Commission reiterates comprehensive plan survey deadline and explains next steps

The Crawford County Commission reiterated the public comment timeline for the county comprehensive plan at its Aug. 5 meeting and set a deadline of Aug. 22 for submission of resident surveys.

A commissioner said staff will tally submissions after the cutoff and then the consultant will review results and return to meet with the commission and planning and zoning. "The date that we know right now is set by the commissioners. The deadline for submission of surveys is August 22," a commissioner said.

Commissioners and staff described the next steps as a multi-stage process: the consultant will prepare draft materials based on public input; the planning and zoning board will hold hearings and make the first formal recommendations required by statute; the commission will then consider those recommendations and hold final hearings and votes. Commissioners emphasized the consultant does not unilaterally set policy. "He'll draft the initial document based on public comment, based on input from the zoning board and the commissioners," a commissioner said, adding any changes and the final vote are the commission's responsibility.

Staff said the consultant will provide an update on submissions after the Aug. 22 cutoff and will coordinate meetings with planning and zoning for public hearings and drafts. No formal votes were taken at the meeting on plan content.