POLK COUNTY PUBLIC INPUT MEETINGS: Northeast Polk County Beltway Polk County Comprehensive Land-Use Plan The Northeast Polk County Beltway proposal is speeding through planning process with minimal citizen input. Polk County gave a contract to Snyder & Associates (from Ankeny) for a feasibility study. Polk County also gave a contract to CR Planning (from Minneapolis) to create a new Comprehensive Land-Use Plan. These two studies could be later combined to create the NE Beltway and thousands of acres of development along with it. Citizens must participate during this process to emphasize smart growth and the value of prime farmland. Public input meetings are happening soon. Please plan on attending the Elkhart meeting about the NE Beltway and a meeting in February about the Comprehensive Plan. All of the February meetings will have the same content. NE Beltway: Elkhart Community Center, 204 W. Main Street, Thursday, January 27, 5-7 pm >This meeting will include maps of the NE Beltway with alternative routes and documentation produced in the course of the study. Polk Couty Comprehensive Land-use Plan: Jester Park Lodge, 11407 NW Jester Park Dr. Polk City, Wednesday Feb. 2., 7:00 pm North Polk High School, Alleman, Thursday Feb. 3, 7:00 pm Polk County Public Works, 5885 NE 14th Street, Wednesday Feb. 9, 7:00 SE Polk Junior High School, 801 NE University Ave., 7:00 >These meetings will be to discuss the process of creating the new Polk County Comprehensive Land-Use Plan. Citizens can sign up for various committees at these meetings. There will be committees to represent various regions of the County, and committees for housing and economic development. These committees are a great opportunity- sign up! 1000 Friends of Iowa is recommending several changes to Polk County regarding the public participation process. A lot of activity has been happening surrounding the Northeast Polk County Beltway study; however, crucial information and decision-making has been shared amongst a small group of hand-picked people. Although we are opposed to this project, we must currently focus on changing the planning process and circulation of information. WHAT YOU CAN DO: Communicate with Polk County by email, phone, or at these meetings with the following recommendations: . Early and continuous public involvement . A list of opportunities and expected timelines that the public can be involved in transportation and land-use planning of NE Polk County . Any maps that have been created since September of 2003 detailing alternatives being studied or land-use within the corridor . Interested citizens should receive notices of meetings of the Project Management Team and the Northeast Beltway Coalition. (these meetings DO occur, they just don't involve the public) . Meeting minutes of the Project Management Team and the Northeast Beltway Coalition should be available to interested citizens Polk County: Email [log in to unmask] or call 286-3120 Stephanie Weisenbach 1000 Friends of Iowa 3524 Sixth Avenue, Des Moines 288-5364 www.kfoi.org [log in to unmask] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]