The City of Damascus will host a Town Hall meeting to discuss the strategy for development around stream corridors, slopes, and other natural features on April 6 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm at Sunnyside Community Church.

Balancing the protection of natural features with the opportunity for development is a critical issue in Damascus’ Comprehensive Planning process. On April 6,  from 1:00pm to 3:00pm residents of Damascus are invited to a Town Hall meeting at Sunnyside Community Church to discuss the draft strategy proposed by the City Council. The meeting will be hosted by the Damascus Committee for Citizen Involvement and is the third Town Hall devoted to natural features.

“The City’s Planning Commission and Development Code Topic Specific Team have spent countless hours weighing options and considering citizen’s input on natural features, to create a draft Natural Features Strategy which includes both policy and Code language recommendations.” said John Morgan, Community Development Director for the City of Damascus. “They made their recommendation to City Council which has now endorsed the draft strategy. The Council amended the draft strategy to create a 200 foot natural corridor for all streams in the City. The Town Hall will give residents an opportunity to ask questions and comment on the strategy before the Public Hearings in June.”

This will be the 11th Town Hall in a series of meetings as the city moves forward in the process to complete the Comprehensive Plan.

The purpose of comprehensive plans is to coordinate the harmonious development of cities to meet present and future needs, making wise use of resources in order to promote the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens. The City encourages all of the citizens of Damascus to come have their questions concerning the natural features strategy of the proposed Comprehensive Plan answered and have their voices heard in this vital step in moving the Comprehensive Plan forward.

The Town Hall Meeting will be:
Saturday, April 6, 2013
1:00pm – 3:00pm
Sunnyside Community Church, 16444 SE Highway 212, Damascus

Future Town Halls:
April 27—draft Comprehensive Plan and Development Code
May 18—TBD

Public Hearings on the draft Comprehensive Plan, Development Code, Public Facility Plan, and Transportation System Plan will be held in June. It is anticipated the draft plans will be on the November 2013 election ballot for citizen approval.