By Gary Will
(Town of Lebanon, NY – Dec. 2011) Recently, the Lebanon Town Board appointed interested residents to develop the Town of Lebanon Comprehensive Plan. Chairing this committee is Judi Clippinger, who lives on Craine Lake.
Other members include Jim McDowall, Susan Galbraith, Thomas Hoe, Penny Hughes, David Loop, Jeff Manley, Patty Matson, Jim Mulligan, Brian Musican, Chadwick Nower, Matt Powrie and Gary Will.
It is estimated it will take a couple of years to complete. The committee is starting with data collection concerning the natural resources of the town, the town’s history, a list of demographics, industry, transportation and road network, climate, water resources and aquifers, gas development, government, public and private land ownership and agricultural preservation.
This planning endeavor, although new to Lebanon, is not new to Madison County or surrounding towns. In order to draft a comprehensive plan, the community will engage in an open, deliberative process, a process which asks who we are, where we have been and where are we going.
The goal of this plan will help to preserve what is valuable to the community, while providing guidance as to how we can encourage the kinds of growth and development, which are vital to preserving the town.
In the coming months, the committee will prepare descriptive statements concerning the previously mentioned list of topics. A questionnaire will be developed and sent to all residents and landowners.
Clippinger said residents must take an active role in determining the town’s future, and this is one way of doing it.
The planning process will include a review by the town’s planning board, as well as the town board. This document will not in and of itself regulate, but will serve as a guide for residents and local officials to draw upon when making decisions, maximizing benefits and minimizing risks.
According to another committee member, it is important to preserve and protect what is seemingly valuable to the community and at the same time give thought as to how we can encourage reasonable growth.
Residents interested in joining the committee or who have questions are asked to contact Judi Clippinger at (315) 691-3415 or judi@clippinger.org. The next meeting of the whole committee will be March 6 at the town offices.






