When I've been handed challenges by the Mayor and certain other elected and appointed officials, I didn't run from it. I simply dug down and found the energy to deal with the challenge.
Now, it is time to find out if the Town government will do the same thing.
Here is my challenge Mr. Mayor: Have your Comprehensive Plan evaluated by someone who is competent and trained in Comprehensive Planning process. Have that group specifically include how the Comprehensive Plan relates to the Town's zoning and subdivision ordinances. I've heard a lot of talk about how wonderful the Town's Comprehensive Plan is....sorry, but I've read a fair few of those of other jurisdictions and what you have isn't adequate much less outstanding.
At the very least get back to the basics of reading your own plan and evaluating it. Remember the future land use map is NOT the guiding document. It is the text of the plan that includes MANY other issues than just potential uses for land. It is that text that takes into account (well, should in a well written and researched plan), the quality of life of citizens not only now but in the future.
Just take a look at one tiny part of the state code criteria for the comprehensive plan and look at why you have been provided with, and what you have been using to make judgments that will affect so many people for such a long time into the future. From the Virginia State Codes:
§ 15.2-2223. Comprehensive plan to be prepared and adopted; scope and purpose.
The local planning commission shall prepare and recommend a comprehensive
plan for the physical development of the territory within its jurisdiction
and every governing body shall adopt a comprehensive plan for the territory
under its jurisdiction.
In the preparation of a comprehensive plan, the commission shall make careful
and comprehensive surveys and studies of the existing conditions and trends
of growth, and of the probable future requirements of its territory and
inhabitants. The comprehensive plan shall be made with the purpose of guiding
and accomplishing a coordinated, adjusted and harmonious development of the
territory which will, in accordance with present and probable future needs
and resources, best promote the health, safety, morals, order, convenience,
prosperity and general welfare of the inhabitants, including the elderly and
persons with disabilities.
The comprehensive plan shall be general in nature, in that it shall designate
the general or approximate location, character, and extent of each feature,
including any road improvement and any transportation improvement, shown on
the plan and shall indicate where existing lands or facilities are proposed
to be extended, widened, removed, relocated, vacated, narrowed, abandoned, or
changed in use as the case may be.
As part of the comprehensive plan, each locality shall develop a
transportation plan that designates a system of transportation infrastructure
needs and recommendations that may include the designation of new and
expanded transportation facilities and that support the planned development
of the territory covered by the plan and shall include, as appropriate, but
not be limited to, roadways, bicycle accommodations, pedestrian
accommodations, railways, bridges, waterways, airports, ports, and public
transportation facilities. The plan should recognize and differentiate among
a hierarchy of roads such as expressways, arterials, and collectors. The
Virginia Department of Transportation shall, upon request, provide localities
with technical assistance in preparing such transportation plan.
The plan, with the accompanying maps, plats, charts, and descriptive matter,
shall show the locality's long-range recommendations for the general
development of the territory covered by the plan. It may include, but need
not be limited to:
1. The designation of areas for various types of public and private
development and use, such as different kinds of residential, including
age-restricted, housing; business; industrial; agricultural; mineral
resources; conservation; active and passive recreation; public service; flood
plain and drainage; and other areas;
2. The designation of a system of community service facilities such as parks,
sports playing fields, forests, schools, playgrounds, public buildings and
institutions, hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, community
centers, waterworks, sewage disposal or waste disposal areas, and the like;
3. The designation of historical areas and areas for urban renewal or other
treatment;
4. The designation of areas for the implementation of reasonable ground water
protection measures;
5. A capital improvements program, a subdivision ordinance, a zoning
ordinance and zoning district maps, mineral resource district maps and
agricultural and forestal district maps, where applicable;
6. The location of existing or proposed recycling centers;
7. The location of military bases, military installations, and military
airports and their adjacent safety areas; and
8. The designation of corridors or routes for electric transmission lines of
150 kilovolts or more.
The plan shall include: the designation of areas and implementation of
measures for the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of affordable
housing, which is sufficient to meet the current and future needs of
residents of all levels of income in the locality while considering the
current and future needs of the planning district within which the locality
is situated.
The plan shall include: a map that shall show road improvements and
transportation improvements, including the cost estimates of such road and
transportation improvements as available from the Virginia Department of
Transportation, taking into account the current and future needs of residents
in the locality while considering the current and future needs of the
planning district within which the locality is situated.
(1975, c. 641, § 15.1-446.1; 1976, c. 650; 1977, c. 228; 1988, c. 268; 1989,
c. 532; 1990, c. 19; 1993, cc. 116, 758; 1996, cc. 585, 600; 1997, c. 587;
2003, c. 811; 2004, cc. 691, 799; 2005, cc. 466, 699; 2006, cc. 527, 563,
564; 2007, c. 761.)
If you don't have the resources to deal with this effectively here's another idea straight from the State Codes that would save the Town a lot of money. Of course, this option means having to learn how to play well with others...a difficult but not totally unattainable goal:
§ 15.2-2219. Joint local planning commissions.
Any one or more adjoining or adjacent counties or municipalities including
any municipality within any such county may by agreement provide for a joint
local planning commission for any two or more of such counties and
municipalities. The agreement shall provide for the number of members of the
commission and how they shall be appointed, in what proportion the expenses
of the commission shall be borne by the participating localities, and any
other matters pertinent to the operation of the commission as the joint local
planning commission for the localities. Any commission so created shall have,
as to each participating locality, the powers and duties granted to and
imposed upon local planning commissions under this chapter.
(Code 1950, §§ 15-900, 15-903, 15-963.6; 1950, p. 487; 1962, c. 407, §
15.1-443; 1997, c. 587.)