The Town of Thompson announced today that it will soon begin the process of updating its comprehensive plan (also called a master plan). The Town’s current master plan – which was developed jointly with the Village of Monticello – was last updated in 1999.
“A master plan is a document that provides direction on policy recommendations about future land use and development,” explained Director of Building, Planning and Zoning, Jim Carnell, Jr. “With input from the community, it will help the Town Board and the Planning Board take a look at where the community has been, how it got to this point, where it wants to go in the future, and how it can get there.”
According to Town Supervisor Bill Rieber, the first step will be for the Town Board to appoint a committee of local residents and community stakeholders to help guide the planning process. “We are hoping to appoint an advisory committee in October and have them meet for the first time in early November,” explained Rieber.
The committee will be working under the guidance of Helen Budrock, a professional planner with Delaware Engineering, who has served as Thompson’s Town Planner since 2019. “The average shelf life of a master plan is 10 to 20 years,” explained Budrock, “so Thompson is long overdue for an update and the new plan will articulate the Town’s vision for the next 10 to 20 years.”
Anyone who lives in the Town of Thompson (including the Village of Monticello) and is interested in serving on the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee should send an e-mail to [email protected] with their contact information and a brief bio no later than Friday, September 23rd. The committee is expected to meet once a month over a period of 12 to 18 months, starting in November.