The Cape Elizabeth Comprehensive Plan Committee will hold its final public forum on Thursday, Jan. 25, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall. The forum will focus on a complete list of draft recommendations in the plan. The full text of the draft plan, including recommendations, are posted on this Web site. (Click here to download draft plan. Adobe's Acrobat Reader is required )

The Comprehensive Plan Committee has been working on the plan for 20 months and will be submitting a final draft to the Town Council for consideration at the end of February, 2007. The January 25th public forum will be the last of three public forums held by the Comprehensive Plan Committee to encourage public participation in the plan development. Following submission to the Town Council, additional Comprehensive Plan public hearings will also be scheduled.

The draft plan is 145 pages long and includes over a dozen maps. Information and policies are presented in a chapter format, beginning with demographics and culminating with the land-use plan. The 83 recommendations generally continue the current direction of the town, but also include more proactive approaches to preserving agricultural lands, curbing sprawl by more intensively developing growth areas and expanding pedestrian and bicycle facilities.

In addition to comments made at public forums, the Comprehensive Plan Committee has received extensive written comments and some attendance by members of the public at committee meetings.

The town Web site section on the Comprehensive Plan also includes information including: the telephone survey results, agendas, minutes of meetings, and the draft plan. Interested residents should also contact Town Planner Maureen O'Meara for more information.