Comprehensive Plan Committee
Dear Bristol residents,
We are grateful for the opportunity to introduce to you the 2023 Comprehensive Plan for the Town of Bristol. A Committee of 15 volunteers has worked on this project for the past two and a half years. To gather public input, the Committee conducted two surveys (the most recent of which had over 630 responses), connected with community organizations, created a website, sent emails, put up posters, held pop ups outside of Reilly’s, at the library, and other locations, and, most recently, held a well attended Future Land Use Workshop. Then, the Committee combined the information gathered from the public with their research and data about the Town to create the Plan.
The Comprehensive Plan is a collection of data, goals, and suggested strategies designed to guide the Town’s future. It is important to know that a Town’s adoption of a Comprehensive Plan does not result in the automatic implementation of the suggestions in the Plan. An adopted Plan is a valuable tool for the Town’s leaders to use when planning for the future, but it is not a mandate. Some things in the Plan will move forward, and some things won’t; elected Boards, Committees, and voters will be the ones who decide.
Having a state approved Plan makes the Town eligible for certain grants it cannot get now. It also elevates Town ordinances to a level equal or above certain state laws and requirements.
The Select Board discussed the draft Plan at their November 1 meeting and would like to hear more from Bristol’s residents. The Plan is available on the Town website (www.bristolmaine.org) and as a hard copy at both the Town Office and the Library. You can contact the Committee with questions or comments at info@bristolmaine.org or by leaving a note on a card.
Please come and talk to us. We want to hear from you!
Sincerely,
Chad Hanna, Chair, Bristol Select Board
Kristine Poland, Bristol Select Board
Paul Yates, Bristol Select Board
Richard Francis, Co-Chair, Bristol Comprehensive Plan Committee
Jess Yates, Co-Chair, Bristol Comprehensive Plan Committee
Reading the Plan:
For a brief introduction to the Plan we suggest reading the Preface and Summary (pages 7-15) and the list of suggested strategies, the Implementation Matrix (Pages 252-284).
The entire document contains the Preface, Summary, Plan, Inventory Chapters, and Implementation Matrix. It can be viewed here.
This is a draft Comprehensive Plan, you can make comments by email at info@bristolmaine.org or by leaving a note at the Town Office.
Project Team
The 2023 plan was developed by the Comprehensive Plan Committee. North Star Planning, a Maine-based planning firm was contracted to help with the completion of the plan, enable public participation, help draft the plan, and oversee state filings.
What is a Comprehensive Plan?
A Comprehensive Plan is a planning document used to guide decisions about growth, land use, public investments, and policies in the town for the next ten years. It includes an analysis of what we have, our vision for the next decade and beyond and guidance and recommendations for ways to implement them. It is not a mandate. Bristol’s proposed draft comprehensive plan was developed under Maine’s Growth Management Act (30-A MRSA, Chapter 187) and the state’s Comprehensive Plan Review Criteria.
How will Bristol Benefit?
A state-certified comprehensive plan is a requirement to apply for many state grant and loan programs. It allows a municipality to enact local regulations such as land use ordinances or rate of growth cap. Most importantly, it is an opportunity for all of the town to come together to create and agree on a vision for their future.
Phone:
(207) 563-5270
Address
Bristol Town Office
1268 Bristol Road
Bristol, ME
04539
PO Box 339
United States
See map: Google Maps
Committee Member | Position |
---|---|
Jessica Yates | Co-Chair |
Richard Francis | Co-Chair |
Alex Beaudet | Member |
Thomas Bishop | Member |
Rebecca Cooper | Member |
Paul DiMauro | Member |
Jamie Doherty | Member |
Brittany Gill | Member |
RoseAnne Holladay | Member |
Patricia Jennings | Member |
Stephen Jorgensen | Member |
Kenneth Kortemeier | Member |
Mary Piasecki | Member |