At a joint City Council and Planning Commission work session, city staff presented its draft implementation report for 2007 on Roanoke’s Comprehensive Master Plan, Vision 2001/2020. In all, 81 of 157 actions (52 percent) have been completed.

Although milestone points have been reached on these actions, in many cases the city continues to follow through with supplemental or ongoing implementation tasks.

The city is actively engaged and moving toward completion on another 56 actions from Vision 2001/2020. In all, the city is making significant progress on 87 percent of actions in the plan. This is noteworthy as we are only in year six of the 20-year plan.

Specific highlights from the past year include the following:

Housing and Neighborhoods
• Adoption of a new subdivision ordinance that encourages traditional neighborhood development.
• Continued adaptive reuse of historic buildings and market-rate residential development on former city property (Colonial Green, Madison Fields).
• Renovate Roanoke preservation fair—part of outreach efforts to owners of older homes to encourage investment and renovation.

Environmental and Cultural Resources
• Adoption of a new stormwater ordinance to protect the quality of the city’s watershed.
• Adoption of a tax incentive for energy efficient construction.
• Adoption of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
• Adoption of the Public Art Plan.

Economic Development
• Continued development of the city’s brownfield program with additional EPA funding and preparation of a brownfield plan.
• Development of a series of entrepreneurial programs for start-up businesses.

Transportation and Infrastructure
• Completion of Street Design Guidelines that provide guidance for planning and implementing attractive streets to serve all forms of transportation.
• Cooperation with Roanoke Public Schools on a Safe Routes to Schools program (infrastructure funding and bike and pedestrian planning).

Public Safety and Services
• Implementation of the Fire-EMS business plan continues with three new fire stations (Headquarters/New Fire Station 1 is completed, Williamson Road Fire Station is under construction, Northwest Fire Station is in planning stage).
• On-line plan submittal and electronic plan reviews implemented.

People and Human Development
• Implementation of the Library Master Plan (physical improvements to Jackson Park and Gainsboro additions and new programs—Emerging Artists, classes on business and finance).
• Implementation of pilot health program in the Hurt Park neighborhood with the Health Department and other city departments.
• Formation of the Roanoke Valley Alleghany Regional Advisory Council on Homelessness and development of a 10-year plan to end homelessness that is inclusive of other localities.

Adopted in 2001, Vision 2001/2020 provides a broad vision and goals for development of the city over a 20-year period beginning in 2001. According to the plan, “In the year 2020, Roanoke is a growing, dynamic, and sustainable city that is focused on the future with a strong, diverse economy, and a balanced and growing population that values and enjoys a high quality of life in a safe and attractive environment.”

The Comprehensive Plan Implementation Report will be posted on the city’s Web site by Nov. 30 (www.roanokeva.gov). For more information, please contact Ian Shaw, senior planner for the city, at 853-5808.

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