The latest Ponderings from Paducah is written by Director of Planning Carol Gault, who reflects on her two years as director and the City's goal of increasing housing options, with a particular focus on the Southside through the Southside Neighborhood Revitalization Plan.
Ponderings from Paducah - Two Years of Perspective about Increasing Housing and Growing the Community
It’s hard to believe I have been serving in my role as Director of Planning for a little more than two years now. When I think back to all the things I’ve learned over these last 24 months, what seems to be the most prevalent is how planning truly is influenced by the needs of our community.
With all the economic development announcements, housing has been one of the most important topics discussed internally. How do we create more housing? How do we ensure homes are affordable? What is affordable housing in today’s economy? How do we enhance accessibility? These questions are asked frequently in Paducah’s Planning Department…not only internally but also by those looking to relocate to our community, by those building homes in our area, and by those looking to invest in Paducah.
Having previously served multiple terms on the Paducah Board of Commissioners, worked as a private real estate developer, and been involved in economic development through the Downtown Main Street program, I believed I had a solid understanding of how decisions were made in city government, particularly in planning and zoning. My professional experience and formal education gave me confidence in my knowledge of the process. Yet, after stepping into this role, I quickly realized that even with that background, I had only seen part of the picture. I never fully appreciated the many factors shaping every planning and zoning decision.
Decisions truly are community-driven! They are also business-driven but above all else they are need-driven. The Southside Neighborhood Revitalization Plan has been one of the best-case studies of housing I have seen in a long time. From community-driven focus groups to a neighborhood revitalization plan adopted by the Board of Commissioners, each step has been based on community need. We finally have an adopted plan and incentives to help create new homes on vacant lots as well as resources available to those who want help with their existing structures. To interface more with the community, we have held neighborhood walks, hosted community meals, and conducted public hearings. We have been available on Saturdays at the McCracken County Public Library and are currently planning a fall event to celebrate what has been done to date.
Yet, we still want to hear from you, our community! To that end, we will have a booth at the August 8th Celebration at Coleman Park. We will have information on what is to come, what is currently available, and some cool swag to share with our neighborhood partners.
Plus, we encourage you to visit us at the Planning Department on the 2nd floor of City Hall any weekday, and we want you to share your voice! Without you, we could not continue to grow.
(Written by Director of Planning Carol Gault)
