The Town of Stonington passed its current Comprehensive Plan eight years ago–and in that time much has already changed. The Town now invites broad public participation in updating this plan to reflect current conditions, community priorities, and changing future needs for the Town’s resilience. The desired outcome of this process, facilitated by the Hancock County Planning Commission (HCPC) and funded in part by a Community Action Grant from the Maine Office of Community Affairs, will be an updated version of the clear, actionable roadmap of the 2018 Comprehensive Plan, which has been used very successfully to guide decision-making, investment, and growth.
The public has multiple opportunities over the next six months to add your voices to this planning update process, by attending the public visioning sessions May 5 and May 19; volunteering for the Comprehensive Planning Committee; volunteering for chapter working groups; and completing the planning survey.
Comprised of volunteers, the Comprehensive Plan Committee of residents leads the effort alongside HCPC and will review data, analysis, and draft recommendations, ensuring the plan reflects local values through ongoing public engagement. The members of the Committee to date are: Robin Alden, Donna Brewer, Audrey Cooper, Broc Eaton, Frank Gotwals, Carla Guenther, Evelyn Duncan, Becky Hardy, Julie Moringello, Samuel Robbins, Mike Steinharter and Henry Teverow.
Volunteers are still sought for the working groups who will review specific chapters of the plan. These groups begin meeting in May. Working groups are focused on the following topics: Population/Economy; Housing; Transportation & Recreation; Natural, Water, Agricultural & Forestry Resources; Marine Resources; Historical and Archeological Resources; Public Facilities and Fiscal Capacity; Existing and Future Land Use; Climate Resilience. Please send a note to Linda Nelson, Economic & Community Development Director, at econdev@stoningtonmaine.org to volunteer.
Visioning sessions will be held May 5 at 6 pm in the Stonington Town Office, in person only; and May 19 at 6 pm via Zoom only (https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/t4iTCCwUQsKjfYjHL4Ok5g). These sessions are an early and key step in the planning process, providing residents, property owners, and community members an opportunity to share priorities, concerns, and ideas for the future of Stonington. A gift card raffle will be drawn at the end of each event!
A public survey is now open for participation. Go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/stonington1 to take the survey online, or stop by the Town Office, Connectivity Hub, or Stonington Library to pick up and return a paper copy.
Stonington’s 2018 Comprehensive Plan has made it eligible for millions of dollars in federal, state, local, and private funding being employed to make the town more resilient by raising roads and wharves, ensuring all have access to high speed fiber internet connectivity, building out its new Connectivity Hub, etc. Comprehensive plans allow communities such as Stonington to be proactive rather than reactive to issues and changes that arise over time, by establishing a vision and direction for town leadership to follow. The plan also provides the town with an opportunity to think regionally and with a legal basis for land use and other ordinances. Comprehensive plans do not have regulatory power; rather, they suggest strategies for accomplishing community goals and objectives.
For further information on the Comprehensive Planning Update process, the Town of Stonington, and meeting links go to www.stoningtonmaine.org.