The Lowell Planning Commission met for 45 minutes on Monday night to discuss one piece of business: a review of the city’s master plan. All commissioners were present for the discussion except Commissioner Colin Plank, whose absence was excused.
Recommendation: Time to Update Master Plan
State law requires municipalities to review their master plan every five years. The purpose of the review is to determine whether a master plan still reflects a community’s goals or if it should be updated.
At Monday’s planning commission meeting, Andy Moore – a planning consultant to the city from engineering firm Williams & Works – reviewed a memo he had prepared about the city’s current master plan, which was adopted in 2007.
“It feels like the city is probably due for an update,” he said. While the city’s demographics haven’t changed significantly, Moore did note some differences in the population. He also said that there may be several areas of the future land use map that could be changed.
For instance, in 2007, there was a belief that industrial operations at the Attwood property were winding down, and the future land use map envisioned the area eventually being designated as residential. However, that did not happen, and an industrial use would be more appropriate on the future land use map.
City Council Must Approve Expenditure
Commissioners agreed that it was time to look at updating the master plan, with Chair Bruce Barker expressing an interest in adding details about wind and solar energy and water trails. It was also noted that having an updated and accurate master plan can be important to securing grant funds for various city projects.
“It’s not a simple process or an inexpensive process,” Moore explained. He noted that it could take 12-18 months to complete an update, and he estimated the price tag to be between $30,000-$50,000. An expenditure of that amount will need to be approved by Lowell City Council.
“We have [the money],” said Commissioner Marty Chambers, who is also a member of Lowell City Council, “but that’s $50,000 of a road that isn’t going to get done.” Chambers noted that the council has been putting all extra money in the budget toward road repairs.
It was decided that Chambers would bring the matter before Lowell City Council during their next meeting with the suggestion to hold a Committee of the Whole on the topic. That way, the two bodies could meet and discuss the matter in greater depth.
The meeting adjourned at 7:45pm, and the next regular meeting of the Lowell Planning Commission will be on November 14, 2022 at 7pm in Lowell City Hall.
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