GASTONIA, N.C.– The City of Gastonia announced the start of the City’s new Comprehensive Plan, Gastonia2050: Smart City Ambitions, How We Grow, How We Move, How We Live. The City’s last Comprehensive Plan was written in 2011. Much about the community has since changed. To ensure the City’s residents and businesses can properly benefit from future growth, it is important to update the Vision for how Gastonia will look 25 years from now. The Update will include community input to learn from citizens and stakeholders how Gastonia can improve on quality of life issues, job creation, housing affordability, access to services, mobility, and environmental protections. The Plan is to be developed over the next 12 months, and will provide high level strategies to guide how the City should focus resources, and prioritize investments. Broad topics included are: Growth Housing Economic Development Accessibility/Connectivity Environment Community Services Community Health The City is kicking off the planning process at the first of three community workshops on Oct. 2, at the Adult Recreation Center, 519 W Franklin Blvd, in Gastonia. The Gastonia2050 project website is: www.gastonianc.gov/Gastonia2050. Residents will be able to access this site throughout the Project to participate in online polling and surveys, as well as keep up with the latest news and progress as the plan develops.