Bluffton’s planning commission, meeting May 18, held a discussion focusing on long-term strategic planning needs of the village.

This is the first serious discussion on this topic since a Village Visioning Plan developed after a one-year study, which concluded in 2006.

Among issues identified by the planning commission include:
• Need for residential housing
• Need to revisit the 2006 Visioning Plan
• Reach out to other communities who have successful community developments programs in place
• Announced an interest to meet with professional firms specializing in community development
• Discussed possible formation of a community group to direct the project

The minutes from that meeting are in the council packet attached to this story. Several additional item, on the June 1, Bluffton council meeting follow:

• Minutes from the tree commission, meeting on May 12, reveal details of that group’s work on planning for trees in the West Elm Street tree lawn. The plan’s focus is from Spring Street to Bentley Road.

•Park and recreation, meeting May 12, heard a presentation from Tom Edwards on his vision of year-around swimming in the community. Meeting on May 13, the board’s focus was on a Bluffton disc golf course.