The Comprehensive Plan Update Committee has been working during the past year and one-half to update the town’s comprehensive plan.

The committee will hold a public hearing on May 23 at 7 p.m. in Town Hall to receive feedback on all aspects of the draft plan before it is finalized and sent to the Town Council for adoption.

The Comprehensive Plan Update Committee was appointed by the Town Council in 2004. The members of the committee were selected to be broadly representative of the community, and include representatives of the Town Council, Planning Board, School Board, Conservation Commission, different geographic areas, the development community, and various demographics in the town, such as new and old residents, retirees and residents with children. The committee was supported in its work by the town’s planning staff and an outside consultant.

The committee met more than 25 times to develop the update. During this time, the committee held a series of neighborhood meetings early in 2005 and a feedback session on the draft of the Future Land Use Plan in January of this year. In addition, the committee held workshops with representatives from the Scarborough Economic Development Corporation, Housing Alliance, Planning Board, School Board and Town Council.

The updated plan contains several sections including background, policy recommendations, our future land use plan for the town and an implementation program. The plan also includes background data and the community vision that was completed several years ago. Each of these sections was carefully discussed by the committee in an effort to develop an updated plan that is as representative of Scarborough today.

Key elements of the plan:

• Maintaining a cap on the amount of residential development until adequate facilities are in place;

• Working to better direct growth by creating growth and limited growth areas with a development transfer program to conserve the town’s rural character and natural resources, while enhancing the town’s village centers;

• Creating new economic growth areas so commercial and industrial development can tally 25 percent or more of the town’s assessed valuation and continuing to actively promote economic growth in town;

• Revamping commercial, mixed use and residential districts tailored to the town’s unique villages, preserving them as distinctive “places”;

• Developing an area for a mix of commercial and residential uses in proximity to the Maine Mall, complementing this regional center;

• Making housing more affordable by providing density bonuses in some Growth Areas for affordable housing and allowing multifamily housing in mixed use areas;

• Creating a new area for light industrial uses.

These are just a few of the visions and concepts that can be found in the draft plan. Comments and feedback by the town’s residents, business owners and taxpayers are necessary to ensure this is the right plan for Scarborough! A draft of the plan can be found at the town’s Web site: www.scarborough.me.us, at Town Hall or at the library. Comments and feedback are welcomed and encouraged by the following means:

• Attending the public hearing scheduled for May 23 at 7 p.m. in Town Hall;

• Writing or e-mailing the committee (Comprehensive Plan Committee, town of Scarborough, P.O. Box 360, Scarborough, ME 04070 or [email protected]) prior to May 23.

This column was submitted by Rick Shinay, the chairman of the Comprehensive Plan Update Committee, and Sylvia Most, a Scarborough town councilor and the vice chair of Comprehensive Plan Update Committee.