May 21, 2009

editorial

Visioning effort looks promising

It’s exciting that Village Council has moved ahead with a community visioning/planning effort. Recently, Council approved a contract with ACP, the Columbus firm that will lead the process. Organizers will prepare for the effort over the summer, and engage the community in early fall.

This effort is both welcome and a long time coming. After several very contentious issues created distrust and dissension in the village almost a decade ago, an earlier Council turned to visioning as a way to help people find common ground. However, that Council later tabled the process before it began. Now, years have passed and some of those difficult issues — land use, affordable housing and approaches to growth, among others — are still with us. Visioning is a structured process that seems to offer a way through these complex topics in an atmosphere of mutual respect.

With ACP, the village is in good hands. The firm’s leaders — one of whom, Jamie Green, will lead the local effort — are considered pioneers in this field, having worked for decades with municipalities around the country. The group won a national-level planning award for its efforts bringing together residents of lower Manhattan after 9/11. Many who attended ACP’s presentation to Council in early April were impressed with the leaders’ low-key style, their confident professionalism and their appreciation for the uniqueness of Yellow Springs.

This excellent choice is the result of two years’ hard work by the Visioning/Planning Task Force, a group of local volunteers who spent countless hours identifying appropriate firms, narrowing down the field and checking references, among other duties. We owe the task force members our thanks for their talents, expertise, generosity and commitment to the village. And thanks to Council, for funding and supporting the effort.

Like most small towns, the village faces significant challenges. Unlike most others, we meet those challenges with a rich tradition of activist strategies and creative solutions. This visioning effort is an opportunity to extend that proud heritage into our future.

—Diane Chiddister