Ferris approves downtown master plan

FERRIS – A joint city council and planning & zoning meeting was held Monday night in Ferris with public hearings to address both the Comprehensive Plan and the Downtown Master Plan when looking toward the city’s future.

Both presentations were made by Kimley-Horn and staff regarding the proposed adoptions for the Ferris 2050 Comprehensive Plan and the Downtown Master Plan.

The Ferris 2050 Comprehensive Plan, according to Monday night’s presentation, was a “guiding document to future development and policy decisions made by city staff, the planning and zoning board, city council, and other local governing or advisory bodies.”

It was noted as Ferris experiences growth, the comprehensive plan will be a necessary tool to assure new development fits the community backed vision when development proposals are submitted.

The plan is divided by topic including Land Use, Economic Development, Housing and Neighborhoods, Mobility, Downtown, Public Services, and Parks, Trails, and Open Space.

Another key takeaway is that the “foundation of the document was built by community engagement.”

A few engagement takeaways included resident’s concern regarding the existing aging water, sewer and roadway infrastructure and a weakness in the city’s overall maintenance and looks. It was also mentioned the best place to take advantage of new developments is on the west side of Ferris, while also investing in Ferris’ downtown as a major destination for the city, while capitalizing on regional visitors as well.

The community wants to keep the hometown feel, with a look toward beautification of the city by adding parks and trails that will allow residents a chance to get outside. 

The Ferris Downtown Master Plan was presented with the idea it will be the “leading document used to guide development and city leadership decisions for downtown Ferris, and will enhance and expand on recommendations found in the Ferris 2050 Comprehensive Plan.”

In some cases, both plans may overlap, but the Downtown Master Plan was created through a community-backed vision on what downtown Ferris can achieve with key recommendations to achieve the overall vision.