Damascus’ Core Values embrace the protection of natural features as very important as the City grows. Those Values also call for the Community to be well designed as it grows, to maintain rural character, and to protect property rights. Balancing all these factors is critical to creating a successful Comprehensive Plan and Development Code. 

The Development Code Topic Specific Team, Planning Commission, and City staff have been working for months to find development strategies that not only create this balance, but that help assure the creation of extraordinary neighborhoods and business districts as the community develops.

 

The focus of the December 1, 2012 Town Hall meeting was to discuss the proposed Natural Features Protection Strategy (here). The meeting began with a presentation explaining how the proposed strategy would function. Four concept sketch development layouts were used to illustrate how the provisions in the proposed protection strategy function to balance the community’s Core Values and find fairness. 

 

The remainder of the two hour meeting was dedicated to a civil question and answer session between citizens, staff, and Planning Commission members. It was an engaging session and many people were able to express their concerns with the proposal. A number of topics surfaced that require further thought by the Planning Commission. One of the concerns shared by many people in attendance is whether land partitions of three parcels or less would be allowed under the proposal. This is a question the Planning Commission will work to resolve in the coming months.

See the links below for material provided at the meeting and written comments received from citizens.