DUVALL — The City of Duvall is looking for public input on

this year’s Comprehensive Plan update. The Duvall Comprehensive Plan

Update Task Force will hold a meeting at 7 p.m. on March 22 in the Rose

Room of the Duvall Library. Officials urge residents to participate in the

forum to share their ideas about what they want Duvall to look like in the

upcoming years.

“This is your opportunity to share your thoughts and opinions on

our policies,” said Planning Director Doreen Wise. “This is the plan

that guides all development in the City of Duvall.”

The plan was originally adopted in 1994 and this will be the first

revision since its inception. Wise said a draft of the plan will probably be

finished by the end of June and it will head to the council for approval

in August or September.

Some of the major issues the city will address this year include

policies for parks and recreation areas, capital facilities projects and the future

look of State Route 203. Many of those same concerns were recently

addressed by the Duvall Chamber of Commerce in a letter to the city

council.

“Several years ago we did a survey on the business community

and had a task force formed to set a vision and long-term goals to maintain

the [city’s] character and business viability,” explained Chuck Whitfields,

a member of the Chamber.

From that survey the Chamber was able to establish what people felt

was important to the community — utilizing the trail systems and water

access in town, improving parking, educating visitors and residents

about Duvall’s history and more.

“It’s useful to have letters from organizations to prioritize

[our projects],” said Public Works Director Elizabeth Goode. “We don’t

have the money to do everything everyone wants. I really appreciate that

the Chamber is being clear on what’s important.”

And the partnership has already been successful in mediating the

city’s and businesses’ need for parking. In response to the Chamber’s request,

the city was able to create 13 more stalls on Stella Street behind the police

department.

“That’s the Chamber taking the time to prioritize so we can see if

we have the money and if we can do it,” Goode said.

Other suggestions by the Chamber include:

• Acquire six acres near McCormick Park for parking, an

arts center and restroom;

• Construct more restrooms in downtown;

• Develop a Downtown/Riverfront Plan to determine potential

economic benefits from parks, trails and cultural arts center;

• Prevent SR 203 from becoming a four-lane highway and conduct

a study on the Main Street corridor; and

• Establish an antique farm and logging equipment museum.

“We want to make Duvall an easy place to connect and shop and make

it easily accessible to pedestrians,” said Chamber President Joan Ramsey

of the letter’s intent. “And we’d like to keep the history alive.”

For more information about the city’s Comprehensive Plan update,

call Janet Lewine at (425) 788-2779. A copy of the current plan is

available for review at City Hall.