Thursday, March 13, 2008

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 2010

The COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 2010 is a document to serve as a guide for future development and how it relates to current in-place development.

It also serves as a guide for potential property owner's to properly assess neighborhood plans to better and reliably anticipate what the immediate environment will look like.

It also serves as a guide for property investor's (can be same or different from owner's) to understand the future development game plan and how it will impact said investment.

I think most will agree that this is how things are supposed to be, right?

Now, if it is supposed to be all that for all those involved, then how static or dynamic should it be?

  • Is the 2010 part meant to mean that's when it will be complete?
  • Is the 2010 part meant to suggest that at that point it is 'poured in concrete'?
  • Is the 2010 part meant to suggest that after 2010 everything is subject to change again?
What does it mean if it can change?

I have heard a myriad of examples of how current property owners are surprized by changes in the Comprehensive Plan 2010 that in some way or another adversely effect them.

If it is subject to change, then what good is it? I personally do not intend to cite examples, but anybody in tune with the village over the years has witnessed this happening. Some will argue that it happened way to much for long term predictability, and others will argue that the changes better reflect the BEST usage for said lands changed.

Any comments? Or, do you think it's perfect the way it is?

If you think it should be changable, then under what set of requirements should it be allowed to change?

  • Plan Commission vote?
  • Village Board vote?
  • As a referendum on future election ballots?
  • It should never be changed?

A good resource for understanding this subject better from the village's perspective is located on the village's website http://www.pleasantprairieonline.com/services/communitydevelopment/comprehensiveplan.asp

I know some of the questions above are answered on the village website, but do you agree with the concept and the way it's handled?

7 comments:

Village People said...

One can find more information at these sites:

http://www.co.kenosha.wi.us/plandev/smart_growth/index.html

http://www.smartgrowth.org/Default.asp?res=800

I've been to most of the County and Village meetings. The plan is very complex and I won't even pretend to understand it all but the Plan is supposed to be a framework that all communities follow. The plan gives everyone a chance to see how each community designates lands and such. For example, I was told it will make rezonings of land more difficult in the future. But it is a large undertaking and I would encourage everyone to attend any future meetings. You can also subscribe to e-mails with information links on the County website.

RAG said...

I think many of these concepts and plans are so complicated and confusing that even well educated person can have difficulty comprehending them. That's too bad because it makes it more difficult for people to participate in the process.

Anonymous said...

Alex...Alex...Alex....please tone down the font my friend. Microsoft has the magnify feature for those who have vision difficulties. As for the rest of us, Times New Roman 32 point is a little LARGE. Plus, with the size you are using, I can only read 3 words across and have to scroll down forever just to read a paragraph.

Bigger isn't better....usually.

Bob Babcock Jr. said...

I think it's sad this posting isn't getting the attention of some of your other posts. THIS IS THE FRAMEWORK FOR HOW OUR VILLAGE WILL GROW!!! There was a village "cafe" about this and two other cafes for the downtown development. I really don't have a lot of faith that citizen involvement will determine the path of our village. A few meetings ago there was a resident who was upset about a variance for the length of a cul de sac near his home. He and his wife did their homework before buying to see what kind of building could happen in the open land near them. They didn't want a cookie cutter subdivision right next to them and with one stroke of the magic wand the village can change the rules. Village People, ask the owner of the catholic book store about rezoning. If the comprehensive plan is complex enough, I'm sure there will be plenty of questionable uses. Complex and citizen involvement usually don't benefit the citizen.

PleasantPrairieWI said...

Bob,
You are right. All sorts of comments on grade school teachers and hatwear, but nearly nil on this important matter.
The owner of the Catholic bookstore will get his property re-zoned and therefore MORE difficult to sell down the road.
If you are 'chosen' you get a variance. If you are not 'chosen' you get re-zoned, then you have to beg for mercy, when they tell you the COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CAN'T BE CHANGED FOR 'JUST ANY REASON'.

To Anonymous, Anonymous, Anonymouse,
I will admit to using the large option on font choice, but it really is not that big, and furthermore, I have not heard anything from anyone else about the font size.
SO IF ANYONE ELSE THINKS THIS IS A PROBLEM, I will be happy to reduce my choice to NORMAL size (believe it or not, there is a LARGEST choice too).
What I think might be happening is that your WINDOWS is set up with LARGE settings for all text. Are you having similar issues with other text rich sites? I certainly am not out to make this difficult, but I can also tell you font size does become as issue (small size) on notebook computers.

ANYONE? I will be glad to reduce font size if this is a regular problem.

Regards,
Alex

Anonymous said...

I think a major problem is the logistics of it all. Some people have trouble maintaining their own vegetable garden, let alone grasping the comprehensive plan for Pleasant Prairie. There isn't a simple way to go about this, and while it's one of the most important aspects of the future of the Village, it's also probably the most difficult. Those cafes are offered to those of us with little understanding of the civil engineering/planning behind the Village's future. I would encourage concerned citizens to attend and be heard.

Bob, if you think that resident really did homework on the plan when that property was purchased, I have some bridges and beachfront property to sell you. I also assure you there wasn't one stroke of a magic wand involved. This process has been arduous to say the least.

jroscioli@wi.rr.com

Bob Babcock Jr. said...

John,

Fair enough. Without knowing the homeowner, I really just had to take him at his word. I've been going to village meetings for quite a while and the village board and staff frequently brings up protecting builder’s rights and not wanting to be sued. I agree with both, but I have NEVER heard them talk about homeowners rights. The meeting we are referring to is the first I can think of where an item was tabled with thoughts of homeowner rights. I really do hope things work out well on that project for all parties. One of the main reasons I started to become involved in local government was similar situations. I really didn't feel the village had our neighborhood's best interest in mind when they made certain decisions.

As far as the cafes, I really thought the second cafe regarding the new downtown was almost too informational. There is already a developer in place who has ideas which, in fairness I can't blame them, involve profit. The downtown project is supposed to fall under "smartgrowth" just like the comprehensive plan. After attending the second cafe, my take on our input is like me going to a seafood restaurant and being given the choice of beef, pork or chicken.