STONE HARBOR — Planning Board meetings are about as exciting as watching paint dry, however, with watching paint dry at least something is being accomplished.
Planning Board members deliberated for three hours May 11 to review parking recommendations for the waterfront business district and hash out a draft of the borough’s Master Plan.
Professional Planner Linda Weber, hired by the borough to help create the waterfront business district zoning ordinance, provided Master Plan recommendations that included:
• Special Improvement District (SID)
• “Green” sustainability ordinance to protect open space/urban biodiversity
• Address vacant lots
• Creation of a parking fund
Concerning the borough’s school district, the board decided to change some wording to be more positive and not anticipate the school’s closing.
Board member Joanne Vaul, council representative, said the plan should state how the school is beneficial to the community because it can attract and retain families of school-aged children since the community needs young people for public service organizations like the volunteer fire company. She added that the school is what makes the town year-round rather than only seasonal.
Administrator Kenneth Hawk said the importance of beaches needs to be emphasized and could not be overstated in the Master Plan because “property values and tourism depends on beaches.”
Weber will make the discussed changes for the board to review at its next meeting May 18, a rescheduled meeting because of Memorial Day. Planning Board work sessions are held the second Monday of each month at 4:30 p.m.; regular meetings are usually the forth Monday of each month at 7 p.m.
Chairman William Burns said he would like more public participation.
Contact Truluck at (609) 886-8600 ext. 24 or at: ltruluck@cmcherald.com.
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