By Alison Baugh

February 28, 2007 | An update to the general city plan is in the works for Nibley, and residents gave their input at Saturday's Citizen Planning Day.

The city is working with Soren Simonsen and his team from Cooper Roberts Simonsen Associates. This planning and designing firm from Salt Lake City will help ensure that the new plan will benefit the community not only now, but also in the future.

Many of the advisory board and community members were surprised by the turnout of citizens who came to voice their opinion about Nibley's future.

"I was thrilled they showed up," said Scott Wells who serves on the City Council and General Plan Advisory Committee.

Small groups of citizens gathered around aerial and road maps of the city to discuss their vision of the future. The four main areas addressed by the advisory team and discussed in the groups were housing and agricultural preservation, transportation, parks and open space, and a town center.

Most of the more than 100 people in attendance felt they wanted a town center somewhere along 3200 South. Keeping the feeling of a small community while adapting to the inevitable growth was also a concern for many. Advisory Committee member Marina Heidt reminded one group it was possible to do both so as long as there was a plan.

Nibley citizen Larry Slade gave much input and is glad that the plan is being update. Yet he feels it is a little late as Nibley had currently experienced much growth without much direction.

"Everyone who came today felt positive about the experience," said City Planner Conley Thompson. This response was heard across the board from citizens, the planning firm and advisory board members.

The firm and advisory committee will now take the suggestions and implement them into the plan which will be presented in April for final community input. Anyone still wishing to give input can obtain a form from City Hall and return it before March 5.

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