Mount Desert's Future Is in Its Residents' Hands
Comprehensive Planning Committee Hopes More Residents will Respond to Its Survey & Discusses Natural Resources, Public Outreach
MOUNT DESERT—The town’s comprehensive plan committee continued to meet this week and prepared for the town meeting next week, hoping to get more survey responses as well as public awareness about the plan’s update and goals.
There are a few open slots on the committee and the committee hoped to add some new members and hopefully have more representation from Otter Creek.
Approximately 173 people have responded to the comprehensive plan survey.
“A comprehensive plan is a 10-year strategic land use plan for a municipality. The comprehensive planning process consists of public engagement, data collection and data analysis, a vision statement, as well as goals, objectives, and strategies for various topic areas,” the town’s website reads.
The committee also discussed having a presence throughout the summer events and meetings to increase awareness of the town’s comprehensive planning process.
“We need to make an effort to find those little opportunities,” Noel Musson, consultant from the Musson Group told the committee members, May 1.
A comprehensive plan might focus on housing, future land use, natural resources, fiscal capacity, climate solutions, transportation. The plans are meant to guide a town’s future, not at a detailed level, but a higher level to help with decision making and guiding future projects.
They’ve gone through the old comprehensive plan and updated data. On Thursday, the committee discussed natural resources and how the town is enhanced by its scenic and natural resources.
“The town has a lot of natural resources, a bunch of it is in the park,” Musson said.
Some, are also outside the park. Much of the land is protected from development. Acadia National Park is approximately 40% of the town. The town also has ordinances that are meant to protect the water supply. Thinking about the streams and water protection is important. The soils in the town are mostly not considered good for farming. The group discussed septic systems and sewage and ground water and infrastructure relating to those. Sustainability needs and desires will be weaved into the document.
They’ll look at the goals and strategies from 2009 and look at what has been achieved and then also determine if others still make sense for the town.
LINKS TO LEARN MORE
Access the survey online or pick up a paper copy at the Town Office, Northeast Harbor Library, or the Somesville Library. If you choose to complete a paper copy of the survey, you may deposit it at the Town Office in a box provided for your convenience.
The Town of Mount Desert’s dedicated Comprehensive Plan website is here.
Email compplan@mtdesert.org for more information about the plan and how to get involved.
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