The next step in Southern Pines' comprehensive long-range planning process unfolds this week in the form of three community workshops.

Studio Cascade, the Spokane, Wash., consulting firm hired to help develop the plan, has scheduled one workshop for Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Southern Pines Recrea-tion Center and two on Thursday -- one at the Douglass Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and another at the Southern Pines Recreation Center from 7 to 9 p.m.

All three workshops will feature the same content, which focuses on "plan options." Southern Pines residents and those living in the town's extraterritorial jurisdiction are all encouraged to attend.

"At the meeting, we'll present two or more very different approaches to growth that honor what we've heard so far," Bill Grimes, principal at Studio Cascade, said in an e-mail sent out to residents. "Residents will help us rate each approach, helping define a preferred growth strategy headlining the future draft plan. Please attend and tell us which approach you prefer -- or which parts are best -- and why."

According to a press release, the workshop will feature a range of key plan directives emerging from community input received so far, plus at least two differing approaches to Southern Pines' future that still honor those directives. Attendees will rate each option according to plan directives. Results are expected to shape a preferred growth strategy for the draft plan.

Attendees may also view hundreds of photographs taken by participants as part of the plan process and take part in informal questionnaires and exercises including the "penny-poll," where participants rank issues using a ten-penny budget.

This is the third of six workshops to develop the new 20-year plan. The first workshop, held Nov. 13 and focused on the town's vision, drew more than 100 residents. The second, held Feb. 12, focused on planning concepts, and drew about 60.

Since then, the plan's advisory committee has been working to increase participation in the program. On March 27, the committee met for an intensive, six-hour charette workshop "to catch up on the process to date, including community input on vision, strategies presented at the plan concepts workshop, and more," according to the plan's Web site.

Those interested in getting involved in the planning process are invited to visit the "Drop-In Center" at 161 E. New Hampshire Ave. or visit Studio Cascade's Web site for the Southern Pines planning process at www.southernpines.studiocascade.com.

Contact John Krahnert III at 693-2473 or by e-mail at jkrahnert@thepilot.com.