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CRRPC staff report low engagement on Act 181 future land use map; public comment open through May 19
Summary
Planning staff told the committee that online engagement on the draft future land use map has been low and that the map emphasizes development intensity rather than specific uses. Staff urged more granular discussions, noted a tutorial video and town outreach plans, and said public comments will be accepted through May 19 ahead of a planned Board vote July 16.
Planning Program Director Taylor Newton updated the Joint Finance and Executive Committee on implementation of Act 181 and the draft Future Land Use Map and municipal housing targets.
Newton said engagement with the online map viewer has been low and that many users are using the comment tool to identify mapping errors or to express neighborhood preferences. He emphasized that the map is intended to indicate the intensity of development rather than to prescribe exact uses. Newton said staff produced a five‑minute tutorial video available on the ECOS engagement website and plan to present to town planning commissions; in‑person tabling events have proven labor‑intensive and have yielded limited participation.
Newton said public comments will be accepted through May 19. He said staff will compile comments and produce a final draft for Board consideration. Committee members urged that the effort not be a "paper exercise": Andy Montroll urged substantive follow‑through and Bard Hill warned of tensions between small‑unit market development (which may command high rents) and the region’s affordability needs. Jeff Carr cautioned that medium/high housing targets are partly based on a short‑term 'mini‑COVID boom' and that those projections should be considered less firm, a point Baker agreed with.
Staff reiterated that a major housing convening is scheduled for April 30 at HULA and that the Board is expected to vote on the Future Land Use Map and Municipal Housing Targets at its July 16 meeting after staff integrate public comments.
