March 28, 2024
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Palmyra to discuss new comprehensive plan

PALMYRA – Members of the town’s comprehensive plan committee are banking that a community party atmosphere will break the ice and help them explain to residents that such a plan is vital.

Community members have been working for more than a year to create a collection of ideas for town development.

They have scheduled two public meetings to get suggestions.

The first meeting will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 20; the second will be at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24. Both will be at the town office and will feature locally made snacks, fresh cider and coffee.

William Najpauer, the town’s consultant, said Thursday night that it will be important to explain to the community that a comprehensive plan is a guide, not a set of laws. “It is a wish list of ideas and strategies,” he said.

“The committee tackled many issues, including looking at ways to promote agriculture and to encourage a village center. Ideas were put forth to improve town roads, services, recreation and to make the best use of town finances,” he said.

Najpauer explained that the plan is simply “an expression of the community’s vision” and is a continuing process.

One of the biggest benefits of the plan will be the ability for the town’s grant applications to be more competitive. Part of the scoring for such grants is based on having such a plan and whether the grant is compatible with it.

Several committee members commented that if a plan had been in place already, grants could have been available to offset the expenses the town is incurring for road improvements. Residents voted down a different plan that was created in the mid-1990s.

Committee member Chris Haiss expressed concern that some residents will perceive the plan as interfering with free use of their property.

Not so, Najpauer said, adding that the land use suggestions are but a small part of the overall plan.

“The policies are designed and intended to serve not as a destination, but as a point of departure,” he said.

“I myself am against government control,” committee member and Selectman Priscilla Jones said. “But I recognize that it is a good idea to have a plan.”

“I just hope these meetings are productive and people have open minds,” Dena Worster said.

Najpauer said that at the meetings, a brief overview of the 10 inventory sections of the draft plan will be presented.

They include population, housing, economy, historic and archaeology, recreation, municipal services, and land use.

Each section has a complete up-to-date inventory and suggestions for growth or implementation. The plan includes proposals to create several town committees to further include residents in growth decisions. These include a senior housing committee, an economic development committee and a conservation commission.

The balance of the meeting will be listening to the public’s suggestions and ideas.


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