Residents will have another chance this month to tell city planners how they envision Suffolk growing over the next two decades.

For the next three weeks, the city will be hosting its second series of meetings for people to offer input into updating the 2018 Comprehensive Plan.

The comprehensive plan – the city’s roadmap to the future – underwent major changes several years ago with the formation of the city’s first smart growth policy, the Unified Development Ordinance. It is updated every five years.

Citizen input is critical to the revisions, said Scott Mills, the city’s planning director.

Participants at the meetings will be asked to help identify community likes, dislikes and concerns about growth and development, Mills said. They will also be asked to help develop ideas and strategies associated with future growth.

City planners and officials from URS, the Virginia Beach company contracted to revise the 2018 comp plan, will factor the community input into its proposed revision.

&uot;We really want to hear from residents,&uot; Mills said.

The meetings are being held throughout the city, in an effort to make them accessible to as many people as possible, he added. The meeting schedule includes:

n7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16

Northern Shores Elementary School

6701 Respass Beach Road

n7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18

John F. Kennedy Middle School

2325 E. Washington St.

n7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30

Tidewater Agricultural Research and Extension Center

6321 Holland Road

n7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2

King’s Fork Middle School

350 Kings Fork Road

Planners will use input gathered from about 75 people who filled out a community survey at Peanut Fest, Mills said.

That survey is available by going to planning department link on the city’s web site, www.suffolk.va.us.

City residents can complete the survey and return it to the planning department by Dec. 3.

allison.williams@suffolknewsherald.com