“Branson plan maps 20 years down the road - News-Leader.com” plus 3 more |
- Branson plan maps 20 years down the road - News-Leader.com
- Map: Gallery locations - Los Angeles Times
- Los Gatos maps the future - San Jose Mercury News
- New NH maps highlight agriculture, gardens - AP - msnbc.com
| Branson plan maps 20 years down the road - News-Leader.com Posted: 22 Aug 2010 12:59 AM PDT Twenty years ago, it would have been impossible to predict the growth that Branson has seen. Today, city leaders hope to lay the groundwork to get them through the next 20 years. To that end, the city has begun the process of creating a comprehensive plan that will guide current and future city leaders in everything from capital improvements to budgets and zoning. "It's a road map to get us where we are going," said city's planning director Jim Lawson. He said the final plan should be completed in March. So far, the city has put together a steering committee of residents and hired a team of planning consultants -- at a cost of $175,000 -- to help the city through the process. Last week, officials invited members of the public to attend a public hearing at the Branson Convention Center to learn about the process and present its own ideas and observations. Branson Senior Planner Joel Hornickel said they got some valuable feedback. "The big response we got was the need for year-round employment," Hornickel said. He said there was also a lot of interest in promoting sports tourism, with the area already hosting annual events such as AAU basketball tournaments and College of the Ozarks hosting the annual NAIA Division II championship basketball tournament. He said the meeting also was a chance to educate the public. "The city has a master trails plan, but many people didn't know about that," he said. That public input is important because the city wants to make sure that the city's residents drive this process, Lawson said. "Right now, we're trying to give the government back to the people," he said. The process is being directed by Design Workshop of Denver, which has steered comprehensive plans in several other tourist-related towns, such as the Colorado ski resorts of Aspen and Vail. Design Workshop Project Coordinator Amanda Steinle said the comprehensive plan will allow Branson to take control of its future. "Rather than reacting to growth and market pressures, this will be a plan that will allow them to be proactive," Steinle said. (2 of 2) Why now?Lawson and Hornickel said there are several reasons why a comprehensive plan makes sense right now. For one, a new mayor and a new group of aldermen swept into office a couple of years ago, and subsequently, several new people joined the city staff. "There are a lot of people here now with a fresh perspective," Hornickel said. Lawson said the current sluggish economy is another reason to address issues about how Branson can maintain its role as a prime tourist destination. "We're on top now and we want it to stay that way for awhile," Lawson said. "You don't ever want to start hearing that Branson used to be the place to go." What next?Steinle said more than 600 people have already been interviewed by city officials and by Design Workshop. There will be plenty of opportunities for more public input. Hornickel said public comments taken so far will be included in public meetings on Oct. 7 and 28. Hornickel said the public will have a chance at the first meeting to brainstorm about various possible futures in Branson. At the other meeting, they can see examples of possible outcomes. To learn more To learn more about the city's comprehensive plan, visit www.bransoncompplan.com. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Map: Gallery locations - Los Angeles Times Posted: 18 Aug 2010 11:58 PM PDT Comments are filtered for language and registration is required. The Times makes no guarantee of comments' factual accuracy. Readers may report inappropriate comments by clicking the Report Abuse link. Here are the full legal terms you agree to by using this comment form. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Los Gatos maps the future - San Jose Mercury News Posted: 19 Aug 2010 02:46 PM PDT |
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| New NH maps highlight agriculture, gardens - AP - msnbc.com Posted: 20 Aug 2010 12:15 PM PDT CONCORD, N.H. — Doug and Debby Erb decided last year to expand their dairy farm in the White Mountains town of Landaff to include cheesemaking. They set up a viewing hallway for visitors, but found it's not easy attracting them because the farm's a bit off the beaten path. Landaff Creamery is one of a variety of farms listed on a new agricultural map, out this week for travelers in New Hampshire. The guide focuses on farmstands, gardens, wineries, "pick your own" operations and other offerings. The state also put out a separate travel guide for gardens. Both can be found at visitor centers or online. "I'm really hopeful that this will get us a few more people through our creamery," Debby Erb said Friday. Tourism is one of the state's largest industries. Direct spending by visitors to New Hampshire last year reached $4.2 billion and visitors paid $136.4 million in meals and rooms taxes, according to figures released by the state in May. Tourism supported about 63,000 jobs. In Plaistow, near Massachusetts, visitors to the Goudreault Farm and Greenhouse come for the produce and plants. But they also like to stop near the Medicine Wheel Garden, a 45-foot stone circle built in 2009 that features healing herbs, vegetables and perennials, said Lucine Goudreault. "They'll sit there and meditate under the shade of a weeping cherry tree," she said. It's believed to be the first time the state has issued a map to highlight gardens and garden products, as well as provide an overview of the diversity of farm products and fairs. The new maps break down that information by region. Tai Freligh, spokesman for the state's Division of Travel and Tourism, said, "We find that people have lived here for 20 years don't know about some of this stuff." The maps complement others released by the state earlier this year highlighting wine and cheese destinations and breweries. In Wentworth, Palmer Koelb, who owns the Shin-Boku Nursery specializing in Japanese trees, says he's trying to promote his business more, holding an open house on Labor Day weekend and hosting a garden pruning workshop later in September. He's at work on a demonstration garden. Koelb welcomed the listing. "There is definitely an interest in well made Japanese gardens," he said. Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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