Lee County supervisors table comprehensive-plan update after public objections

The Lee County Board of Supervisors voted to table consideration of the county's five-year comprehensive-plan update after residents urged the board to delay adoption and allow more public review.

Clint, the county administrator, told the board the state code requires a comprehensive-plan update every five years and said staff and the planning commission had worked most of the last year drafting updates to data, maps and the transportation section. "We've had several good conversations," he said, describing mapping changes in appendix materials and plans for district public hearings if the board approves taking the item up again.

During the public hearing several residents criticized the draft. A resident said the plan "is nothing but a forum letter," argued the draft preserves a status quo that benefits the same people, and cited demographic projections he attributed to the Weldon Cooper center showing a projected 10.5% drop in students and a large share of older residents. Organic Karen, who spoke under that name, told the board she had not had time to review the proposed update and asked that the board table the vote until the community can review the draft; she also raised proposals for reusing vacant buildings and pursuing state grant opportunities.

Board members debated whether copies had been made available and whether additional neighborhood hearings should be scheduled. Chair called for a motion; the board made and seconded a motion to table consideration of the plan so staff and the planning commission can address mapping and outreach, and the motion carried on voice vote.

What happens next: staff said the planning commission will take additional work on maps and hold public hearings within districts; the board did not set a new date for final action.

Quotes used in this report are drawn from the meeting record and attributed to the speakers who appear in the public transcript.