Politics & Government

Citizens Give Insight for City Planning

The city of Snellville's town center planning charrette continues through Tuesday.

Snellville officials and planners are pleased with the public's participation during its six-day charrette to revitalize the town center.

The public planning process began Thursday, and it is taking place over six days, ending Tuesday. Today planners  -- led by designers Clark Patterson Lee -- are hosting a public charrette and workshop until 4:30 p.m. at Heritage Village, 2469 Main Street, Suite 14, in Snellville.

Kevin Mcomber, of Clark Patterson Lee, said the process has been going great. About 70 people turned out to the kick-off gathering on Thursday. Many stayed for several hours listening, asking questions and offering insight, he said.

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The central consensus is that there is a feeling of no central identity, and that Snellville isn't a destination place. "We really need to change that way of thinking," Mcomber said.

Students from South Gwinnett, Grayson and Brookwood high schools also participated during special meetings with key stakeholders. Mcomber said students, like adults, want the town center to be a place where they are comfortable gathering with friends.

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"They want a destination here," he said. "They want something on Friday and Saturday, to have something to do."

During their meeting, youth noted that weaknesses of the city included lack of music venues, lack of community activities and vacant retail spots. Youth also said the city's strengths centered on its location around two major highways, and that opportunities included jobs, entertainment and creating an identity that is Snellville.

Councilman Tom Witts said he knows some residents are skeptical of plans because there have been plans before. However, Witts believes this recent cadre of leaders and the synergy between them is the change Snellville needs to bring visionary ideas forward.

"I live here," he said. "This is my home, and I'm very passionate about it. It's time for us to grow up."

Most importantly, Witts said, are the public's ideas.

"Many different views is what you want," he said of the town center plans. "Everyone should have something in it they like."

No matter what becomes of the plans, city officials want the public to know these changes will not happen immediately. Although the city is moving swiftly through this initial planning, actual shovels-in-the-ground efforts will be sometime yet.

Tom Flynn, 59, a Snellville resident of 16 years, said so far, he's not seeing in the plans what he wants to see. He lives very near the town center area, and doesn't want plans to impede enjoyment of his property. 

"I'm not hearing things that I think will work well," he said. "I don't really care what they do, as long as they're ... respectful of the existing residential properties around it."

Bob Reynolds, 35, who travels through Snellville, said his biggest problem is the traffic. He's hoping city plans will include measures that keep traffic from worsening. Still, the planning process is allowing him to have his say, he said.

Councilman Witts said that's the point.

"You can't base tomorrow on what happened yesterday," he said. "This time we're trying to do it right."


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