The City Council Thursday unanimously approved a professional services contract agreement with Texas-based Kendig Keast Collaborative (KKC) to develop a comprehensive plan for the City of Murfreesboro. The plan, which will identify and plan for the City’s goals and objectives, is estimated to take 18 to 24 months to complete. It will include input from the community and the appointment of a 15-to-18 member task force from a broad cross-section of citizens.

“We’ve done a number of plans in the past to include land use plans for Salem, Blackman and Maney Avenue, and plans for wastewater facilities, a Major Thoroughfare Plan, and more, but this is the first plan since 1987 that will look at the entire community as a whole,” said City Manager Rob Lyons. “It will also include substantial input from the entire community in developing a comprehensive plan for this growing city.”

In 2013, City Council first raised the idea of developing a community-wide comprehensive plan. Last fall, the City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) that received responses from 12 firms nationwide. Following interviews with three firms, a review committee recommended KKC. 

“We’re excited about KKC’s approach to using technology tools to gather input from citizens in a way that’s convenient for busy schedules,” added Lyons.

KKC has proposed both a high-tech and high-touch approach to engaging the community in the process, including a grassroots marketing campaign, community meetings, outreach efforts, workshops and the use of technology to gather citizen input. The plan elements include major functions of the City, including transportation, land use, housing and neighborhoods, parks and recreation, public facilities, historic preservation, and economic development with a focus on population growth and infrastructure. The plan also will provide guidance on formation of a unified development code, parks and recreation master plan, and a water resources integration plan.                                      

The City budgeted $250 thousand in the FY 2015 budget for the comprehensive plan with a total cost of the project estimated at more than $717 thousand.