— Proverbs 15:22 (New Living Translation)
Those working to update Homer's comprehensive plan may have a different theory, however. Could listening to all the advice directed at the plan torpedo the effort? On the other hand, some wonder if the plan was created with enough advisers. There has been criticism that public participation has been lacking. Homer residents have expressed several concerns about the plan — many of them related to how changes to the comprehensive plan will affect their neighborhoods in years to come. They would have a right to be concerned if the plan meant those changes were a certainty. But they're not. So, if they're not, is the plan even necessary? The new plan map suggests some zoning changes, but before those changes happen affected landowners would be notified and there would be a review process through both the Homer Advisory Planning Commission and the Homer City Council. Certainly annexation and new developments warrant some changes to the comprehensive plan. It's helpful to know the plan is a changing document, not poured in concrete. Still, some have questioned whether it's really a plan for the people, by the people or a plan that government wants to force on the people. With the Homer City Council set to take action on the plan Monday night, comments made by assembly member Bill Smith of Homer may help ease some concerns some have about the plan: "There's stuff in the 1998 plan that hasn't passed yet. There's stuff in the 1989 plan that hasn't passed." That said, people still have a chance to comment before Monday by sending comments addressed to Mayor James Hornaday and the Homer City Council through City Clerk Jo Johnson. Comments can be e-mailed to JJohnson@ci.homer.ak.us. Bringing Legislature closer Out of sight, out of mind. With all those miles separating Homer and Juneau, what the Alaska State Legislature does can seem almost irrelevant. Life is busy enough, without trying to track what state lawmakers are doing during the 90-day session. Still, everyone wants to be a well-informed, involved citizen. How best to do that? Beginning today, the Homer News in cooperation with other Morris papers in Alaska debuts the Morris Alaska Legislative Web site — www.alaskalegislature.com. You can find a link on the Homer News site at www.homernews.com. It's the most comprehensive collection of Alaska legislative news available and will provide Alaskans a valuable tool for keeping in touch with what's going on in the Capital City. The Homer News is particularly proud that our Web guru, Adam Bauer, has been instrumental in making this site a reality and will be maintaining the site. It will be updated on an almost daily basis. Let us know what you think.
