WS asked, you answered. Winston-Salem and Forsyth County wanted input about its Forward 2045 plan and thousands of you made sure to speak out. They released a draft of the comprehensive plan with community members’ ideas. The recommendations will serve as a foundation for future public policy decisions, which will allow residents to live and enjoy the city more.
Let’s talk numbers
When it came to public involvement in decision making, here’s how many community members contributed to drafting the vision:
- 4,000+ written comments
- Nearly 3,000 participants submitted an online survey for the plan
- 250+ community members showed up at 20 public meetings
- 72 participants attended meetings presented by nine stakeholders
- City of Winston-Salem’s Youth Advisory Council reached out to kids 11-14 years old and encouraged them to share innovative ideas for their perfect community
The people have spoken
Forsyth County residents made their voices heard. Here are few of the public comments recorded:
- “It is important that there is the possibility of decent, comfortable, well-located housing, with affordable prices.”
- “Businesses look for an educated workforce. They thrive and grow when strong transportation systems are in place. The perceived value of a business or neighborhood, along with the quality of the school system, are three major factors in economic development.”
- “Preserve buildings that have collective memories of the community and are character contributing, but don’t deny development just for the sake of stopping change.”
The verdict
When it came to top issues community members want the county to address, results showed that land preservation was a top priority, housing came second, and economic development took third place (page 39). Currently, about a quarter of land in Forsyth County remains unused, which could be potentially used for housing, green spaces, agricultural land, or wildlife habitats.
Leaders outlined proposed steps (pages 41-49) to move forward and make the city and the county as a whole more vibrant and enjoyable to live in. Elected city and county officials will adopt the plan in fall/winter 2024.
