Comprehensive Plan Update 2020

As Newport continues to experience significant redevelopment, it important that our comprehensive plan evolve and be updated to ensure it continues promoting a shared vision. In early 2020, Newport began updating the City’s Comprehensive Plan, a process that will consist of many public meetings and allow for ample public input over the next year or so.

What is the Comprehensive Plan?

The Comprehensive Plan is Newport’s most important document regarding growth, development, and change. It establishes government policies to help guide public and private activities as they relate to land use, transportation, economic development and resource conservation. The Comprehensive Plan is the basis for land development regulations and decisions (rezonings, conditional use permits), capital improvements (parks, infrastructure), transportation, environmental and historic resource protection initiatives.

The City of Newport’s last Comprehensive Plan update was completed in 2015. The update process will conform with all statutory requirements as outlined in Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) Chapter 100.

Newport's Current Comprehensive Plan is available here.

Importance of Public Engagement

The importance of public engagement in this process cannot be overstated. This 2020 Plan Update will be YOUR plan and must reflect the community’s vision, goals, and priorities for the future. Every step of the update process relies on participation from Newport’s diverse community in order to ensure that these needs, desires, and values are reflected in the Plan.

Why should I care?

The policies and implementation strategies in the Comprehensive Plan ultimately effect your day-to-day experience in the city. The plan provides guidance on improvements to future mobility and travel options, what new development should look like, priority locations for park improvements, and how we interact with our social, economic, and natural environments. Whether you love Newport just as it is, or feel we need change, sharing your voice during the Comprehensive Plan Update process is one of the most direct ways to influence the future of our community.

Who decides what goes into the Comprehensive Plan?

The policies and recommendations in the Comprehensive Plan Update will be based on input from a 25+ member Steering Committee comprised of Newport residents, business owners, and City officials, as well as from the community through online surveys, public forums, and community events. Working with CT Consultants and Human Nature, the Steering Committee will spend many hours during 2020 collecting and reviewing data, gathering comments from the community working to understand important issues and shared priorities, and developing updated strategies for the Comprehensive Plan.

City staff will post materials developed over the course of the planning project. Please check back often.

Sign up for updates, meeting notices and surveys here.

Join our Facebook Group here.

Public Engagement

Every step of this process relies on participation from Newport’s diverse community in order to ensure that their needs, desires, and values are reflected in the Plan. While typically we would hold open houses, public meetings and group town hall gatherings, restrictions on public gatherings have limited our ability to hold in person public engagement events.  Nevertheless, the importance of public engagement cannot be overstated.

Focus Groups

Based on the feedback from the NewportFORWARD Virtual Public Forum and the Steering Committee, three areas were chosen to focus on in more detail:  Newport’s Riverfront, the Central Business District, and the Route 9 Corridor / West Side Neighborhood. 

Riverfront Focus Group

Agenda
PowerPoint Presentation
You Tube Link: https://youtu.be/g_AmNedytIk

Central Business District Focus Group

Agenda
PowerPoint Presentation
You Tube Link: https://youtu.be/HzY6ivKecOc

Route 9 / Westside Focus Group (Upcoming)

Agenda
PowerPoint Presentation
You Tube Link

The NewportFORWARD Public Forum

The NewportFORWARD Virtual Public Forum was held June 18, 2020 and was open for public comment through July 5^th. 

To review the Public Forum Materials, go here: https://stories.opengov.com/newportky/published/5JEDK2NSE 

Or you can review a bullet list of the goals and objectives here.

The forum included an overview presentation of the planning process, with the initial discovery findings and the draft goals for the City’s future. The virtual platform lead participants through a series of topics including strong vibrant neighborhoods, economic prosperity, environmental sustainability and others, allowing them to provide thoughts, concerns, and ideas about how the City can successfully move forward in the next ten years.

Input Through Online Surveys

The first of several NewportFORWARD Surveys was conducted April 20 through May 17th. The summary results are here.

Steering Committee Materials

Steering Committee Meeting # 1 March 12, 2020

Agenda
Demographic Trends
Interview Summary
Presentation Materials
Committee Homework - 2015 Plan Audit
Summary of 1st Mtg on March 12, 2020

Steering Committee Meeting #2 April 2, 2020

Agenda (revised)
Homework Responses (2015 Goals and Objectives)
2003 Festival Park Rendering
Meeting #2 Presentation Materials and Homework
Updated List of Issues First Cut Goals April 2, 2020
Steering Committee #2 Teleconference Recording 
Steering Committee Meeting #2 Summary

Survey Released April 20, 2020

Press Release
Survey Link

Steering Committee Meeting #3 April 30, 2020

Steering Committee Meeting #3 Agenda
Updated Draft Goals and Objectives
Festival Park Summary Comments

June 18, 2020

Public Forum Invitation

Virtual Public Forum Link (accessible at 6 pm)

Steering Committee Meeting #4 July 30, 2020

Steering Committee Meeting #4 Agenda
Updated Goals and Objectives (after Public Forum)
Steering Committee Meeting Presentation