As part of Community Planning month in October, four of five Huntsville City Council districts held public forums to discuss future plans.

Town halls hosted by district representatives were held at the North Huntsville Public Library–Shurney Center (District 1, Michelle Watkins), Optimist Recreation Center (District 2, David Little), Sandra Moon Community Center (District 3, Jennie Robinson) and the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library downtown (District 4, Bill Kling).

Additional sessions were held throughout the month at the Boys & Girls Club, Girls Inc., and Huntsville City Schools.

As part of the meetings, members of the planning commission made presentations, including displays at each location outlining some of those plans. Mayor Tommy Battle issued a proclamation celebrating the City of Huntsville Planning department.

“The growth and development of Huntsville is not by accident and the City’s Planning Department has played an integral role in that process,” Battle said. “As we celebrate Community Planning Month, it’s an opportunity for everyone to take a moment to appreciate the work that shapes our city both today and into the future.”

Looking decades into future projects, city planners discussed road construction, areas of potential growth, and historic preservation as the city marked its fourth annual Community Planning Month with the theme “Huntsville on the R.I.S.E.”

The emphasis this year was equity as the City looks to create a sustainable urban development that “revitalizes and strengthens the community, and ensures all residents participate in and benefit from the economic growth and development decisions that guide the community.’’

Among the topics discussed was the future of the Huntsville Depot. At the District 1 session, one resident proposed returning the site to passenger travel.

“How about this for a crazy idea?,’’ she asked. “Let’s have a railroad depot there and get passenger rail and alternative mode of transportation into Huntsville.’’

Lady Kassama, AICP, Planner III, with the department, replied, “I mean, if (city long range planner) Dennis Madsen were here, he’s our boss, he would be your biggest fan right now.’’

Regarding the depot, the City has held public meetings and conducted an online survey asking residents for suggestions.

“We did have a few people that pointed that out in the survey as well as at our public meetings,’’ Kassama said. “One of the things that the City would have to do is coordinate with Norfolk Southern who uses the rail line.

“So the conversation has to happen at a higher level as to when you add passenger rail to a freight line, and I would not even begin to be able to talk about that in an educated way. But I know our department would love that. We’re all about long range planning so that would be amazing.’’

The Early Works Museum oversaw the Huntsville Depot for many years until financial concerns forced the museum to turn operations over to the City. The site has been empty for five years.

Part of that area will include a greenway.

“As you can see on this map here,’’ Kassama said, “(plans are) bigger than just the Depot Building, so that’s something important to keep in mind. So this is a very important location in that northwest corner just on the outskirts of downtown.’’

“The greenway at the site would serve as a very important connector from various areas to downtown,’’ Kassama added.

The City is investigating different options for the historic landmark built in 1860.

Another subject discussed at the District 1 gathering was economic development in the area around the Huntsville City Schools administrative building and the Career Tech Center at the corner of North Memorial Parkway and Max Luther Drive.

“We’re under a (Non Disclosure Agreement) so we can’t tell you what’s coming right now,’’ Watkins said. “But in the next thirty, sixty days, we’ll be able to make those announcements. That (site) is going to attract economic development.’’

The City spent $42 million on the campus.

“We are working aggressively to get some things coming here,’’ Watkins said. “We do have a bank coming where the Arby’s used to be. They’ve already secured the land. They purchased it, and I think they’re gonna break ground next year, early next year on building that bank.’’

More public meetings on details in the master plan including the depot and other sites will likely be held moving forward.

For more information, visit huntsvilleal.gov.