Othello residents asked to fill out comprehensive plan survey

OTHELLO — The comprehensive plan currently being prepared by Othello city officials is designed to answer some questions about the city’s future. 

Othello is growing, but where should that growth be directed? What kind of housing will be needed in town? What kind of industries should the city be working to attract? What kind of jobs? Is it important that Othello in 2047 has the same atmosphere as Othello in 2026? Residents are being asked for their opinions on those and other topics in a resident survey that will be open for responses through May 10. 

The comprehensive plan is one component that determines future growth, but Anne Henning, Othello community development director, said it’s an important one.

“It provides the guideline and the vision for what we want Othello to be in the future,” Henning said. 

It’s an update to the city’s existing plan, Henning said. Because it’s supposed to guide future growth, it covers a lot of ground. 

“Land use, housing, utilities, and transportation,” Henning said, among many other topics. 

The survey can be accessed on the city’s website, www.othellowa.gov, and a paper copy has been mailed to residents.  

Respondents are asked about the kinds of housing they think Othello needs, what kind of industry and business the town needs, what the city could do to make the town more attractive to business. City officials also want to know what worries residents when it comes to growth. 

Are people concerned that growth would make Othello less affordable? What about family-wage jobs or the impact on infrastructure?  

Parks and recreation get their own section. Do residents want more shade trees and playgrounds in Othello parks? Does the city need more sports fields or event venues? Is a dog park desirable? Do respondents want more hiking trails?  

Respondents also are asked to prioritize a list of goals, ranging from housing and economic development to historical preservation and non-motorized transportation. In case the survey misses anything, people are asked for their ideas. 

“We want the community to be involved,” Henning said. “We want as many voices as possible.” 

The Othello Planning Commission will take the results of the survey into account as part of the work it’s doing to put the comp plan together, Henning said. The results also will be reviewed by the Othello City Council. 

Henning said people that want to look at the survey results after it’s completed, or who are interested in the comp plan process, can find information about it under a separate tab on the city’s website. More information will be added as the process continues, she said. The document is scheduled for completion in 2027.