Bridget Alaya, ACIP, of Benchmark Planning presented the draft Ridgeland comprehensive plan and the town held a public hearing before approving the ordinance’s first reading.

Alaya said the draft plan frames a vision “Ridgeland strives to maintain our small town charm while growing in a manner that respects our traditional development patterns and valuable cultural and natural resources,” and explains the planning process, guiding principles and a priority investment element that assigns responsibilities and approximate timelines.

The plan groups future land uses into six categories including existing built areas, redevelopment areas, approved but undeveloped subdivisions, primary and secondary growth areas, and restricted-development (conservation) areas. Alaya told the council the draft map was revised after public input to add conservation areas “primarily in Good Hope, and on the East End side of town,” and to add street labels to clarify boundaries.

At the public hearing Grant Picula, representing the Coastal Conservation League, told the council his organization supports the plan while urging clearer labeling of conservation lands and suggesting the term “rural” instead of “restricted development” for some green areas. He also asked for a visual distinction between lands under permanent conservation easement and lands merely on the outskirts of town.

Council members asked for time to review the final text and maps; Alaya said the second reading and possible adoption would occur at the council’s next meeting and that the public notice period had been observed. The council voted to approve the ordinance on first reading and moved the item toward a second reading.

The plan includes a statutory-required set of elements, a future land use (growth) map, guiding principles (growth management, downtown, historic/cultural/natural resources, economic development, regional coordination and appearance) and a priority investment table that assigns implementing entities and timelines. Council members and staff emphasized that the priority investment element is intended to guide future capital improvements and to be revised over time.

Council members and staff said comments on the draft are still welcome and that they would circulate the final draft text and maps before the second reading so members can submit edits in advance.