Council approves citizen participation plan; website available

COLUMBUS—The Town of Columbus has begun work on its comprehensive plan and residents will have an opportunity to participate in the plan. 

Columbus Town Council heard from Dale Holland, with Holland Consultants, during its September meeting. Council also approved a citizen participation plan as part of the process. 

Once complete, the final document will serve as a comprehensive plan for future public investment to achieve the community’s overall vision. The plan will be a primary policy guide for short and long-term planning, zoning and development related decision-making within the town. 

The Columbus Planning Board will be drafted by Holland Consulting Planners Inc. and the town’s planning board will supervise the preparation of the plan. Final approval will be made by the town council and all meetings are open to the public. 

Holland told council that the first work session on the plan will be held during the planning board’s November meeting, where sections 1 and 2 will be discussed and section 3 will be delivered, which will be existing and environmental conditions. 

He said the planning board and town council will be given all the sections so they can be discussed prior to the next meetings of both boards. Holland said he wants to have a draft document of the entire plan ready for review by May 2020. 

Part of the comprehensive plan costs were paid for through a $12,000 grant from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, which is interested in preserving Chocolate Drop and Little White Oak Mountains. 

“A lot of what wildlife is interested in is preservation of Chocolate Drop and Little White Oak,” Holland said. “There will be a walk through of Chocolate Drop Mountain to look at with property owners and the Saluda Community Land Trust.” 

On the citizen participation plan, Holland said it is not something that is required, but something his firm routinely recommends to get the public involved in the process. 

Residents can follow the plan’s progress by visiting plancolumbus.com. All the draft documents will be on the website through the process and residents are also welcome at meetings to provide input. A public hearing will be required prior to town council adopted the final plan. The website allows people to download the draft plan. Copies will also be available at each planning board meeting, or at town hall for the cost of printing. 

The schedule for the plan includes July-September to initiate the project, which has already been complete, October-April 2020 as the development of the plan and May 2020 to submit the final plan and hold a public hearing.