Huntsville’s BIG Picture addresses historic growth, quality-of-life needs

HUNTSVILLE — Why is it important for citizens to engage in the City of Huntsville’s BIG Picture process?

For Dennis Madsen, the answer is pretty straight forward.

“Input shapes policy, and policy shapes growth,” he said.

When The BIG Picture launched five years ago, public input targeted revitalization efforts at Ditto Landing, John Hunt Park (and parks in general), the greenway network and downtown.

Madsen, Huntsville’s manager of Urban and Long-Range Planning, said it also impacted community-oriented redevelopment such as the Sandra Moon Complex, Robert Shurney Legacy Center and Jaguar Hills.

“We know that with intentional planning and smart infrastructure investment, we can handle all this coming growth – heck, we’ve done it before,” he said. “Some of our longer-tenured residents might remember the huge influx of people during the ’60s and ’70s.

“In less than a decade, Huntsville quadrupled in population. If we can handle that kind of growth, we can absolutely deal with our current challenges.”

In July, the city’s Planning Department kicked off a months-long educational campaign to provide a snapshot of The BIG Picture and where Huntsville’s heading. The plan, available for viewing at BigPictureHuntsville.com, takes a far-reaching look at what the Rocket City may look like in five, 10, 15 years and beyond.

With Huntsville now the largest city in Alabama, there’s never been a better time to re-examine The BIG Picture as Huntsville’s manages growth in a measured way.

Madsen said public comments have focused on a couple of areas:

• A mix of excitement about the quality of growth and staying ahead of the impacts of growth. Concerns revolve mostly around transportation and housing.
• Appreciation for the city’s quality-of-life investments, and a push for more. Citizens enjoy the parks and greenways and facilities such as the Orion amphitheater, but want to see more preservation of open space and bike and greenway connections.

In addition to planning public updates on the greenway network plan, the city is working through several other planning projects, including regulations to encourage more mixed-use development along main corridors and zoning updates to allow for more diversity in housing.

The city is also conducting two transit studies to look at service upgrades, as well as how to implement regional transit. An updated plan for environmental sustainability and an economic development study for the Meridian Street corridor are also underway.

“There’s lots to be excited about,” Madsen said.