GETTING A FIRST LOOK • Residents of Mona and representatives of Urban Planning International, LLC discuss the proposed general update plans at a public meeting.
By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Mona City hosted a Review of Vision and Goals on Tuesday as part of the update of the city general plan that approximately 50 residents attended. A second meeting, also open to the public is entitled: “Finalize Vision and Goals,” and is to be held on October 23. The Mona City General Plan Update with the city’s executive committee was held two weeks prior to the last meeting. The next meeting will be held prior to council meeting also and will begin at 6 p.m. “We were happy that so many residents turned out to make comments,” said Jonathan Jones, mayor pro tempore. “We would like to see an even larger group of our citizens attend the next meeting because this is their chance to be heard.” Urban Planning International LLC , headed by Dr. Michael Clay, a Brigham Young University professor of Urban Planning, has a long list of successful planning projects. “We also have a survey ready to go out to residents which will be sent out before the October 23 meeting,” said Clay. Residents are asked to please complete the survey for Mona City’s general plan. Residents may take the survey at www.monacity.org, click at a spot on that site to take it online, download a paper survey or go to the city office to get a paper copy of the survey. Residents may also go to: http://www.monacity.org/uploads/4/7/7/3/47738287/survey_mona.pdf for a printable copy. “The Mona City Council and Planning Commission are updating the Mona General Plan,” said Clay. “The General Plan will be used to guide the city for the next five to 10 years.” A General Plan Update Committee, composed of the Mayor and members of the city council and planning commission, as well as various committee members, merchants, and citizens at large, was created in order to guide the process of updating the plan. “In addition to information gathered at these public meetings, this anonymous survey has been assembled to gather citizen input,” said Clay. “Please take a moment to make your opinions known to the planning commission and city council by completing the survey.” Tables were placed throughout the new city center in Mona on Tuesday evening and residents were given the opportunity to view the maps and information located at each table, to ask questions and to make comments on each of the eight goals the city council and planning commission had determined to be of importance to the future of the city. Students from Brigham Young University (BYU), working with Clay, are working to create the new general plan for Mona which is now well into the process and should be completed in December. In addition to Dr. Clay, Kira Johnson, project manager, Emily Jorgensen, assistant project manager, Katilynn Harris, associate planner, Emily Meadows, assistant project manager, Quincy Haisley, presenter, Jacob Raymond, presenter, Liz Arnold, Bo Petrie, Jordan Johnson and Stevin Augustin were all present. The conditions and goals were discussed for the following headings: historic preservation, land use, economic development, housing, public facilities, transportation, environment and annexation. The goals are retention of open spaces and conservation of low density zoning; fostering the preservation and renovation of historical sites and promoting the history of Mona to residents, utilizing public open space and buildings. One goal of the planners is to find out the demand for moderate income housing. “Some of the residents preferred making their comments anonymously,” said Clay. “We provided a box for them to do so.” He said that there was quite a bit of interest concerning sidewalks and curb and gutter. Residents had many comments on those topics. A number of other historic sites, other than those the group had already identified, were suggested. “We received quite a number of good comments from the residents,” said Johnson. “We are looking forward to also getting a large number of the surveys returned.” Following the next two public comment meetings, there will be an update and feedback meeting with the executive committee. There will be further meetings with them before the draft and final of the plan are officially adopted. Developing the general plan for Mona is a process that will determine community goals and aspirations in terms of community development. The result of all the planning is called a general plan and regulates city policies on annexation, transportation, utilities, land use, recreation, and housing. These plans typically cover long-term policies that cover regulations that become law. The process of completing a plan is accompanied by public consultation. When cities engage in creation of a general plan, it will serve as the basis for regulations that may govern the city for up to five to ten years. “Our residents need to take this opportunity to be heard,” said Jones. “This is their city.”
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