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Planning commission narrows plaza-name candidates, forwards curated list to council for public input
Summary
Commissioners reviewed proposed names for the new downtown plaza, eliminated a few options (including Union Pacific and Junction), and agreed to forward a curated shortlist to the city council for a public survey and final selection.
The Morgan City Planning Commission on May 20 reviewed a list of proposed names for the new downtown alley-and-plaza project and agreed to forward a curated list of candidate names to the city council for public feedback.
City planner Jake presented a list of names including Whistle Stop Plaza, Trackside Plaza, Crossroads Plaza, Iron Horse Plaza, Heritage Plaza, Silver Rail Plaza, Commercial Square, Morgan Commons and others. Commissioners discussed word choices—plaza, place, square, courtyard—and the desirability of names that nod to the city’s rail history.
Commissioners agreed to remove some options from the staff list (the commission discussed eliminating “Union Pacific Plaza” and “Junction Plaza” to avoid confusion or potential branding issues) and suggested the council present a curated subset to the public for ranking and comment. Commissioner Mark Wheatley recommended the final public survey include a prompt to ask whether respondents prefer an ending such as “Plaza,” “Square,” “Place,” or “Courtyard.”
Staff said the recommended process is: planning commission picks roughly five candidate names, city council reviews and adjusts as it sees fit, and then staff solicits public input via an online survey or similar outreach before the council selects a final name. The commission did not adopt a final name at the meeting.
