The Town of Clayton is engaging the community to enhance its downtown area and set a clear vision for the future.
In an effort to make downtown more vibrant and thriving area, the Town is creating a new Downtown Master Plan. The plan will address issues such as infrastructure, land use, and mobility, with the goal of attracting more visitors, residents, and businesses.
The Downtown Master Plan is a guiding document on how the Town might improve and renovate its downtown area in the coming years.
“With the increased growth in population of Clayton, it’s important that downtown remains a focal point,” said Town of Clayton Economic Development Director Patrick Pierce. “This plan will help us preserve the Town’s charm, while adding amenities and identifying improvements necessary for a growing town.”
The previous downtown plan was adopted in 2010, and this is the first comprehensive look at Downtown Clayton since then. According to Pierce, the landscape of the downtown area has changed significantly since then, and the new plan will help the Town to continue to keep up the positive momentum that everyone has worked so hard to create.
“The Downtown Master Plan will build upon themes from the 2045 Comprehensive Plan, which was approved by the Clayton Town Council earlier last year,” said Town of Clayton Planning Director Benjamin Howell.
According to Howell, the success of the plan will rely heavily on the input and feedback provided by the public. With their participation in the process, Town staff can work to further enhance what already exists in Clayton in a meaningful way that will reflect the values and desires of Clayton’s residents.
"Downtown Clayton is certainly not a blank canvas in terms of offerings,” said Pierce. “We've got a lot of great businesses, restaurants, and retailers, but this will really be an opportunity for the public to help paint a picture of what Clayton looks like in the next 10 to 20 years.
The new Downtown Master Plan will provide Town staff with a thorough understanding of what opportunities and constraints are high priority to the public.
“The team is looking at not only these plans and existing development ordinances, but also looking at transportation, traffic, parking, land use, zoning, real estate and other market factors, and historic and cultural resources,” said Howell. “These considerations have helped us to develop a detailed outline for a new Downtown Master Plan that integrates these items.
The next opportunity for in-person public input will be a public education session and workshop on Feb. 28. This event will be held from 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Council Chambers located at 111 E. Second St. In Clayton.
“By participating in this upcoming workshop Clayton residents can help us determine a vision for our downtown,” said Pierce. “Incorporating the public’s ideas and feedback will only make the plan stronger.”