New master plan input opportunity for residents

As further planning ramps up for Birmingham's citywide master plan for 2040, there are new opportunities for the community to engage and provide input, beginning with the city's planning board meetings. At the planning board meeting on August 12, which will be held via Zoom, the first draft and overall planning themes will be discussed. Key objectives of the master plan will be reviewed, along with the mixed use districts of Maple & Woodward and Market North. Residents are encouraged to attend the meeting online or by phone. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. The master plan will be discussed at the first planning board meeting of every month from August through October. The process will culminate with a city commission meeting to review the direction at the end of phase one and move the process to a second draft plan by the end of the year. Residents are encouraged to download the first draft of the master plan and the master plan review process at thebirminghamplan.com. The site includes relevant data, surveys, documents and an email communication option that allows residents to send comments directly to the planning team. “The planning department and planning board gathered valuable input during initial master plan meetings and we are eager to gather additional community feedback as we move forward with the process,” said Birmingham Planning Director Jana Ecker.