TERRELL, Texas (City of Terrell Press Release) — On September 3, 2002, the Terrell City Council adopted the City Comprehensive Land Use Plan. After its adoption, various city staff members began the hard work of implementing the complex goals and objectives set forth in the Plan which has served the City for over a decade.
TERRELL, Texas (City of Terrell Press Release) — On September 3, 2002, the Terrell City Council adopted the City Comprehensive Land Use Plan. After its adoption, various city staff members began the hard work of implementing the complex goals and objectives set forth in the Plan which has served the City for over a decade.
The Comprehensive Plan was developed with input from several community opinion leaders including Ray Appleton, Debbie Bain, Bill Baker, Jay Champion, Juan Davila, Maurice Hill, James Huffman, Robert Lee, D. Kirk London, Henry Madgwick, James Mays, Gordon Pierce, Floyd Shumpert, David Stockslager, Tommy Spencer, Don Archer, Brenda Denson, Harold Leigh, Ethel Livingston, Daniel Rangel, Albert Rice, and Don Thurman. City Manager Torry Edwards represented city staff on the planning committee, and the City Council retained the services of Dunkin, Sefko & Associates as outside consultants to assist with the process.
Using elements from the Comprehensive Plan Edwards later created a case study tool kit for innovation in city planning for professionals in the public/private sector. The tool kit was published in 2007 as an article in the Research and Practice in Transportation, Infrastructure, and the Environment Public Works Management & Policy Journal titled Sustainable Intergovernmental Agreements: A Case Study of Civil Infrastructure Design and Regional Cooperation. The case study focused on public works, public economics, building economic systems, negotiations of economic development agreements, regional partnerships, and intergovernmental partnerships.
Briefly stated, the premise of Edward’s article is that local governments can work outside of their corporate city limits to build sustainable economies that stimulate capital investment and fuel growth within a small town through carefully planned and supportable public works systems and land use.
In 2014, other public works professionals from around the nation cited Edwards’ work as a leading source of expert knowledge inspiring innovation in the public works management field. Old Dominion University’s Department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering in Norfolk, Virginia referenced Edwards’ innovation in the article titled Watershed-and System of Systems-Oriented Perspective of Stormwater Management Enterprise.
City of Terrell Mayor Hal Richards states, “It is gratifying to see public works professionals and cities around the nation recognize the value in the planning that has made Terrell America a leader in innovative city planning. Our professional staff has implemented over 90% of the goals and objectives set forth in the 2002 Comprehensive Plan.”
Thirteen years after adoption of the Comprehensive Plan, the success of its implementation is unmistakable. The City of Terrell has sustained momentum with a booming local economy. The following facts are evidence this economic surge:
- Since 2010, the City of Terrell Municipal Development Department reports construction permit valuations of $105 million.
- Property values are projected to double during the period of 2000-2016, increasing from $500 million to $1 billion.
- Over $9 million has been invested in new, single-family construction within the last three years.
According to the North Texas Real Estate Information System, Terrell experienced a record 69% increase in the median single family home sale value during the last five years which may be attributed to new construction and residential remodeling/reconstruction/home alteration.
In the 2016 City Council adopted budget, the City was awarded grant funds from the federal government, administered through the State of Texas, which was awarded to the City in order to update the Comprehensive Plan. Mayor Richards comments, “The updates to the plan will be considered at the City Council level in 2016. After review and adoption by the City Council, the Comprehensive Plan will continue to guide the City for years to come.”
The Terrell case study for innovation in city planning verifies that a comprehensive approach drives sustainability. It is a unique document with the exemplary distinction that other public works professionals are able to learn from the example of Terrell America.
