People who want to have a say in the future of North Avenue in East Tosa should bring a pen or pencil and a mind full of ideas to work sessions at Cranky Al's Pizza next week.
The strategic planning process for the commercial district has reached the point at which the professionals work side-by-side with residents and business owners to build a vision for the future, planner Marty Shukert said.
"We've gathered facts, taken inventory and done the market analysis," he said. "At this point it's enough talk, enough analysis, let's figure this baby out."
Shukert and his team from Omaha-based RDG will be in town Aug. 31 to Sept. 2, and they will be bringing displays to help the planning process. Big maps and aerial photos will help residents see the district that spans from 60th to 76th street in a different way.
"Some of the best ideas have come out of these sessions (in other communities)," he said.
The first two days will be filled with work sessions, with one building on the next. The idea is to find solutions to problems facing North Avenue - including lack of parking and gathering spots - in a quick, cooperative manner.
The Sept. 2 session will provide a report of the findings and consensus opinions resulting from the prior two days' work. The results will be conceptual and need significant refining, but the workshops will start getting ideas down on paper, Shukert said.
Ed Haydin, a North Avenue Neighborhood Alliance board member who has gotten involved in the planning process, says the eventual final plan has a much greater chance for adoption if Tosa residents get on board now.
"Without the citizen component it's just another professional telling you what to do," he said. "This is a community plan. It's what the community wants, and it has to have some consensus."
Haydin would like to see all demographics, from teens to seniors, represented so they can speak to how to make the street "livable" for them.
RDG already has received input from about 350 survey-takers on what North Avenue has going for it and where it needs help. Anyone interested in the future of East Tosa can take the survey at rdgusa.com/crp/wauwatosa before the end of the day Friday.
Get involved
WHAT: the public is invited to participate in an East Tosa design workshop
WHEN: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 31, Sept. 1 and Sept. 2
WHERE: Cranky Al's Pizza, 6903 W. North Ave.
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