The City of Carbondale is one step closer to defining its future through PLAN Carbondale, the City’s current comprehensive planning process led by Planning NEXT. On April 9, the planning team hosted a well-attended community open house with over 100 participants who came to learn about the plan’s direction and share their feedback. Materials outlining PLAN Carbondale’s initial goals, objectives, and actions were shared on display boards, sparking conversations between community members, City staff, and the planning team.
A major component of the plan is the emphasis on focusing reinvestment. Often considered the “Capital of Southern Illinois,” Carbondale serves as a hub for the regional economy. PLAN Carbondale aims to build on this strength by directing redevelopment toward underutilized areas. The plan promotes partnership with anchor institutions, foundations, and others. It also emphasizes creative and intentional land use strategies that support accessible, attractive, and inclusive spaces, which aim to generate employment opportunities and deliver long-term fiscal benefits to the community.
With the insights gathered at the open house, the team is now moving into the next phase: drafting the comprehensive plan document. This document will reflect the voices of the Carbondale community and lay the foundation for a future rooted in reinvestment, opportunity, and shared prosperity.
