Plan of Conservation and Development Consultant Put On Hold

Town Manager Barbara Gilbert informed the Planning and Zoning Commission Wednesday night that there are no funds this year for a consultant to revise the town’s plan of conservation and development.

“I can’t provide you with the assistance you need,” she said.

During the commission’s meeting on Sept. 21, Gilbert told the commission that the funds would likely be available next year and urged its members to proceed with their discussion.

The commission is currently discussing revisions to the plan, which was last revised in 2001. Although the state has mandated that towns and cities must revise their respective conservation and development plans every 10 years, local officials confirmed earlier this month that a reprieve has been granted until July 1, 2013.

Gilbert told the commission that the town would put out a request for proposal either later this year or in early 2012 in anticipation of funding for a consultant. It cost the town about $150,000 for a consultant the last time that the plan was revised, according to commission chairman Anthony DiLorenzo. However, Gilbert estimated it would cost $50,000 to assist with the next analysis.

The commission moved in August to create a taskforce for revising the plan. During a special meeting on Sept. 7, however, the commission decided to pursue the process itself and would meet on the first Wednesday of each month to discuss it. The commission will continue to meet on the topic of plan of conservation and development each month.

Lorenzo said that when the funding did become available, the commission would approach the process differently and involve staff members, elected officials from other boards and members of the public. He said that the commission would focus on gathering data for now.

“We will meet instead as a task force,” he said.