PLANiTULSA Kick Off
Last week Tulsans had their first opportunity to meet John Fregonese of Fregonese and Associates and learn more about the comprehensive planning process for the City of Tulsa. Fregonese will lead PLANiTULSA.
Fregonese toured the city with City of Tulsa planning staff and other members of a team of experts who will create the new Plan. He then presented a program at the official PLANiTULSA kick-off event, held last Tuesday evening at the Central Community Center. The event marked the beginning of a 21-month process during which Fregonese and his team will interact with Tulsans through interviews and workshops as they develop Tulsa’s new comprehensive plan.
A Comprehensive Plan guides the physical development of a city and provides a framework within which individuals, businesses, and public officials can make decisions that are consistent with the community’s vision and needs.
Tulsa last comprehensive city wide plan was completed in 1978.
The process of developing a comprehensive plan requires the participation of a wide segment of Tulsa residents, so that the resulting document reflects the combined wants and desires of the citizens. It is a shared vision of the future, which embraces diverse points of view, while seeking and building consensus as well as community vision and spirit. It also provides a clear policy direction for implementing new programs and policies.
The PLANiTULSA process began in 2007. At that time, the city formed a steering committee made up of a diverse set of community and neighborhood leaders. The steering committee then selected a consultant through a rigorous RFP process where they interviewed community planners from across the nation.
Based on the steering committee’s recommendation, the City of Tulsa hired one of the most respected comprehensive community planning firms in the country, Fregonese and Associates. The contract for services was signed in late March 2008.
John Fregonese is the president of the firm. A planner for 30 years, Fregonese has a reputation for being able both to create an energizing vision for communities and to develop concrete, workable solutions for urban problems.
Based in Portland, this firm has a strong track record of helping cities. He has led numerous regional and local plans,including Chicago Metropolis, Louisiana Speaks, Denver Blueprint Plan, Forward Dallas, and many others.