PROPOSED OUTREACH PROCESS & PLAN: “Cornville Community Vision 2032”
Background: The Cornville Community Plan was prepared with strong Yavapai County support and adopted in 2005. In 2010, the County provided guidance in the 2012Yavapai County Comprehensive Plan for creating community vision statements for “use as a tool to review proposed land use projects”(p. 90).
Introduction: Yavapai County is encouraging unincorporated communities to create vision statements as a beginning phase of its 2022 Comprehensive Planning process. The Cornville Community Association (CCA) is determined to create a vision statement, with full public involvement, between January and April 2021. The vision will cover a 10-year period from 2022 to 2032. A Vision Working Group will be part of the CCA Planning & Zoning Committee, which reports to the CCA Board of Directors. Interested Cornville residents and property owners are be invited to volunteer. Group members must be willing to actively participate in discussions; attend meetings; compile data; and prepare documents. Much of the work will be done by email, telephone, small group meetings and social media. Frequent updates will be provided by various means to keep public informed of work progress. Hopefully, CCA community meetings will be “touchpoints” for public information and discussion. The target date for completion of a “Cornville Community Vision 2032” document is May 1.
NOTE: Due to the COVID pandemic, it will be necessary to use a variety of means, aside from personal meetings, to reach residents and obtain vision input. Everyone will be encouraged to pay close attention to the CCA website, social media, email, online survey, neighborhood contacts, and more!
STEP 1 – ESTABLISH WORKING GROUP: Reach out to the community via the CCA website, social media, and word-of-mouth to find willing volunteers to serve on the Cornville Vision Working Group. (Dec-Jan)
STEP 2 - KICKOFF: Email introductory information and hold an orientation meeting with the group. The Group will develop a comprehensive contact list of CCA members, residents, property owners, businesses, organizations, and neighborhood networks. (Jan-Feb)
STEP 3 – RESEARCH: Assign tasks and start discussions to describe current conditions, identify issues, and compile findings regarding Community Character and statutory Plan Elements (Land Use, Transportation, Environmental, Water Resources, Open Space, Energy, Cost of Development, and Growth Areas), placing emphasis on those elements that apply to Cornville. (Jan-Feb)
STEP 4 – COMMUNITY SURVEYS: Encourage online response to the Yavapai County Comprehensive Planning Survey; explain and publicize widely. Also develop and distribute a Local Community Survey online and by hard copy through neighborhood networks and local outlets, allowing 30 days for response. Compile results of both surveys and write summary. (Feb-Mar)
STEP 5 – WORKSHOP: Plan and host a Vision Open House/Workshop to publicize all survey results. Participants will prioritize findings according to plan elements to help determine how the community would like to develop in the next 10 years. (Mar)
STEP 6 – DRAFT VISION: Draft a 10 to 12-page narrative document (no map, graphics, or photos) with an Introduction, selected Elements (Goals, Objectives & Recommendations), and Summary. (Mar-Apr)
STEP 7 – FINAL VISION: Present a “final” vision document for review and community acceptance. Publish and submit to Yavapai County by May 1. (Apr-May)
First Working Group Meeting Held for Cornville Vision 2032
On February 2, sixteen new Working Group volunteers and seven CCA leaders met at Windmill Park for a “meet and greet” meeting for the “Cornville Vision 2032”. Hosted by the Cornville Community Association (CCA), the meeting included orientation for a project to develop a community vision document, as part of Yavapai County Comprehensive Planning. The document will describe Cornville and how it would like to develop over the next ten years.
The meeting provided an opportunity for attendees to introduce themselves and meet one another for the first time. Judy Miller, CCA coordinator of the project, presented background about the CCA and its role; described the visioning process; and polled the attendees for their interests. A remarkable array of backgrounds and experiences were represented, by long-time residents and relative newcomers, from neighborhoods throughout the postal area. Everyone expressed enthusiasm for Cornville and the project.
The next steps are to compile comprehensive contact lists, conduct an online survey in cooperation with Yavapai County, study the results, and focus on individual planning elements. Elements of most concern are Land Use, Transportation, Open Space and Growth Areas. The group will need to describe existing conditions, define issues, and make recommendations for each element. An additional element will cover Community Character; and others are possible as planning evolves. The visioning process will involve intense work for three to four months. Because of COVID challenges, the group will form a strong communication network. Using much creativity and strong computer skills, the group must rely heavily on the internet, along with individual outreach and many small group discussions, to fully involve the public.
Formore information or to become a part of “Cornville Vision 2032”, e-mail Judy Miller at ccadirector3@gmail.com or call her at 928-649-1916.