About 20 Westport Island residents turned out Thursday, July 26 for the comprehensive plan committee's meeting on its public opinion survey now underway. The meeting was a step toward creating a vision statement for the town's future.

The 16-question survey has an Aug. 31, deadline. The resulting vision statement will go to voters on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

“The committee spent weeks crafting the survey,” Chairman Bob Mooney told attendees. “We carefully chose questions so that they didn’t skew the results.”

Committee members are working from a comprehensive plan from the early 2000s. In explaining the need for the vision statement, Mooney asked “What do we want to look like 20-30 years from now?”  

“This has been a real eye opener about what makes things happen,” Mooney said of the committee’s work. “The statement will show what we want to accomplish and how to get there.”

Issues like the size of the island’s future population, public services and town roads are among the topics for consideration.

According to the presentation, responses to the survey are being solicited from year round and seasonal residents, frequent visitors and those who work on the island. Of the 161 property owners who live in other states, Mooney said surveys were mailed to “Hawaii, Kansas, Florida...just about every state.”

These property owners were included because seasonal residents have a different perspective, Mooney explained.

Discussion and questions at the meeting ranged from browntail moths to short-term rentals.

Property owner Larry Chase, who said he has not been back to the island for several years, asked “What is the most pressing issue?”

“You’d have to ask the board of selectmen,” Mooney replied.

“This whole project is mandated by the state,”!which is why some of the questions are on the survey, Mooney said. The committee is also being helped with data from the Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission.

Under Maine's 1988 Growth Management Act, a comprehensive plan is needed to make sure new town ordinances are legal. In addition, if the town applies for state grants or loans, those requests would be considered more favorably if a town has a comprehensive plan.  

Westport Island's plan will go to the state planning office for approval in 2019.

Residents are encouraged to complete the survey online at:  http://wvfd.me/cps.  Survey Monkey, which operates the website, compiles the responses for the committee.

Those who complete a paper survey should mail it or bring it to the town office at 6 Fowles Point Road.