MOUNT VERNON — Work has begun on updating the Knox County Comprehensive Plan, according to Regional Planning Commission secretary Darrel Severns. The two most recent updates were in 1998 and 2006, he added, explaining that updates are designed to take place every five to seven years.
“The comprehensive plan is designed to be a collaborative effort among members of the community who work to decide the direction of the region in the short and long term,” Severns said.
He said some input comes between updated plans as the RPC’s committees use the current plan to guide their thoughts and make recommendations on various proposals advanced by township, village, county, state and federal entities.
The Ohio Revised Code states that all zoning-related issues must be in accordance with a comprehensive plan, and the Ohio Supreme Court ruled recently that township officials can use a county’s comprehensive plan as the basis for their township zoning resolutions.
Severns said that although they tend to stay at a low profile, many of the goals included in the last update have been implemented into the policies, rules, regulations and business plans of local governments and other organizations involved in shaping the future of the county.
“This update is the process of establishing where we have been, where we are presently and where we would like to go in the future,” Severns said.
He added that any community members who have a desire to participate in shaping the future of the community should anticipate opportunities for community input in the near future.
The 2006 Knox County Comprehensive Plan can be accessed and downloaded from the county Web site at http://co.knox.oh.us/offices/rp/images/KCRPCompPlan.pdf.
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