In 2005 a group of neighbors worked together to gather hundreds of signatures on a petition to the City Council to encourage support for the creation of a Neighborhood Plan for the Avenues. Residents were asked to complete a survey to identify which issues were the highest priorities for a Plan to address.
Survey results showed that many neighbors were concerned about similar issues: increasing/improving bicycle lanes; assessing and improving vehicle traffic flow; enforcing housing and nuisance codes; enforcing traffic laws; preserving neighborhood character; increasing home ownership; defining appropriate locations and mixtures for land use (residential, parks, commercial); and maintaining and developing curbs, gutters and other road infrastructure.
Thanks to the organized support of many of CANA’s members, in the middle of 2005 the City Council approved funding to develop a Chico Avenues Neighborhood Plan. The City of Chico hired a consultant team to lead the development of the Plan through a Request for Proposals process.
The Avenues Neighborhood Improvement Plan was adopted on by the City Council on April 15, 2008. The Neighborhood Plan is an element of the City’s General Plan and will provide a vision for the neighborhood, including goals, policies, and recommended implementation strategies. Moving from the planning phase to the implementation phase is an important opportunity for CANA to reach out to it’s neighbors and invite those who have an interest in getting more involved to do so. Neighbors can participate in activities based on their area of interest.
The Neighborhood Plan for the Chico Avenues Neighborhood is available for download on the City of Chico web site. The city contact is Principal Planner Brendon Vieg. Brendon’s email is brendan.vieg@chicoca.gov or you can call him at (530) 879-6806.