Editor, Gazette-Journal:

The Mathews County website indicates that a meeting for citizen input regarding updates and changes to the Comprehensive Plan 2030 is scheduled for Oct. 13. This is a once-in-every-five-years process. As of the Sept. 20 planning commission meeting, the final proposed changes were not yet available to present to the BOS or the citizens. The meeting is less than two weeks away.

The BOS requested updating help from the Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission staff. Although Mr. Shaw, our planning director, stated in the meeting that more meetings could be scheduled if needed, my concerns are that the residents of Mathews will not be informed in a timely manner, will not know where to begin reviewing this update, and will not show up for the initial meeting for input.

Further complicating the problem is availability. Eventually, one copy will be available at the library which cannot be removed; the planning and zoning department will offer copies upon requ...