[mountaineer]

I think you're right - public input is essential. Having attended a few public meetings in the past, I know we're in for some contentious times!

[Happygal]

And if public consultation is carried out in advance of the plans being drawn up, you are less likely to have objections afterwards...ruining all your hard work :-)

I am pretty well versed in planning and development plans for Ireland, but unfortunately not for your side of the globe. Sorry I can't be of more assistance. Good luck.

BTW...nice to see civic mindedness shining through! *S*

[LSAggie]

Well, Mountaineer, these replies are a fair representation of some of the issues you and your compatriots will be seeing over the next couple of months. It sounds like you have a zoning code or ordinance, so one may ask "what is wrong with the one you have?". Having worked with small towns for a number of years, generally a zoning code is amended or rewritten as the result of some action viewed by the city fathers et al as not what the builder/developer/good old boy promised he would do. This is followed by a "won't let that happen again" so an ordinance or amendment gets passed to assuage the town fathers. Or it could be the "premptive strike" after seeing what happened in the next town down the road.

Above all, involve the community, workshops where the views of all can shared are important to build the consensus needed to provide the support the planning commission and city council will need to have a effective zoning ordinance and when they attempt to change the status quo.

Consider carefully the use of pyramid zoning, where less intensive uses say residential, are allowed in commercial, as mentioned above. As the town matures, this type of zoning structure provides unwelcome surprises for new owners years in the future. A commercially zone tract of ground that is developed as apartments (which generally would be legal under pyramid zoning) may or may not be what is in the town's best interest. Beware of overzoning, overlaying commercial districts on existing residential areas because "they may become commercial". Let the market place determine when a home has more value as business site and have the developer get the change in zoning at that time.

Please keep us posted as you navigate the mine field that lays before you.