You may have read that the Cornwall Town Board recently appointed a new committee – the Comprehensive Plan Committee. That committee met for the first time on April 28, and is, according to Chairman Wynn Gold, ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work.

First up, after that organizational meeting last week, the engagement of the public in a survey that is now live. You can find it at: https://culturedesign.typeform.com/CompPlanSurvey. Surveys must be completed by May 31, Gold said.

“We are hoping for an extensive response,” Gold said, noting that it is just as important for Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson residents to complete it as it is for Town of Cornwall residents. “While the village does have its own comprehensive plan, the village is part of the town.”

There are two village residents on the committee – Maureen Spaulding and Suzanne Vondrak. The others are: Jason Burnham, Ted Warren, Amy Richmond and Neil Hilderbrand.

The survey is comprehensive – it has 41 questions, some of them which involve selecting an answer, or several answers (to questions like ‘What are the top three factors that influenced your decision to live in Cornwall?’, ‘What are the most pressing challenges facing Cornwall in the next ten years?’, and ‘How would you rate the overall quality of life in the Town of Cornwall?’). There are also very specific questions about preservation efforts in the community, what type of housing is needed, what types of businesses are most desired, and infrastructure matters.

It also leaves plenty of space for those taking the poll to write in detailed answers. As well, there are some personal details requested, like how long you have lived in the community and do you own or rent your residence.

Burnham worked with Gold and the others on the document. He was at last week’s Local Leader Forum at the Cornwall Library, and, after Supervisor Josh Wojehowski encouraged all in attendance to fill out the survey, Burnham said: “Put it all in there … we’ll take everything into consideration.”

The town last adopted a new Comprehensive Plan in 2019. Wojehowski said municipalities are encouraged by New York State to update those documents every five to seven years.

The opening page of the survey reads: “We are embarking on an exciting journey to update the Town of Cornwall’s Comprehensive Plan, and we need your voice at the heart of this process. As our community continues to grow and evolve, it is essential that our plans reflect the hopes, needs, and priorities of everyone who calls Cornwall home. Whether you’ve lived here for generations or are new to our community, your insights are invaluable in shaping a vision for our town’s future that is vibrant and sustainable for many years to come. Completing this survey is the first step in the process.”

Gold said there will be links to the survey on the town’s website (cornwallny.com) and on the town’s Facebook page. There is no way to take the survey on paper; those who do not have internet access can go to the Cornwall Library, where it is expected that library staff will help those who are looking to access it.

Gold promises that all of the meetings of the Comprehensive Plan Committee will be open to the public. “I made a commitment to be transparent and inclusive,” he said. “There will be notices put out for all of our meetings, and we will take public comment at them. Everyone’s opinion matters to us.”

The next Comprehensive Plan Committee meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 14. in the Town Hall Conference Room. There is also a public forum on the plan set for Thursday, May 29 at 6:30 p.m. at Munger Cottage.