What’s New in Planning and Development? Quite a lot!

Sheboygan’s Department of Planning and Development (DPD) recently issued their quarterly newsletter that updates us on their projects and gives timely information on services and funding. Paulette Enders, director of planning and development, and her staff of three offer opportunities to new, existing, or expanding businesses, homeowners, developers, and the general public.

For example, Planning and Development has been coordinating the remodeling of City Hall for the past six months ever since the Police vacated first floor. This fall, Planning and Development along with Building Inspection will move into first floor, and City Hall’s west entrance will be open for people needing to take out various building permits. The city attorney’s offices will be located in City Hall, third floor, eliminating leased city office space across the street.

DPD obtained $402,000 in Community Development Block Grant Emergency Assistance Funding for the storm water mitigation project on North 6th Street between New York and Niagara Avenues (County Court House area), and HUD matched with another $134,000 toward this project. This department also administers the annual community block grant funding that helps many non-profits providing services in the city’s low-income areas.

Block grant funding is responsible in part for the King Park shelter program presently under construction. Groups will be able to rent this facility for parties or meetings, and extra restrooms will be open to the general public. John Michael Kohler Art Center’s “sidewalk stories” project will be imprinted into King Park’s sidewalks.

Planning and Development is applying for funding from various federal and state programs that will improve energy efficiencies in city buildings and develop loan programs for future job creation. DPD is the coordinator with EPA and WDNR on the Sheboygan River clean-up project. It recently approved proposals for a 32,000 square foot expansion to Piggly Wiggly Distribution Center on Union Avenue and a 3,475 sq. ft. office addition at Scandia Plastics on Paine Avenue.

The Common Council through this department has contracted for a marketing study to determine if the lower downtown area could support a grocery store. If the study is positive, grocery store chains will be contacted.

DPD is also coordinating the 2010 U.S. Census – a very important task that produces numbers that affect our city’s state and federal funding after 2010. A consolidated five-year plan is also in the works for how we will use entitlement allocations from the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development. Focus groups and a survey will start in August 2009.

As a major partner in the “As One” task force, DPD encourages business owners faced with layoffs to contact the Sheboygan/ Plymouth United Way for the brochure “Help for Hard Times.” A DVD on helping dislocated workers find services is also available this month.

Do you know someone who may need new windows or siding on his or her home? DPD also manages two housing rehabilitation programs available to income-qualified homeowners or tenants. These programs offer forgivable, deferred or payment loans through the Housing Rehabilitation Program or the Lead Hazard Reduction Program.

Browsing through just one newsletter, it’s obvious that Planning and Development works diligently for the city of Sheboygan, with both citizens and businesses benefiting.

Ain’t so?