The morning after Gray’s elections, those who won and several of those who did not gathered with community leaders to talk about the need to move forward with a plan for the city’s future.

Gus Wilson, who won the election as Gray’s mayor, was opposed by Lehman Wood. To their credit, both men were at the Nov. 4 meeting to discuss a master plan for the City of Gray led by Allison Duncan of the consulting firm ECOS and Josh Lurie, chairman of the infrastructure and planning committee of Jones County People Looking Ahead Now.

Others in attendance included members of the Gray Downtown Development Authority, local elected officials, community leaders, and the Gray/Jones County Chamber of Commerce.

“The master plan can be as specific or as general as you want,” Lurie noted. “We all have an idea of what we want downtown to look like. The master plan ensures that we get what we want.”

A master plan contains illustrative drawings, articulates a broad vision for the future of a city or county, and directs all development activities. It incorporates land use and can also include capital improvement projects.

Duncan said the plan can cost as much as $100,000 or as little as $10,000, depending on its size and detail.

“You need to start with your vision of downtown Gray and make sure your stakeholders know where you are going,” she said. “The next step is how you can achieve these goals.”

Duncan said the plan can include transportation, market studies, and planning codes.

“It’s good to start talking about what you want to accomplish with the plan,” she said.

The group entered into a discussion about different types of developments and where they would be appropriate, and developer Jimmy Goolsby said it is important to know what is wanted by the community.

“With this economy, no one is heading into Gray. Anything that happens in Gray in the next two years will be something we do who are already here.” Goolsby said.

Downtown Development Authority member Sherri Rollins said the DDA has been working on a plan for the courthouse square.

“We want all the businesses to stay, just maybe in a better location. Everything needs to be shifted back with green space,” she said.

Rollins said the development needs to be income producing, and the county needs more offices.

“Those offices could be near the courthouse with plenty of parking,” she added.

Rollins said most businesses that come into the city are small, and any plan needs to be sensitive to existing businesses.

Wilson said the Gray Motel is for sale and could be an opportunity for the city.

DDA member Ashley Mackin said traffic is an issue with any development in the downtown area.

“We are not foot-traffic friendly. You take your life in your hands to cross the street,” she said.

Gray Station Better Hometown Manager Pat Daniels said Gray needs to keep its identity.

“We don’t want to look like every place else,” she said.

Rollins noted that the depot is important and needs to be maintained. She said the businesses currently on the streetscape in downtown Gray get 40 percent of their businesses from travelers.

“Their numbers prove that travelers do stop,” she said.

Duncan said the first step is to assess what is currently in the city and what can be built under existing regulations.

“Once you have a plan, you have to look for the funds to implement it,” she said. “Part of my job is finding resources.”

Duncan said a master plan for a city the size of Gray is usually funded with a mixture of local resources in cooperation between agencies.

“You’ve got to be committed, and you’ve got to get started,” she said.