La Plata preservation staff proposes five‑year work plan, commission schedules August work session

The La Plata Historic Preservation Commission heard a staff proposal to adopt a five‑year work plan intended to guide the commission—s activities, align staff resources and budget requests with priorities such as Maryland 250 programming, a townwide historic resource survey and work toward Certified Local Government status. Don (Planning Director, Town of La Plata) presented the draft and said staff intended it to set a realistic, staged set of activities the commission could accomplish over several fiscal years.

Don said the plan groups tasks by fiscal year and recommends focusing on no more than two or three substantive projects each year to ensure deliverables. "Staff has proffered developing a work plan that aligns with the duties and assignments of the commission that—s outlined in the town—s municipal code," Don said, adding the plan would help the town council understand likely staff and funding requests.

Why it matters: The plan would sequence near‑term items (PLAC program work, Maryland 250 events) and longer projects (a comprehensive historic resource survey, updates to the town—s historic resources ordinance, and pursuing Certified Local Government status) so the commission, staff and council can budget and assign staff time. Commissioners flagged staff capacity as a constraint and asked for a clearer,…