Months of work culminate in two public meetings.
Hope, curiosity and expectation. Those were the emotions running through the crowd as residents gathered at Bessemer City Hall for two pivotal meetings. They came seeking answers concerning the future of their city and they believed those answers would come during an update on the Bessemer Gameplan for Growth - Comprehensive Plan.
The Planning and Zoning Commission convened first, welcoming familiar faces as well as newcomers to the process. Shortly after the Planning and Zoning meeting, the doors opened for the Public Workshop, which attracted a diverse crowd of residents eager to see how Bessemer voices had been woven into plans for the city's future.
It was immediately evident that this update was not just a set of technical recommendations. It reflected Bessemer’s heart and soul, forged through months of collaboration involving the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham, the consultant company PlaceMakers LLC and many people who care deeply about Bessemer. Since December 2023, community input has been received through an integrated system of engagement strategies, resulting in more than 1,300 connections, including 1,210 visits to the dedicated website, www.bessemergameplan.com.
Attendees at the update meeting, held on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, learned details about the Comprehensive Plan including recommendations for updating zoning and other codes, downtown redevelopment, including food trucks, more events and an entertainment district, neighborhood stabilization, and changes along the Bessemer Super Highway that could include residential living. Transportation improvements were presented, including changing selected streets from one-way to two-way traffic and creating lanes for pedestrians and bike riders.
Click below to review the presentation slides:
Alfedo Acoff has been at every meeting leading up to this day. She spoke up, her voice carrying the weight of an experienced planner: “This is a real overall plan for the City of Bessemer, which is the first one developed that really covers historic development, transportation, the environment, and the future."
Bessemer City Councilman Chester Porter described the plan as "achievable," while Mayor Kenneth Gulley urged the public to be patient, particularly regarding challenges such as removing blighted properties. He pointed out that in cases where ownership is divided among multiple heirs, “you have to go to places like Detroit, Chicago, and Philadelphia to track down people who have a say over property they’re never coming back to in Bessemer.”
Click below to review the draft plan:
Your final impressions are still being collected before the plan moves forward towards adoption. Comments on the plan can be submitted here through Friday, October 18.
As the work continues, the team will refine the plan based on input gathered during the latest meeting. A public hearing is scheduled for November, with the Planning and Zoning Commission set to consider adopting the plan. The final step will take place in December, when it goes to the Bessemer City Council for endorsement.
Stay tuned for schedule specifics.
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