Chandler's community is beckoning citizens to lend their voice in shaping the future of its Downtown Region. In a move to rely on public opinion for a city's evolution, public workshops are set to kick off this September, providing a platform for local stakeholders to influence the new Downtown Region Area Plan. According to a statement given by the City of Chandler, the purpose of these gatherings is to "take a deeper dive on the new Downtown Region Area Plan and solicit feedback from community stakeholders."
The approach appears decidedly grassroots with an emphasis on a 'community-built vision.' This vision is instrumental for guiding the city toward a development strategy that is both accurate and holistic. The city has scheduled multiple opportunities for residents to engage with the planning process, beginning with workshops titled "Scenarios: Help Shape Chandler’s Downtown Region," taking place at the Downtown Chandler Library. The workshop dates are Saturday, September 7 from 10 a.m. to noon, and Tuesday, September 10 from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
For those who can't attend the in-person workshops, a virtual workshop option will be open for participation from September 7 - 27, on the city's website. Additionally, Chandler's senior planner Alisa Petterson encourages interested individuals to share their insights through an online questionnaire, available during the same dates as the virtual workshop.
Future outreach meetings, scheduled for November 15 and 16 at the ASU Chandler Innovation Center, will use immersive 3D Augmented Reality technology to present findings and test interpretations of the community input gathered. This will provide an engaging and innovative way for attendees to explore and envision proposed scenarios for the Downtown Region's growth. The City of Chandler also notes that the updated Downtown Region Area Plan will integrate the South Arizona Avenue Plan, adopted in 2006 and amended in 2008, as well as the updated downtown portion of the Chandler Redevelopment Element, adopted in 1995.
For further details or to sign up for updates via email, interested parties can visit the Downtown Region Area Plan Update webpage. Direct additional questions to the city's Senior Planner Alisa Petterson at 480-782-3060, as mentioned in the city's announcement.
