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Consultants outline Rolla comprehensive plan update, cite growth and university opportunities
Summary
H3 consultant Tim Bridal told the Rolla City Planning and Zoning Commission that the comprehensive plan update will replace the 2006 plan and is moving from existing-conditions analysis toward draft recommendations after public workshops and a 820-response community survey.
Tim Bridal of H3, the consultant team lead, presented an update on phases 1 and 2 of Rolla’s comprehensive plan update and shared draft vision, goals and supporting strategies developed with a steering committee and public outreach.
Bridal said the update will replace the 2006 plan and will include a vision statement, goals, a future land-use map, parks and trails plan, transportation recommendations and a strategic implementation plan. "We are currently at the conclusion of phase 2," Bridal said, adding that the team has conducted steering-committee meetings, two public workshops and an online community survey with 820 responses, 730 of which were city residents.
The consultants’ existing-conditions analysis shows Rolla as a regional employment center with roughly 12,500 jobs inside city limits but only about 3,000 of those held by Rolla residents; approximately 9,500 workers commute into Rolla while about 4,000 residents commute out. Bridal said that creates both a challenge and an opportunity to retain graduates and attract jobs that match residents’ skill sets.
Bridal summarized three population-growth scenarios to 2050: a straight-line trend projecting about 24,000 residents; a micropolitan-competition scenario projecting about 25,200; and a slower-U.S.-growth scenario projecting roughly 23,000. He said the city will need roughly 1,000 to 2,200 new housing units over the next 15 years across those scenarios.
The consultants recommended three economic strategies tied to institutional partners: attract companies that hire Missouri S&T graduates; support university-affiliated startups and commercialization; and develop amenities and mixed-use districts to retain workers and students. "The city's future economic development opportunities are going to be driven by Phelps Health and to an even greater extent Missouri S and T," Bridal said.
Commissioners and members of the public asked about steering-committee membership, resident versus nonresident survey responses, commuting patterns and how to convert institutional presence into local jobs. Bridal said the steering committee includes city staff and representatives from Phelps Health, Missouri S&T, Rolla Public Schools and other community organizations, and that the project will move into drafting plan recommendations for draft review and continued public comment.
Bridal closed by listing nine draft plan goals (community identity; housing; economic growth; downtown revitalization; institutional growth; mobility; parks and environment; public facilities; and governance) and invited commissioners to review a fuller presentation posted on the city’s website.
