PICKENS COUNTY – Pickens County is preparing for the update of the county’s comprehensive plan and needs residents willing to guide that process to serve on the update’s steering committee.

The steering committee will be made up of 40-45 residents from all around the county

Dr. DeWitt Stone, Pickens County Planning Commission Chairman, said the comprehensive plan revision will address all sections of the plan, including education, water and sewer and infrastructure.

“It’s a vision for how the county sees itself operating for the next ten years,” he said.

By state law, the county comprehensive plan must be updated entirely every ten years, with updates of certain sections taking place every five years.

“When you adopt ordinances, like setbacks and signage and rights of way, they have to reference this plan,” Stone said. “It’s very important, because it steers your ordinances in the future.”

Six Mile Planning Commissioner Stan Kelley agreed, calling the comprehensive plan “a living document.”

“It adjusts as the community adjusts,” he said. “You have to have input from everybody.”

As the plan revision process gets underway, meetings will be held around the county to gain resident input about planning issues in their areas.

A representative from the Appalachian Council of Governments will probably direct the update process, Stone said.

County officials are trying to get the current plan placed online, so the committee can work from an online version, Stone said.

Steering committee applications are available at the county planning office, or those interested can have an application emailed to them by contacting county planners.

Applications should be turned in within the next thirty days, Stone said.

For more information, call 898-5956.