On Tuesday evening, September 27, Lakeland held its first Public Engagement Meeting for the upcoming Comprehensive Plan. Officials said about thirty residents attended the meeting and described it as a fruitful meeting where topics ranging from economic development, transportation, park and recreation, land use and housing were covered. However, the city’s hope is to see more involvement moving forward so a full spectrum of citizens have an opportunity to shape the future of Lakeland.
The current Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 2006 and most residents and city staff seem to agree it never really reflected what citizens want today and probably didn’t reflect what people wanted then. As far back as 2018, under the title “Design Playbook” at an MPC and BOC meeting, there was discussion on a 2006 Comprehensive Plan and 2013 Land Development Regulations strengths and deficiencies. Later those plans evolved into what was known as “Lakeland 2040 Vision”, and in 2021 it was adopted by the Board of Commissioners (BOC) as a priority for the city. Today that plan is called PULSE which stands for Preserve, Unify, Live, Strategize, Educate. If you want your voice heard, there are still many ways to participate but City Hall encourages you to speak up now. Officials urge residents to consider key questions like: What do you want Lakeland to look like in the coming years? Where do you want roads to go? What businesses should be located where? Should certain pieces of land be saved or developed? What are your desires for parks and trails? Those are just some examples, but residents have the opportunity to add ideas that are not currently being considered.
The next meeting should be held sometimes in early 2023, but in the meantime there are ways to let your voice be heard. An online survey (Survey Monkey) has received approximately two hundred responses so far and will be open until October 7, 2022 (link below) so there is still some time.
If you would like to take survey, go to: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Lakeland_PULSE
For more information about the comprehensive plan go to: https://city-of-lakeland-kimley-horn.hub.arcgis.com/
