Forest Park planning staff update impact-fee study and expand public-arts board membership

Savanna Irons Kumasa, interim planning director for Forest Park, said the city is continuing work with consultants on a development impact-fee study and expects further meetings with the advisory committee next week to advance a draft.

Kumasa said the department has also begun a draft citywide plaza rehabilitation playbook to guide modernization of aging plazas and identified Jonesboro Road, Main Street and Forest Parkway as priority commercial corridors for revitalization. "We did just provide them an update of the impact fee advisory committee," she said.

Kumasa told the commission she will bring a text amendment to the planning commission that would change membership requirements for the Public Arts Review Board by removing a mandatory DDA seat and allowing a City of Forest Park resident to serve. "Previously, it was required for 1 member of the DDA to serve on the board, but we are updating the membership requirements to allow a City Of Forest Park resident community community member to be a part of the board," she said.

The change affects how the city will review public-art and public-space proposals provided by the department. Kumasa also said the department is recruiting for a Planner I to strengthen development-review capacity and is working on branding for the Planning and Community Development Department to clarify services for residents.

The planning commission meeting taking up the text amendment was announced as open to the public; Kumasa did not provide a firm date for construction of the city center or rec center projects discussed, saying design work is ongoing. The commission will review the proposed text amendment as part of the regular public process.