The City of Tampa is asking for residents’ help in planning for the future of the community. In order to hear input from all people, they are hosting town halls. Some issues that will be discussed include how the city prepares and recovers from storm events, how to grow sustainably, ways to improve quality of life.
Planning for Tampa’s Tomorrow
The series of town halls is called Planning for Tampa’s Tomorrow. It’s a way city leaders can hear the public’s ideas, questions and concerns regarding major planning initiatives. These are the issues that will shape Tampa’s transportation, growth, and development.
The City’s Planning Department, Sustainability & Resilience Officer, and the City Mobility Department will cohost each town hall. They will also be available to answer questions and receive feedback from the public.
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Representatives from the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission will also discuss the ongoing update to the City’s Comprehensive Plan. This will guide growth & development citywide through the year 2045. Each town hall will touch on land use, climate preparedness, energy efficiency, water conservation, transportation, and other key topics that affect how prepared Tampa is for the future.
Planning together
“All of the information we receive will be used to guide programs, plans, and policies that directly influence how Tampa will grow and change in the future,” said Stephen Benson, Director of the City of Tampa Planning Department. “Together, these three planning efforts will touch every neighborhood in Tampa, marking the City’s largest planning endeavor in its history.”
“We are creating the community’s first-ever Climate Equity and Action Plan,” said Whit Remer, the City of Tampa’s Sustainability & Resilience Officer. “We’ll be here to answer questions about putting solar on your roof, weatherizing doors and windows, days getting hotter and longer, flooding, and more. We want to hear from you and encourage you to share your story with city officials.”
The City of Tampa is also developing its first mobility plan, called Tampa MOVES.
Though these plans focus on Tampa’s future, the projects, policies, and other elements included in these plans will have immediate and lasting impacts on things like:
- How Tampa residents get around
- Where new growth and development will occur
- How to prepare for climate change and natural disasters
“Please come to these town halls and tell us more about where you want to walk, where you want to bike, and if you’d like to take transit, where you see those connections,” said Brandie Miklus, the City of Tampa’s Infrastructure & Mobility Program Coordinator. “We want to learn how you’d like to get around Tampa and the mobility issues you face today.”
Major Planning Initiatives
M.O.V.E.S. (Mobility, Opportunity, Vision, Equity, and Safety) is the city’s first-ever citywide mobility plan. Once complete it will recommend a set of transportation objectives, priorities, and initiatives for the next 30 years. The plan will incorporate the city’s Vision Zero Action Plan, a cultural shift in how the city approaches safety. The town halls are your chance to share your personal experiences in transportation and how the city can create better connections, whether you bike, walk, drive, or take transit.
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The Climate Action & Equity Plan will make recommendations to City government and the community on how to transition to renewable energy and increase resilience to climate change. As part of the plan, the city is working with the CLEO Institute to make equity a centerpiece of the city’s plans.
The town halls will also provide updates on Live Grow Thrive 2045, the planning effort to update Tampa’s Comprehensive Plan. The plan communicates the city’s vision and goals for the future of neighborhoods, mobility, water resources, and other key planning areas.
Meeting Dates
- Tuesday, October 18, 12:00 p.m.–Virtual Meeting (Advance registration is required. You will receive a link to the virtual meeting upon registration.)
- Monday, October 24, 5:30 p.m. at Forest Hills Community Center – 724 W 109th Ave, Tampa, FL 33612
You can attend the town halls in-person or at the virtual session. Register here.
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