Planning Commission Holds Public Hearing on Comprehensive Plan

Aberdeen planning officials outlined a land-use blueprint this week that could guide development in the city for years to come.

The Comprehensive Plan remains in draft form and needs approval of the City Council.

-“Water and sewer are the main things people want from the town,” Planning Commission Chairman Joe Swisher said at a commission public hearing Wednesday night. “They come into town. That increases their density. But it also preserves our farm land.”-

Swisher said the municipality must carefully regulate development to manage its resources.

Two people commented on the plan.

Bradley R. Stover, an attorney representing Steven Cornblatt and principals of Bush Chapel 30 Acres LLC and Aberdeen Properties LLC, asked the commission to allow more development density in a 60-acre area along Bush Chapel Road.  The owners seek to have the parcel annexed into the city and plan an office park there.

Paul Muddiman, vice president of Morris & Ritchie Associates Inc., a planning, architecture and engineering firm involved in the project, said the group hopes the commission will  allow “market flexibility” in the area.

“What we’re asking for is not a total change,” Muddiman said.

Mayor Michael E. Bennett commended the commissioners for their work.

"They did a very nice job," Bennett said.