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<br />1.3˜‹•‹‘‹‰–Š‡ —–—”‡ <br />A vision is the first step toward understanding the past, recognizing <br />What is a Vision? <br />existing circumstances, collectively deciding on a preferred scenario, and <br /> <br />setting a course of action for realizing what is envisioned in the future. <br />To have a vision means to look <br />This community v <br />ahead: to imagine or dream <br />and forms a framework by which each individual element of this plan <br />the future to create in our <br />follows. It is long-range and intentionally idealistic as a means to stretch <br />minds something beyond our <br />the imagination of what is possible. Casting a vision allows the <br />present reality is a distinctly <br />community to come together to decide what it will be like in 20 years <br />human skill. History has shown <br />and to put a plan in motion to achieve it. <br />that seeing something in the <br /> <br />step to actually achieving it. <br /> <br />and subsequently guided Council and staff policy and decision-making <br />As used in planning visioning, <br />for the past 10 years. Evident today, however, is that the community is <br />visioning is a process by which <br />no longer in agreement as to the <br />a community envisions its <br />preferred future. It chronicles <br />process was conducted during this update resulting in a new consensus <br />the hopes, dreams, and <br />vision; one that will continue to be refined through the course of the <br />aspirations of a community <br />planning process. <br />and helps citizens to agree on <br /> <br />what they want their <br />The first step in the visioning process is to assess where the community <br />community to become. <br />had been in the past. This effort involved a review of the existing <br /> <br />6 <br />Source: Michael Chandler <br />comprehensive planning and other demographic and socio-economic <br />information (refer to the Demographic, Historical, and Economic <br />Snapshots). The profile offers a glimpse of where La Porte has been in the <br />past and where it is today. This analysis set the tone for community <br />discussions and the overall visioning effort. <br /> <br />Stakeholder Interviews. The vision development process consisted of several <br />opportunities designed to generate conversation among citizens regarding <br />their current perceptions, but, more importantly, their expectations for the <br />future. The first opportunity was a series of interviews with community <br />stakeholders, which occurred over the course of two days. In all, over 60 <br />citizens participated in this process, including a session specifically designed <br />to engage . The purpose of these small group <br />interviews was to solicit the input of residents concerning common <br />perceptions, issues, problems, opportunities, constraints, assets, and <br />challenges of the City. This input was invaluable in understanding the <br /> <br />6 <br /> Michael Chandler is a planning consultant based in Richmond, Virginia. He is a <br />former Professor and Community Planning Extension Specialist at Virginia Tech and <br />co-founder of the Virginia Institute for Planning Commissioners. <br />1.7 <br /> <br />2.ŝ Adopted July 20, 2009 <br />Plan Context <br /> <br />