Smithfield reviews General Plan update; consultants recommend edits, public hearing next month

Smithfield City Council members reviewed a proposed General Plan update on Feb. 11 as consultants from J-U-B Engineers summarized recommended edits, data sources and next steps. The planning document is intended to replace the 2017 plan and serve as a living guide for land use, transportation and growth policies.

Brian Carver of J-U-B Engineers said the plan uses population projections from the Kem C. Gardner Institute and that county-level projections have proven reliable, though small-area forecasts can vary. He told councilmembers that the document will be corrected for typos, that appendices and page numbering will be revised, and that Land Use Goal #6 will be relocated under Parks & Recreation. Carver said a hyperlink to the Transportation Master Plan will be added rather than embedding the entire master plan.

"The policies can be changed or updated any time the goal is met or outside events change the need," Carver said, describing the General Plan as a guiding policy document rather than a static rule.

City Manager Justin Lewis and councilmembers asked about the importance of population projections and the factors the city tracks (annexations, rezonings, water and roads). Carver said the 10–15-year projections are useful for planning but should be reviewed periodically. J-U-B Engineers will send corrected drafts to the council; staff expects a public hearing at next month’s council meeting and a tentative vote in April.

Why it matters

The General Plan shapes long-term decisions about zoning, transportation, parks and infrastructure. The council’s decision to move forward toward a public hearing establishes a timeline for adoption and for staff to incorporate council edits.

What’s next

J-U-B Engineers will incorporate requested changes and circulate a revised draft to the council. A public hearing is planned during March; staff anticipates a tentative adoption vote in April.