Problems with traffic flow in Carbondale and housing needs are among the 30 most important issues that need to be addressed by Carbondale’s new development plan, planning committee members say.

A 27 member planning committee, consisting of Carbondale citizens appointed by the mayor, listed the main issues in Carbondale that they would like to see a planning firm look into when creating a new comprehensive development plan for Carbondale.

Carbondale hired Camiros Ltd., a planning firm from Chicago, to create a new comprehensive development plan for the city. The plan will outline development and ordinances for Carbondale for the next 15 to 20 years. The new plan will replace a development plan that was adopted in 1979.

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Camiros representatives Jacques Gourguechon, principal consultant and Tom Weber, senior associate, were on hand for the first Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee meeting Tuesday night.

Committee members were split into five groups and were asked to list several issues in Carbondale development. Each group was then asked to list the top three.

The committee instead listed 30 issues. Topping the list was traffic flow, areas for children to play in and a look into housing needs throughout Carbondale.

Gourguechon and Weber said they will compile the recommendations from the committee and create a survey to be sent out randomly to 2,500 households in Carbondale.

Gourguechon explained that the plan he and Weber will develop will be based on citizens’ suggestions. He said the plan they create will guide the city in all development areas for the next 20 years.

Gourguechon said the process will take place over the next 15 months. He said the general public will have several opportunities to express their opinions about what the plan should include.

I hope the citizens of Carbondale contribute to this plan, he said. It is their plan, not ours.

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Weber said he was pleased with the energy at the meeting but said he would have liked to see more citizens present in the audience.

Mayor Neil Dillard said the committee was off to a good start.

With the input of the committee, we will be able to provide assistance for Camiros, he said. I believe they will deliver a first-rate plan.

Undergraduate Student Government President Kim Clemens, a member of the committee, said she was happy to see most sections of Carbondale represented by the committee.

SIUC Vice Chancellor James Tweedy, Clemens and a representative of the Graduate Professional Student Council will represent SIUC on the committee. GPSC has not yet named a representative.