MOUNT VERNON — Community input is crucial to the next Knox County Comprehensive Plan. Local officials are eager to hear from residents, but time is running out to respond.
Residents must complete an online survey for Together Knox, the formal name for the plan update process, by Friday, Aug. 23.
“We’ve had good involvement from the community,” Bailey Morlan of Planning NEXT, the consultant firm facilitating the process, told Steering Committee members last Thursday.
As of today, 678 residents have shared their thoughts on zoning, housing, and other issues.
Of the 678 responses, 385 completed the online survey, and 35 responded at the Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival.
An additional 167 provided input through “meeting in a box” events.
A “meeting in a box” enables up to 12 people to gather and note what they treasure about Knox County and what they want to see in the future.
Additionally, they mark on a map what they consider problem areas, areas of opportunity, and areas to preserve, enhance, or maintain.
Together Knox steering committee members held more than 34 such meetings. Morlan said she still has to tabulate about half of those results.
Technical analysis for the Knox County Comprehensive Plan
While residents complete the surveys, Jamie Greene of Planning NEXT is conducting a technical analysis of the county.
Technical analysis includes collecting a variety of data:
•Looking at soil types
•Plotting lot splits, stormwater permits, and new addresses
•Acreage in farmland, woodlands, and conservation programs
•Housing, transportation, and infrastructure
“We are on the cusp of having a lot of data to analyze,” Greene said.
Volunteers compiled previous comprehensive plans, but the process was lengthy. In light of current and potential Intel-related growth, local officials elected to use a consulting firm to compile the next Knox County Comprehensive Plan.
The Knox County Board of Commissioners ($150,000), Knox County Regional Planning Commission ($50,000), and the City of Mount Vernon ($50,000) are underwriting the cost.
The Steering Committee will meet next on Aug. 29.
