As required by the Growing Smarter Act, Dewey-Humboldt will seek public input and participation in the formulation of its new General Plan. The Planning and Zoning Commission is currently deciding what form this participation will take, be it surveys, open forums, focus groups or other methods. During the Planning and Zoning meeting of July 20th, town manager Roger Swenson and consultant Corey Cox outlined many different options that the Commission could use to gauge the values of the community.


  What is a General Plan?

  Simply put, a General Plan is the roadmap for the future of a community. It serves as both a reflection of the vision and values of the community and as guideline toward achieving long-range community goals. For example, a General Plan might outline infrastructure needs over the next ten years and give a rough timetable for development or it may prescribe areas of the community that should be left as open space, or developed and in what way. The advantage of such a plan is that when growth decisions are to be made, guidelines are already in place to help bring about orderly development and reduce unwanted consequences such as congestion and loss of town character.


  Your input counts!

  Planners will do the best they can to construct a General Plan that meets the needs and desires of the community but your participation will help assure that your preferences are represented. We don't yet know how the public will be involved in the planning process but this will be an excellent opportunity to tell our town planners what is important to you. Whether you value a quiet country lifestyle or whether you want more businesses in town, this is your best chance to influence the future of Dewey-Humboldt.


  When will the General Plan be adopted?

  It's going to take some time. The Planning and Zoning Commission acknowledged that it could be roughly 16 to 20 months to work out a general plan before it is presented before the Town Council and the voters for approval. Although the process will be long, the most crucial stage will be determination of the values held most dear by the community of Dewey-Humboldt. It is on that foundation that our General Plan will be built.


  What has been done so far?

  A preliminary phase of the planning has already started in the form of a focus group. While the Focus Future group may offer valuable insights and recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission as it takes the reigns, possibly the greatest lesson gleaned so far is that community values must be established before any meaningful direction can be explored. This is what makes the average citizen indispensible in this process.


  When do Dewey-Humboldt residents get involved?

  Kick-off meetings will be held on Sept. 13 at 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at a location yet to be determined. Every Dewey-Humboldt resident should realize that if there was ever one pivotal moment in which residents get to influence the future of their town, this is it! Stay tuned!