Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
Community input will be a key component of efforts to draft a new master plan for downtown Shawano, according to city officials.
The project will be overseen by Madison-based planning consultant Vierbacher, which was hired by the Shawano Redevelopment Authority, but will largely depend on the input from an ad hoc citizens committee.
The plan approved by the RDA on Thursday would include “a new vision and identity for the downtown” that would highlight the area as a pedestrian friendly destination spot, recommend highest and best uses for downtown properties, seek to preserve historic and community-significant buildings, set standards for site and building design, and develop an implementation plan to help the city achieve its goals.
The project is expected to take about six months and will begin with the creation of a citizen steering committee.
Public Works Director Eddie Sheppard said it would be a committee of multiple viewpoints that would “take ownership” of the project.
Sheppard said the next step would be to map out how to get the public participation process under way, including reaching out to other groups such as the Business Improvement District and Shawano Industrial and Commercial Development Commission.
He said formation of the committee would probably take place within the next few weeks.
Several public meetings and open houses will be held over the course of the project.
Sheppard said the downtown planning process would also run parallel to the countywide marketing plan being put together by the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce.
The chamber is gathering data and ideas to develop a brand for Shawano Country that would be used to attract visitors, employees and business owners.
The public is invited to participate in a survey that can be found on the chamber’s web site at www.shawanocountry.com.