The first few years of the Archdale 20/20 Strategic Plan saw a wealth of progress at increasing the quality of life in Archdale, but momentum has slowed along with the economy.

In 2003, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Urban Institute compiled statistics and trends about Archdale and surveyed 400 residents. They worked with a group of community members to compile the information into key issues — ideas that would improve the quality of life in Archdale. City Council had commissioned the study, with a budget of $81,650.

Groups of community members, with public input, worked those issues into a list of goals, with a recommended plan to get them accomplished. The list included improving the economy, the city’s identity, educational opportunities, aesthetics and recreation. The Institute published the Archdale 20/20 Strategic Plan in September 2004.

A Strategic Planning Implementation Team was created to make the ideas become reality. After four years the number of members began to dwindle. Archdale is looking for new volunteers to help reach the goals and add amenities that the citizens requested.

The Strategic Plan can be looked at in two ways — how much has been accomplished, or how far the city still has to go. A scorecard of the goals and subgoals, and what has happened with each of them, can be found on page 8.

Some goals a work in progress

Here is a paraphrased list of goals and subgoals in Archdale’s 20/20 Strategic Plan, and what has happened with each of them.

Items with a check mark have been completed. Those with a dash are under way and have been taken by specific groups for action. Items with an “X” either have not started or would be dropped if the Strategic Implementation Team were to dissolve.

Have a balanced economy
‘work, shop, dine here’

- 1. Recruit environmentally friendly businesses.

- 2. Recruit a developer to build a regional retail center.

- 3. Increase retail shopping opportunities.

X 4. Establish an entertainment center with a movie theater, shops and restaurant.

Subgoals 1 through 4 are the continuing work of the Archdale-Trinity Chamber of Commerce and the Randolph County Economic Development Corporation. Several shops have opened around Bonnie Place since 2004. A Missouri-based developer proposed a large shopping complex near the intersection of N.C. 62 and Interstate 85 in 2007, but withdrew the zoning request. No developer has proposed a theater complex.

4 5. Vote on alcohol sales, with the goal of attracting restaurants. Archdale citizens voted yes to the sale of beer and wine in 2005, and allowed the sale of mixed drinks in 2008. No restaurants that serve mixed drinks have moved into Archdale; however, the slow economy has affected all commercial growth.



X 1. Plan for a cultural and civic center.

The proposed strategy was for the newly established arts council to lead the community in raising funds to buy a cultural center with an outdoor amphitheater. The Arts Council has not taken on such a large project. Archdale City Council considered the amphitheater as they reviewed ideas for a new City Hall last year, but at that time they thought it was probably beyond the budget. Since then, with the nationwide economic problems, Council has postponed building the City Hall, as well.

✔2. Establish an arts council.

The Northwestern Randolph County Arts Council was established out of the 20/20 initiative. They have been active in bringing arts to the community through displays, trips and events.

X 3. Purchase a town square and erect a monument.

No one is working on this; however, some of the other subgoals, such as retail development and street plans, would determine the location of this focal point. Jason Miller of the Planning Department said they are always looking for the opportunity to create a sense of place as Archdale develops.

- 4. Get a zip code for Archdale.

Cheri Gray, former member of the Implementation Team, circulated a petition and is still working toward this goal.

Increase higher education opportunities

- 1. Create a signature program for Randolph Community College in Archdale and promote funding.

Cathy Hefferin, director of communications at RCC, said that two programs specific to the Archdale Center are in work: certified medical assistant and licensed practical nursing. Applications through the state and accreditation are in work.

“We’re moving in that direction, but we don’t have a date that this can be implemented,” Hefferin said.

✔ 2. Expand the RCC campus in Archdale.

RCC added 12,000 square feet of classrooms, conference and training rooms to the Archdale Center at Creekside Park in 2006.

✔ 3. Lobby for a second high school to relieve overcrowding. Wheatmore High School opened last fall.

X 4. Engage more people, especially young people, in the civic process.

No group is spearheading this effort. However, Boy Scout troops routinely bring members to observe Council sessions.

Create a visually appealing community

The Community Appearance Commission and the city work together on most of these items.

- 1. Enhance city signs.

This is ongoing. Signs directing visitors to City Hall and the Police Department have been added.

✔ 2. Strengthen the sign ordinance. Finished.

✔ 3. Review design review process.

This is ongoing, and Miller said that the Planning Department has already done a great deal. The Roadway Overlay District includes building and landscaping requirements. The multifamily ordinance has been updated and a tree ordinance is in effect.

- 4. Improve streetscape in center of town.

Street prints were added to both ends of Bonnie Place and the Commission is planning to work with business owners to enhance Main Street. The city has been enforcing Roadway Overlay District requirements with new businesses.

- 5. Create a gateway into town, with a sign.

This is ongoing. Miller hopes that the N.C. Department of Transportation will help in areas where people enter the city from the highways.

✔ 6. Establish a tree ordinance. Finished.

X 7. Develop a street tree plan along Main Street.

No one is specifically working on trees in this area, although subgoals 4 and 5 could include trees.

- 8. Create a master plan for N.C. 62 and Interstate 85.

The Planning and Zoning Department hopes to finish this in early 2010.

- 9. Build support for landscaping.

The Commission hosts the yard of the month program and plans to encourage businesses to beautify their areas.

- 10. Create a community litter and recycling campaign.

The Commission organizes the semiannual Litter Sweep in Archdale. They and city stormwater and planning personnel are educating citizens about recycling. Archdale’s revamped recycling program has had a successful first year.

Have recreational amenities

✔ 1. Create a park master plan. Finished.

✔ 1a. Establish a parks advisory board. Finished.

- 1b. Maintain existing facilities. City Council members said this was a priority as they planned their annual budget.

X 1c. Create a skateboard park.

X 1d. Create a dog park.

The Team has researched both kinds of parks, but nothing concrete has started. City officials have expressed concerns about liability. A few miles northeast of Archdale, Guilford County opened a dog park last fall at Southwest Park, off of Groometown Road.

- 1e. Expand the greenway system. This is in work, with sections scheduled to be added through 2012.

- 1f. Improve the entrance to Creekside Park. The city is planning to do this with grant money and the Commission will add flags.

X 2. Enhance recreational opportunities for teens. No known group is working specifically on this, but the YMCA will open soon.

Increase local health and safety services

X 1. Develop a medical center.

Archdale Pediatrics and Triad Eye Associates have built new facilities in the past year and Archdale Drug has expanded. Thus, medical facilities in Archdale are improving, but have no trend toward a centralized location.

X 2. Promote funding to have nurses in all Archdale schools.

“We looked into that and we really couldn’t do it for just the Archdale area,” said Gwen Taylor, former Team member. If they worked apart from Randolph County Schools — for example, finding a volunteer nurse — then liability became an issue.

X 3. Establish a mobile health education service.

✔ 4. Bring a 24-hour magistrate office and holding cell to Archdale. Finished.



The glass is half empty

When the Implementation Team met with City Council in June 2009, Council members gave them passive support, emphasizing that the city would not fund the remaining projects.

According to the 20/20 report, Archdale never intended to include the goals in its budget. With the Implementation Team’s guidance, citizens would raise money through civic groups and fundraisers to get the amenities they wanted. Council members cited the Arts Council as an example.

However, through grants and manpower, the city has financially supported many of the goals, including street plans, greenways and recycling.

“I’m glad to get anything accomplished,” said former Team member Stan Byrd Sr. “I’m still disappointed that we hadn’t got more done, but it takes money.”

During the last five years, membership of the Implementation Team has dwindled as original members rotated off and few new members joined. The Team has not had a chairman in more than a year, and after four resignations this summer, it only has two active members.

Sometimes new people and new ideas are needed, said Byrd.

City Council left it up to the Strategic Planning Implementation Team to decide whether to continue as they are; or form a committee that makes recommendations to the city, like the Commission; or become a separate civic organization, like Friends of Trinity.

If the Team simply disbands, about one-third of the 2004 subgoals are in jeopardy of dropping through the cracks.

Former Team member Lois Bohnsack said, “I’m concerned that some of the things the citizens asked for will not be brought to fruition.”

The glass is half full Ten of the 35 subgoals, or 29 percent, have been completed and 40 percent are in work. Those ongoing projects have been taken up or delegated to other groups or individuals, including the city Planning Department and the Commission.

“We’ve done quite well actually,” said Miller, who is also city liaison to the Implementation Team. “A lot of those goals have been accomplished, or as far as they can be in the current economic state.” He added that momentum slowed as the list got down to things that require much more money, like a civic center.

The Commission has accomplished many things on a shoestring. “We have a very, very small budget,” said Cheri Gray. The Commission is funded by income from yard sale permits. Gray added that it’s hard to get funding to make things more attractive when other priorities are needed, like drinking water.

“City Council’s been very supportive of the Arts Council,” said Bohnsack, also a member. Archdale gives them a small budget each year and provides a facility for their annual dinner dance fundraiser.

Although only two people remain on the Implementation Team, Jennipher Swanner of Time Warner Cable and Steve Foley of First Bank, Miller says they are excited. Their next step is to recruit more members and to decide in what direction they want to go.

Anyone interested in helping improve the quality of life and amenities in Archdale can contact Miller at 434-7334 or e-mail jmiller@archdale-nc.gov.