By Stefanie Jackson – Northampton County Planning Commission Chairman Glen Anders updated Northampton supervisors on the new draft of the county’s comprehensive plan Dec. 8, noting that the two groups had not met since May.
The section on “livable communities” is one of the new features of the comprehensive plan that Anders deemed noteworthy.
Livable communities offer residents a variety of housing, transportation options, and other amenities. They are mixed-use communities that are compact and walkable, with plenty of open space.
The comprehensive plan will promote the creation of livable communities by encouraging new development in towns and town edges but not villages, hamlets, or waterfront communities.
Multi-family housing will not be permitted in waterfront villages and hamlets, Anders added.
He noted that there has been some confusion over the comprehensive plan and emphasized one particular point: “the comprehensive plan is not a zoning ordinance.”
Northampton’s future land-use map is not identical to its zoning map, although they look similar, Anders pointed out.
The purpose of the future land-use map is to show general areas where the county desires certain types of development or uses – not specific parcels where those developments or uses are permitted, he clarified.
The updated comprehensive plan also will contain some new definitions of terms that have caused disputes among planning commissioners, such as “sole-source aquifer,” Anders said.
In normal circumstances, the public would view and comment on the comprehensive plan at an open house.
Due to COVID-19, large meetings will not be possible, and public presentations on the comprehensive plan may need to be virtual, Anders said.
Details on a virtual open house are not yet available. However, the Berkley Group consulting firm, which has been helping the planning commission write the comprehensive plan, has experience engaging the public through live video on Facebook, which can be replayed later, Anders noted.
Northampton’s comprehensive plan should be finished by the end of December and available for public review by February, he said.
