WEST PARIS – A Start-up Committee for a Comprehensive Plan for West Paris has been appointed by selectmen. The group has several Planning Board members and one selectman. It will serve as a subcommittee of the Planning Board.

West Paris approved its first and only comprehensive plan at a special town meeting in July 1977. The plan was meant to be useful for five years. Since then, a lot of changes have taken place in the town, including manufacturing jobs being lost and many people moving to West Paris from out of state.

The state defines a comprehensive plan as a “guide for how people should use the land,” but many towns in Maine have used the planning process as more than that. A comprehensive plan can be a way to look at the past, present and the future of the town together. Therefore, it’s important that many people from a town be involved in the planning process, planners say.

“There’s no sense in making a plan unless it’s of the town and by the town,” said Leon Baker, a member of the committee.

Anyone who would like to get more information, make comments or get involved may phone Claire Gelinas at 674-2358, or write to the Start-up Committee c/o West Paris Town Office, P.O. Box 247, West Paris, ME 04289.

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