Minutes 10/23/1956 - Laserfiche WebLink

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76 TUE..S rn. Y OC1DBER 23, 1956 2. That the city work clirectly with and through this planning agency to apply for these planning funds. 3. Tha t the city aplJropria te a certain amount of morey for this purpos e arrl that this amount be matched equally by the state Planning Agercy. 4. That the H H F A will then consider an ~)l)lication for a grant matching the total of the moneys appropriated by both the City and the st.".-OO Planning Agency. 'rhe City of Martinsville began negotiations sometime ago with the ultimate goal in mind of obtaining a planning Grant of this nature from the Federal GOVernment to proceed with the formulttion of an up-to-date general plan for Martinsville looking toward an urban re- newal plan in one or two areas immediately adjacent to the down-town business area in ooer to relieve one of the maj or problems downtown, i.e., that of traffic congestion. It was lcarmd in these negotiations that after the filing of an application a contract would have to be entered into by the State Planning Agency and Sta.te Government with the Federal Goverrunent. Prior to the tire tb,lt Martinsville could actually file an applic ation fat' these planning funds, several other cities in the state were able to have their apJ!lication fiJeo with the Federal GovernrrBnt. A contract for these cities 1YaS returned to the state Goverl1lmnt for its signature. Tb.e State Government, in signing these contracts made certain changes in them before signing them and returning them to the Housing and Home Finance Agency of the Federal GovernrrBnt. The ultimate outcome of this transaction was that the Federal Government turmd down these contracts lrith the changes as made by the State. The State then notified the City of Martinsville that it vmuld be useless for the C it/ to file an application for these planning funds. Upon receivil1G the above instructions, the 1.1art:L'lSville Planning Com- mission conclude(~ tha t no nmc1s are presently available from the Federal Govermnent to apply agains t tIle formulation of em up-to-date overall general plan for Uartinsvi 11e. This withholcling of planning grants by t he Federal Government does not affect Federal Urban Renewal funds "v'Ihicll may be still available to Martinsville, should, at a later date, the City have an adequate overall planning program underway an::.t l'iish to enter into a renewal pro Grarn. It is the opinion of the Commission, however, that Martinsville is in dire need of such a general overaJ_l plan. A plal1 of this nature in- cludes many useful p arts such as popuJR tion forec2.st .which enables the Council al1d the Plaruli!"4~ Commission to plan for future needs with some knowledge of what to expect over the next 25 years; a complete traffic study with definite clear-cut needs outline d to take care of our traffic growth, including a thoroughfare plan; and numerous other parts in- cluding future h.nd us e plan, zoning plan, a better zoning ordinance