Huntsville is planning for the next several decades while honoring its past and nurturing today’s cultural life during Community Planning Month in October. The City’s Planning Department is being celebrated for shaping transportation networks, directing sustainable growth, preserving historic assets, and strengthening the music and arts ecosystem that gives the city its distinctive character.
The department’s work stitches together infrastructure, place‑making, and cultural stewardship to ensure growth is thoughtful, equitable, and locally rooted. This month highlights how strategic planning creates safer streets, revitalized neighborhoods, and vibrant public spaces where creativity and community can thrive.
Theme Huntsville on the RISE
This year’s theme, Huntsville on the R.I.S.E., places equity and sustainable development at the center of planning. The emphasis is on revitalizing neighborhoods, strengthening community assets, and making sure every resident shares in the benefits of economic growth and the planning decisions that shape daily life.
• Equity first: Prioritize affordable housing, accessible transit, and inclusive public spaces so outcomes meet the needs of long‑time residents and newcomers alike.
• Sustainable growth: Encourage smart, climate‑resilient development that preserves green space, reduces congestion, and supports local businesses.
• Community assets: Invest in parks, cultural venues, and neighborhood infrastructure to bolster local identity and quality of life.
• Shared decision‑making: Expand outreach, remove barriers to participation, and use community feedback to guide zoning, design, and investment choices.
• Measurable impact: Track outcomes like housing affordability, transit access, and economic opportunity to ensure planning decisions deliver real benefits across the city.
Official recognition
Mayor Tommy Battle will formally proclaim Community Planning Month to honor the Planning Department’s leadership in Huntsville’s guided growth. The proclamation recognizes the department’s role in shaping transit corridors, guiding smart development, preserving historic neighborhoods, and creating public spaces that strengthen community life.
“The growth and development of Huntsville is not by accident; the City’s Planning Department has played an integral role in that process,” Mayor Battle said, urging residents to take a moment to appreciate the work that shapes the city today and positions it for a resilient, equitable future.
Public meetings and community outreach
Planning staff will bring displays to Huntsville libraries and present the department’s work at City Council town halls across the city this October, offering updates, listening to neighborhood priorities, and explaining how residents can influence future projects.
• District 3 Town Hall: Oct. 14, 6 p.m., Sandra Moon Community Complex, 7901 Bailey Cove Road SE.
• District 4 Town Hall: Oct. 20, 6 p.m., Huntsville‑Madison County Downtown Public Library, 915 Monroe St.
• District 1 Town Hall: Oct. 21, 5:30 p.m., North Huntsville Public Library, 3011 Sparkman Dr. NW.
• District 2 Town Hall: Oct. 22, 5 p.m., Optimist Recreation Center, 703 Oakwood Ave. NE.
Additional community sessions will take place at Boys & Girls Club locations, Girls Inc., and Huntsville City Schools to reach families, students, and neighborhood groups where they are. Attend a session to learn about upcoming projects, ask questions, and share input that helps shape zoning, design, and investment decisions.
Why your voice matters
The Planning Department centers community input so plans reflect neighborhood priorities and deliver equitable outcomes. Attend a town hall, view library displays, join a school or nonprofit session, submit comments online, or speak with staff at pop‑ups to help shape zoning, design, and investment decisions.
Learn more and get involved
Find full details on meeting times, locations, and ways to participate or submit feedback at https://bit.ly/46M2db5.