Strategic Planning Effort
Continues to Move Forward
By: Sybille Nelson

The public input session on October 15, 2009 was a huge success. There were 47 people in attendance to contribute their thoughts as they related to the goals of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee. There were two rounds of voting opportunities to help identify the key themes that were previously expressed in a brainstorming session for each goal area.
Key stakeholders returned in the month of November for two work sessions to determine the key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for the town. They also completed an asset inventory survey to help compile additional information to assist with the creation of the strategic plan. The following “raw” and high level information was compiled:

Goal 1: Improve the Quality of Life
#1: Parking, traffic calming, bike lane, cross walks, infrastructure-water, sidewalks-hiking.
#2: Maintain/upgrade existing structures, institutions and landscaping (e.g. Masonic lodge, cemetery etc).
#3: Holiday festivities - tree lighting, picnic, etc.; Town to purchase the Old School House for a community center, library/youth center, tennis program, gym and senior center.

Goal 2: Economic Growth
#1: Central Parking, streetscapes, lighting, walk ability, greenways.
#2: Diner/Breakfast Place, small shops, retail shops, art studios, available real estate (School House).
#3: Clean up of the lower end of the town and zoning enforcement.

Goal 3: Town to Become a Destination; Branding and Town Identity
#1: Parking, landscaping, traffic calming, purchase Old School House for recreation center.
#2: Code enforcement (Junk Cars).
#3: Appalachian Trail extension to the center of the town.

Key Overall Strengths for our Town:
• The Appalachian Trail and its close proximity to the town
• Town owned Park
• Close proximity to I-81
• The Friends of the Park
Key Overall Weaknesses for our Town:
• No Town Identity
• Lack of Sidewalks
• Lack of Parking

Key Overall Threats for our Town:
• US 11 Speed limit
Key Overall Opportunities for our Town:
• Businesses Supporting the Trail, Rail Road, Bike Route
• Old School House
• Farmers Market
• Appalachian Trail
• Loop Trail/Bike Path from the AT to the Park
• North/South Connecting Sidewalks
• Home Cooking Diner

What’s next?
Key Stakeholders have volunteered to assist the steering committee in drafting the initial Vision Statement for the Town of Troutville, and also to draft the initial Strategic Plan based on all the data that has been collected thus far. Another public session will be planned to collect feedback on these initial drafts.

We deeply appreciate the support of the following leaders who helped us to get to this point in our strategic planning journey:
Mel Lester of The Business Edge, who volunteered his time to lead the facilitation of the public input session;
Paul Economy of Roanoke, John Rader of Troutville and Brandy Vassar of Bank of Botetourt, who facilitated the table discussions during the public input session;
Gerald Burgess, our Botetourt County Administrator, and the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors, who pledged their support by requesting Jake Gilmer of the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission to lead the facilitation of the work sessions in November. Jake Gilmer also supplied various key reports.

Questions/Thoughts/Feedback?
We would love to hear from you! Please call the Town Office at 992-4401 and a Steering Committee member will be glad to return your call, or write to us at Strategic Planning Steering Committee, c/o Town of Troutville, P.O. Box 276, Troutville, VA 24175, or email us at Tville@rbnet.com, and reference “ SPS Committee” in the email subject line.