KINGFIELD – Members of the Comprehensive Planning Committee agreed Monday to request an additional $10,000 from the town Budget Committee during a meeting in January.

If awarded, the additional money will bring the committee’s budget to $20,000.

Committee members are volunteers who will research and write a comprehensive plan for Kingfield and will be applying for a comprehensive plan grant given annually by the Maine State Planning Office. The competitive grants help towns to develop and implement comprehensive plans, which are official town documents that outline a community’s vision for the future and provide guidelines for land use, spending, and other decisions.

Comprehensive plans are also a requirement for applying for other federal and state aid grants, something that many small towns feel they desperately need. Not having a plan can also cost towns in legal fees, said board member Bobby Brown.

“If there’s no plan, or if the plan is outdated, there’s a possibility that developers could take the town to court to nullify the zoning laws. We don’t want to open that can of worms.”

Eligibility for the State Planning Office comprehensive plan grant depends, among other things, on a municipality’s demonstrated ability to provide matching funds, which is why the planning committee will request additional funding before submitting its grant application.

“I’m not too hopeful that we’ll be able to go before the Budget Committee and get 100 percent of the funds we’re asking for,” board member David Guernsey said, “but we need a plan.”

Bill Gilmore agreed. “Kingfield is changing; change is inevitable. We all feel the growing pains. But the more time it takes us to finalize the plans, the worse it’ll get.”

The group discussed a variety of ways to get the community involved in drafting the new comprehensive plan. Eventually, the Planning Board hopes to carry out a number of surveys, meetings and brainstorming sessions that will set the tone for the document.

Chairman Jack McKee maintained that, “We’re not ready for a visioning meeting yet,” but an informational meeting for all Kingfield residents would be a good start. The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, in Webster Hall. A dessert potluck and coffee will be served, and all residents are encouraged to attend.