LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – The City of Lubbock\u2019s neighborhood planning department held a community meeting on Thursday to get feedback about a neighborhood improvement plan for Arnett Benson.<\/p>\n
The meeting marked one of the first steps to make improvements in the Arnett Benson community. City officials wanted to hear directly from people who live in the area so they can craft a plan that will eventually be presented to city council.<\/p>\n
Arnett Benson community members share their concerns<\/p>\n
The city presented some of its ideas and how those have worked in other neighborhoods. The meeting was mainly about noting concerns within Arnett Benson and finding ways to address them.<\/p>\n
Community members shared concerns about vacant housing, adding speed bumps in some areas and keeping the neighborhood safe for families who live there.<\/p>\n
Building Trust<\/p>\n
Wilson Bowling, Lubbock\u2019s city neighborhood planner, said meetings like these will help the planning department build trust with the north Lubbock community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first thing I really want to accomplish is just building relationships, that is the biggest part of my job and favorite part of my job is building those relationships with the people,\u201d Bowling said. \u201cThen it\u2019s actually working with them to figure out what can be done and how are we going to get there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bowling said the city is hoping to work with the people who live in Arnett Benson, not against them. The plan that will be forged through these conversations is meant to benefit them for years to come.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would not feel comfortable as someone who does not reside in the neighborhood to make decision on behalf of someone in the neighborhood,\u201d Bowling said. \u201cI need the expertise of the people who live here to be able to guide me through these decisions not me guide them, so we can actually have a neighborhood-led plan, as opposed to another city-led document.\u201d<\/p>\n
What\u2019s Next<\/p>\n
City officials called the meeting a success. Over the next few months there will be several other gatherings to dive deeper into community concerns. The planning department is hoping to have a final draft of future projects for Arnett Benson ready to present to city council by next February.<\/p>\n