H-GAC kicks off public portion of sustainability plan

Citizens will give feedback

David Crossley, Jan 17, 12.

Over the next two months Houston region residents will have an opportunity to give their feedback on what they think are the most pressing issues facing their communities and the region overall and share their hopes for what a better tomorrow may look like, as the public engagement period kicks off for an unprecedented effort to develop a Regional Plan for Sustainable Development.

The Houston-Galveston Area Council, which is managing the plan through a federal Housing and Urban Development Sustainable Communities grant, announced the first citizen input sessions in a Guidry News Service story:

The region includes Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Liberty, Harris, Matagorda, Montgomery, Walker, Waller, and Wharton Counties.

More than 6 million people now live in the region and as many as 4 million new people could live in the 13-county area by 2040. This two year planning project is the first step in answering questions such as “Where will those residents live?” “How will they move around the region?” and “How will change affect quality of life?”

Over the next two months residents will have an opportunity to give their feedback on what they think are the most pressing issues facing their communities and the region overall and share their hopes for what a better tomorrow may look like.

A very important goal of the planning process is to make sure that the plan reflects ideas from all parts of the region. Residents can share their ideas as part of upcoming public meetings to be held in each county, a survey, and on-line forum. Community visioning sessions will kick off in early February. These sessions will offer residents an opportunity to learn about issues in their community and feature interactive exercises.

Public input will help set goals and priorities for the plan. MORE

Regional Plan for Sustainable Development website