The Holmes Beach planning commission’s public forum did not disappoint.
Planning commission chair Greg Kerchner told The Islander Dec. 9 that he was “very happy” with the community’s turnout and participation at the forum after several months of planning for the event.
“I think it was great,” Kerchner said. “The interaction and the feedback we got was all positive.”
Comp plans were initiated by the state in 1989 to determine community goals and aspirations regarding development, as well as guide future legislation.
The city’s 110-page comp plan contains 10 elements, including future land use, housing and infrastructure.
The city hired Fort Myers-based consultants LaRue Planning in January 2020 to help revise the plan.
After two years, the review is almost done.
But before finalizing their recommendations to the city commission, planning commissioners called for a forum to collect public input
Despite some concerns about turnout, the forum drew about 30 attendees, along with Mayor Judy Titsworth and city Commissioner Terry Schaefer.
Kerchner and Jim LaRue from LaRue Planning introduced themselves and the comp plan before breaking into round-robin discussion groups, rotating every 20 minutes between stations.
Stations included:
- City planner Bill Brisson: Future land use;
- Planning Commissioner Richard Brown: Infrastructure and property rights;
- Kerchner: Intergovernmental coordination and public school facilities;
- Planning Commissioner Dana Krupa: Capital improvements;
- Planning Commissioner James McIntire: Transportation and housing;
- Planning Commissioner Gale Tedhams: Coastal management and conservation, recreation and open space.
The housing/transportation and coastal management/recreation stations drew the most attention, with most attendees splitting between the two.
The intergovernmental coordination and public school facilities station, on the other hand, attracted the least attention — even failing to draw an attendee in the first 20-minute round.
Kerchner said that while planning commissioners were satisfied with public feedback, it was not possible to break it down into bullet points immediately due to the round-robin format that divided discussions.
He said LaRue would compile feedback gathered at each of the stations for discussion when the planning commission resumes its review.
“They’ll put it together and, based on what they’re seeing, they’ll either recommend some changes or leave it up to us,” Kerchner said. “By February, we hope to be ready to pass our completed recommendations for the comp plan to the city commission.”
The planning commission will meet next at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12, at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive. The meeting is open to the public with masks recommended.