This Thursday, May 13th, the Monroe County Plan Commission will listen to public comment regarding the recently updated Comprehensive Plan draft from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Monroe County Courthouse.
For the better part of this year, the Plan Commission has been reviewing and discussing public comments made on the initial draft as well as offering their own edits and ideas for how to address subjects such as the subdivision of rural property – one of the more contentious issues of the plan.
A new 182-page version of the document (not a red-lined version of the first draft) was made available to the public in late April, and a public open house was held May 5th to view and informally discuss the final draft.
Following the May 13th public comment session, a meeting on May 18th will continue with the public comment if necessary, and the Plan Commission will start addressing comments once all are heard.
A final vote could take place as early as May 18th or the June 15th Plan Commission meeting.
Once again, this seems to be a hurried time line, giving citizens only weeks to review and prepare comments based on the changes made by the plan commission over the last several months. Considering the deeply divided community response to the previous draft of the 20 year planning document, it would be wise of Plan Commission members to take a little extra time to proactively educate the community on the contents of the plan and the complicated formulas used to determine land use options for residential, commercial, and agricultural property owners. Of particular concern to the Chamber remains how the document addresses opportunities for economic growth and future job creation given Monroe County’s position as an economic core of south central Indiana.
Community stakeholders are encouraged to attend Thursday evening’s meeting and voice your opinions on the future of land use in the county. The meeting will take place at the Courthouse in Room 315 at 5:30 p.m.