The purpose of this workshop is to gather objectives, issues, concerns, and opportunities from small groups of community representatives identified by the Propel Pottsboro 2045 Advisory Committee to help inform the development of the Pottsboro Comprehensive Plan.

SUMMARY

The Project Team leading the Propel Pottsboro Comprehensive Planning effort held a stakeholder workshop on December 9^th. Participants were identified by the project’s Advisory Committee as representatives from a variety of community stakeholder groups. The workshop introduced the comprehensive planning project and featured community-focused engagement exercises. The outcomes of this workshop will inform the drafting of the Propel Pottsboro vision statement, goals, and objectives, while also identifying ongoing challenge areas and potential opportunities for future projects and policies.

• The primary goal of the stakeholder workshop was to engage with community stakeholders and gather input to synthesize into the planning effort.

Engagement Activities

• Mapping Opportunities and Challenges
  • Participants were asked to identify and map opportunities within the City for future developments or projects with potential positive outcomes, categorizing these opportunities by type. They were also asked to identify and map challenges, obstacles, and limitations that could hinder the community’s progress.
  • The exercise resulted in robust engagement with approximately fifty (50) pins identifying potential opportunities and challenge areas. This input will help initiate discussions and will be incorporated into the planning process. Further analysis will be required in order to provide a complete summary of this exercise.
• Visioning Exercise
  • Participants were then asked to envision Pottsboro’s future through a multi-part exercise—first individually and then in separate groups. The activity resulted in five iterations of a vision statement for the City of Pottsboro, guided by the following questions:
    • What kind of community do we want Pottsboro to be in the future?
    • What are the core values and principles that should guide our development?
    • How can we balance growth and preservation of our small-town character?
    • What kind of amenities and services should we prioritize to improve the quality of life for residents?
  • Each small group presented its vision statement to the entire stakeholder group, and participants highlighted key components, endorsed select elements, and ranked the statements.
  • Several notable takeaways & key themes emerged from the vision statement exercise, including:
    • Sustainable growth, managed growth, and economic growth
    • Small-town charm and becoming a destination
    • Families, education, safety, and friendliness
  • Additional synthesis of the visioning exercise’s output will be performed and presented at the next Advisory Committee meeting.