2.0. HRSR 03-10-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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First Steps If the revitalization of Monticello's downtown and riverfront could happen on its own, there would be no need for this plan. But there have been no private actions that have signaled a course of positive change, and events have ipoccurred in the last few years that threaten downtown's basic vitality. It will ultimately be the responsibility of the City of Monticello to be most active in pursuing revitalization. Through a series of its own efforts and cooperative ventures with the people and businesses of Monticello, an implementation strategy can be defined that achieves the community's vision for its downtown and riverfront. It has taken over one hundred years of settlement and development to get Monticello to the point where it recognizes the need for intervention in its downtown. Given that it has taken so long to get to this point, it would be unreasonable to assume that downtown will change overnight—or even in the next five years. This plan envisions a course of incremental change, each step building on the positive results of the one before so that after a period of a dozen years, or maybe twenty years, real change has come to downtown. Small successes are important, but the vision will take years to achieve. -, ,P- 14111,1 LIULOPS '� I- `-A! - )) s , &T ; • t M I F.-.-ter. ' t C _ The evolution of Monticello from a river town of the 1850s to the community seen in the 1990s has been slow;the planned revitalization of downtown will also be evolutionary In order to make certain elements of character are not lost. To be effective in guiding the revitalization of the downtown and riverfront, this plan must become the City's policy — allowing consistency in decision making over the term of the implementation period. The plan must not be per- mitted to change with new leadership, but must remain on a constant heading in order to avoid missed opportunities, duplication of efforts or unwise use of resources (land, financial and human resources). The City of Monticello is guided in its policy decisions by its Comprehensive Plan; the plan for Monticello's downtown and riverfront must be incorporated as a component of the Comprehensive Plan. This is the surest way of making the key ideas of the plan have a lasting influence on the evolution of downtown and the riverfront. Adoption of this plan as a part of the City's Comprehensive Plan should be the first step in its implementation. Over time, circumstances may arise that were not considered during the cre- ation of this plan, or events might occur that would cause the community to 40 reconsider some of the directions that it sets. Adjustments to the plan should _ be anticipated and expected. When reconsideration is needed, the community I A New Bridge i'. Revltaltzing Monticello's Downtown and Riven`;ont - - Page 4:1