Here’s what people said they’d like to see in Oak Ridge

 

An estimated 400 people attended a kick-off meeting for an Oak Ridge City Blueprint at Grove Theater on Thursday.

Among other things, people were asked what type of project they would like to see in the community. Here are some responses. This list does not include all responses.

• A bicycle path or greenway on the old railway that runs from the Y-12 National Security Complex, through central Oak Ridge past Jefferson Middle School, and to Melton Lake Drive.
• A roundabout at the five-way intersection of Providence and East Pasadena roads, and East Tennessee, North Tulane, and Pennsylvania avenues (many residents refer to it as “malfunction junction”). This proposal had both support and opposition.
• A roundabout or light at Melton Lake Drive and Emory Valley Road (this roundabout also had support and opposition).
• Remove unused or dilapidated buildings.
• An airport.
• Sidewalks and crosswalk lights in downtown Oak Ridge.
• A box culvert to connect Ernie’s Creek in east Oak Ridge to Melton Hill Lake.
• A handicap-inclusive playground at Melton Lake Park.
• A senior center and active senior living.
• City-wide high-speed wireless Internet.
• An improvement to the crosswalk on Melton Lake Drive because drivers are not stopping.
• Upgrade or modify a different building for the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter.
• Keep Elm Grove Park as a park.
• Make city parks more inviting, including with picnic tables, benches, and recycling containers.
• Maintain and clean roads and sidewalks for “curb appeal.”

The city staff and board members were accepting verbal and written comments, said Kathryn Baldwin, Oak Ridge Community Development director.

“Our goal is to listen,” Baldwin said.

People marked the location of their homes with pins on a map.

Several boards were at the meeting. They included, for example, Explore Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board, Oak Ridge Board of Zoning Appeals, Oak Ridge Environmental Quality Advisory Board, and Oak Ridge Land Bank.

“The biggest thing we’d like to see is a bigger, upgraded animal shelter,” said Edward and Amy Springer, who are affiliated with SCAR (Secret City Animal Rescue), which mostly helps cats. It’s the only non-kill animal shelter in the Southeast, the Springers said, and they’d like a facility that is more friendly with more areas for customers and animals, including areas where animals such as cats can be shown. Improvements could include a place to sit and hold cats, including ones kept in the shelter for several months; a community room; and more windows, Amy Springer said.

“It’s just been make-do,” Edward Springer said.

Ben Stephens, who is on the city and county planning commissions, said he heard comments about housing, primarily the lack of choice of affordable housing. He also heard about issues in neighborhood.

An influx of people is expected for the construction of the Uranium Processing Facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex, and there is a question about how to retain them, Stephens said. The city needs amenities, Stephens said, pointing out that the schools and the area as a whole are big draws, and Oak Ridge is a safe place.

There are steps being taken to address housing, Stephens said, citing the Land Bank. Also, people are sensing change with the development of Main Street Oak Ridge, the 58-acre project to replace the former Oak Ridge Mall with a mixed-use center of retailers, restaurants, residential units, and a hotel.

Emilee Smith said the city needs a new municipal building, especially for the Oak Ridge Police Department. Among other things, the department is “strapped for space,” Smith said.

She’d also like to see more programs and projects for teenagers.

Here is what the City of Oak Ridge previously said about the City Blueprint:

The Oak Ridge Planning Commission—with input from other boards, commissions, and city leaders—has decided that it is time to begin crafting an updated long-range development plan, or ‘City Blueprint,’ which would provide guidance in future growth and decisions. During the creation of this guiding document, it will be vital to receive input on its focus and content from the people of Oak Ridge…

“Residents will be asked for feedback on what Oak Ridge is doing right, city services that can be done better, and new innovative ideas that can be implemented. The Blueprint will become the collective vision for our future together. The information provided will be taken, analyzed, consolidated, and fed directly into documents, which will form the new Oak Ridge City Blueprint.”

You can see questions and answers about the City Blueprint here.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More information will be added as it becomes available.

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