Taylor seeks community input on downtown growth plan

TAYLOR, Texas (KXAN) -- The city of Taylor is looking for input on what the future of its downtown could look like. A new downtown master plan is in the works and the city is looking for residents to offer feedback on what they'd like to see.

It comes as the city is facing explosive growth with the new Samsung factory plan in the city's shadow.

"We thought [the growth] would come like a garden hose and it came like a fire hose," Jan Harris, the city's Main Street Manager, joked.

The growth was something no one expected a decade ago, which is the last time the plan was updated.

"We're looking at downtown and saying downtown has go to be prepared for this," Harris added.

The city is in the middle of holding workshops for residents to weigh in on what they want the future to look like.

"You have to be prepared because we're taking these 19th century buildings into the 21st century," Harris said. "Technology is going to be demanded when you've got a company like Samsung knocking at your door."

City officials said they planned to continue to update the plan as they receive more public input.

"We don't want to spend all this time and energy and get public input for it to sit on the shelf," the city's communication director, Daniel Seguin, said. "We want folks in Taylor to be able to have a say in how downtown develops and improves and then make that development and improvement happen."

Extensive information about the city's plans, including past workshops, can be found online.