A Community-Driven Process
The High Point 2045 planning process included three overlapping phases over 15-months between January 2023 and April 2024. It was guided by a Steering Committee and the general public to ensure that the plan reflected the community’s vision and preferred direction for growth.
High Point 2045 was as much about having a community dialogue as it was about producing the comprehensive plan.
While the primary purpose of High Point 2045 was the production of a comprehensive plan to help manage anticipated growth and development in the city, it provided the opportunity for the High Point community to talk about important community topics.
Community Voices and Outreach
The HighPoint2045 comprehensive plan was developed through broad and robust community engagement and the community’s voices were instrumental in crafting all aspects of the HighPoint2045 Comprehensive Plan.
The High Point 2045 Process
The High Point 2045 process was informed and guided by the High Point community through several methods of engagement.
Steering Committee
A 23-member steering committee of local residents, businesses owners, and civic leaders worked closely with the planning team throughout the process. Their input was supplemented by meetings with City staff and discussions with City Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Kitchen Table Conversations
Steering committee members hosted Kitchen Table Conversations - small, facilitated discussions with groups of neighbors, friends, and colleagues. These discussions helped to identify community values and priorities.
Online Survey
An online survey included over 300 participants and provided important feedback regarding how High Point should grow. Participants provided guidance on things like future development character, density, and open space preservation funding.
Stakeholder Groups
Early in the planning process, meetings were held with local stakeholder groups including Art and Design, Historic Preservation, Neighborhoods, Banking and Business, Development and Real Estate, Institutional Partners, and Environmental and Civic Non-profits. These groups provided early insight into key challenges and opportunities to be considered in developing the High Point 2045 plan.
Open Houses
In-person and interactive open houses were held in each of the three phases. Daytime and evening meetings were held each round. An online version was also available for two weeks following each round. The open houses provided the opportunity for residents to learn about the planning process and have in-depth conversations with steering committee members and the planning team about key issues, core values, priorities, as well as the preferred growth framework.
HighPoint2045.org
A project website was developed at the start of the planning process and was used to keep the public up-to-date on the planning process and its findings. Community members were also able to sign-up for notifications and share information with the planning team 24/7.