Providence residents get look at refurbished city plan

By Shauna Leavitt

March 12, 2005 | PROVIDENCE -- The future general plan for the city was discussed amongst residents and council members Thursday evening at the Spring Creek Middle School.

The general plan for the city will be rewritten this year. According to a city handout, "A general plan describes a general, comprehensive, long-range statement of goals and related policies to guide future growth and development of a city."

Vernal Keeslar, the city planner, called the meeting to hear the concerns and suggestions of the citys residents. The general plan will affect the future of the town so it is important the residents have a fair chance to voice their concerns and suggestions, said Keeslar.

"I would like to see a well designed development plan," said Mark Malmstrom, a five-year resident of Providence. "We have to live with what is done. In 20 years, [we want] Providence [to] still [be] a really nice place. I would like to see a design review ordinance like Logan has."

"I came tonight to see what is really going on. I had heard a false rumor and I wanted to find out the truth," said Cindy Robinson, a 23-year resident of Providence. She went away from the meeting relieved. Robinson did not want to disclose the false rumor to the press.

The new general plan will encompass more zoning categories than any of the previous plans, so the city government will have better control over the specific needs of each area. Some of the new zoning categories are Low, Medium and High Residential (LR, MR, HR); Public Facilities (PF); and Professional Office (PO).

Providence general plans were written in 1970, 1997 and 2002. "When the [new] general plan is written and adopted. . . we'd like to keep [it] current by updating it every five years. The key to updating the comprehensive plan is [not to] let it go for the next 20 years then rewrite it. If you're doing a comprehensive study every five years of your general plan then that helps guide your capital improvement," said Keeslar.

The city would like to encourage all its residents to voice their concerns and suggestions about the general plan. There will be more opportunities at future open house meetings. To find out when the next general plan open house will be held, check the city's website.

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