Comp Plan takeaways

By Tom Ehrich

An 80-page plan with thousands of data points, themes, conclusions, ideas, and diverse needs is inherently long and dense.

Here are three takeaways from the Town Board’s Public Review Draft (Version 1.3) of the 2023 Comprehensive Plan.

First: It is well-written and well-organized, though difficult to navigate on a computer screen.

As a writer, I find that good writing suggests good thinking. Not always to one’s liking, but the conclusions are worthy of consideration and the draft plan is readable. The plan could easily have descended into the usual government-speak: a blizzard of statistics, defensive presentations of footnotes and survey data to support each point, and bureaucratic language.

The board’s draft plan avoids the usual “sound bite” approach or “single-shotting” of only a few issues.

Second: The draft plan establishes a tone that will facilitate next steps. It frames a conversation that seems likely to yield positive outcomes, and not another round of invective.

That tone has several elements. One, it seeks to be “balanced and reasonable,” not overly aggressive, or ideological, or narrow. Two, it points the way to conversation, not heckling. Three, it shows respect for all residents, not just the perceived overarching needs of any one group. Four, it respects change and diversity. Five, the mantra is “collaboration,” not victory for any one group.

Third: The plan drives to action, not endless rounds of arguing.

The draft plan names critical issues and then stakes out some action options for each one. Some action items are more specific than others, but the focus is on taking action on even the knottiest issues.

The plan defines important terms that have heretofore sounded like ideological "shoulds," rather than actions open for discussion. One example is the term “rural character,” which has seemed a vague concept designed to protect scenery and thereby buttress property values, especially for the wealthy. The plan goes deeper than that and presents rural character as a dynamic concept.

The plan shows how the pieces of the puzzle fit together, perhaps helping residents get beyond pushing angrily on single-shot issues.

The plan shows how government can carry out its unique roles — such as setting zoning laws, naming and enforcing land-use requirements, and lobbying for or against external initiatives such as solar farms.

What next?

Now that the draft review of the plan is available to the public, there are bound to be other opinions and suggestions that will influence the final Comprehensive Plan. The Town Board is taking extra effort to engage the public. Now residents need to take advantage of engagement opportunities and make sure they understand what is and isn’t being said, as well as to make themselves be heard.

Online, paper, and public discussion are all available.