After nearly eight months of planning, meetings, and public outreach, the process of updating Knox County’s Comprehensive Plan—a long-term blueprint for land use, development, and infrastructure—is nearing completion.
The organizers of the update process, known as Together Knox, recently held a meeting in Hilliar Township to gather input from local township trustees and other officials. The next step is a Together Knox Steering Committee meeting on December 19.
However, questions remain about the process for finalizing the plan and the public's role in it.
“This process has been confusing for township trustees and residents in my opinion,” said Drenda Keesee, Knox County commissioner-elect. “I was originally told ‘current commissioners are rushing public feedback and the process to get the plan in place before their term ends and lock it in’ and then I was told ‘it won't be finalized and voted on until new commissioners take office in 2025.’”
Some residents have already raised concerns about whether the public and local officials are being given sufficient opportunities to have their voices heard.
“I think counties should have comprehensive plans that shape zoning and future development and guide decision-making, but the process of forming the plan needs to be open, transparent, and beholden to the citizens in each township,” said resident Ben Dean. “It might even be ideal for each township to vote on their portion of the comprehensive plan before it goes into effect.”
Jeff Gottke, president of the Knox County Area Development Foundation and project lead for Together Knox, said the county, the city of Mount Vernon, and local townships will be able to vote on the final plan, but may not be able to make changes to it.
“The Knox County commissioners and others will meet and consider the plan with three readings and public input,” Gottke said. “But it would be difficult to change [the plan]. It would complicate things if the city changed something that the county did not like.”
Mount Vernon Council President Bruce Hawkins said he wants to ensure that residents get to provide input in the process.
“In order for this to be effective, it must be transparent, and the public should have as much input as possible so they have buy-in to the plan,” Hawkins wrote in an email.
Mount Vernon Mayor Matthew Starr said there have already been opportunities for public input.
“The Steering Committee has bent over backwards inviting members of the public to participate,” Starr wrote in an email. “This has been the most successful turnout, response, and diverse participation on the Comprehensive Planning since the County started this in the 1990’s.”
Keesee acknowledged that public input has been gathered but questioned how meaningful it has been so far.
“The feedback I received at the first "Together Knox" public meeting was [that] it lacked real informative content or a time for public questions and answers,” Keesee said.
Knox County resident Karen Schmitt, who attended the Together Knox meeting at the Woodward Opera House on October 29, expressed doubt about the influence of public input.
“It felt like all decisions have already been made, and they were trying to convince the people in attendance, this was the plan and what the residents want,” Schmidt said. “I left wondering how many residents are aware of these plans.”
If, as Gottke suggests, the county, city, or townships can only vote on the plan once it reaches them but cannot make changes, public input during hearings may not impact the final plan.
Keesee outlined the next steps in the process.
“The final steering committee meeting will be December 19th,” she said. “The draft comprehensive plan will be made available by the end of December after input from these meetings, and it will stay in draft format for public comment until the Regional Planning Commission formally adopts the plan.”
She also believes more should be done to encourage public participation.
“Moving forward, I strongly believe we need more public notice [of] what items or changes are in consideration,” she said. “Beginning our new commissioner’s term in 2025, I have requested future commissioner’s meetings to be live-streamed.”
