BUCKFIELD – Since 1984 when the town meeting approved a short policy document, further work on a comprehensive plan has been poorly received.

That feeling has apparently changed as 45 people turned out Saturday to hear more about the proposed plan for Buckfield. Thirty-five came to the first meeting Thursday night. When Terry Hayes asked for a show of hands on the interest of the crowd, it was very positive.

Judy Berg, chairman of the committee, said that people now understand that the plan is not an ordinance but rather a framework for land-use ordinances.

The committee was prepared with a PowerPoint presentation, charts placed around the room depicting maps showing growth in different areas of the village over the last 10 years and sign-up tables for different subcommittees. These subcommittees concern growth and development, economic development, housing, transportation, land use, agricultural and water resources, education and recreation.

Hayes, a volunteer, opened the meeting with facts about Buckfield. Included were:

• Town population, according to the 2000 Census, was 1,723.

• The median age of residents is 36.8 years.

• 22.9 percent of residents work in town.

• Buckfield has an area of 23,585 acres and maintains 44 miles of roads.

• In the last 10 years, 151 new dwellings have come to Buckfield with most of the growth centered in North Buckfield, and schools have lost 67 students.

Roberta Hill, member of the Planning Board, presented the program and led discussions. She pointed out that the purpose of the meetings was to find out how townspeople felt about economic growth and residential development and which areas of historic, natural and scenic features the town would like to protect.

Though a town is not required to have a comprehensive plan, town officials feel a plan would assist them in guiding the town’s inevitable growth. Also a state plan is necessary before a town may enact certain types of ordinances, such as zoning, impact fees and rate of growth ordinances.

Such a plan is necessary to gain eligibility to some state funding programs.

The committee plans to have highlights to present at the annual town meeting in June, work on the final draft through the summer and have a special town meeting in November 2005. Berg said enough volunteers have already signed up to work on all committees.