Town, advisory board members offer input

Dec. 11. By Jon Show. Cornelius residents and members of the town’s volunteer advisory boards attended events earlier this week to help guide the development of a new bicycle and pedestrian plan, Connect Cornelius, which town officials and consultants hope to adopt next year.

The town’s most recent pedestrian plan was adopted in 2012, and the latest bicycle plan was approved in 2016. Those plans led to the construction of additional sidewalks and multiuse paths, the installation of lighted crosswalks, and safety enhancements such as road-share signs and dedicated bike lanes.

The Woody Washam Community Room was reserved Tuesday evening for a two-hour public drop-in session, where residents reviewed maps and offered suggestions for improvements, as well as broader ideas for better integrating walking and biking into town roads, greenways, multiuse paths, and sidewalks.

Separately, community planning consultants from Charlotte-based McAdams and Bolton & Menk met with elected officials and members of advisory boards — including Parks and Recreation, the Transportation Advisory Board, and the Planning Board — to help shape a strategic vision for the plan.

Discussions focused on the overall vision for the town’s walking and biking network, areas of greatest need, and safety concerns, including education, signage, and crosswalks.

Consultants outlined a six-month planning process that will include community engagement, a needs assessment, and development of a draft plan. The plan is expected to be presented to residents for feedback in the spring, followed by review and approval by the town board, with formal adoption scheduled for the summer.

Editor’s note: The author is a member of the town’s Parks and Recreation board.