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Public's Redevelopment Input Carried Little Weight
(posted August 6)
The Speed Zone Charette could be considered more of a charade for walk-in
participants who thought they were contributing ideas to be integrated
into the Speed Zone Master Plan.
American Structurepoint Project Manager Shane Burkhardt explained that
ideas gathered from walk-in participants in the 2006 Charette Speed Zone
were not used.
"To be quite frank, that information was not used," he told the
Area Two Steering Committee during the discussion to host the Area 2 Charette,
scheduled for August 21-23 at John Knox Presbyterian Church.
"This is not the process for the casual participant," he said,
explaining that Ball State University procedures for conducting a charette
differ from the National Charette Institute. He said a charette is designed for participants that are "heavily"
committed to the process because it has a defined start and end. The charette
requires participants to provide defined details like sidewalk width and
crosswalk locations.
"Is it the process to allow people to casually be involved? Absolutely
not. That is not the correct process and that is not the way that we can
accommodate that. We can make them feel like they are participating, but
there is a difference. You are making feel like they are participating,
not actually in a way that their participation would be meaningful."
Burhkardt said.
He said the casual input involvement comes after the charette is finished
and they can contribute their likes and dislikes once the information is
posted. People can fill out comments cards. That is more of a casual input.
The information did not set well with some of the steering committee members.
Speedway Redevelopment Commission member Bill Jones wanted to know if walk-ins
would be welcomed to participate.
Jeff Kingsbury of Mainstreet LTD proposed having a web site survey posted
prior to the charette to obtain public information. Mansur Real Estate
Services and Mainstreet are the serving as Area Two's master developer.
Redevelopment Commission Executive Director Scott Harris was "shocked"
that Burkhardt would say that and does not know why Burkhardt did. Harris
contends that information gathered from walk-in participants were tabulated
by American Structurepoint and Ball State University and submitted. Harris
is convinced that input from walk-ins is in some of the illustrations.
The steering committee granted Speedway Jr. High School principal John
Dizney's request to have his administrative team be involved even though
only three members live in Speedway. Jones said the teachers and administrators
have a vested interest in the area and thought they should participate.
Burkhardt stressed the steering committee and SRC members be the cheerleaders
for this outreach to get people involved.
Harris will be sending out invitations from the steering committee to participants
in the charette and focus group.
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