Click above for friends of the river webpage

Master Plan

Introduction

On December 14, 2009, the Salina City Commission authorized the preparation of a Master Plan to guide restoration and renewal of the Old Channel of the Smoky Hill River through Salina. The intent of the Smoky Hill River Master Plan is to identify appropriate planning, design and preliminary engineering responses to the specific opportunities associated with the restoration and redevelopment of the Old River Channel area of the Smoky Hill River. The Master Plan will build upon the input and interests expressed by over 3,500 participants in the Public Outreach conducted by the Friend of the River Foundation last spring and summer.

The City-funded Master Plan is being managed at the direction of Martha Tasker, Salina Director of Utilities, as Project Manager with consultants Design Studios West, Inc. Master Planning and Wright Water Engineers, Inc., Engineering.

A Master Plan Advisory Committee (MAC)  and A Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)  have been established to provide advisory oversight to the DSW Team by meeting with the DSW team at critical milestone junctures of the project, to ensure consistency in direction with the community desires expressed in Phase One.

The project duration is 11 months, starting in December 2009 and will be completed in October 2010. The schedule includes four (4) phases with concurrent planning and engineering tasks to arrive at a Final Master Plan presentation to the Planning Commission and City Commission for adoption in August 2010. At the end of each of the four (4) phases of work phase of work, progress plans will be presented to the MAC and TAC in Milestone Meetings for their comments and progress approval of Master Plan plans. Two Outreach meetings have been scheduled in addition to public Planning and City Commission work sessions. Progress plans and meeting minutes will be posted on this website, accessible by clicking on the numbered Meetings listed below: 

Milestone Meetings and Public Presentations and their respective dates are:

1.        MAC & TAC Workshop #1 – Project Orientation

        January 14, 2010

2.        MAC & TAC Workshop #2 – Master Plan Framework

        March 1, 2010, Monday, MAC 8:00am – 10:00am; TAC 10:00am – 12:00 Noon,

3.        Public Open House and MAC & TAC Workshop #3  – Master Plan Alternatives

        April 12, 2010, Monday, Public Open House #1; 3:00pm – 9:00pm; Location: TBA

4.        Public Open House, MAC & TAC Workshop #4, Joint Planning & City Commission Work Session– The Preferred Plan

        June 11, 12, 13 Friday - Sunday, Public Open House #2; Daily;   Location: Smoky Hill River Festival

        June 14, 2010, Monday, 3:00pm- 4:00pm; Joint Work Session - Planning & City Commissions

5.        MAC & TAC Workshop #5, Joint Planning & City Commission Work Session & Public Hearing – Final Master Plan

        August 16, 2010, Monday, 3:00pm- 4:00pm; Joint Work Session - Planning & City Commissions

        August 16, 2010, Monday,  4:00pm- 7:00pm; City Commission Adoption Proceedings

Upon completion of the Master Planning process City Staff, representatives of the Consulting Team and representatives of the MAC will make a formal presentation to the Planning Commission and City Commission offering summary recommendations for the Master Plan. The Planning Commission and City Commission will be asked to adopt, or adopt with conditional revisions, the Master Plan as an official planning document for the Master Plan area through the standard public hearing processes. Upon adoption, key aspects of the Master Plan will be incorporated as an integral part of the “City Comprehensive Plan” to guide future redevelopment and restoration of the Old River Channel.