FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

City of Morgantown Seeks Public Input on Comprehensive Plan Update

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The City of Morgantown is launching an update to its Comprehensive Plan, called Morgantown 2033.
 
The last update to the City’s Comprehensive Plan was adopted by Morgantown City Council in 2013. The Plan is a living document that local officials and community leaders use to guide decision making on development and prioritize community projects, programs, and initiatives.
 
“The Comprehensive Plan is so crucial to creating the Morgantown we all want,” said Morgantown Mayor Jenny Selin. “The plan helps shape the city’s policy decisions for the next 10 years.
 
Community input is a critical part of the Comprehensive Plan Update. To ensure that everyone has an opportunity to participate in the planning process, there will be two public meetings.
 
An in-person meeting will be held on March 3 at 6 p.m. at the Morgantown Event Center. 
Participants can park in the Morgantown Event Center Parking Garage attached to the hotel. Once in the building, signs will help direct citizens to the meeting. Parking validations will be given at the registration table. In accordance with City Council Resolution 2021-32, all participants, and attendees of all public, in-person meetings shall wear a face covering at all times to limit the airborne spread of COVID-19.
 
Another meeting will be held virtually on March 5 at 10 a.m.  Preregistration for the virtual meeting is encouraged, but not required. For more information or to register for the virtual meeting, please visit the city’s website, contact the Development Services Department at 304-284-7431, or email bmcdonald@morgantownwv.gov.
 
“If you want to have a say in how the city sets its priorities, then this is your chance to make your voice heard,” said Selin. “I really hope everyone will take advantage of one of these opportunities to provide their input. Afterall, this is your plan!”
 
The same information will be presented at both meetings. If you are unable to attend either of the meetings, a recording of the presentation and meeting materials will be available on the city’s website. 
 
The city has hired a planning and design team led by the firm Rhodeside and Harwell to assist with this plan update. The planning team is comprised of city staff, planning consultants and a steering committee. The city’s update is being done in collaboration with plan updates to the Long-Range Transportation Plan for the Morgantown Monongalia County Metropolitan Planning Organization, as well as the Monongalia County Comprehensive Plan and surrounding municipalities.
 
“This plan is one of the most important assets that a city develops,” said Morgantown City Manager, Kim Haws. “From a city staff standpoint, it serves as our roadmap for what we want to accomplish over the next decade. It’s so important that the public have input into this document, and we’ve created a pretty strong public engagement campaign to try and get them involved.”
 
For more information on how you can get involved and updates on the planning process, please visit our website www.morgantownwv.gov/morgantown2033.

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