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More than 100 Sacramento State students voiced their opinion about the future development of Sacramento on April 20, as they took part in a college summit organized by the City of Sacramento.

The free event was designed to give the younger generation of Sacramentans an opportunity to influence growth in the area and provide insight about their needs and wants for future expansion.

“The city is creating a new general plan that will extend to 2030,” said city planner Remi Mendoza as he addressed participators. “We want to hear your preference as to what Sacramento will look like in years to come.”

The city’s plan, Sacramento 2030, is designed to accommodate the needs of the ever-growing population of the area and incorporating the suggestions of area students into its development.

The event incorporated team exercises as groups were given aerial maps of Sac State and the surrounding regions and were asked to highlight the areas they felt needed growth.

Each group presented its results to the audience and gave reasoning for their choices. Many groups cited the need to incorporate small business, others suggested to use the potential of the 65th Street Village and to create easier access to it from campus.

Many others expressed their concern about the rising cost of housing and the lack of available living areas near campus.

“As college students, we definitely need more affordable living,” said Government junior Robert Mercelis.

Long-term city planner Steve Peterson stressed the importance of student input because of the long-term effects it will have on the age group and community. “Our objective is to work at the local level to plan for the future,” he said. “Our vision is to make Sacramento into the most livable city in the nation.”

Associate city planner Brian Abbant explained the development research process is something that doesn’t happen too often. “The last time we did a general plan update was in 1988,” he said.

Geography Club president and Geographic Information Systems intern Lauren Krugman, who led one of the groups, explained that the process of gathering data for the plan is a lengthy procedure.

Results from the event will be posted on the organizations Web site early next week. Visit www.sacgp.org for more information.

Josh Huggett can be reached at [email protected]