Vision Neshoba master plan unveiled

Vision Neshoba master plan unveiled

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The Vision Neshoba Generational Master Plan was presented to the public last Tuesday at the Ellis.

Bob Barber of Orion Planning & Design led the presentation, outlining the findings from the past year and discussing strategies for implementing the concepts. 

The presentation was followed by a Q&A session, allowing attendees to engage directly with the planners.

The generational master plan, while still in the conceptual stage, targets key areas in the community that could be slated for improvement in the future.

Proposals for the Downtown Core include establishing Hotel Philadelphia, constructing more attractive streetscapes, introducing an Artisan Market at the old police station, developing a Legacy Plaza, and installing gateway and wayfinding signage.

The plan also emphasizes improving mobility and connectivity, with proposed features like a Park Loop, the Pearl River Trail, roundabouts, sidewalk improvements, and upgrades to freight routes and networks.

In the Development Capacity section, the plan suggests the addition of shops at “Trillium Village” near Tractor Supply along with a neighborhood surrounding Trillium Village, infill housing, and Industrial Park expansion. 

Organizers noted that major upgrades like those proposed for Trillium Village would require the involvement of outside developers. 

However, these developers may wait to see the successful implementation of initial improvements to the city before committing to new retail investments.

The plan’s Economic Policy proposals include tax increment financing and establishing a Vision Neshoba Fund to leverage food and beverage revenue, among other additional economic strategies.

Development Policy recommendations focus on community planning and zoning, historic preservation, environmental policies, marketing strategies, and workforce development.

Organizers stressed that the master plan is entirely conceptual at this stage and is intended to guide the community’s future development over the next generation.

This is not a quick plan; it requires implementing strategies to navigate these ideas for the future, proponents said.

“These strategies are crafted with human hands,” Barber said. “Some will prove more feasible than others, and some will be quite successful. When systematically pursued with diligent effort, they will work, and you will see the results of your plan.”

During the Q&A, a resident asked about how to engage the community and raise public awareness of the plan.

Barber responded, “If there is a mechanism put in place to pursue the plan systematically, it will filter out over time. We could even discuss new strategies at an annual community meeting or more frequently, so this is not a once-and-done kind of thing.”

Lee Smith asked the planners for their opinions on whether Philadelphia is seen as an attractive location for industrial businesses to relocate to or expand. Barber answered with an emphatic yes.

“One of the things that really impressed me was the balance of industry that you have in your community,” said Tripp Muldrow, a member of the Orion team. 

“The industrial site (Trillium Village) is what I call a triple threat site. It’s very rare to have reasonable highway access to a site of that nature.”

He added, “Just having the supply of land to be able to do that adjacent to those transportation pieces, coupled with the diversity of industry in the community, puts you in a really good position.”

Elizabeth Frohse, co-chair of the Vision Neshoba committee, encouraged residents to explore the plan further and to read through the entire document.

“There are facts in there that you might not know about Neshoba County,” Frohse said. “They did excellent research work. Please read it. They did an amazing job, and there’s so much information in there.”

For more information about Vision Neshoba, to participate in surveys, or to view the generational master plan, visit visionneshoba.com.






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