ORN comprehensive plan identifies city needs

"We're not going to stop the traffic, but we can make it easier for our folks to get out on Robinson," Gray said.

Several groups discussed the idea of transforming Robinson Road into a retail corridor similar to Old Town Spring. James Walton, president of the city's Economic Development Corporation, also suggested targeting specific businesses that meet the city's needs, such as restaurants, boutiques and coffee shops, as well as redeveloping existing property citywide and annexing land east of Hanna Road.

"We need new businesses and a stronger tax base for our community," Walton said.

Residents were also concerned with aging homes not being well-maintained, and while residents seemed split on the development of a homeowners association, most agreed the city's code enforcement practices need to be examined. Regarding parks, residents suggested more walking trails and pathways to make city parks more accessible, as well as the installation of a splash ground amenity, more decorative landscaping at the city's entrances and lighting at the city's baseball fields.

The next step of the process is for the consulting firm, Halff Associates, to create a draft of the comprehensive plan, prioritizing ideas, and determining the process and costs for projects, said Halff Vice President Jim Carrillo.

City Manager Vicky Rudy said the first draft of the plan will be reviewed by the city's Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee for final approval. A public hearing will be held in early to mid-April before a final draft of the document is presented to the City Council.

However, significant changes will not be made in a short time. Rudy said the plan will lay out solutions, what the steps are to achieve them and when those steps need to begin. But it is a 10-year plan and some actions could be as far as 15 to 20 years away.

"This plan becomes the backbone of what you're looking at each budget year," Rudy said. "It will constantly be reviewed by our planning board and our council."

One area that Rudy said could be addressed in the next budget is establishing a community identity with signage, which could have a significant impact with relatively low cost. However, significant projects, such as Robinson Road and park improvements, will require a detailed plan from a consultant, she said. Funding may be budgeted for consulting firms in 2014, but it is unlikely funding will be budgeted for the actual projects in 2014.

"If you don't look forward, you start to age out and that's kind of what happened in Oak Ridge," Rudy said. "You can't really wait for the project to pop up to fix them. You have to be one step ahead."