BOUNTIFUL -- Now's a chance for Bountiful residents to put their stamp on future planning decisions in their community.

The general plan is being updated, with committees to be formed to give input on various aspects of that document, City Planner Aric Jensen says.

Committees are being formed to look at land use, transportation, recreation and downtown.

"We are trying to it (revise the general plan) in nine months, which is quite aggressive," Jensen said. Often, at least a year is needed.

"The idea is to have all committee meetings and workshops completed before Sept. 1, to try and do it before school starts," he said.

"Surprisingly, the first month and last month of school (September, May) are the hardest months to get people together, as well as mid-November through December" due to the Holidays, Jensen said.

After committees have made their recommendations, those ideas will be put together and reviewed.

"In November and December, we'll do all of the wordsmithing," preparing the necessary jargon in the actual plan, and seek public approval following hearings, etc., the planner explained.

"We want to do all of the open houses in October,. into the first part of November. In November and December we will take it (plan) to the planning commission and then the city council," Jensen said.

Among major issues that will be discussed as part of each of the four plans are: land-use, moderate income housing plan, master use plan and public facilities plan; transportation, transportation master plan to include streets master plan; recreation committee, trails master plan and parks master plan; downtown committee, historic downtown master plan, economic development and west of Main plan.

Jensen noted each committee will include at least one city council and planning commission representative. Committees can be rearranged as needed to accommodate schedules and interests.

The downtown committee will mostly be dealing with finishing work started two years ago, updating if needed, he said.

The last general plan update was completed in 2000. Plans are usually updated every five years.

Those interested in serving on a committee or wishing more information should call the planning department at 298-6190.

Committee members should expect to attend a two-three hour meeting every other week for about three months.

"(Those involved) can make a huge difference. This is an opportunity where a small group of people can really influence an outcome," Jensen said.

"In Bountiful, where we've gone through the first round of buildout, it wasn't as important to have it (general plan redo)" as in cities still experiencing a lot of buildout, he said.

"But now, where we're seriously doing redevelopment, it's important to have a solid general plan and how we will redevelop," Jensen said.

For example, he explained that the typical "big box" store has a life of about 20 years, while multi-family apartments, etc., usually last 50 years before they are "substantially remodeled."

"All of our structures kind've have hit that point," he said in general of much of the city, with many of the major structures built between the 1950s and 1970s.

"It's time we either tear them down, start fresh, or put some serious capital into remodeling. That's very important where we talk about future transit lines, etc. The way we redevelop is very important," Jensen said.

A "win-win" redevelopment approach is what he has in mind vs. a heavy-handed approach with business people and others,. he stressed.

"There are places where people are interested in redevelopment already. That way it benefits both them and the interest of the city," he said, meaning efforts will typically start with those folks.

"We're not going to be approaching someone who barely built or remodeled. We're looking for people who are ready, desirous to make changes in a positive way," Jensen said.