After five years of work and a process that included participation by over 100 citizens, South Berwick’s updated Comprehensive Plan is now before the Town Council for discussion. The comprehensive plan describes broad planning goals and strategies to guide town officials as they chart the future. South Berwick’s last comprehensive plan — still in force till the new one is adopted — dates to 1991.
On February 25 the Town Council held a hearing to receive public comment on the update to the comprehensive plan. Many of those in attendance urged the Council to adopt the plan. Others questioned whether parts of the plan should be updated to reflect a changed economic picture and changes in state funding brought about by LD1. Others spoke against the recommendation for changes in lot size to five acres in the region of town southerly and westerly of Emery’s Bridge Road.
The Town Council will discuss the Comprehensive Plan at the Council Meeting scheduled for March 11. The Town Council agreed to accept written comment until March 4, so you still have the chance to weigh in on the Comprehensive Plan by sending a letter to the Town Council.
Read the Comprehensive Plan by chapter below:
The final document is 175 pages long and full of details on a wide range of topics to help guide South Berwick decision-makers. The plan also provides for a special committee to encourage and strategize implementation of the plan’s recommendations.
Introduction and Table of Contents (10 pages)
A. Community Profile-Population (6 pages)
B. Economy(6 pages)
C. Housing (14 pages)
D. Transportation and Roads (23 pages)
E. Public Facilities (30 pages)
F. Downtown (6 pages)
G. Natural Resources (16 pages)
H. Water Resources (12 pages)
I. Agricultural, Forestry and Wildlife Resources (8 pages)
J. Historical, Archeological and Cultural Resources (6 pages)
K. Land Use (23 pages)
L. Fiscal Capacity (14 pages)
Appendix (Public Visioning Session Appendix, Community Survey Results Appendix,Committees List) (11 pages)
Goals and Strategies (32 pages)
The plan is also available for viewing in the town clerk’s office and at the South Berwick Library. The Plan can be purchased at the Town Clerk’s office; a cd is $5.00, a hard copy is $20.00. The plan is available on the Town’s website .
Dear Town Council members,
I am writing to urge you to pass the updated Comprehensive Plan and appoint the recommended Vision Committee to work with you on implementing it. This plan represents thousands of hours of work by citizens, staff and consultants over five years. People from all parts of town, different age groups, and a vast range of opinions came together, debated, and compromised, to develop these ideas.
All over America, so many towns are suffering from too much sprawl, where one place looks like another, aggressive developers elbow out ordinary citizens, and the quality of life goes into decline. Other towns sparkle and have a strong community atmosphere. Most times, I would wager, the healthy towns are those where leaders support planning efforts and involve citizens in them. Declining towns are where citizens wouldn’t work together and leaders didn’t care enough to push for good plans.
In 2002, the South Berwick Town Council did care, and the town manager put out the call for a new Comprehensive Plan. Citizens responded overwhelmingly, and backed their words with their time and with their tax dollars over many months. Subcommittees worked hard to make recommendations that are fair.
Please honor this effort by passing this work. Having a plan is about the future. Will South Berwick enter the next decade as a place where leaders tossed aside good citizen-based planning? Or embraced it, declaring confidently that South Berwick is that healthy kind of town, not the other kind.
The Comprehensive Plan isn’t a mandate. We all know that every single strategy in it won’t become law. The plan is a form of communication between citizens and you, the Council. It is a tool for you. Reading it, you as leaders can see what a group of fair-minded citizens have been thinking and what they hope will happen. It is a gift. Please take it!
Sincerely,
Wendy Pirsig
The South Berwick Town Council is set to vote soon on an updated comprehensive plan. Begun in 2002, the 175-page document can be a crucial tool for shaping town policy and action in a way that reflects the future residents envision on a wide range of topics from land use and zoning to traffic, business and housing.
More than 100 citizens, staff and consultants worked on it, guided by a survey mailed to every household in South Berwick. In late 2007 the town council held public information sessions, and in recent days a final public hearing. Thank you to all those who have put in thousands of hours on this effort.
The new comprehensive plan does not regulate; it presents goals and strategies for consideration by decision-makers. I urge the town council to now pass the plan and, working with the recommended new “vision committee,” go on to implement it using the council’s best judgment. South Berwick residents have shown repeatedly that we want our leaders to do all they can to fight sprawl and overdevelopment and protect our beautiful open spaces and walkable village. The comprehensive plan is a vital tool toward that end.
Sincerely,
Puff Uhlman
i see all the big players in town are putting their two cents in here also.well thats fine i guess.thats what this site is for.i have found the whole mess in town hall lately is due to a few people in this town who think they speak for all of us.you could not be more wrong in assuming that you speak for us.you have said that the town try’s to push stuff through without the public having much say.well look who is desperatly trying to push that huge waste of time and money comprehensive plan through.i know that most of the “natives” are not aware of what your little group is up too.as usual the majority few, like the people on this website are trying to keep south berwick in the dark ages.no houses,no stores,no business,thats what you all want.when the town manager comes up with ideas you shoot them down and then call him a failure.shame on you all.when word gets out about who is dragging this town down the tubes,the “natives” might get restless as they say. one more thing,you have seen what is going in the dover city council as of late.well our select people are making them look like well behaved school kids.all you councilors should be ashamed of how you act and how you push your own agendas onto the people who elected you.you know who i am talking about.thanks.tim.
I agree with Tim. More people need to get involved when their taxes could possibly increase $4 per thousand. Especially when a majority of the council is against economic development and are continually not representing the majority of taxpayers and the Town of South Berwick.
thanks richard,this town will die without these businesses coming into south berwick.the same people who sit in these meetings and say no,no,no to everything are the same who will wonder why the tax rate is going to jump so high. then they will say what are we going to cut now hmmm.oh i know lets get rid of the town manager and the economic planner.we dont dont need them because we are not planning anything for this town.and we are so smart we do not need a leader,we can do it yourselves.if anybody reads this and does not attend meetings please start!! your town needs you.remember the councilors who say they speak for you.one said we live here,we work and shop somewhere else,and thats how she wants it. THAT IS NOT HOW WE WANT IT !! thanks tim.