Bay Village residents encouraged to share ideas for city

The City of Bay Village is seeking resident input on the formation of a new master plan to guide future growth and development. A “public visioning” meeting will be held Tuesday, June 28, 7 p.m., at the Dwyer Center. Residents will have an opportunity to meet the advisory team from the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission, and voice their suggestions on an array of subjects including city infrastructure, housing, recreation, sustainability, transportation and economic development.

Unlike a traditional public meeting with a line of people waiting for a turn at the microphone, this meeting will feature topic stations where residents can share their thoughts on specific issues.

The master plan process began last month with the first meeting of the “project team,” which consists of Mayor Debbie Sutherland and city department directors, and representatives from city boards and commissions, Bay Village Schools, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Metroparks and Bay Village Green Team. The group reviewed the current master plan, completed in 1999, as well as the 2004 Retail Improvement Study and recent Community Survey. A set of vision statements were then drafted and presented to the “steering committee” – a group of 15 residents with diverse backgrounds and demographics – for feedback and fine-tuning.

The public will have their say on the revised vision statements at the June 28 meeting. As stressed often throughout the process by Glenn Coyne, County Planning executive director, this is “the community’s plan” – and is most effective when it reflects the vision of the entire community.