in mid-August and make a recommendation to the village council. The council will have the final vote on which firm wins the project.
"This committee will have a very active role in deciding which firm we go with," Ledbetter said.
This year's budget has $150,000 allotted for planning services, she said.
"Our intent is to stay within that number," Ledbetter said.
The committee will meet again on Aug. 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the village hall.
■ Lisa O'Donnell can be reached at 727-7420 or at lo'donnell@wsjournal.com.
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