OLD TOWN – If you’re sitting around looking for things to do during the January cold, you might want to consider ideas for the redevelopment of the city’s downtown.

The city is preparing to develop a master plan to encourage future development and growth in the downtown area. This process is being guided by the downtown planning committee, which is comprised of local residents. The engineering and planning firm Wright-Pierce is assisting the city in this process and is facilitating a public participation process to include an estimated three public meetings with residents and businesses to obtain input. The first public forum was held Monday, November 17, 2014, with an estimated 60 people in attendance who brainstormed; the date of the next forum was recently announced, and it will be held Monday February 9, at 6 p.m. at the Old Town Public Library.

The input received from the public is critical in developing goals for the revitalization of the downtown area, and all Old Town residents and businesss owners are encouraged to participate in this process. For more information or to complete a questionnaire on what you would like to see for the downtown, please visit: http://www.wright-pierce.com/old-town-maine-master-planning-project.aspx.