PELHAM – The city of Pelham kicked off its comprehensive planning process with an opportunity for residents and business owners to provide feedback on services provided by the city and to share their ideas for the future.

On Tuesday, Oct. 23, there were two opportunities to provide input – from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 5:30-7 p.m. at the Pelham Civic Complex. During the kick off, residents also learned about the comprehensive planning process and took a survey about the city.

Thirty-year resident Tom Enright encouraged residents to take the time to provide feedback.

“We’re the people who live here, so we should be the main ones providing feedback,” he said. “We’ve come a long way when it comes to quality of life. I love the dog park and there are a lot of activities that people can enjoy.”

But Enright said there’s always room for improvement.

“I’d like to see some improvement when it comes to the maintenance of our streets,” he said. “I also think we need to figure out how to attract more diverse businesses – something other than strip malls.”

Large comment sheets on the tables allowed residents to write down their thoughts on topics such as economic development, city leadership, community development, infrastructure, transportation and much more.

Residents were also able to map their ideas. A digital map allowed residents to input where they think sidewalks should be installed, mark sites that are assets for the city or point out problem areas. All the information was compiled onto a map and projected on a wall so people could see what others were thinking.

The city has partnered with the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham (RPCGB) to complete this process and it’s being funded through the Building Communities Program, which is administered through the RPCGB.

Maria Hines, senior planner at the RPCGB, said it will take about a year and roughly $100,000 to complete the comprehensive plan. The RPCGB will cover 80 percent of the cost, about $80,000, and the city is responsible for about $20,000.

A comprehensive plan is used as a guide to decision-making about the natural and built environment. The plan is used for guiding decisions and developing specific actions and strategies regarding land use, development, growth management, capital improvements, community services, parks/trails/open space and transportation.

Those who did not attend the kick-off event can take the survey online at PlanPelham.com. This website is the central hub where residents can get involved with the plan by signing up for updates, giving input on issues and reviewing plan documents when they are posted.

To learn more, browse through the pages at the top of the website and visit regularly for updates regarding public meetings and new surveys.