Friday, September 27, 2024
Residents will soon have a second opportunity to voice their opinions and contribute ideas for the future of Granbury.
On Thursday, Oct. 3, community members will be invited back to City Hall from 5:30-7 p.m. to participate in the city’s second open house meeting regarding the Comprehensive Plan.
Essentially serving as Granbury’s “road map,” the city’s Comprehensive Plan will outline a strategic vision for the next 10 to 20 years — focusing on key issues such as housing, transportation, land use, downtown development and economic growth.
The Granbury City Council, Planning & Zoning Commission, and city staff will use this plan to guide important decisions related to land use, budgeting and development.
“We really want members of the community to be engaged in this process,” Communications Manager Jeff Newpher told the Hood County News. “These open house meetings are not a check-the-box kind of (initiative). The city is very much interested in having community members give their thoughts and ideas.”
All residents are encouraged to attend the come-and-go open house for approximately 30 minutes to share their input on the future of Granbury and ensure their voices are heard by decision makers.
While the format and location mirror the April 2024 Comprehensive Plan Open House, the October meeting will build upon the feedback gathered earlier this year. The input provided in April has been thoroughly studied by comprehensive planning experts and reviewed by the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission. This open house serves as a follow-up, continuing the discussion and refinement of the plan.
“This is building on the information that has been collected this year through surveys, through the open house, and through comments that have been made at council meetings or Planning & Zoning meetings,” Newpher explained. “This meeting is building upon that to try and more narrowly focus and make sure that people’s opinions, attitudes and desires are clearly being understood.”
During the city’s last open house April 18, attendees were shown a short video detailing the importance of the Comprehensive Plan, as well as Granbury statistics and data.
Following the video, attendees were then instructed to go upstairs to the council chambers, where a variety of interactive presentations were set up to gauge the community’s input on Granbury’s future.
At a few of the presentations, attendees were asked to weigh in on key issues facing Granbury. Traffic congestion emerged as the top concern, with residents voting it as the city’s biggest issue, followed closely by industrial development.
The community also expressed a strong desire for improvements in roadway infrastructure and mobility, highlighting it as a priority for the city’s future. Other important areas of focus included establishing a clear brand and community identity, preserving historic places, and maintaining existing roadway infrastructure.
In terms of retail and dining preferences, residents indicated a strong interest in increased entertainment options, along with more sit-down dining, brew pubs and medical services.
Looking ahead to 2045, attendees have indicated they want Granbury to be primarily known for its authentic/unique downtown, as well as its small-town charm, waterfront community and historic places.
While this is only the city’s second Comprehensive Plan Open House, Newpher expressed there will likely not be a third. However, this will not be the last time for residents to voice their opinions on the future of Granbury.
“There will be opportunities for citizens to respond at Planning & Zoning meetings and city council meetings,” he said. “It’s not an end of public comment. Will there be another meeting identical to the one on Oct. 3? Probably not, but community engagement will continue.”
Newpher noted that although the data from last year’s open house isn't being used directly to shape this discussion, it is still being considered as part of the broader context for community input.
“This is not the second verse of the same song,” he added. “This is trying to gather additional information that has not been given before.”
For more information about the Comprehensive Plan Open House, email Newpher at jnewpher@Granbury.org.
