Goshen seeks community input on possible expansion

GOSHEN, Ind. -- Goshen is growing and needs your input. The city is in the process of creating a plan for the future. The growth plan provides city leaders, community members and developers with a tool to drive development that is consistent with community goals and values.

Mayor Jeremy Stutsman says community input is key to the city’s potential expansion.

“My job isn’t to run the city, it’s to connect with people and it’s to be a piece of doing all those things to come together,” said Stutsman. “So, having the citizens come to us is huge.”

In addition to hearing from the citizens, the city is working with Abonmarche Consultants and the Indiana Communities Institute at Ball State University to create the growth strategy.

It's something Mayor Stutsman says is necessary for the quickly-growing city.

“We know if the city is going to continue to grow, we’ve been growing faster in the state in the past four years, percentage-wise. So, if we’re going to continue to grow like that, we just want to have that plan in place," Stutsman said.

The public outreach meetings begin this week.

The city is looking to know how and where to grow. In addition to the community and stakeholders, the city is also looking at data including soils and public works, so that the city can grow in a consistent way. There are currently no plans in place, so the community’s voice is very important.

“We don’t have ideas or plans of where we’re going to annex, if we’re going to annex,” said Mayor Stutsman. “But that’s what this discussion’s about is how do we want to grow and if we want to continue annexing, making Goshen bigger.  

The listening sessions begin this week. Details can be found below:

• August 16 at 5:30 p.m. at Rieth Interpretive Center, 410 W. Plymouth Ave.
• August 17 at 8 a.m. in Schrock Pavilion at Shanklin Park, 411 W. Plymouth Ave.
• August 17 at 5:30 p.m. at the St. John Church gym, 109 W. Monroe St.
• August 23 at 5:30 p.m. at Schrock Pavilion at Shanklin Park, 411 W. Plymouth Ave.

You can also take a survey for your input released by the city on August 5th in both English and Spanish.