Novi residents can weigh in on the city's 25-year strategic plan for the first time when the draft Novi 2050 document goes on display at a community workshop Tuesday, Aug. 18, at the Novi Public Library.

The self-guided open house runs from 6 to 8 p.m. in the library's Whole Meeting Room at 45255 Ten Mile Rd. Attendees will move through stations covering all six focus areas of the draft plan and provide feedback on what's clear and what needs more explanation.

No planning background is required.

The workshop marks a turning point in a process that began in January. As we reported Aug. 4, the city launched its Community Priorities Survey earlier this month asking residents to rank needs across infrastructure, transportation, services, funding and environmental sustainability. That survey feedback has now been folded into the draft plan, which the city's event listing describes as nearly ready for its first public presentation.

The stakes are particular for a city that is roughly 91% built out. Council Member Heintz noted at the Jan. 10 City Council goal-setting session that Novi doesn't "have that much opportunity to impact the remaining potential development," making the plan's emphasis on redevelopment, maintenance and service delivery especially significant for business owners and residents along corridors like Grand River Avenue and Haggerty Road.

Mayor Pro Tem Casey said at the Jan. 10 goal-setting session that the plan would produce strategic objectives with goals phased over years. "The city can't do it all in the first couple of years, so they'll be timing it out," Casey said.

According to the city's Novi 2050 website, the planning process has moved through four phases since January: Discovery & Listening, Visioning & Goal-Setting, Scenarios & Strategies, and the current Drafting the Plan phase running through October. A final plan reveal and community celebration is targeted for October.

The Aug. 18 workshop is free. Residents can RSVP at cityofnovi.org/Novi2050#workshop. Questions can be directed to city contact Jeanette Handy at [email protected] or (248) 347-0416.