Huntsville's graying population is the topic of this week's BIG Picture Citizens Academy.

In 1990, barely 10 percent of the Rocket City's population was age 65 or older. That's shifting as the Baby Boom generation reaches retirement age. By 2030, senior citizens are expected to account for nearly 17 percent of the city's population.

City planners say Huntsville must ensure that seniors have the public transportation, housing options and other resources needed to live independently in the future.

If that topic interests you, come to Wednesday's "Aging in Place" BIG Picture Citizens Academy. The meeting, which is free and open to anyone, is scheduled for 2-4 p.m. in the City Council chambers on the ground floor of Huntsville City Hall, 308 Fountain Circle.

The discussion will be led by Whit Blanton, whose insights into the country's graying population led the American Planning Association to adopt new planning guidelines for senior citizens. Blanton, founder of Renaissance Planning Group in Orlando, Fla., has 25 years of experience designing more walkable and livable communities.

Dennis Madsen, Huntsville's manager of long-range planning, said Wednesday's Citizens Academy meeting will focus mostly on the transportation and housing needs of people over 65.

"We're a car-dependent community, and as people age and are less comfortable driving, they can become isolated from their home, friends, family and faith groups," said Madsen. "They have been in their single-family homes for decades, and if they want to downsize, we simply don't have enough good transportation and housing options that allow people to remain close to the neighbors and support systems they have enjoyed."

This is the fourth of five planned Citizens Academy sessions that Huntsville planners are using to help craft a long-range master plan for the city. Past sessions have focused on Ditto Landing, commercial development and breathing new life into older neighborhoods.

If you can't be there in person Wednesday, the forum will be broadcast live on Huntsville's government-access cable channel (Comcast 16 and WOW 42) as well as the city's website, huntsvilleal.gov.