Public Transit and Housing Discussed at Regional Sustainability Meeting

At a discussion Thursday about sustainable development, attendees had a number of suggestions for improving cities such as , and : Better public transit. More municipal collaboration. Additional mixed-use zoning.

But they also had a lot of good say about the business diversity, housing stock and school districts of thoes cities, along with and .

The five are collectively known as the Mid-Metro 5 Community Planning Area (CPA). It's one of numerous CPAs throughout the region from which representatives of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments and other organizations are gathering feedback as part of the Regional Plan for Sustainable Development.

At issue: What principles should guide development in the region over the next 30 years? A will pay for the planning process.

The economic downturn makes it "an opportune time to do this," said David Wilson, senior manager of environment and community planning for East-West Gateway. Less pressure to develop means more time for community members to share best practices and brainstorm how they would like their cities to look in the future.

To him, sustainable development means ensuring a quality of life for future generations that is equal to or better than what exists at present.

How the planning process will work
Thursday's meeting at community center in Richmond Heights marked the first of 10 kickoff sessions at which organizers will gather ideas, Wilson said. Organizers want to hear what people like about their cities and what challenges face those places.

A second series of public meetings is planned in June or July. In October, organizers will discuss modeling and present alternatives for achieving goals that participants have identified.

Along the way, a website will be developed to include tools for community planning. Cities interested in adding more trees, for example, might use it to find that kind of information.

In February, organizers will present their regional findings, and by the end of 2013 they will have compiled a vision and goals that can be used starting in 2014.

Participants answer survey questions, brainstorm ideas
About 30 people attended Thursday's meeting. They clicked buttons on handheld devices in response to survey questions projected on a screen. Organizers will use that data—about issues such as types of preferred development and housing—to build their plan.

Many participants indicated they work in one of the five cities but don't live there. A handful were from places such as Clayton and Richmond Heights, while no Shrewsbury residents appeared to be in attendance.

After an introduction, participants gathered at tables and discussed their likes and wants will guidance from a facilitator.

Ideas generated at this and other meetings will be posted online.

Attendees at the meeting included David Gipson, assistant city manager for Richmond Heights; Bola Akande, city administrator of Brentwood; and Susan Istenes and Jason Jaggi of Clayton's planning department.