Published: March 12, 2009 08:02 am      

Public hearing is scheduled

Staff Report

SPRINGFIELD — A public hearing regarding a draft of SpringfieldÆs Comprehensive Plan has been scheduled for Monday, March 16, at 7 p.m. at the Springfield Community Center located in Springfield Center.

The purpose of the hearing is to gather public comment on the draft document prior to its submission to the town board.

A comprehensive plan is a written document that identifies the goals, principles, policies, and strategies for the growth and development of the

community. It is essentially a roadmap for the future of the town and provides the policy foundation for local land use laws.

The issues, goals, and recommended strategies detailed in this plan are based on information and data gathered about the Town of Springfield, as well as input from the town residents through the resident survey, the planning and visioning workshop, and public attendance at monthly meetings, according to David Staley, cochairman of the town’s Comprehensive Planning Committee.

The plan is the result of two-and-a-half years of work by the town’s Comprehensive Planning Committee and contains a vision statement which describes what the residents of Springfield want the town to be like in the future. This statement, developed from information received from the public during the planning process, places a high value on the rural nature of the town.

``People really came out in favor of preserving open space. It was a high priority,’’ Staley said.

He said the public hearing is the next step in process to gather public comment on the draft document.

``The public hearing gives people another chance for input,’’ Staley said. ``If people have constructive criticism we would like them to let us know.’’

Following the public hearing, the comprehensive planning committee will consider the comments and make any revisions that members believe are appropriate. The plan then goes to the town board which must go through the State Environmental Quality Review process and another public hearing before it can be voted on.

``It’s definitely a long road,’’ Staley said. Copies of the draft comprehensive plan are available for review at the Springfield Library and at the Town Clerk’s office. The plan has also been posted online at the Otsego County Planning Department website at

www.otsegocounty.com/ depts/pln/documents/ SpringfieldDraftComp- PlanJan2909.pdf.