City of Ash Grove hosts open house for residents

Invited to give input to municipality, SWMO Council of Governments on comprehensive plan
The city of Ash Grove held a comprehensive plan open house at Ash Grove City Hall on Tuesday, Aug. 13. During the come-and-go meeting, city residents were invited to view the displays set up during the meeting, including maps of Ash Grove created for purposes such as future land use and transportation activity and give their input regarding the city’s future.
Jake Phillips, an associate planner with the Southwest Missouri Council of Governments, led the early part of the meeting. He explained to those attending why the comprehensive plan was needed.
“This planning process is a regulatory process that’s required by the state of Missouri,” he said, “in order for municipal governments to have in place to manage the use of land and adopt policy, go after certain funding mechanisms and etc. It is an advisory document, so it is a living document which can be amended, changed, or portions thereof, and specifically targets certain sections.”
Phillips also told the audience that their input was important to the creation of the comprehensive plan.
“We write about everything we do in the plan and everything that is taking place,” he said, “and that includes all comments we get from you all. So, every comment we get from here tonight we (will) try to track down as much as possible. And so, what I ask you all as we get to this process is to write your comments … and if you want talking about some specifics, we want your input.”
Survey offered
In addition to asking the meeting attendees to leave their comments, Phillips also encouraged them to take a Goals and Objective Prioritization survey.
Bruce Crawford was one of those attending the open house.
“I wanted to see what their plan outline was,” he said. The town is … kind of in a position to grow some, and I’ve been hearing rumors that … there’s going to be a housing development, so I was kind of was curious (to see) if that’s actually true or if it’s a rumor.”
Also at the meeting was Gail Stover, who said he came because he wanted to ensure that his home continued to retain, or even increase, its value.
“I live in this community,” he said, “and I’ve got a pretty good investment in my home … and I want to see what’s going on and how we can improve, so (that) not only me, but everybody in the community, are able to improve the community, which means that your investment is not only being protected but increasing. Instead of going backwards, we need to go forward.”
More info
Anyone with a question or a comment regarding the comprehensive plan can email them to Phillips at jakePhillips@MissouriState.edu. Those wishing to take the Goals and Prioritization survey may do so online at www.cmcog.org/ashgrovegosurvey.