SUMNER – The Comprehensive Planning Committee is scheduling meetings with various groups in town to develop preliminary ideas about their vision for the future of Sumner.

At Wednesday night’s committee meeting, the first of these public gatherings was scheduled. It will be held at Litchfields General Store on from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Thursday, March 4. Residents are invited to drop by Litchfields and share their opinions to the members of the committee.

Chairman Leah Kennelly and co-chair Ed Hinshaw will lead discussions on topics such as:

• What do you like most and least about Sumner?

• How would you describe the spirit and/or character of Sumner?

• What would you like Sumner to be like in the next 10 years? What are some of the issues facing Sumner which should be addressed now or within the next 10 years?

• What could the community of Sumner do to make life better for you, such as more housing? If so, what kind of housing would you suggest?

• Should Sumner set aside land for uses such as elderly housing and commercial? What are the business and economic opportunities in Sumner?

• There is no zoning in Sumner. Should there be? Should there be clearer and stronger land use and building regulations?

• Sumner has a two-acre minimum lot size and a 75-foot setback.

Kennelly says that before the Comprehensive Plan is finished, each resident will be asked to complete a detailed survey to elicit their opinion.