By Brenna Wiegand
Express your views on development
To participate in the survey go to the city
of Silverton Web site, www.silverton.or.us,
and click on the link to ‘Economic Development Survey.’
For information, contact the city of Silverton
Community Development Department at
city hall, 306 S. Water St. or 503-874-2212
or [email protected]
At one time or another, most Silverton residents have had ideas about how to create more local jobs.
Or they have wished it wasn’t necessary to drive to Salem or Portland for the goods and services they need.
Now’s your chance to be heard – and it only takes 10 minutes.
The city of Silverton is requesting input from local residents via an online survey accessed on the city of Silverton’s Web site.
The city intends to use the information to develop new policies for encouraging job growth and providing goods and services.
It will help city staff determine what types of employment opportunities and commercial and industrial uses should be encouraged within city limits.
Available through Nov. 8, the survey contains open-ended questions city staff will use in formulating a long-term economic development strategy, Silverton Community Development Director Steve Kay said.
Survey results will be available for public review on the city Web site in early December.
Taking the survey does not require giving personal information and none will be revealed in the survey results, Kay said.
The city initiated this project after applying for and receiving a $30,000 grant from the state of Oregon to prepare an economic opportunity analysis as an amendment to its comprehensive plan, Kay said.
“The current Economic Development section of the Silverton’s Comprehensive Plan dates back to the 1970s and its policies do not address current opportunities and constraints for economic development,” he said.
“The economic opportunity analysis will include a review of current demographic trends, existing employment conditions, existing public facilities and existing comprehensive plan policies,” he added.
City staff will evaluate current local economic development trends and develop economic forecasts using local and state information.
To assist with the analysis, the city has contracted with FCS Group, a financial and management consulting service in Portland, and Hood River-based Columbia Planning and Design, specializing in project management, land use and transportation planning.
In addition to the survey, the city will gather citizen input through interviews, a public workshop and public hearings before the planning commission and city council.
Kay indicated the project will likely result in the development of specific recommendations, which may include changes to the zoning standards, urban renewal program, existing business development strategies and/or public infrastructure plans for Silverton.
