Boone County News Release


Press Archives Press Room

For Immediate Release

Media Contact:
Boone County Commission Administrative Coordinator
Phone: (573) 886-4312


Public Input Sought for East Columbia Area Plan

November 10, 2009

The city of Columbia and Boone County planning and zoning commissions will host the first in a series of public information meetings regarding the East Columbia Area Plan (ECAP) Nov. 17 from 5:30-8 p.m. in the main ballroom of the Old Hawthorne Golf Course Club House, 6221 E Highway WW. The purpose is to obtain community input on desired goals and objectives intended to guide growth on the lands generally bounded by I-70, US 63, New Haven Road and Rangeline Road in eastern Boone County.

The program schedule is as follows

5:30 - 6 p.m., Open Q&A
6 - 6:30 p.m., Presentation
6:30 - 7:15 p.m., Breakout sessions
7:15 - 8 p.m., Breakout session summary

The plan will provide a guidance framework for future decision making at the city council, county commission and city/county planning commission levels as new development or land use policies are considered for the study area. Presently, the majority of the land within the study area is located outside the city limits, however, planned infrastructure expansion and requests for annexation have prompted the need for advanced planning activities. Upon completion, the plan would become a “living document” capable of being modified as conditions change and will become part of city and county’s current and future comprehensive plans and planning efforts.

The joint commissions desire to obtain the ideas, opinions and views of those residents who will be most affected by the changes that future development will bring into the study area. Participants in this first informational meeting will be asked to comment on proposed goals and objectives related to three primary topic areas - environment, infrastructure and land use. These comments will assist the joint commissions in modifying and developing strategies for implementing the goals and objectives. Future meetings will be held to provide residents the opportunity to see the progression of the planning process. Prior to final plan adoption by city council and the county commission, a public hearing will be held offering residents yet another opportunity to comment on the plan.

Preparing plans ahead of development and engaging the public is the purpose of the joint commission’s efforts. The proposed plan will incorporate, as appropriate, the ideas raised and contained in the “Imagine Columbia’s Future” visioning process and is to be viewed as complimentary to those efforts, not competitive. The planning commissions invite all affected or interested residents to participate.



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