LYNN — The city’s Planning Department is launching its comprehensive planning process, one that has been a priority of Mayor Thomas M. McGee and his administration since taking office.
This process, dubbed “Vision Lynn,” will focus on community engagement to create a document that captures the vision, values, and goals of the community, while outlining the development and infrastructure needed to achieve them.
Over the next year and a half, the Planning Department will host a number of opportunities for residents, business owners, and other stakeholders to share their visions for the future of the city.
Through these opportunities, engagement will be prioritized in a variety of formats, locations, and languages with the goal of reaching residents of many different backgrounds.
“Vision Lynn is an important opportunity for the community to set a course for the future of our city,” said McGee. “I hope our residents and organizational partners will consider how they can participate, whether it’s as a committed member of our Steering Committee or as a casual survey respondent. Everyone’s perspective is important and critical to this plan’s success.”
This comprehensive plan will help the city coordinate between different departments and organizations to construct a clear, long-term vision for the community’s desires.
Vision Lynn will play a role in policymaking for city staff and elected officials for the next 20 years.
“The best comprehensive plans are written shoulder-to-shoulder with our community members,” said Principal Planning Director Aaron Clausen. “We are actively looking for opportunities to collaborate with local organizations to maximize our reach and create a document that supports Lynn as a whole.”
Interested community members have two opportunities to get involved: through an initial Vision Lynn survey and by applying to be part of the Vision Lynn Steering Committee.
The quick survey is available in eight languages and can be taken online or through text message by texting HELLO to 781-417-3778.
Respondents will also have the opportunity to opt into text or email updates regarding Vision Lynn.
The Steering Committee will ensure the community-engagement process for Vision Lynn incorporates as many different voices from Lynn as possible.
The group will be made up of members of the City Council, government agencies, and individual community members who will meet once a month in the evenings during 2022.
Ideal Steering Committee members will be involved in the community and willing to think critically and collaboratively to ensure maximum participation and representation across a diverse constituency.
Interested applicants can fill out an application form by Sunday, Oct. 17 to be considered.
Updates about Vision Lynn will be posted to the project page on Lynn in Common, the Planning Department’s community-engagement web portal.
More information can be found online at https://lynnincommon.com/vision-lynn.
For further questions, reach out to Associate Planning Director Lauren Drago at [email protected] or 617-869-5271.
