BY DAVID ECK
Enquirer Contributor
ST. BERNARD -- As work on the city's first master plan in 30 years continues, officials will hold a public forum on Tuesday.
The city started reviewing its old plan in January and is about halfway through, said Gerry Wiedmann, St. Bernard planning and development director. "The administration and city council decided that we take a good look at everything again."
Tuesday's meeting is the second of three sessions designed to let residents comment on the plan and say what they would like to see in the city.
The first public forum was held in April and a final one is slated for August. About 70 people attended the April meeting, representing a cross-section of the community, Mr. Wiedmann said.
The planning process includes a review of the community environment, business district, residential areas, streetscapes and recreation. "Just about everything that would make a community, they review that in different segments," Mr. Wiedmann said.
Tuesday's session will discuss city entranceways, residential parking, streetscapes and a possible community center. Planners take comments from the public meetings and use them in refining the master plan, Mr. Wiedmann said.
"All of these things would enhance communities, but you always have to boil it down to something that's feasible," he said. "I always like to say that a master plan is a 20-year wish list."
Unlike some communities that hire outside consultants to work on a master plan, St. Bernard opted to use the Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission.
After the final public forum, the plan will be presented to residents and city council, which must approve it. A committee of about 15 residents, business owners and public officials is working on the plan. The final draft should be finished by October, Mr. Wiedmann said.
"It's a slow process," said Michael Schildmeyer, a committee member. "It's good process because out of the questions, good ideas can develop. We gather information from (residents) and take it back . . . and come up with some ideas that we take right back to them."
