Birmingham master plan process beginning
Matt Lambert, partner at DPZ Company, provided Birmingham city commissioners with an update on the master plan process at their meeting on Monday, April 22.
“We wanted to come before you to let you know we're just at the beginning (of the process),” Lambert said, noting they had had one-on-one meetings with commissioners and planning board meetings, and had their first two neighborhood meetings. He said they had divided up the neighborhoods into five different areas.
This citywide master plan will focus on the neighborhoods, residents, and how they work with one another, parks, downtown, transportation and other issues, as the 2016 Plan focused on the downtown area. This is the first citywide master plan since 1980.
“We're hearing from residents at neighborhood roundtables. We're determining what issues to address, whether zoning, land planning,” or others. He said they will then have established charrettes, “which are an opportunity for us to take in more information and at the same time we can make some suggestions and then test out solutions.”
He said they won't begin writing a draft of the master plan until after the charrettes.
They have established charrette space at 255 Old Woodward for people to drop in on Saturday, May 17.
“The next day is the Birmingham parade, which is an opportunity for us to engage with people,” Lambert said. “Then we'll hole up and work on writing and giving a presentation. Andres Duany will be there for that.”
A website, thebirminghamplan.com, has dates, events and room for comments.