City Offers Many Ways to Learn About and Provide Input on the Town Center Plan

On Tuesday, Feb. 28, the City of Wilsonville is beginning the public-involvement phase of the Wilsonville Town Center Plan. The plan seeks to establish a community-driven vision, goals and a strategic plan for Wilsonville’s Town Center that is to be informed by active and consistent community engagement and public feedback.

The first major public event for the project is a family-friendly, bilingual community kick-off event that is being held on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 5:30–8:00 p.m., at City Hall, 29799 SW Town Center Loop East. The event includes a variety of activities for people of all ages with opportunities for youth and Spanish-speaking community members. Doors open for the event at 5:30 p.m., and at 6:00 p.m. the evening’s activities begin with an informational presentation in the Council Chambers at City Hall followed by activities designed to allow community members to share feedback on the current and desired future uses and activities for the Town Center area. Light refreshments are also being provided throughout the event.

In addition to the upcoming community kick-off event, the City is planning to offer many other opportunities to learn about and provide input on the plan at all stages of the project. Other major planned events include public design workshops to be held this summer, additional community events at key milestones throughout the project, and public hearings prior to adoption of the plan.  

Through the project website each month there is going to be a new Question of the Month in an effort to keep community members engaged and providing ongoing input and ideas to the project team. In February the question asks community members, “What is most important to you?” and provides the survey takers choices that include jobs, housing, recreation, open space, transportation, shopping and dining. On March 1, and at the start of each month thereafter, a new Question of the Month will be featured on the website along with the option to see real-time results for the question being asked. Please visit the project’s website, www.WilsonvilleTownCenter.com, to submit your answer and learn more about the project.

Additionally, on March 1, the City is launching an online survey for community members and other stakeholders to share feedback on what amenities the public values in the area, along with the types of changes the public desires to see within the approximately 100-acre area that encompasses the properties north of Wilsonville Road, within and adjacent to Town Center Loop. The online survey, available in both English and Spanish, is planned to be open through late March and will be accessible through the main page of the project website at www.WilsonvilleTownCenter.com.

Project planners are also installing “idea centers” in early March at City Hall, the Library and the Parks and Recreation Building in Town Center Park where community members can learn about the project, answer the Question of the Month, and provide feedback on the future of the area.

Also currently on the project website, under the “Get Involved” tab, the public can use an interactive map to identify and describe Town Center locations that are valued by the public. To identify current Town Center amenities or places with future opportunities, double click on the map of the study area, which puts a marker at the location, and then add a comment and/or share a photo/video of the specific location.

To gather additional feedback and to answer related questions, Project Manager Miranda Bateschell is also planning to attend lunches at the Community Center on a monthly basis and is also seeking invitations to attend all types of community group meetings or schedule school visits with groups or classes who would like her to come visit and gather input from the participants.

Miranda and members of the project team are also planning to host informal events at various gathering places in Wilsonville to engage in conversations with community members and to hear feedback on the type of Town Center Wilsonville residents desire have in the future.

Details on all of these upcoming opportunities will be available on the project’s website, via periodic project updates and promoted in the City’s newsletter, The Boones Ferry Messenger.

Funding for the long-range planning process comes from a Metro Community Planning and Development Grant with matching funds from the City’s Urban Renewal Agency.

For more information visit www.WilsonvilleTownCenter.com or contact Miranda Bateschell, Long-Range Planning Manager, at bateschell@ci.wilsonville.or.us or 503-570-1581.