With the Planning and Zoning Board unanimously recommending approval, Trinity City Council will hear public comments and vote on the Center City plan for a new downtown during their Oct. 22 meeting.

The Planning and Zoning Board met Sept. 22.

“This city is going through a lot of changes right now, it’s a community in transition,” said Craig Lewis, lead planner for The Lawrence Group, the firm that designed the plan. “Sewer is expected to be completed in 2011 and, since sewer is the major factor for growth, Trinity wants growth on its own terms.”

This plan, he continued, gives the city that control. It specifically designates what types of growth can occur in specific areas of the city.

Much of the city will remain as it is. The plan focuses on Old Town, which runs along N.C. 62 from Sealy Drive to below City Hall. Top priorities include officially naming that stretch of N.C. 62 “Main Street,” constructing a city park and finishing the greenway, preserving historic resources and making aesthetic improvements along Surrett Drive.

Another high priority is realigning Meadowbrook Road and Trinity High School Drive. Under this plan, the two roads would be reconfigured at a slight angle. This would eliminate the need for two traffic signals, create a safer intersection and help ease traffic congestion.

Audience members were impressed.

“I’m proud of what the city is doing,” said Jorge Lagueruela, owner of Trinity Furniture. “With the loss of Trinity College the city lost time we can’t recoup, but I’m happy the city is moving forward.”

Local developer Gary Loflin was pleased as well, and thanked the staff for choosing the The Lawrence Group as their planners.

“This is not a blueprint, but it’s a plan,” he noted. “I can tell a lot of thought went into this.”

Board members were also impressed. They contemplated for only a few minutes before voting to recommend the plan to City Council.

“With the two-storey buildings, would there be apartments over a business?” asked Vernell Gibson as he looked over the sketches of the “traditional downtown” style of buildings planned for Old Town. “That looks really good.”

Lewis nodded. “That would be allowed.”

“There are quite a few things that look like they can be accomplished with our current staff,” commented Gwyn Riddick as he flipped through the plan. “When does year one start? Is it when the plan is passed?”

“I would say yes,” City Manager Ann Bailie responded. “Although we are moving ahead with some of the suggestions for a city park because of the availability of grant money, year one starts when it’s passed.”

Council voted to move forward with a city park on city property during the Sept. 15 meeting to take advantage of a Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant. The park will include a playground, picnic shelters, veteran’s memorial and amphitheaters.

The historic bathing rock, where Trinity College students once swam, will be preserved as a focal point.

“This would be one thing we could give the citizens of Trinity for their tax money,” said Mayor Fran Andrews during the Council meeting. “It will be a place where people and their children can go and play.”

For more information on the Center City plan, and to see sketches, visit trinity-nc.blogspot.com.