In 2000, after 18 months of study, discussion, and planning, the town land use boards, with input from citizens, produced Madison's 10-year Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD). Now, in 2011, it's time to update that plan. The Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC) and the Plan Update Steering Committee have requested $77,000 from the boards of Selectmen and Finance to move forward and both boards have approved the funds.

The state requires municipalities to adopt a POCD at least once every 10 years. The current plan has proven to be an important guide for land use and community planning. In 2000, the POCD recommended establishment of a Conservation Commission-done. It talked of protecting scenic and historic resources. Establishment of an historic district around the Green-done. Designation of the Boston Post Road and Route 80 as scenic roads-done and done. Expanding open space and coastal access opportunities-done. The list goes on. An updated plan offers similar opportunities.

The PZC, in a memo to the Board of Selectmen, calls an updated POCD "an important guide to our future" and adds, "It is also important for other reasons. After July 1, 2014, any municipality without an updated POCD will be ineligible for state discretionary grants."

The PZC began the process of updating the plan in 2009, putting out a request for qualifications and selecting Planimetrics, an Avon firm, to help. The firm has worked with Madison in the past on planning projects. In 2010, the commission established a steering committee composed of a cross-section of Madison residents to help guide the process.

Phase 1 of the project included a series of interactive public workshops, a telephone survey, and a series of meetings to review and discuss those findings.

The $77,000 appropriation will allow the steering committee to complete the second and final phase of the update. Christopher Traugh, a PZC member and chair of the steering committee, told the boards of Selectmen and Finance that the requested funds reflect a decision to update the existing plan rather than initiate a new planning effort that starts from scratch.

The funding will allow for a telephone survey of 300 randomly selected Madison households; a public information meeting for continued education and input prior to the required public hearing; the necessary printing of drafts, maps, and other work products; and additional committee meetings as required.