We are closing in on 300 responses to the online survey regarding your vision for Laurel. That is a healthy response. The results will be revealed at a public Laurel Plan Advisory Team meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 21 in the Laurel Public Library.
Even more important, we will use those results to draft guiding principles for the 10-year update of Laurel’s Comprehensive Plan. Essentially, the plan is the town’s vision and plan for how and where it should grow. It covers economic development, the environment, transportation, water and wastewater, community facilities, downtown development, housing policy and more.
The best plans are grassroots, bottoms-up plans. The more input from everyday people who live, work and spend time in Laurel, the more effective and representative the plan will be. And it’s true – many plans just go through the motions, check off boxes, then sit on a shelf. Besides the survey, we are interviewing residents, business owners, clergy and others who care about Laurel and its future.
It’s a little difficult, in the dead of summer when so many activities are competing for your attention, to lure you to an evening meeting. Did we mention we will have refreshments? We have to be out of there by 7:30, so you are looking at 2 hours max. Please come, and bring friends.
