Your Town Alabama: Designing Our Future

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More News from Alabama's Communities

Heart of Alabama Rural Planning Organization (HARPO) update
The HARPO Technical Advisory Committee and Executive Committee will meet in August to review information collected during the public meetings that were held in Blount, Chilton, St. Clair and Walker Counties in April.  After their review and comments the information will be presented in the Counties in September.  For additional information about the Heart of Alabama Rural Planning Organization visit www.rpcgb.org, select the RPO button on the right side of page.  If you need additional information, please contact Darrell Howard (205) 264-8441 or email dhoward@rpcgb.org  

Vincent’s Comprehensive Plan sneak preview
Public officials participated in a planning session that was held on June 26, 2007 to continue planning efforts focused on the future of the Vincent.  The session represented one of several sessions that have been held over the past six months in developing a long-range plan that will address the growth and physical development of Vincent as well as serve as a vision of what the Town can become. This initiative represented the final phase of the development of its comprehensive plan. For more information contact Pam Jones at pjones@rpcgb.org
The following is a sneak preview of some of the major initiatives expressed by the participants:

1. Community Pattern and Green Infrastructure
2. Downtown Revitalization
3. Neighborhood Preservation
4. Commercial and Industrial Development
5. Historic Preservation
6. Public Service and Community Facilities
7. Park, Recreation and Cultural Resources
8. Transportation and Circulation

Leeds Strategic Plan completed
The RPC, along with the City of Leeds, recently completed a Strategic Development Plan to determine the impacts of potential development in the western area of the city, principally around Interchange 140 of I-20.  Due to expectations of future development pressures adjacent to the Barber MotorSports Park and soon-to-be constructed Bass Pro Shops, the City applied for and received a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to study the area. More than half of the planning area is north of I-20 and includes former mining properties, one abandoned and one active rail line, a 5.7 mile segment of the Cahaba River, and significant topography. The plan assessed impacts of new development by designing and comparing scenarios for how land uses and infrastructure are arranged within the study area. RPCGB was assisted by 4-Site, Inc. and Sain Engineering.  Contact for this plan is Kay Argo at kargo@rpcgb.org

Chelsea Comprehensive Plan
The RPC is completing the final draft of the City of Chelsea Comprehensive Plan for the city's planning commission.  Final presentation, public hearings and adoption of the plan is expected to occur in August.  The plan was prepared for the planning commission by RPC and 4Site Incorporated of Huntsville.  Contact for this project is Kay Argo at kargo@rpcgb.org.

Assessment to be performed on Newfound Creek
The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham has awarded Cawaco Resource Conservation & Development Council a grant to conduct a water quality assessment of Newfound Creek.  The purpose of the project is to conduct a rapid assessment to identify known or readily discernable impaired segments of the stream, probable cause(s) of the impairments, and development of recommendations along with cost estimates for stream restoration.   The goal of the project is to provide information necessary to address environmental degradation along Newfound Creek.  Newfound Creek, a major tributary to Five Mile Creek, is on the State’s list of impaired waters (as required under the Clean Water Act, Section 303(d)) as not meeting the current use classification of Fish & Wildlife.  Municipalities along Five Mile Creek are currently taking proactive steps to construct a 28 mile greenway the length of the Creek.  Cawaco provides coordination and administrative support to the members of the Five Mile Creek Greenway Partnership.
Through the high visibility of the Five Mile Creek Greenway Partnership, interest has been drawn to the area.  Funding opportunities to remediate environmental degradation have been missed due to the simple fact that the source has not been identified and a plan for remediation has not been made.  These recommendations will allow partners within the Five Mile Creek Partnership to take advantage of any available opportunity. For additional information contact Francesca Gross at fgross@rpcgb.org.

Bankhead Lake Cleanup final report
The Renew Our Rivers clean up of Bankhead Lake was held on June 2, 2007.  The clean up was a coordinated partnership effort of several corporate entities, governmental agencies, and citizen groups.  This effort is supported by Alabama Power’s Renew Our Rivers campaign, a national award-winning initiative and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  During this event, 93 volunteers removed 5.84 tons of trash and debris from Bankhead Lake.  A final report can be viewed by visiting www.warriorcwp.org.  If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to call Kellie Johnston at (205) 264-8461 or by email warriorcwp@hotmail.com

Biking Through the Black Belt: Old Howard Bike Ride = 229 riders!!!!
(Announcement) http://www.samford.edu/groups/oldhoward100/ (Final Report) http://www.samford.edu/photoalbum/oldhoward2007.html SOURCE: www.samford.edu Seasons Magazine. Summer 2007.

Conecuh County for October
The Sausage Festival is the weekend of October 13th. The City of Evergreen/Chamber of Commerce will also sponsor their Downtown Trick or Treat in Oct.