ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - Roanoke County leaders want community input on plans for the future. This week, focus groups started as a way for the public to weigh in on issues such as education, public safety, quality of life and economic development.
Roanoke County leaders want to attract more foot traffic and economic development opportunities.
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"We are doing a comprehensive and community-wide analysis of key corridors throughout the community," said Jill Loope, Roanoke Economic Development Director. :The focus now is activity centers. We have about 12 different ones identified in our planning study."
Loope said plans include re-developing the area near Tanglewood Mall. Officials said it is a key economic center for the county.
"With this traffic and with this density of development we are focusing on this corridor to look at redevelopment opportunities and how we increase the economic development capabilities here" said Loope.
Part of the county's plan includes community involvement. Close to 50% of the land along the corridor is controlled by three property owners including Tanglewood, Old Heritage and South Peak. Moving forward, economic development leaders hope to work with residents and property owners to create a unified vision for the future.
"Trying to attract a higher level of population growth in the community," said Loope. "All those things are economic development generators and the things we'd like to see for future growth along this corridor and eventually county-wide."
Officials said Roanoke County citizens are encouraged to participate in upcoming strategic plan focus groups that will work collaboratively with board of supervisors members and county staff to help create the community strategic plan.
The Economic Development focus group meets Thursday, March 3rd at the South County Library Auditorium from 7p.m. to 9 p.m.