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Planning director seeks new staff, previews comp‑plan update and $2M+ in recent grants
Summary
Planning Director Doug McClain asked the council to add a staff planner to sustain growth management and grant work, outlined a refreshed comprehensive plan timetable and noted the town has brought in more than $2 million via the CDBG program and free technical assistance.
Coventry — Planning Director Doug McClain told the Town Council Jan. 13 that growing development activity and new grant responsibilities justify adding a staff planner and that the town is actively advancing a comprehensive‑plan update.
McClain said he will request a new full‑time planning position at roughly $63,000 in salary; he noted the first year would be partially offset by an existing grant that covers about 25% of the planner’s salary and that CDBG administrative reimbursements will also soften the budget impact. "I'm going to be requesting an additional staff person," McClain said, explaining the department’s increased workload from development review, CDBG administration and grant seeking.
McClain also reported the planning department has reopened Coventry’s participation in the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and has brought in more than $2 million for housing development, rehabilitation and service providers. He said the town received free technical assistant packages valued at roughly $700,000 and that additional capital and housing applications totaling several million dollars are pending.
On the comprehensive plan, McClain said the current draft has substantive state comments on the housing element; the town secured free technical assistance to elevate the housing element and expects the rewrite to take roughly 9–12 months. He recommended moving the broader comp plan toward local adoption within 4–6 months while the housing element is refined and then adopting an amendment when that piece meets state expectations.
Councilors asked about interim protections and how quickly an adopted plan can be used as a policy shield in future development disputes; McClain said the plan becomes a stronger shield when the town can demonstrate measurable progress on affordable‑housing goals, not solely by adopting language.
McClain closed by noting that planning fees will be reviewed and adjusted to bring the town’s schedule in line with peers as a revenue and cost‑recovery measure.
