All for Highland? Ambiguity is not good for county governance and it certainly isn't good for a comprehensive plan designed to guide land use decisions. The language used in the plan, while it should be broad in many ways, must be clear as to its intent.
Highland's comprehensive plan committee could use some help from the tried and true method of county-wide referendums on many of the topics it's addressing as it edits and reviews the now six-year-old plan.
The group is clearly reluctant to get itself muddied in the ongoing controversies about land use when it comes to wind turbines, and with good reason. The community debate about Highland New Wind Development's proposal for an industrial wind energy project here is complicated beyond reason.
Eventually, we suspect, it will become a topic of the committee's meetings more centrally, but by the tone set by debates on ridge top protection recently, the group is evidently trying hard to reach consensus, even if that means no one is happy.
After much back and forth on how to address ridge lines, or even what to call them, the members finally tossed out those words altogether in favor of "natural resources" for the section of the county's plan on environment. It's a stark contrast to Bath County's moves toward taking the issue head-on in its own land use discussions.
What Highland County does not need is plain vanilla language that leaves it wide open to interpretation. That kind of vagueness got the county in trouble before, and plays a large role in many of the legal arguments put forth by those suing the county now, over its decision to permit a wind facility here on the highest ridge.
Reaching consensus in the group, while important, may not always be possible. Reaching consensus on the plan itself, however, is. The best way is by using the same method Highland has twice employed - the "All for Highland" survey.
The survey made every effort to find out exactly what Highland citizens want for their future. The statistical data was priceless for developing past land use documents, and gives specific direction to our leaders as they make choices about land use changes, or growth areas. The first review committee considered another survey, and then discarded the idea for lack of funds and volunteers to assist. The new committee should take up the idea once more, and find a way to get it done.
It's not too late - get majority sentiment on every major issue, including ridge top protection and wind energy facilities, and put together a plan that reflects those views held by Highland residents. It would settle the differing opinions about what citizens think, and make it far easier for this committee to be bolder in its language.
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