Community leaders today announced a series of public meetings to update citizens on the progress being made on Plan-it Allen!, the first-ever, joint land use and development plan for Allen County and Fort Wayne.

The final draft of the plan will be presented at the meetings. Following the series of public sessions, the plan will go before several governing bodies for approval. The plan will serve as the official policy document for addressing issues related to growth and development in Allen County and Fort Wayne.

“Our community has come together with a commitment to develop a plan that enhances our ability to retain and gain jobs and provide a great quality of life,” said Mayor Graham Richard. “We must be a leader in seizing opportunities to grow and develop our community to make Allen County and Fort Wayne more competitive in the global economy.”

“The cities, towns and rural areas of Allen County are more intertwined today than ever before,” said Allen County Commissioner Nelson Peters. “This comprehensive plan for long-term development takes into consideration the best interests of the entire county while preserving our community'€™s character and assets.”

Schedule:
*6 p.m. Monday, January 22, Allen County Fairgrounds, 2726 Carroll Rd.and Canterbury High School, 3210 Smith Rd.
* 6 p.m. Thursday, January 25, Northridge Baptist Church, 1300 E. Cook Rd.and Pleasant Center Elementary, 2323 Pleasant Center Rd.
* 11 a.m. Friday, January 26, Community Center, 233 W. Main St.
* 6 p.m. Monday, January 29, South Side High School, 3601 S. Calhoun St.
* 6 p.m. Tuesday, January 30, Snider High School, 4600 Fairlawn Pass
* 6 p.m. Wednesday, January 31, Woodburn Community Center, 4417 Bull Rapids Rd.

Plan-it Allen! has been shaped by community involvement and examined areas such as economic development, transportation, housing and neighborhoods, small communities in the County, and community identity to name a few. Allen County and Fort Wayne launched the Plan-it Allen! process in 2003. This is the first time in over 20 years that both County and City plans have been updated. For more information, visit www.planyourcommunity.org.