By CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT / Staff Writer

DUNNAVANT VALLEY – Shelby County is looking to the future of Dunnavant Valley by holding a community workshop for residents and stakeholders.

Shelby County Development Services staff will be conducting a community workshop Sept. 13 from 6-8 p.m. at the Mt Laurel Elementary School cafeteria as part of its efforts to prepare a Dunnavant Valley Small Area Plan.

Building on the 2004 Shelby County Comprehensive Plan while focusing on the needs of the Dunnavant Valley, the plan will provide a guide for future growth and development, according to a release from Shelby County Development Services.

Eric Womack, senior planner of Shelby County Development Services, said residents will be able to voice concerns about the valley’s future.

“(Residents should) think of what they like and what they don’t like about the valley. Not only do we want to know what the problems are, but what they like about the valley,” Womack said.

Residents and stakeholders of the Dunnavant Valley, which is divided primarily by Shelby County 41 and bordered by Oak and Karr Mountains and Double Oak and Coosa Mountains from U.S. 280 to the Shelby County line, are invited to participate.

During the meeting, residents and stakeholders will have an opportunity to visually prioritize issues by placing adhesive dots on a list of issues next to those they deem most important.

The final phase of the workshop will center on generating a list of general goals to address these prioritized issues and concerns.

The plan process will be guided by a 19-member steering committee of Dunnavant Valley residents recommending from community input opportunities a proper course of development for the Dunnavant Valley. This process will involve two community workshops and two presentations.

Womack said the committee is a mix of residents of Highland Lakes, Dunnavant and Shelby County 41.

After refining goals and developing a strategy to implement plan objectives, the county staff will prepare a draft plan, which the steering committee will review and provide comments. County staff will then make a presentation to the Dunnavant Valley community, soliciting feedback, according to the release.

A final presentation of the plan will be made to the Shelby County Planning Commission, which is the final authority on the adoption of the Dunnavant Valley Small Area Plan.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Shelby County staff – Eric Womack at 620-6629 or Kristine Goddard at 620-6612.