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The community kickoff meeting for NORCAST was
held in conjunction with the VISIONS
TASK FORCE on April 3, 2003 at the North
Highlands Recreation and Parks Building. The North Highlands
community was invited to attend, and there were more than 30
people in attendance. The NORCAST
team members were
introduced to the community and they explained their roles in
providing services to the community. NORCAST is working closely
with the North Highland Visions Task Force members, as well as
with the Antelope – Highlands Chamber of Commerce, the North
Highlands Community Planning Advisory Council,
and other stakeholders in the community to prevent, respond to
and resolve problems that the community brings forth.
Another component of the North Highlands Community Initiative
is to develop the North
Highlands Community and Economic Development Strategy. This planning effort will reexamine and revalidate the
community prepared North Highlands Visions Plan (1995), that identified
key issues and concerns, and outlined a vision for North Highland’s
future.
Mark Manoff, NORCAST Director, expressed that much has happened
in North Highlands since the Visions Plan was prepared. Changes
include the remodeling of a shopping center in the North Highlands
Town Center that now houses County and other public service providers.
Also, the recent conversion of the parking lot in front of the
North Highlands Community Center into the North Highlands O’Brien
Town Square Park, and the successful conversion of former McClellan
Air Force Base into a thriving business park.
Additionally, the establishment of the McClellan/Watt Avenue Redevelopment
Area will provide future tax increment monies to fund future public
improvement projects such as the Watt
Avenue Streetscape Master Plan that was recently approved by the Board of Supervisors. Mr.
Manoff urges community residents and business owners to actively
participate in the North Highlands Community Initiative, in addition
to the numerous projects that are continuing to benefit the North
Highlands area.
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