Tuscaloosa Neighborhoods Together is a group of concerned citizens and community activists who have teamed up to share ideas and know-how so they can better advocate for local neighborhoods and work together with local governments.
Current Issues
People want to be more involved and better informed about developments in their own neighborhoods. Tuscaloosa's current practice often leaves the public in the dark until the final stages of approval. Then time is wasted in contentious and unproductive public hearings that often delay project approvals and frustrate neighbors.
In other places, Washington County, Oregon for example, public participation is encouraged on the front end of the process - with great success. Builders are required by law to offer to meet with the neighbors and share information with them before ever submitting their application for subdivision, rezoning, etc.
This makes sense. All most folks want is the opportunity to talk, so, TNT drafted an ordinance, based largely on the Oregon example, and asked the City to make it law.
Now Mayor Maddox and the City Council
We presented the proposed ordinance to the Mayor and the City Council on April 28, 2008. To date we know that it is being reviewed, but no elected official has publicly given it their support. Click HERE to see a summary of activity on this ordinance to date. It is up to us to let the City Council and the Mayor know that we, Tuscaloosa's voters, want this simple opportunity to know what's happening in our own neighborhoods and to offer input at the stage of the process at which it will be most meaningful.
Click here to send them one easy email asking for their support.
The following links will take you to the actual documents that were submitted to our Mayor and City Council as well as to the coverage of the issue by the Tuscaloosa News. If you have any questions about any of this please email us at contacttnt@tuscaloosaneighborhoods.org.
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