During a recent city council meeting, the agenda was adopted unanimously, paving the way for discussions on various community matters. The public forum featured a significant address from Laren Bailey, a representative of Devco and BlackRock Homes, who raised concerns regarding recent updates to the city's comprehensive plan.

Bailey expressed surprise at the lack of communication surrounding substantial changes made to the plan in March, which he claimed were not adequately discussed during preliminary application meetings. He highlighted that many stakeholders, including property owners in mixed-use areas, were unaware of the updates, leading to minimal public turnout at hearings.

Bailey specifically criticized the process, noting that there were no stakeholder group meetings or meaningful public outreach prior to the changes. He also stated that his name was mentioned in support of the amendments without his consent, clarifying that he had not reviewed or endorsed the updates as he had not been properly informed.

The concerns raised by Bailey underscore potential gaps in the city's communication strategy regarding significant policy changes, prompting questions about the intent and transparency of the planning process. The council's response to these issues remains to be seen as they continue to navigate community development and stakeholder engagement.