Whitewright residents still have time to help shape the city’s future by participating in a community survey that will guide the development of the city’s first comprehensive plan.
Mayor Sara Beth Owen said the survey is entering its final phase as the comprehensive planning process reaches approximately 75% completion. City leaders encourages anyone who has not yet participated to submit their feedback before the plan is finalized.
“This is kind of a last call,” Owen said. “If you have commentary that you think is important regarding projects the city should undertake or what’s in the 75% plan, now is the time to make your voice heard to make sure those items are addressed.”
The comprehensive plan is intended to serve as a long-range roadmap for Whitewright’s growth and development, helping city leaders prioritize future infrastructure investments, land use decisions and community improvements.
Although discussions about creating a comprehensive plan began early in Owen’s tenure, she said the current planning effort was launched after the city completed a competitive selection process for consulting services and secured funding for the project.
The city has spent months gathering data and evaluating existing infrastructure. One major component of the study included a detailed assessment of every street in Whitewright.
“They drove every single road in town and graded it based on the condition it’s currently in,” Owen said.
The resulting interactive map combines roadway conditions with residential density information, giving city officials a tool to prioritize future street improvements based on need and traffic volume.
“It helps council members make decisions about what are the highest-priority roads that are most traveled and in the worst condition in order to prioritize repairs,” Owen said.
In addition to transportation planning, the comprehensive plan will include future land use recommendations, development maps and other planning tools designed to guide the city’s growth for years to come.
To ensure the plan reflects community priorities, the city distributed surveys through multiple channels over the past several months.
Copies were included in residents’ water bills and promoted through the city’s website and social media pages. Survey information was also posted at frequently visited locations throughout town, including the post office and local convenience stores.
Despite those efforts, Owen said city officials recently learned that some residents either did not receive a survey or have not yet completed one.
The city hopes those residents will take advantage of this final opportunity to provide input before the planning process moves toward completion.
“We want people to fill it out to give their feedback about what they feel is important for the city to focus on,” Owen said. “We want the community’s and citizens’ needs to be addressed in this plan.”
Residents with questions about the comprehensive plan or other city business are encouraged to contact Whitewright City Hall at 903-364-2219. Owen said she is also regularly available to assist residents and can be reached through City Hall.
Community input gathered through the survey will be incorporated into the final comprehensive plan before it is presented to city leaders for consideration.
You can complete the survey by clicking the QR in featured with this story.