After almost a year of public meetings and input, the update to the county’s Comprehensive Plan will have a public hearing at the County Plan Commission meeting scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday.
The plan acts as the guiding document for decisions related to growth and development. The plan states: “Montgomery County aims to position itself as a thriving resilient community with a focus on economic prosperity, residential growth and quality of life.”
The plan identifies five focus areas. They include business retention/expansion, business attraction, talent attraction/development, community marketing/messaging and community development/economic growth.
The plan embraces smart growth principles to ensure sustainable development, focusing on efficient land use, development around existing infrastructure, transportation connectivity and technological integration.
The plan also recognizes the importance of preserving the county’s agricultural heritage and natural landscapes. A unique aspect of the update is the integration of health and wellness in to the plan which reflects a proactive and community-centric approach to building a healthier and more resilient future.
Fifty-six community representatives of small business, industry, education, agriculture, land owners and real estate participated in focus group meetings to provide input in to the update. A community input session also was conducted at the Montgomery County Government Center.
The plan is available for review at the commissioners’ office, 1580 Constitution Row, Crawfordsville, the Crawfordsville District Public Library and online at www.montgomerycounty.in.gov.
