Highland Park council adopts economic development strategy plan after debate on oversight and clarity

The Highland Park City Council voted on March 2 to adopt a draft economic development strategy plan intended to guide the city’s development priorities and prepare for a subsequent update to the master plan.

Director Clyburn told the council the strategy is a completed draft funded and prepared with state and regional partners and that adoption would allow the city to proceed toward master-plan updates. "The economic development strategy is complete in draft form for adoption," Director Clyburn said during the meeting.

Several council members raised questions about oversight and implementation: they asked who would sit on any steering committee, whether the group would act like a planning commission, and whether its decisions would return to council for approval. Council members expressed a mixture of impatience and caution; Council President Thomas urged members to ensure they understood the document because it would guide work affecting about 10,000 residents.

After debate, the clerk called the roll and the chair announced the motion carried. The council adopted the strategy toward future master-plan updates; staff said subsequent community engagement and targeted studies (for example, housing) will follow as staff and contractors move to the next steps.

Next steps: administration will begin master-plan updates and community engagement with two council members invited to participate in preparatory work; staff will return to council as specific implementation actions and funding requests emerge.