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Comprehensive plan: Series of events
MONTEREY - The last update to the Highland County Comprehensive Plan was finished in 1999. The latest review was completed last week and is on its way to the Highland County Board of Supervisors. The threeyear review was anything but easy, as the timeline indicates:
¦ August 2004 - Committee organized with 19 members appointed by county officials and began work with the assistance of the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission. Lisa Kodger, representing the planning commission, was elected committee chair.
¦ November 2004 - Committee asks for public input through media releases, meetings with civic groups, public comment meetings, and input to individual members by phone, email, letters and in person.
¦ December 2004 - First draft near completion by CSPDC. The draft consists of statistics, charts and data and makes up 75 percent of the entire plan. Reports from various organizations trickling in.
¦ February 2005 - Draft received as promised from the CSPDC. A timeline CSPDC produces for the committee established responsibilities and dates to complete tasks assigned. Kodger reports "not a lot of public input" received.
¦ April 2005 - Cellular One gives committee overview of cellular technology and its applicability to Highland County.
¦ May 2005 - Committee members' frustration grows over delays in completing the review.
¦ June 2005 - Community workshop held at The Highland Center to receive public input; CSPDC facilitates.
¦ July 2005 - Members ask for more input from public. CSPDC senior planner Darryl Crawford introduces committee to Smart Growth concepts.
¦ August 2005 - Valley Conservation Council executive director John Eckman briefs committee on the need for conservation measures.
¦ October 2005 - Research phase ends, revision begins. Some members express unhappiness with emphasis on Smart Growth.
¦ November 2005 - Group having trouble agreeing on common ground. "I don't feel there is enough joint direction, love, trust, whatever you want to call it, in the room to accomplish that or amongst the community to be happy with that at this point, so what we are going to do is try to take on this stuff together," says Crawford. Subcommittees are unable to gain group consensus on goals and objectives.
¦ January 2006 - Committee reviews chapters on demographics and housing.
¦ February 2006 - Committee reviews education. A review of government, finance and economy set for the April meeting.
¦ May 2006 - Board of supervisors give the committee until the end of the year to complete the review. Kodger earlier resigns from the committee and the planning commission.
¦ June 2006 - Supervisors direct reorganization of committee into five geographical areas, with a planner in charge of each area. The committee is reduced from 19 members to 13. Five of the original 19 remain on the committee. Planning commission chair Jim Cobb is installed as chair of the committee.
¦ August 2006 - New committee reviews demographics, housing and education.
¦ November 2006 - Committee reviews natural environment.
¦ March 2007 - Committee discusses land use with emphasis on agriculture.
¦ April 2007 - "The official first draft is done," declares Cobb. "It only lacks a few edits."
¦ September 2007 - Commission finishes final edits, work session between supervisors and planners is set for Sept. 25.
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