Town Hall small group responses provide first look at community priorities for Master Planning

With the Lincoln Master Plan Community Surveys out in the community for another week, a series of questions asked at the March 2 Town Hall meeting provides some early insights into concerns community members have about Lincoln and the planning process.

After the presentation at the Town Hall, community members broke up into nine small groups of between 3 and 10 people to discuss six questions and provide answers for a large group discussion that was to follow. However, most of the people who took part left before all the groups finished the questionnaire. Many people were curious about the results, so here is a summary of the answers.

Question 1: "Is this process a good thing for Lincoln? Why or why not?"

By and large the groups felt that it was, with four of the groups answering yes outright. The question of why or why not provides more context, with answers indicating the need for the community members to have a voice and provide their input, and to be part of - or open to - the discussion. One response included the critique that the survey isn't based on what the community would like to know, and that community members need to be the driving force behind the process.

Question 2: "What is the biggest problem facing the community right now?"

Two main issues that came up in several groups were safety on Highway 200 and the need for jobs and businesses that aren't dependent on tourism, or that can provide opportunities for local youth to stay in town or return if they've left.

Some had opposing views of the problems, with one group listing no new growth as one of the big problems while another group had concerns about the prospect of growth and

development.

One group bluntly listed "you out of towners" as the biggest problem (without the follow-on discussion, it's unclear if they were referring specifically to the consultants helping develop the master plan, or more generally to newcomers to the area) and said residents should have seniority over important decisions.

Question 3: "If you could get one thing done for the community, what would it be?"

Highway 200 topped the answers, with five of the nine groups listing ideas to increased safety and control speed on the thoroughfare.

The desire to bring business or create jobs and improvements to the school or gym also showed up more than once. More access to public lands and trails, better promotion of recreational opportunities and encouraging community involvement were also among the answers.

Question 4: "How would you describe Lincoln's identity today?"

Nearly every group listed a wide variety of answers, from independent and outdoorsy to casual, seasonal, recreational or a party town. At least one group noted Lincoln's identity as "struggling," while another called it an "Old people town." Still another answer concluded "We have an identity crisis of sorts."

However, two themes appeared in various forms that could be summed up as: a small, rural, mountain town with community pride.

Question 5: "How would you like Lincoln to look and feel ten years from now?"

This question elicited a wide array of responses, but in general, most groups concluded they don't want to see the look or feel of the town change much. However, nearly all wanted to see some improvements, whether economically or in terms of safety and family.

Several groups referred to the need for a more family-oriented community and more businesses or small shops. Other answers addressed the desire to spiff things up and to show a sense of pride, and to emphasize the outdoor recreation, history and rustic feel of the area.

Several groups once again listed safety as something they'd like to see in Lincoln's future.

Question 6: "What is Lincoln's biggest hurdle to overcome in executing a Community Master Plan?"

Again, this was a question that generated a lot of different responses but some overarching themes. Among those were concerns about the lack of participation or involvement, the money needed to implement the plan, resistance to change, and concerns about the planning effort's transparency and communication.

One group suggested that some people need to be guided, rather than forced out of their comfort zones, while another was concerned about "belligerent people" and a lack of trust. Still another group included the criticism that the "same problems keep coming up without resolution."

Although the responses to those six questions come from a somewhat small sample of the community, they provide a first look at some of the challenges the Lincoln Community Master Plan process faces, yet also point to some of the things members of the community can agree on.

Until the end of March, community members interested in shaping the master plan from the outset are once again encouraged to fill out a community planning survey to give a broader and clearer picture of how Lincoln would like to see its future unfold. The survey can be found online at https://forms.gle/C88QJSYUEZaD6R3h7. Links can also be found on the BVD Facebook Page and the Lincoln Valley Chamber of Commerce Facebook page. Hard copies of the survey can be found at Rusty Relics. They have also been distributed to the Pit Stop, Grizzly Hardware, Citizens Alliance Bank, D&D and On the Rocks. They can be returned at any time to the drop box at Rusty Relics.