WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. August 20, 2005: The Comprehensive Plan Review Committee met Thursday evening and agreed they would present their report on the status of the city's 1997 Comprehensive Plan at a public meeting tentatively scheduled for  September 15. Then a final report will be delivered to the Common Council for Council approval. The Committee  will hold its last "drafting" session next Tuesday, August 23 at 7:30 P.M. in which they will discuss "fiscal" issues.

THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REVIEW COMMITTEE Crosses the "T's" and Dots the "I's" Thursday evening at City Hall in the Mayor's Conference Room. Photo by WPCNR News.

The Committee came to the consensus that there would be no new Comprehensive Plan Review before 2010, at which time, the Committee recommends work be started in preparation of a new Comprehensive Plan for the city following the process that took place in 1994.

During the course of Thursday evening's meeting, in which the committee was agreeing on conclusions and analyses language transcribed by the Planning Department based on previous Committee meetings into the latest "Draft" report, it was learned that the Committee recommends keeping the present City Hall and proceeding with mechanical and electrical renovations to keep the city municipal building relevant, "if feasible." Selling of city hall was not recommended.  It was also learned that the expected cost of city hall renovations is $15 million.

The Committee in the course of the meeting, indicated it was in agreement with the as-yet-undetailed West Side City Revitalization Plan by agreeing to  rezoning the West side of So. Lexington Avenue rolling up the hill into Fischer Hill Neighborhood from Post Road to Quarropus,  for 5 to 6 story residential buildings laying the zoning basis for development of that area for townhouses and revitalization.

The committee also is amiable to rezoning of areas along both sides of West Post Road from Lex to  Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard for some hospital use. No Committee members had any questions about the sweep of this density or policy recommendation. Details of the West Side revitalization plan are very sketchy at this time as to the balance of new housing and medical facilities mix, who would execute it, how units would be marketed, and other than a sketch drawn ten years ago, no other new plans have been publicly announced or clarified by City Hall.