MOUNT VERNON — Jeff Gottke, president of the Knox County Area Development Foundation, reviewed the Together Knox initiative to update Knox County’s comprehensive plan at Monday’s city council meeting.
Gottke noted the plan does not set policy, but leads to discussions and processes that do. He called it a “compass for the community.”
Planning NEXT is coordinating the update. During the information-gathering phase, the company gathered 10,000 pieces of data.
Data includes 4,109 outcomes residents want to see, 4,445 treasures, and 2,047 map dots representing opportunities.
“That’s a lot of data to sift through. That’s a very robust series of data to choose from,” Gottke told the council members.
Gottke noted that Planning NEXT was the only company responding to the Request for Qualifications that focused on the community’s character.
“Now we’re ready to present our findings to the community,” Gottke said.
Residents can view data and recommendations thus far at a Focus on the Future Workshop at The Woodward Opera House on Tuesday, Oct. 29. The workshop runs from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
A panel discussion on regional trends is set for 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Panel members include Kenny McDonald, CEO of One Columbus, and Jason Duff, president of Small Nation, a group revitalizing Bellefontaine. Howard Sacks, a retired Kenyon professor who founded Kenyon’s Rural Life Center, will also participate.
Together Knox is a combined effort between the ADF, Regional Planning Commission, Knox County Board of Commissioners, and the City of Mount Vernon.
The comprehensive plan’s scope includes housing quality, safeguarding existing agricultural and natural land, responsible growth, transportation, maximizing outdoor space, and accommodating the Amish community.
“The previous comprehensive plan did not address the Amish community, but it has been growing. We felt they were an important constituency to address,” Gottke said.
