Jerome Township officials took the first step Tuesday night toward updating the area’s comprehensive plan. Director of Departments Douglas Stewart said it will likely be an 18-month process, which is broken down in the conceptual timeline illustrated above.
(Graphic submitted)
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Jerome Township officials took the first step Tuesday night toward creating a new comprehensive plan for the area.
During the Board of Trustees meeting, Director of Departments Douglas Stewart, Zoning Inspector Eric Snowden and Assistant Zoning Inspector Joe Koralewski shared a conceptual timeline for the completion of a new comprehensive plan.
“Ultimately, it is time” to update the existing plan, Stewart said.
Snowden explained that the existing comprehensive plan was approved and implemented in 2008 and 2009.
Though there is no statutory requirement for how often plans must be updated, Snowden said it is “best practice” to revise them every eight to 10 years.
He noted that the existing comprehensive plan can appear particularly outdated because it was approved at a time when there was a “low level of development” in the township.
Snowden also distinguished a comprehensive plan from the township’s zoning map.
He said the zoning map reflects regulations at the moment, while the comprehensive plan guides the future of land use in the township.
Stewart said township officials have been asked “time and time again” when the plan would be updated.
He said that a number of “benchmarks” needed to be in place before undertaking a rewrite.
First, Stewart said the township needed to ensure it had adequate staffing to support the project while maintaining the daily operations of the zoning department.
“Staff capacity was huge,” he said.
He noted budgeting was also crucial.
Stewart said the township is planning to allocate $100,000 to $150,000 for the project. He said the figure is based on the cost other communities have spent on comprehensive plan updates.
Township officials also wanted to build intergovernmental relationships before undertaking the project, Stewart said.
He noted that the Logan-Union-Champaign Regional Planning Commission will be working with Union County for the rewrite of its comprehensive plan, so coordinating with them will benefit both parties.
Aside from government collaboration, Stewart said public engagement is essential.
He said residents and community members will serve on steering communities throughout the rewrite to guide the development of the new comprehensive plan.
“We wanted to make sure that was at the very forefront of this,” Stewart said.
Stewart said he also feels that it is important that an independent consultant guides the process. He said township staff needed to ensure a process was in place to identify and select the appropriate consultant to do so.
Lastly, he said there needed to be support from the Board of Trustees, Zoning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals and residents before the project begins and is implemented.
Now that each benchmark has been met, Koralewski shared a timeline for completion of the project.
He said the presentation itself was the first step, including seeking approval from the trustees to move forward with implementation of the plan.
The next step will be taken in 2022, Koralewski said, with budget approval for the project for fiscal years 2022 and 2023.
Step Three will consist of the bulk of Jerome Township staff’s work, he said. Staff will develop a Request for Qualifications, Request for Proposals and a review panel and associated process. At that time, he said a consultant will be selected and a contract awarded.
In the second half of 2022, Koralewski said a consultant work plan will include gathering citizen feedback, conducting community research and developing the actual plan.
He said the ultimate goal is to submit a final plan to the Zoning Commission, then Board of Trustees in July and August 2023.
Stewart noted that the plan update will likely be an 18-month process.
“This is not something that’s going to be done in just a couple months,” he said.
The trustees unanimously supported the group’s proposal. Trustee C.J. Lovejoy emphasized the importance of selecting steering committee members who are committed to working on the project.
Snowden assured him that residents will be heavily involved throughout the process.
“At the end of the day, the community’s going to decide it,” he said.
In other business:
– The trustees scheduled an organizational and regular meeting for 7 p.m. Jan. 4.
– The board continued Tuesday’s meeting until 6 p.m. Dec. 28 in the Township Hall.